Program Overview

Postgraduate Certificate in Offshore Renewable Energy

The Postgraduate Certificate in Offshore Renewable Energy is a part-time Level 9 course that provides the knowledge-base required for engineers and engineering practitioners to develop their skills in the area of offshore renewable energy, with a particular focus on offshore wind.

Course Outline

The programme content covers cutting-edge technologies in the renewable energy sector, as well as instructing students in the underpinning theory. There is a strong industry focus throughout the course, in the form of industry-informed content, and direct access via guest lectures. Graduates will thus emerge from the course up to date with the status of the offshore wind and renewable energy sector and the skills to make a successful entry and contribution to the industry.

Course Structure

The course consists of six taught modules delivered across two semesters. The modules are:

• NE6003 Wind Energy (5 credits, Semester 1): Introduces students to wind energy theory and technology, resource assessment and wind farm site development.
• NE6013 Sustainable Energy (5 credits, Semester 1): Introduces the concept of sustainable energy, renewable energy technologies, energy policy and economics as well as the interaction between cost competitiveness, security of supply and environmental responsibility.
• NE6203 Ocean Energy (5 credits, Semester 1): Covers wave and tidal energy, introducing students to the background theory as well as the latest technological developments in the marine renewable energy sector.
• NE6010 Offshore Wind Energy (5 credits, Semester 2): Educates students in the advanced engineering and non-engineering issues relevant to offshore wind energy systems design, construction, installation, operations, finance and governance, with a particular focus on these developments in Irish waters.
• NE6212 Clean Energy Futures (5 credits, Semester 2): Teaches students about real-world complex energy systems and how to model them using PLEXOS, the industry-standard software.
• NE6004 Sustainability, Bioenergy and Circular Economy Systems (5 credits, Semester 2): Introduces students to sustainability concepts associated with circular economy systems with a particular emphasis on hydrogen and other advanced renewable fuels that can be produced using offshore wind energy.

Course Practicalities

The course will be delivered using a blended model: modules where lectures are delivered in-person will be recorded, and the recordings uploaded onto Canvas, the learning platform used across UCC, where they can be watched asynchronously by the students. The students thus have the option of either an in-person experience, a fully online experience or a combination of the two (blended). In-person attendance is only mandatory for formal written exams at the end of each semester.

Why Choose This Course

This course is aimed at engineers or engineering practitioners of all types who want to gain skills and employment in the offshore renewable energy sector. Students will benefit from up-to-date content, industry-relevant assessments and guest lectures from experts in the energy sector.

Skills and Careers Information

By doing this course, students gain employer exposure through UCC-organised recruitment fairs and employer-led events. Our graduates have gone on to avail of local, national and international opportunities in renewable energy project development, engineering consultancy, resource analysis, project financing, operations and management, surveying, and energy policy development.

Requirements

The academic entry requirements are:

• A minimum Second Class Honours Grade II (or equivalent) in a primary honours degree in any discipline of Engineering (NFQ - level 8);
• or A minimum Second Class Honours Grade II (or equivalent) in a honours degree (NFQ - level 8) in areas of science that included mathematical subjects deemed equivalent to those of engineering (e.g. Physics, Mathematical Sciences, some Computing Science degrees), pending assessment by Programme Director via Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL);
• or A pass in any accredited level 8 Engineering degree followed by professional experience deemed of sufficient added value, pending assessment by Programme Director via Recognition of Prior Learning.

Fees and Costs

• General Applications: 5,000
• Springboard+ Applications: There are a limited number of places available on this programme funded by Springboard+.
  • Those in employment can avail of a 90% fee subsidy (Fee payable: 500)
  • Those unemployed/returners can avail of a 100% fee subsidy

How To Apply

You should apply for this programme via the Springboard+ website.