| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2023-09-18 | - |
Program Overview
Why this course?
Our Masters in Wind Energy Systems offers engineering graduates the opportunity to study at the Institute for Energy & Environment – one of Europe's largest and leading university power and energy technology groups.
The Institute is home to over 200 staff and researchers conducting strategic and applied research in the key technical and policy aspects of energy systems. It also houses the UK’s only government-funded Centres for Doctoral Training in Wind & Marine Energy Systems, and Future Power Networks and Smart Grids, both of which are dedicated to pioneering research and advanced skills training.
On this course, you'll develop and enhance your technical expertise of wind energy and deepen your understanding of the engineering, political and economic contexts of wind power. This course will provide you with an advanced level of knowledge to address the current and future challenges of this exciting and dynamic sector.
With links to key UK and global business and industry energy partners, you’ll have unique access to companies at the forefront of wind energy developments.
What you’ll study
You'll undertake two semesters of compulsory and optional classes, followed by a three-month research project in a specialist area. You'll have the opportunity to carry this out through our Department's competitive MSc industrial internships.
The internships are offered in collaboration with selected department industry partners, eg ScottishPower, Smarter Grid Solutions, SSE. You'll address real-world engineering challenges facing the partner, with site visits, access and provision of relevant technical data and/or facilities provided, along with an industry mentor and academic supervisor.
Facilities
You'll have exclusive access to our extensive computing network and purpose-built teaching spaces including our outdoor test facility for photovoltaics high voltage laboratory, equipped with the latest technologies including:
You'll have access to the UK’s only high-fidelity control room simulation suite and the PNDC. This is Europe’s first centre dedicated to the development and demonstration of 'smart-grid technologies.
Accreditation
The course is fully accredited by the UK professional body, the Institution of Engineering and Technology and fulfils the educational requirements for registration as a Chartered Engineer when presented with a CEng-accredited Bachelors programme.
Program Outline
Course content
Compulsory classes
Elective classes
(September to May)
Assignment & Professional Studies
The aim of this class is to provide you with support for your general academic and professional development.
You'll undertake an advanced investigation of an electronic or electrical engineering topic of your choice, to enhance your learning, and develop presentation and communication skills.
Power Systems & Wind Integration
This class will provide an understanding of the principles of wind turbine power generation with attention to the wind resource, rotor aerodynamics, structural design, power conversion and control.
Socio-economic issues, distributed energy resources including small scale generation, energy storage and demand management and their integration and management within power networks will also be examined.
Wind Turbine Technology
The objectives of this class is to provide a basic understanding of the wind resource and the principal of wind turbine power conversion including:
You'll gain sufficient understanding to outline the design and operation of multi-megawatt machines.
Three classes to be chosen – at least two from List A.
List A
Power Electronics, Machines & Applications
You'll develop an understanding of the principles of common power electronic systems. You'll gain familiarity with the techniques required to analyse common power electronic circuits and learn about the basic principles behind the design of rotating electrical machines. The techniques required to analyse basic DC and AC machines will also be investigated.
You'll learn to recognise that disturbances exist within a power system substation, appreciate that these disturbances may affect electromagnetic compatibility and become competent in dealing with the implications of those disturbances.
You'll gain an understanding of the use of power electronic devices, drives and machines for given applications, specifically for electric vehicles. You'll examine the range of energy sources capable of powering ‘independent’ EVs, how these sources work, their performance and degradation issues and how to charge/fuel them.
Power System Design, Operation & Protection
The objective of this class is to enable you to appreciate the principles of analysis, design and protection of electrical power systems including:
You'll also study the main concepts related to the requirements, functions, design and operation of protection schemes for power system transmission and distribution systems. You'll gain an advanced understanding of selected protection schemes used in transmission and distribution networks.
Control Principles
This module will deliver the following learning outcomes:
- appreciate and experience state-of-the-art modeling and simulation tools, represent linear dynamic systems in state space and transfer function, create simulations using Simulink, use MATLAB system analysis tools.
- understand the feedback control fundamentals. Use and interpret time and frequency domain performance measures, understand stability and controller tuning principles, understand system controllability and observability, and obtain awareness of functionality and design of state observers.
- understand the structure and effects of PID controllers, use simple PID tuning methods, design state feedback controllers including pole-placement and linear quadratic optimal control, be aware of advanced control methods such as predictive control and statistical process control.
Advanced Power & Energy Systems
This class will allow you to understand, critically analyse and assess technical requirements for power system operation, management and planning. It will enable you to carry out advanced types of power system analysis as well as understand and use results from these analyses in power system operation and planning. You'll also develop an advanced knowledge of the main concepts related to the function, design and operation of protection schemes for distribution, transmission and generation applications.
High Voltage Technology & Electromagnetic Compatibility
This class will introduce you to the fundamentals of high voltage electrical insulating systems and the principles, mechanisms and characteristics of high voltage discharges in vacuum and condensed media. It will also provide you with a basic understanding of the behaviour of dielectric materials stressed with electric fields and their use in high voltage systems. You'll also gain an understanding of the principles of high voltage generation and impulse testing of the high voltage systems.
Power Electronics for Energy & Drive Control
Modern energy conversion systems rely on the integration of range of technologies including power electronics, electromechanical actuators and energy storage elements. This class will build knowledge of the building block technologies and show their application to modern energy conversion systems.
Power System Economics, Markets & Asset Management
This class will present and give an understanding of the economics, trading and pricing of electricity supply and how it is shaped by technical, commercial and regulatory considerations.
It will give you an understanding of power system economics under an environment of multiple suppliers and users, and present the challenges, technologies and value of asset management within an electricity supply industry context. You'll gain a deep appreciation of factors affecting security of supply and how it might be quantified.
List B
Energy Economics
The class aims to provide students with:
Inspection & Survey
This module provides you with an insight into ‘marine’ materials, their properties, failure and protection and an understanding of how degradation affects the life-cycle of marine and offshore structures.
Particular emphasis is on inspection and assessment of inspection results, corrosion, fatigue and fracture of steels and the corrosion properties of high-strength and stainless alloy steels.
Renewable Marine Energy Systems (10 credits)
TBC
Geographical Information Systems
This class provides a thorough introduction to Geographical Information Systems (GIS).
GIS are spatial databases which can handle spatial information in a far greater variety of ways than was previously possible with paper maps. By capturing, manipulating, integrating and displaying digital spatial data, a wide range of different analyses can be carried out and questions addressed.
The class covers the key theoretical principles of GIS, provides practical hands-on exercises using current state-of-the-art GIS systems, including raster (IDRISI Andes) and vector (ArcGIS) based software, and demonstrates how GIS can be used for spatial query and analysis.
Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental impact assessment (EIA) relates to the process of identifying, evaluating and mitigating the biophysical, social, economic, cultural and other relevant effects of development proposals prior to major decisions being taken and commitments made.
This class aims to provide you with an introduction to some of the methods used to predict environmental impacts and to see how these may be used to integrate environmental factors into decisions.
The class emphasises the use of EIA as a design tool and focuses on issues related to the quality of the EIA process overall and of Environmental Impact Statements in particular.
The class draws principally on the UK planning context of environmental impact assessment (also called Environmental Assessment), but also takes account of EIA experience in other countries and international organisations, together with developing international experience of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA).
Summer (June to September)
MSc Research Project / Internship
The aim of the research project is to provide you with an opportunity to bring your knowledge and skills together and deploy them in a significant practical investigation, using relevant engineering literature, and where relevant, initial experiments or simulations.
Andrew from Australia
Andrew is one of our international students from Australia. Find out what he thinks about his course and why he decided to study it.
The academics are really good. They're some of the leading people in their field. You can tell when you're in the lectures that they understand perfectly what they're talking about.
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Learning & teaching
We use a blend of teaching and learning methods including interactive lectures, problem-solving tutorials and practical project-based laboratories. Our technical and experimental officers are available to support and guide you on individual subject material.
Each module comprises approximately five hours of direct teaching per week. To enhance your understanding of the technical and theoretical topics covered in these, you're expected to undertake a further five to six hours of self-study, using the University's virtual learning environment (Myplace), research journals and library facilities.
Individual modules are delivered by academic leaders, and with links to key UK and global industry energy partners, you'll have unique access to companies at the forefront of wind energy developments.
The teaching and learning methods used ensure you'll develop not only technical engineering expertise but also communications, project management and leadership skills.
You'll undertake group projects. These will help to develop your interpersonal, communication and transferable skills essential to a career in industry.
Industry engagement
Interaction with industry is provided through our internships, teaching seminars and networking events. The Department delivers monthly seminars to support students’ learning and career development. Atkins Global, BAE Systems, Iberdrola, National Grid, ScottishPower, Siemens and Rolls-Royce are just a few of the industry partners you can engage with during your course.
Assessment
You'll complete at least six modules, each assessed by a combination of written assignments, individual and group reports, oral presentations, practical lab work and, where appropriate, an end-of-term exam.
Assessment of the summer research project/internship consists of four elements, with individual criteria:
Careers
With the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) forecasting UK/EU employment in wind energy related jobs to double to more than 500,000 by 2020, graduates of this course have excellent career prospects.
The UK electricity supply industry is currently undergoing a challenging transition driven by the need to meet the Government's binding European targets to provide 15% of the UK's total primary energy consumption from renewable energy sources by 2020.
Graduates of this course have unique access to key UK and global industry energy partners, who are committed to fulfilling these UK Government targets. These companies offer a diverse range of professional and technical employment opportunities in everything from research and development, construction and maintenance, to technical analysis and project design. Companies include:
Glasgow is Scotland's biggest & most cosmopolitan city
Our campus is based right in the very heart of Glasgow. We're in the city centre, next to the Merchant City, both of which are great locations for sightseeing, shopping and socialising alongside your studies.
Life in Glasgow
Overview:
- Founded in 1796 as Anderson's Institution
- Received its Royal Charter in 1964, becoming the University of Strathclyde
- Consistently ranked among the top 10 universities in the UK for engineering and technology
- Home to the Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC), a world-leading research center in metal forming
- Notable alumni include Sir James Black (Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine), Sir David Murray (former CEO of Rangers Football Club), and Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell (astrophysicist)
Student Life:
- Over 23,000 students from over 100 countries
- 150+ student clubs and societies, including sports teams, cultural groups, and academic societies
- Student support services include counseling, health, and disability support
- Campus facilities include a sports center, library, and student union
Academics:
- Offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs in engineering, science, business, law, and social sciences
- Faculty includes world-renowned experts in their fields
- Teaching methodologies emphasize hands-on learning and industry engagement
- Academic support services include tutoring, writing centers, and language support
- Unique academic programs include the Strathclyde MBA, which is ranked among the top 100 MBAs in the world
Top Reasons to Study Here:
- Excellent reputation for teaching and research, particularly in engineering and technology
- Strong industry connections and opportunities for internships and placements
- Specialized facilities such as the AFRC and the Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences
- Vibrant student life with a diverse and inclusive community
- Located in the heart of Glasgow, a vibrant and cosmopolitan city
Services:
- Counseling and mental health support
- Health center with a range of medical services
- Accommodation services with a variety of on-campus and off-campus options
- Library resources with over 1 million books and journals
- Technology support including IT services and free Wi-Fi
- Career development services with support for job searching, CV writing, and interview preparation
Entry requirements
| Academic requirements |
A first or upper second-class Honours degree or equivalent qualification in electronic, electrical or mechanical engineering or related discipline (physics, mechatronics, control or systems engineering) from a recognised academic institution. |
|---|---|
| English language requirements |
If English is not your first language, please visit our English language requirements page for full details of the requirements in place before making your application. |
Pre-Masters preparation course
The Pre-Masters Programme is a preparation course held at the University of Strathclyde International Study Centre, for international students (non EU/UK) who do not meet the academic entry requirements for a Masters degree at University of Strathclyde. The Pre-Masters programme provides progression to a number of degree options.
Upon successful completion, you'll be able to progress to this degree course at the University of Strathclyde.
International students
We've a thriving international community with students coming here to study from over 100 countries across the world. Find out all you need to know about studying in Glasgow at Strathclyde and hear from students about their experiences.
Visit our international students' section
