Main details
Course overview
Module options
Our academics
Entry requirements
Fees & funding
Scholarships
Facilities
Future prospects
Next steps

Postgraduate Taught

Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Solutions

A female Renewable Energy student leaning against a banister in a modern office block

A lecturer wearing a white coat and protective goggles working on a piece of equipment in a lab

HUBS Josh Morablanco at Siemens Gamesa 01

A lecturer wearing a protective coat working on a piece of equipment in a lab

There’s a huge demand for skilled professionals in the rapidly expanding renewable energy sector. You could go on to a broad range of careers in the field.

You’ll explore a diverse range of renewable energy technologies, and develop industry-relevant research and analytical skills through practical lab classes.

We’re located in the UK’s energy estuary – a region at the forefront of the country’s net zero ambitions.

Designed in collaboration with industry, this MSc gives you a thorough understanding of the sector, along with the skills you need to be a part of the energy transition.

Be a part of the energy transformation with this Masters degree.

The renewable energy sector is rapidly expanding to deliver the change in our energy systems that we must achieve if we’re to reach net zero. We need skilled energy workers to deliver that change. People who are trained in planning, implementing and managing renewable energy projects.

That’s where you come in.

This conversion course is suitable for students with an undergraduate degree in any STEM subject who want to make a difference by contributing to the renewable energy transition¹.

Graduate ready

for a career in renewable energy
Designed

in collaboration with industry
Work on real-world research

and make a difference
Located at the heart

of the UK’s energy estuary
Work with data

from our living lab

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Course overview

Module options

About this course

Designed in collaboration with industry, this course teaches you the skills the sustainable and renewable energy sector needs. Learning in the heart of the UK’s ‘energy estuary’, you’ll cover a diverse range of renewable energy technologies. And gain a thorough overview of the industry.

You’ll explore technologies including on-shore and off-shore wind, solar power, hydropower and biofuels. Along with carbon removal and low-carbon solutions and environmental management and policy.

Through practical lab classes you’ll develop industry-relevant research and analytical skills. Build your digital knowhow working with industry-standard software such as windPRO. Carry out resource analysis and environmental impact assessments. And enhance your professional skills including teamworking, presentation, report writing and project management.

Our strong industry links give you the chance to take part in field trips to renewable energy sites in the region. Along with opportunities to hear from guest speakers from the sector. You’ll be able to specialise in an area of choice in your dissertation and could get the opportunity to carry out real-world research.

Find out more

Watch our recent webinar to hear from the course leader and tutors and find out more about this innovative Master's programme.

Solar panels and wind turbines alongside each other as an example of renewable energy

A Mechanical and Energy Engineering student in blue overalls examines a piece of machinery

A Hull professor in a white coat standing between two large pieces of equipment in a lab

Choose your modules

For a full Masters degree, you'll study 180 credits over the duration of your course. Some programmes offer a Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) qualification or a Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) qualification. For a PGDip, you'll study 120 credits, and for a PGCert, you'll study 60 credits.

Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Solutions Dissertation

What fascinates you? You will make an original contribution to research by designing, carrying out and writing up a project on a topic of your choice, supported by your dissertation supervisor.

Core•60 credits

Carbon Management and Removal

Global growth in renewable energy needs to be matched by carbon management and carbon removal to address climate change. In this module you will learn about the low carbon energy market, carbon removal technologies and policy. You will gain the skills needed to meet the net-zero challenge and be equipped to work in the low carbon energy industry.

Compulsory•20 credits

Research Challenges

There are big challenges facing society due to climate change and achieving the net-zero transition. In this exciting module you will work in small teams to research how we can meet these global challenges which are critical to meeting the UN Sustainable Development Goals. You will also learn about project management so you can effectively apply what you learn in this module.

Compulsory•20 credits

Renewable Energy Technologies

In this module you will learn about the diversity of renewable energy sources, including solar energy, wind energy, energy from waste, hydropower and geothermal power. For each renewable technology you will learn about the principles of operation and how to assess the available energy resource.

Compulsory•20 credits

Environmental Impacts and Assessment

Renewables and low carbon solutions cannot progress without understanding their impact on the environment and Environmental Impact Assessments are the industry standard to address these issues. In this module, you will learn about the scio-economic, ecological, environmental, aesthetic and legislative aspects of EIAs including insights from industry experts.

Compulsory•20 credits

Research Skills in Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Solutions

In this module you will develop the academic skills that are key to being able to plan, undertake, and disseminate independent research. You will learn about developing research questions and the quantitative and qualitative data analysis skills to answer your question. At the end of this module, students will have the skills required to undertake their own dissertation.

Compulsory•20 credits

Energy efficiency and smart energy technologies

This module will introduce you to the management of energy supply and consumption. The key topics include building energy management systems, distributed energy systems and the smart control of energy consumption to improve building energy efficiency as well as incentives and policies to promote the development of energy efficiency technologies.

Optional•20 credits

Energy storage technologies and systems

You will be introduced to different types of energy storage technology and innovations in storage energy research. Students will learn how new energy storage systems can increase the use of renewable energies and develop the innovation mindset needed by employers in this fast-evolving field.

Optional•20 credits

8 Modules

Our academics

You’ll be taught by academics with a broad range of expertise across renewable energy and sustainability.

Over 80 environmental experts and world-leading scientists make up our Energy and Environment Institute. They're people who bring their research, experience and passion into everything they teach.

See more academics for this subject

Featured academic

Dr Ben Kolosz

An award-winning scientist, Ben’s research explores renewable energy, carbon removal and the impact of new technologies. He’s also a former member of the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy, University of Pennsylvania.

Featured academic

Dr Zishang Zhu

Dr Zishang Zhu is a Senior Research Fellow and lecturer for the Advanced Energy Technologies for Buildings and Industry, and Renewable Energy programmes.

Entry requirements

UK
International

What do I need?

Typical offer

2:2 in relevant subject area

Typically a 2:2 (or above), or international equivalent in an engineering or science subject.

Additional entry requirements for this course

Applicants should also have GCSE Maths or equivalent.

If you’re an undergraduate student at Hull, you’re guaranteed a fast-track route to this postgraduate degree, as long as you meet the entry requirements.

In order to ensure our students have a rich learning and student experience, most of our programmes have a mix of domestic and international students. We reserve the right to close applications early to either group if application volumes suggest that this blend cannot be achieved.

What do I need?

Typical offer

2:2 in relevant subject area

Typically a 2:2 (or above), or international equivalent in an engineering or science subject.

Additional entry requirements for this course

Applicants should also have GCSE Maths or equivalent.

If you require a student visa to study or if your first language is not English you will be required to provide acceptable evidence of your English language proficiency level.

This course requires academic IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 5.5 in each skill. See other English language proficiency qualifications accepted by the University of Hull.

If your English currently does not reach the University’s required standard for this programme, you may be interested in one of our English language courses.

Visit your country page to find out more about our entry requirements.

Fees & funding

UK
International

How much is it?

Additional costs you may have to pay

Your tuition fees will cover most costs associated with your programme. There are some extra costs that you might have to pay, or choose to pay, depending on your programme of study and the decisions you make:

Books (you can borrow books on your reading lists from the library, but you may buy your own)
Optional field trips
Study abroad (incl. travel costs, accommodation, visas, immunisation)
Placement costs (incl. travel costs and accommodation)
Student visas (international students)
Laptop (you’ll have access to laptops and PCs on campus, but you may want your own)
Printing and photocopying
Professional-body membership
Graduation (gown hire and photography)

Remember, you’ll still need to take into account your living costs. This could include accommodation, travel, food and more.

How do I pay for it?

How much is it?

Additional costs you may have to pay

Books (you can borrow books on your reading lists from the library, but you may buy your own)
Optional field trips
Study abroad (incl. travel costs, accommodation, visas, immunisation)
Placement costs (incl. travel costs and accommodation)
Student visas (international students)
Laptop (you’ll have access to laptops and PCs on campus, but you may want your own)
Printing and photocopying
Professional-body membership
Graduation (gown hire and photography)

Remember, you’ll still need to take into account your living costs. This could include accommodation, travel, food and more.

How do I pay for it?

Our scholarships

We offer a number of awards, bursaries and scholarships for eligible students. They’re awarded for a variety of reasons including academic achievement and/or to help those on lower incomes.

Scholarships and bursaries are separate to student loans. And the best bit is, you don’t pay a penny back.

Find out more about our scholarships

International Scholarships and Bursaries

We offer a range of scholarships and bursaries for international students.

To find out more and see if you're eligible, please visit the International Scholarships and Bursaries page.

See more Scholarships

We offer a range of scholarships and awards to students at the university to help with their financial load.

To view all of our scholarships and determine whether you're eligible, please visit our Scholarships and Awards page

Take a look at our facilities

Flume Laboratory

This is the flume. A device for studying the bodies of water that dominate our planet. It’s a 10-metre-long tank that can simulate a river, a slice of coastline or a cross-section of sea.

SuDSlab UK

You’ll get to work with groundwater and soil data from our living lab which links on-campus and community-based Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) in a monitoring network.

Blue-Green Lab

Work with weather data, including solar radiation, collected in our Blue-Green Lab – part of our SuDSlab UK which explores how SuDS can be used to slow down surface water and reduce flooding.

Brynmor Jones Library

Our 7-storey library is home to 1 million+ books, extensive digital resources drawn from libraries and archives across the world, and stunning panoramic views of the city from the 7th floor.

See more in our virtual tour

Look around

Look around

Future prospects

You’ll graduate with the in-demand skills the rapidly growing renewable energy sector needs. You could go on to a career in industry, consultancy, government, academia or non-governmental organisations. Working in a wide range of roles.

Our graduates have gone on to diverse careers including resource analyst, project manager, solar design engineer, renewable energy consultant, sustainability analyst, energy officer, and renewable engineer.

Others have gone onto further study with a PhD in renewable energies. You could apply to study a PhD in offshore wind energy at our Aura Centre for Doctoral Training, for example.

Your next steps

Like what you’ve seen? Then it’s time to apply.

Make your application online now, and our admissions team will get back to you as soon as possible to make you an offer.

How to apply

Not ready to apply?

We regularly deliver virtual and on-campus events to help you discover your perfect postgraduate course, whether it’s a subject you already love or something completely different. Our events are an opportunity for you to chat to tutors and current students and find out about the career options a postgraduate degree could lead to.

Discover more

Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Solutions