| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2025-09-01 | - |
| 2026-01-01 | - |
Program Overview
Energy Storage - MSc
2025/26 Full-time Postgraduate course
Award:
Master of Science
Faculty:
Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment
School:
Belfast School of Architecture and the Built Environment
Campus:
Belfast campus
Start dates:
- September 2025
- January 2026
Overview
MSc Energy Storage provides the expertise to fulfil the expectations of an energy storage market that is predicted to grow to $250 billion by 2040.
Summary
Energy Storage is a rapidly developing field of study within academia and industry in response to the need to decarbonise our energy systems through renewable energy. Bloomberg New Energy Finance predicts explosive growth over the next 12 years.
Our MSc Energy Storage programme will enable graduates to embark on a professional career in energy storage with the high-level skills needed to meet emerging challenges. For example, large-scale renewable energy from non-dispatchable wind and solar energy has begun to threaten the operation of existing electricity networks in several countries.
You will be introduced to the essential areas of renewable energy, energy management, distributed energy resource management and energy storage technologies.
A vital feature of the course is our staff; you will be taught by published academics who will enhance your learning experience with research-led teaching.
The course was accredited in 2022 by the Energy Institute.
About this course
About
The MSc Energy Storage programme is a 12-month full-time Master’s degree designed for those keen to address the challenges of moving towards a low-carbon society.
The programme provides a thorough grounding in the core disciplines of energy storage and is embedded in global best practice, technology and economics of its deployment. The course combines technology understanding with a critical assessment of performance characteristics within energy market structures, giving graduates expertise in sizing and selecting the optimum energy storage technology.
The course is delivered by the Centre of Sustainable Technologies (CST), whose knowledge, facilities, industrial links and data sets are drawn from more than £10M of externally funded past and current projects in energy storage.
Students will have the opportunity to engage with industry during their research dissertation project and through participation in workshops/seminars organised by the Centre for Sustainable Technologies linked to national and international projects in the field of energy storage and energy.
You will be taught by published academics who will enhance your learning experience with research-led teaching. Research is a core activity of the Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment.
The Centre for Sustainable Technologies (CST) is one research centre within the Faculty. The centre focuses on energy as its core activity. It has a strong portfolio of energy and energy storage-related projects focussing on developing electrical and thermal storage technologies and their place in Distributed Energy Resource Systems and their markets. World-leading research is demonstrated by over £10M of externally funded research income in energy storage from EU, EPSRC and SfI and over 140 peer-reviewed publications in this and related fields.
Attendance
Teaching will be delivered on the Belfast campus. Students will have the opportunity to have direct contact with the team, access seminars to engage with industry and generate experience in the laboratories of the Centre for Sustainable Technologies at the Belfast campus.
Start dates
- September 2025
- January 2026
Teaching, Learning and Assessment
Teaching methods are diverse and planned for an advanced education in energy storage. Lectures are considered an effective way of engaging students and communicating knowledge coherently. All lecture content is collected in the University’s VLE, Blackboard Learn (BBL). Practical, laboratory-based work is a central activity, and the Centre for Sustainable Technologies has several state-of-the-art laboratories in which renewable and energy storage systems can be demonstrated and assessed.
The modules are all 15 credit point modules, except for the dissertation module, which is 60 credit points for 180 credits. Modules are all 100% coursework. There are a maximum of two items of assessment in a module. An item may include more than one component, but the overall item will have a single mark.
Modules
Year one
- International Best Practice in Energy Storage Integration
- Year: 1
- Status: C
- This module will provide the participant with a global overview of best practice that demonstrates the successful integration of intermittent renewable energy sources. Furthermore it will help students to acquire digital skills for energy modelling.
- Thermal Storage and Heat Networks
- Year: 1
- Status: C
- This module will provide the participant with a global overview of best practice that demonstrates the successful integration of Renewable Energy in both the electricity Transmission System to the electricity Distribution System. Furthermore, it will address in detail heating, cooling and alternative distributed energy resource applications in a global context.
- Distributed Energy Resources
- Year: 1
- Status: C
- The aims of the module are to understand through a series of lectures and seminars, the array of techniques and technologies associated with demand side management and how its role in variable renewable energy management has evolved into consideration as distributed energy resources (DER). DER will be demonstrated in laboratories data and assessment will be through a case study to test your mastery of this specialist area.
- Electricity Storage and Electricity Networks
- Year: 1
- Status: C
- This module gives students a detailed understanding of the physical, economic and environmental aspects of modern grid architecture, in high renewables-penetration scenarios. As well as the design, operation and maintenance of power grids, students will learn about the vital role of grid-scale storage technologies in current and future low/zero-carbon systems.
- Energy Policy, Markets and Economics
- Year: 1
- Status: C
- This module examines current and future challenges for energy system decarbonisation through energy policy, market and economic assessments.
- Current Status of Energy Systems
- Year: 1
- Status: C
- Energy resources, energy production, energy economics and the environment are all inextricably linked. These ties need to be enforced if the concept of sustainability is to be realised.
- Wind Energy Conversion Technologies
- Year: 1
- Status: C
- This module will introduce students to wind energy theory and technology, resource assessment and wind farm site development. It will also discuss the implications of both very large scale development and large numbers of individual turbines on existing electricity distribution networks.
- Solar energy processes and technologies
- Year: 1
- Status: C
- This module will enable students to appreciate, analyse and evaluate current solar energy technologies and understand how these resources may be combined with storage solutions and managed with a view to future sustainability and demonstrate how the management of energy can benefit industry financially in the short term and influence sustainability in the longer term.
- Energy Storage Work Based Project
- Status: O
- Year: 1
- This module is optional
- The Energy Storage Work-Based Project module integrates and further develops the knowledge and skills acquired during the taught elements of the programme. This module is designed to support and enhance the learning that students gain through their industry work experience. Specifically, it allows students to apply their acquired knowledge and skills to undertake a project relevant to the energy/energy storage sector.
- Research Dissertation
- Status: O
- Year: 1
- This module is optional
- This module will allow the student to undertake an independent, in-depth study of a particular aspect of renewable energy technology or energy management strategy, policy or implementation whether covered in the course or not. It will provide an opportunity for students to integrate knowledge in the identification, description analysis and, where appropriate, solution of a problem within the area of Renewable Energy and Energy Management, and to place it within the context of existing knowledge and recent developments in this area.
Year two
- Research Dissertation (Specialism)
- Status: O
- Year: 2
- This module is optional
- This module will allow the student to undertake an independent, in-depth study of a particular aspect of energy storage, renewable energy technology or energy management strategy, policy or implementation whether covered in the course or not. It will provide an opportunity for students to integrate knowledge in the identification, description analysis and, where appropriate, solution of a problem within the area of Renewable Energy and Energy Management, and to place it within the context of existing knowledge and recent developments in this area.
Standard entry conditions
Entry Requirements
Applicants must:
- (a) have gained:
- (i) a second class honours degree or better, in the subject areas of science or engineering or related discipline, from a university of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland, or from a recognised national awarding body, or from an institution of another country which has been recognised as being of an equivalent standard;
- or
- (ii) an equivalent standard (normally 50%) in a Graduate Diploma, Graduate Certificate, Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma or an approved alternative qualification; and the qualification must be in the subject areas of science, engineering or related discipline.
- and
- (b) provide evidence of competence in written and spoken English (GCSE grade C or equivalent).
In exceptional circumstances, as an alternative to (a) (i) or (a) (ii) and/or (b), where an individual has substantial and significant experiential learning, a portfolio of written evidence demonstrating the meeting of graduate qualities (including subject-specific outcomes, as determined by the Course Committee) may be considered as an alternative entrance route. Evidence used to demonstrate graduate qualities may not be used for exemption against modules within the programme.
English Language Requirements
- English language requirements for international applicants
- The minimum requirement for this course is Academic IELTS 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5. Trinity ISE: Pass at level III also meets this requirement for Tier 4 visa purposes.
- Ulster recognises a number of other English language tests and comparable IELTS equivalent scores.
Exemptions and transferability
Students may be admitted to the programme in line with Accreditation of Prior Learning guidelines. Students from this course would be eligible to directly enter graduate employment or to proceed to further study at PhD level.
Careers & opportunities
Career options
The MSc Energy Storage aims to prepare students for a successful career in energy or energy storage. In the United States, it is predicted that there will be over 350,000 energy storage jobs by 2025. The EU will support a new battery cell manufacturing industry with 200M Euro investment. The UK Clean Growth Strategy reports over 430,000 in the low carbon sector and 17,750 jobs linked with the growing energy storage and electric vehicle industry.
Students will have the opportunity to apply for a job or improving their position in energy transmission companies, energy distribution companies, energy supply companies, consultancies and at a regional or national government level.
Furthermore, employability is at the heart of Ulster University vision. The MSc Energy Storage will allow students to develop and enhance their employability skills. Employability is embedded within the modules rather than concentrating on specific modules.
Fees and funding
10% Alumni Discount
Are you a graduate of Ulster University? Did you know you could be eligible for a 10% fees discount.
Tuition Fee Loans Available
Students domiciled in Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and UK students can apply to Student Finance NI for a Tuition Fee loan of up to £6,500 (subject to eligibility).
Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and EU Settlement Status Fees
£7,240.00
International Fees
£17,810.00
Fees Notice - January Start
Important Notice: Fees information for programmes with a January 2026 start date
Ulster University has two main intakes for Academic Year 25/26 – 1. September 2025 and 2. January 2026.
Many of our programmes which start in January will continue into Academic Year 26/27 and consequently any modules undertaken in Academic Year 26/27 will be charged at our 26/27 prices.
If your study continues into future academic years your fees are subject to an annual increase. Please take this into consideration when you estimate your total fees for a degree.
International Students
- International Student fees for programmes commencing in January 2026
Students from Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and Great Britain
For those who are starting a programme in January which continues into Academic Year 26/27, 26/27 fees are currently not available. To help with budget planning please refer to the 25/26 fees. These are subject to increase.
- Visit our Fees pages for full details of fees
Additional mandatory costs are highlighted where they are known in advance. There are other costs associated with university study.
Fees are subject to annual increase. Correct at the time of publishing. Terms and conditions apply.
Scholarships, awards and prizes
Action Renewable is funding one scholarship for local students
- View Available Scholarships
See if you can access financial or other forms of support, including mentorship to excel in your studies.
- Search our Scholarships (Opens in a new window)
Additional mandatory costs
It is important to remember that costs associated with accommodation, travel (including car parking charges) and normal living will need to be covered in addition to tuition fees.
Where a course has additional mandatory expenses (in addition to tuition fees) we make every effort to highlight them above. We aim to provide students with the learning materials needed to support their studies. Our libraries are a valuable resource with an extensive collection of books and journals, as well as first-class facilities and IT equipment. Computer suites and free Wi-Fi are also available on each of the campuses.
There are additional fees for graduation ceremonies, examination resits and library fines.
Students choosing a period of paid work placement or study abroad as a part of their course should be aware that there may be additional travel and living costs, as well as tuition fees.
See the tuition fees on our student guide for most up to date costs.
