Program Overview

Sustainable Transportation and Electrical Power Systems (Erasmus Mundus) MSc

Course Overview

This two-year Erasmus Mundus masters course has been developed by 4 leading European universities in partnership with 16 major international companies/organisations to respond to key challenges facing the energy sector:

• The development of new energy sources and understanding their implications on power systems
• Identifying methods to reduce CO2 emissions by increasing energy efficiency and using cleaner energy sources

Why Choose This Course?

• 10th in the UK for electrical and electronic engineering (The Guardian University Guide 2025)
• Prestigious Erasmus Mundus Master programme, run by institutions recognised for teaching excellence

Course Content

STEPS Erasmus Mundus MSc offers a highly specialized education in Electrical Engineering, focusing on two areas of the highest technological content and professional requirements in the energy sector. The STEPS JMD is promoted by a partnership led by the University of Oviedo (ES), together with the University of Nottingham (UK), the University of Rome (IT) and the Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra (PT).

Modules

• Year 1
• Year 2

Core Modules

• Sustainable Transportation and Electrical Power Systems (Sapienza/Coimbra) 60 credits
  • This module includes fundamental scientific and technical aspects of Electrical Engineering, Power Electronics, Machines and Control. Fundamental and practical knowledge of Microprocessors for Electrical control.
  • Assessment method: 100% coursework

Optional Modules

Sustainable Transportation

• Power Systems for Aerospace, Marine and Automotive Applications (spring) 20 credits
  • This module aims to develop an understanding of the design and operation of power systems in aerospace, marine and automotive applications.
  • Delivery:
    • Lecture: 12 weeks, 2 sessions/week, 2 hours/session
    • Practicum: 10 weeks, 1 session/week, 2 hours/session
  • Assessment method:
    • Coursework: 25%
    • Exam: 75%
• Advanced AC Drives (spring) 20 credits
  • This module covers the control of AC drives, covering drives for a variety of machine types and control strategies, for example, vector control.
  • Delivery:
    • Lecture: 12 weeks, 2 sessions/week, 2 hours/session
  • Assessment method:
    • Coursework: 50%
    • Exam: 50%
• Advanced Electrical Machines (spring) 20 credits
  • This module introduces advanced electrical machine concepts and applications in the area of more electric transport, renewable generation and industrial automation.
  • Delivery:
    • Lecture: 12 weeks, 2 sessions/week, 2 hours/session
    • Practicum: 10 weeks, 1 session/week, 2 hours/session
  • Assessment method:
    • Coursework: 25%
    • Exam: 75%

Power Systems

• Renewable Generation Technologies (spring) 10 credits
  • This module covers the analysis and design of renewable and sustainable energy systems.
  • Delivery:
    • Lecture: 12 weeks, 1 session/week, 2 hours/session
  • Assessment method:
    • Coursework: 25%
    • Exam: 75%
• Energy Storage (spring) 10 credits
  • Energy storage is emerging as one of the most important and most exciting of modern engineering activities.
  • Assessment: 100% exam
• Advanced AC Drives (spring) 20 credits
  • This module covers the control of AC drives, covering drives for a variety of machine types and control strategies, for example, vector control.
  • Delivery:
    • Lecture: 12 weeks, 2 sessions/week, 2 hours/session
  • Assessment method:
    • Coursework: 50%
    • Exam: 50%
• Distributed Generation and Alternative Energy (spring) 20 credits
  • This module covers the operation of modern power systems including deregulated power systems, distributed generation, microgrids, energy storage, and technologies for producing clean energy.
  • Delivery:
    • Lecture: 12 weeks, 2 sessions/week, 2 hours/session
    • Practicum: 10 weeks, 1 session/week, 2 hours/session
  • Assessment method:
    • Coursework: 50%
    • Exam: 50%

Core Modules

• Sustainable Transportation and Electrical Power Systems (Oviedo) 60 credits
  • 100% coursework, assessed by end of autumn semester.
• MSc Project (summer) 60 credits
  • In this module a student will be assigned to an individual supervisor who will be a staff member in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering.
  • The student will carry out a practical, theoretical or simulation based project chosen from the current interests of the staff member concerned.
  • The module aims to give experience of completing a major investigation within the topic area of their MSc course, including planning the work to meet a final deadline and reporting on the work both in a structured written report (worth 80% of the module) and by an informal oral presentation (worth 20% of the module).

Learning and Assessment

How You Will Learn

• Independent study
• Lectures
• Group study
• Practical classes
• Workshops
• Lab sessions
• Supervision
• Tutorials

How You Will Be Assessed

• Coursework
• Examinations
• Lab skills
• Group project
• Online exams
• Dissertation
• Research project
• Presentations

Entry Requirements

• Undergraduate degree: A 2.1 degree in Electrical and/or Electronic Engineering, or other relevant degree.
• International and EU equivalents: We accept a wide range of qualifications from all over the world.
• IELTS: 6.0 (no less than 5.5 in any element)
• English language requirements: As well as IELTS (listed above), we also accept other English language qualifications.

Fees

• Home / UK: £11,850
• International: £28,600

Additional Costs

• All students will need at least one device to approve security access requests via Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA).
• We also recommend students have a suitable laptop to work both on and off-campus.
• Project equipment and components are normally covered by the department, though some students opt to buy some of their own components up to £100.
• You should be able to access most of the books you’ll need through our libraries, though you may wish to purchase your own copies or more specific titles which could cost up to £300.

Funding

• There are many ways to fund your postgraduate course, from scholarships to government loans.
• We also offer a range of international masters scholarships for high-achieving international scholars who can put their Nottingham degree to great use in their careers.

Careers

• Careers advice
• Job prospects
• Partnerships
• We offer individual careers support for all postgraduate students.
• Expert staff can help you research career options and job vacancies, build your CV or résumé, develop your interview skills and meet employers.
• Career destinations for our graduates in the department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering include:
  • IT business analysts
  • Systems designers
  • Programmers
  • Software development professionals
  • Production technicians
  • Electrical engineers and engineering professionals
• 100% of postgraduates from the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering secured work or further study within six months of graduation. The average starting salary was £25,450.