Program Overview
Introduction to Renewable Energy Engineering
The University of Canterbury offers undergraduate, Master's, and PhD programs in Renewable Energy Engineering. According to Dr. Jannik Haas, Director of Renewable Energy Engineering Postgraduate Programmes, "Building the energy transition is likely humanity's largest infrastructure challenge. It also is our opportunity to make energy clean and cheap!" Dr. Rebecca Peer, Deputy Director of Renewable Energy Engineering Postgraduate Programmes, adds, "Studying Renewable Energy opens the door to many careers, like an energy analyst, policy advisor, solar or wind engineer, project manager, or sustainability officer."
Program Overview
The Renewable Energy Engineering programs are directed by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, consistently ranked in the top 50 globally. The University of Canterbury is ranked 61st in the world for global impact in the 2025 Times Higher Education (THE) for contributions aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The university is the top-ranked university in New Zealand for three SDGs: 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, 14: Life Below Water.
Undergraduate Program
Renewable energy and sustainable technologies are part of most of the University of Canterbury's undergraduate engineering degrees. At the Civil and Natural Resources Engineering department, students can choose from the following elective courses:
- ENCN423 Sustainable Energy Technologies
- ENCN401 Engineering in Developing Communities
- ENGR621 Energy Policy and Society
- ENCN623 Energy Systems Modelling and Analysis
- ENTR614 Planning and Design of Sustainable Transport
- ENGR682 Energy Project
- ENAE605 Sustainable Building Design Practice
- ENAE610 Building Sustainability Assessment Students can also take courses from other engineering departments.
Master's Program
The Master of Engineering Studies endorsed in Renewable Energy is a one-year program designed to be flexible and meet the needs of students from a wide range of engineering and science backgrounds. The program is directed by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and includes courses from many other engineering departments. The university is consistently ranked in the top 2% globally and does particularly well in the Impacts Ranking related to Climate Action, Sustainable Cities and Communities, and Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG Rankings).
Courses
Students need to complete 8 courses to graduate. The program offers many courses on renewable energy, including:
- ENCN627 Renewable Energy Technologies
- ENME605 Advanced Energy Systems Engineering
- ENGR621 Energy Policy and Society
- ENCN623 Energy Systems Modelling and Analysis
- ENEL667 Renewable Electricity System Design
- ENCH683 Advanced Energy Processing Technologies and Systems
- ENTR614 Planning and Design of Sustainable Transport
- ENGR682 Energy Project
Scholarships
Many students receive scholarships, such as the Orion, Manaaki Scholarships, India High Achievers Scholarship, or the Dean's Award. Further scholarships can be found through the university.
Job Opportunities
Postgraduate studies in renewable energy can lead to careers as:
- Energy analyst
- Energy policy advisor
- Sustainable energy manager
- Solar or wind energy engineer
- Energy project director
- Sustainability professional
- Renewable energy technologist
PhD Program
The PhD in Renewable Energy Engineering is designed for visionary leaders and researchers who are driven to shape the future of global energy systems. The program offers cutting-edge research opportunities, access to state-of-the-art facilities, and interdisciplinary collaboration with world-renowned experts. Students must find a supervisor for their topic and explore PhD scholarships.
Research Areas
The university has various research groups, and students can work with world-class professors who have recently attracted over 50 million dollars of research funding and founded many startups. Some of the lecturers and their research areas include:
- Dr. Rebecca Peer: sustainable energy systems
- Dr. Jannik Haas: future energy systems
- Dr. David Dekenberger: advanced energy systems engineering and existential/global catastrophic risk
- Dr. Yi Wang: sustainable transport systems
- Dr. Jeremy Watson: integration of renewable technologies into power grids
- Dr. Matt Watson: industrial decarbonisation
- Dr. Enda Crossin: environmental life cycle assessment
- Dr. Christina Dunker: wind resources modelling
- Dr. Andrew Lapthorn: high voltage technologies
Conclusion
The University of Canterbury's Renewable Energy Engineering programs offer students a comprehensive education and research opportunities in the field of renewable energy. With a strong focus on sustainability and global impact, the university is an ideal place for students who want to make a difference in the world.