Program Overview

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Postgraduate Taught 2025

Zero Carbon Engineering (PgCert)

Overview

This course supports individuals who wish to undertake sustainability-focused roles in a wide range of engineering and manufacturing sectors in relation to our zero-carbon transition and achieving our 2050 Net Zero Emission targets. Specifically, it will provide detailed understanding and training in renewable energy production and assessing and monitoring sustainable processes. In association with the Postgraduate Certificate in Hydrogen Energy Systems, this certificate course will help provide training and support for regional, national and international transition towards a net-zero economy.

Course Structure

Governments around the world have set legally binding targets in support of low-carbon growth, which will require significant investments in resources, infrastructure, and technology. The aim of this programme is to provide students with a strong foundation of the engineering and associated skills that are needed to underpin such “green growth” in a wide range of sectors. They will therefore be well placed to support existing and new industries in their transition to net-zero carbon manufacturing.

Modules

• Tools for Assessing Energy and Carbon (20 credits)
• Sustainability and Net Zero Carbon Criteria (20 credits)
• Applied Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Technologies (20 credits)

Entrance Requirements

Normally a 2.2 Honours degree (or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University) in any STEM subject. Applicants who can demonstrate appropriate work experience in a process, manufacturing or related role will be considered on a case by case basis and may be required to successfully complete a brief skills assessment and/or interview.

Tuition Fees

Northern Ireland (NI) 1 | DfE Funded students: Free / Other students: £2,434
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Republic of Ireland (ROI) 2 | £2,434
England, Scotland or Wales (GB) 1 | £3,083
EU Other 3 | £8,600
International | £8,600

Career Prospects

Those graduating with a PGCert in Zero Carbon will have significantly enhanced their skills portfolio in renewable energy and will be able to effectively communicate low-carbon energy options to a wide range of stakeholders ranging from the general public though to industry and policy developers. As a result, they will be well placed for securing a job in one of the growing number of sustainability-focused careers, including positions such as a low-carbon technology engineer, carbon consultants, low-carbon solutions managers

People teaching you

Dr Neil Robinson

Director of QUB Net Zero Engineering courses

Chemical Engineering
Neil has worked in the areas of decarbonisation and net zero for over a decade, and from 2022 - 2025 held a prestigious Forrest Foundation research fellowship at the University of Western Australia, where he was named 2024 Western Australian Early Career Scientist of the Year. Neil's research focuses on the development and characterisation of porous materials to enable the energy transition, including microporous materials for the separation and storage of useful gases, and catalysts for the production of low-carbon fuels from renewable resources.

Learning and Teaching

Our online delivery aims replicate the interactive and engaging nature of an on-campus delivery

Assessment

Assessment will be continuous.

Tools for Assessing Energy and Carbon

Overview

Summary of Lecture Content:

Block 1
Topic:
Modelling mass, energy and carbon balances Staff TBC
Block 2
Topic:
Methods and tools for collection and analysis of environmental sustainability and carbon data Staff TBC
Block 3
Topic:
Applied life cycle analysis and carbon foot printing Staff TBC
Block 4
Topic:
Tools for energy and carbon management Staff TBC

Summary of Module Delivery:

This module is delivered in blocks of 3 weeks (on average). Each of the four blocks consists of online asynchronous content with synchronous content delivered via Teams.

Learning Outcomes

This module provides a greater understanding of the methods and tools that facilitate measurement and tracking of progress towards net-zero targets and furthermore provides an evidence base for decision making at different levels. Within the module we look at the tools and techniques that are used to measure environmental sustainability, including greenhouse gas emissions, resource use, waste, and water. We look at how these are applied across sectors and the challenges of their measurement, reporting and management.

At the end of the module students will be able to:

• Conduct energy and mass balances at different scales.
• Describe tools for quantifying/estimating the availability and consumption of resources including energy, water, carbon etc.
• Search and critically evaluate the literature and compile an inventory of technology performance assumptions and associated CO2-eq emissions;
• Apply knowledge and understanding of Life Cycle Analysis, Carbon-Foot Printing, Inventory and Model development and build computational models to undertake this analysis
• Predict the potential environmental, social, and economic impacts of an action or decision.
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of uncertainty and complexity in inventory development and modelling through the use of Sensitivity Analysis

Skills

Skills Associated With Module:
 Mathematical model development
 Core skills in underlying physical sciences, in particular physics and chemistry as applied to solving problems relevant to energy systems
 Critical evaluation
 Analytical skills

Sustainability and Net Zero Carbon Criteria

Overview

Summary of Lecture Content:

Block 1
Topic:
Concepts of sustainability and Net Zero Carbon Staff TBC
Block 2
Topic:
Applying sustainability criteria and metrics to industrial, commercial and residential sectors Staff TBC
Block 3
Topic:
Assessing the societal impacts of technology, engineering, design of infrastructure and policy implications in the area of sustainability and Net Zero Carbon Staff TBC
Block 4
Topic:
Evaluating regional and global trade-offs associated with resource use strategies to achieve Net Zero Carbon Staff TBC

Summary of Module Delivery:

This module is delivered in blocks of 3 weeks (on average). Each of the four blocks consists of online asynchronous content with synchronous content delivered via Teams.

Learning Outcomes

This module examines the drivers for sustainability and achieving net zero carbon. It looks at how this need has accelerated over recent years and sets out to evaluate the opportunities arising from green growth. It provides an understanding of the interdisciplinary nature of this challenge and enhances skills in areas relating to interdisciplinary communication of complex and interdependent concepts.

At the end of the module the students are expected to:
 Have a sound understanding of the concepts of sustainability and zero carbon.
 Read, understand and assimilate new information and subsume acquired knowledge into a concise format.
 Critically evaluate literature and current thinking in the area.
 Demonstrate effective written and oral communication skills, including preparation and presentation of reports.
 Be able to work in a team, through participation in group projects.
 Evaluate impacts and consequences of sustainability decisions, and their uncertainty, at regional and global scales.

Skills

Skills Associated With Module:
 Critical and interdisciplinary thinking.
 Ability to review literature, to produce written documents and reports.
 Analytical skills

Applied Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Technologies

Overview

Summary of Lecture Content:

Block 1
Topic:
Fundamentals of renewable energy technologies including wind, solar, marine, geothermal and biomass Staff TBC
Block 2
Topic:
Integration and evaluation of renewable energy systems with other current and emerging low-carbon technologies Staff TBC
Block 3
Topic:
Application of low-carbon systems to either retrofit existing, or design new buildings, factories and infrastructure Staff TBC
Block 4
Topic:
Economics and other factors for supporting decision making in the deployment of low-carbon systems Staff TBC

Summary of Module Delivery:

This module is delivered in blocks of 3 weeks (on average). Each of the four blocks consists of online asynchronous content with synchronous content delivered via Teams.

Learning Outcomes

Understanding the various options for deploying low-carbon solutions and balancing negative and positive emissions technologies to achieve net-zero forms the core of this module. Here we look at the range of options available and examine not only the individual technologies but consider how these work together in an overall energy/carbon system.
• Apply knowledge of renewable energy systems to the design of future buildings, cities and transport infrastructure

At the end of the module students will be able to:

• Explain key decision factors in choosing appropriate renewable energy and low-carbon technology systems
• Analyse and interpret data sets in support of low carbon technologies
• Understand current and emerging technologies and evaluate the related challenges towards their deployment

Skills

Skills Associated With Module:
 Core skills in underlying physical sciences, in particular physics and chemistry as applied to solving problems relevant to energy systems
 Critical evaluation
 Analytical skills
 Systems thinking
 Communication and report writing skills