Environmental and Energy Engineering MSc(Eng)

Program Overview

The MSc(Eng) in Environmental and Energy Engineering equips students with the skills and knowledge to navigate the environmental and energy sectors. Combining theory and practice, the program emphasizes sustainability, emerging technologies, and research through a core curriculum and optional modules. Students join a leading research-active department with industry connections and benefit from first-class facilities, preparing them for careers in the evolving environmental and energy landscape.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

This MSc(Eng) in Environmental and Energy Engineering is designed to equip students with the skills needed to work in the environmental and energy sectors. The program blends theory and practice, taught by experts in the field. Students can tailor the course to suit their individual needs. The program is born from the necessity for the next generation of engineers and scientists to be aware of the issues surrounding energy consumption, material use, and waste disposal in a world of finite resources and a growing population. Students will become part of a leading, research-active department and one of the largest and most successful engineering facilities in the UK. The degree is recognized nationally and internationally by industry and academia.

Outline:

The program is a 1-year full-time program. It is accredited by the Institution of Chemical Engineers on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of partially meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer.

Core Modules:

• Introduction to Fuels and Energy (15 credits): Covers topics such as energy sources, history, classifications, units, primary energy, coal, oil and natural gas, primary energy conversion, electrical systems, energy carriers, nuclear power, energy end use in transport, combustion processes, and energy futures.
• Applied Energy Engineering (15 credits): Includes three experiments: coal characterization, gas boiler efficiency, and renewable energy.
The module focuses on experimental studies of energy principles, data collection and interpretation, and drawing conclusions.
• Environmental Engineering (15 credits): Focuses on air, water, and soil pollution.
Students will learn methods for preventing pollution and remediating polluted sites.
• Energy Systems and Management (15 credits): Provides a broad study of conventional and renewable energy systems, including emerging technologies.
Students will develop practical skills in energy management tasks such as conducting energy audits.
• Systems for Sustainability (15 credits): Introduces sustainability concepts related to the environmental impact of chemical processes and industry.
The module covers systems analysis, life cycle analysis, and the circular economy.
• Research Project (60 credits): This is the most important individual module, assessing the student's ability to conduct research.
Students choose a research project in consultation with a supervisor and conduct original research in that area. Projects can be industrially-based problem solving, laboratory-based, or computational-based research and development. The research portfolio includes a Technical Review and a Dissertation, along with a lay summary for a wider audience. Students will also present their research work as a poster presentation.

Optional Modules (Examples):

• Petroleum Engineering (15 credits): Covers the origins of petroleum, refining, biofuels, and advanced topics in petrochemical engineering.
• Low Carbon Energy Science and Technology (15 credits): Explores the need for low carbon technologies and examines various technologies in detail.
• Bioresources and Bioprocessing (PGT) (15 credits): Covers bioresources, their characteristics, applications, and processing technologies.
• Electrochemical Engineering (15 credits): Covers electrochemical kinetics, thermodynamics, electrical and mass transport, electrochemical characterization, and energy storage and conversion technologies.

Assessment:

Assessment is through formal examinations, continuous assessment, and a research project.

Teaching:

Teaching methods include lectures, tutorials, and project work. All tutors are actively involved in research and consultancy in their field.

Careers:

The program prepares students for careers in the environmental and energy sectors. The program's focus on sustainability and emerging technologies makes graduates highly sought after by employers.

Other:

The program is taught by the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, which has first-class facilities including cutting-edge laboratories and a Pilot Plant. The department has strong relationships with major international companies in various industries.