Overview
Businesses, society and policy makers are recognising that change is required at all levels if we are to address the challenge of sustainable energy and development and meet the needs of future generations. At DMU, our Energy and Sustainable Development MSc reflects the knowledge and skills required by professionals working to tackle climate change.
On this course, you will develop an understanding of how sustainable development can be achieved and how we can deal with global climate change through sustainable energy, more efficient design and manufacturing, better management of buildings and organisational behaviour change. You will learn from leading academics and specialists from the Institute of Energy and Sustainable Development (IESD), as well as a range of invited experts and guest speakers.
You will graduate with the skills and knowledge to lead communities, organisations and governments. This course is ideal for individuals with a social science or physical science background, or for mid-career professionals with relevant experience.
Key features
- Our IESD research and teaching staff provide you with the opportunity to learn from scientists actively involved in furthering knowledge and sharing expertise.
- The course is accredited by both the Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE), an international body which represents and provides services to the building services profession, and the Energy Institute, the leading professional body for the energy industries. This assures you that the course content is industry-relevant.
- The course is designed to be flexible and fit around your commitments with on campus, part-time or full-time or distance learning options available.
- Graduate equipped with the relevant knowledge and expertise required for careers in the industry, with course content relevant to modern day practice, including relevant research projects and industry-related issues.
- Access specialist facilities such as the Energy Laboratory, a high-tech hub for teaching, research and technology demonstration.
- Study a course with excellent graduate prospects. Graduates have gone on to work for global companies including the Carbon Trust, BMW, National Grid and the European Commission, as well as a variety of other energy and environmental consultancies, central and local government and multinational organisations.
- Applicants will typically hold an undergraduate degree with a minimum pass of 2:2 or equivalent overseas qualification.
- Professional qualifications deemed to be of equivalent standing will be considered on an individual basis.
- Work experience is not a requirement. However, applications from those without formal qualifications but with significant professional experience in the relevant field will be considered individually.
If English is not your first language an IELTS score of 6.0 overall with 5.5 in each band (or equivalent) when you start the course is essential.
English Language tuition, delivered by our British Council-accredited Centre for English Language Learning, is available both before and throughout the course if you need it.
Course modules
Sustainable Development covers the key concepts of sustainable development and sustainability. This module discusses social, ecological and economic sustainability concepts and encourages you to develop a critical appreciation of the sustainable development debate
Sustainable Energy describes the sources of energy, and how they are exploited with a wide range of technologies, with an emphasis on their environmental impacts and long-term sustainability
Sustainable Buildings introduces you to the main aspects of sustainability in regards to the built environment, exploring the environmental, economic and social/cultural issues that need to be considered for achieving successful building design and operation. Topics covered include climate-responsive design, low/ zero carbon performance, energy and water consumption, human factors and urban planning
Resource-Efficient Design provides a grounded understanding of resource-efficient design in both industrial and non-industrial contexts.
This module will adopt a 'whole systems' perspective to the introduction of students to the design process and will encourage them to analyse each stage of development in terms of its impact on resource use and overall energy consumption
Energy Analysis Techniques is a particularly practical module that will equip you with the skills to analyse energy data from buildings and industrial processes, and to carry out energy audits and surveys to identify energy and greenhouse gas saving opportunities.
Issues such as heating, lighting, ventilation and general energy use are considered, and crucially, ways to bring about energy savings and how to make energy saving recommendations, sometimes as much as 20% with zero (or very low) investment.
The case studies we use are mainly for non domestic buildings but all of the techniques can also be applied to dwellings.
The module includes the theory behind energy analysis, and we carry out practical building surveys, and data analysis in lab sessions, the assessment being to prepare a report similar to one you would produce as a professional energy efficiency consultant.
Study Skills and Research Methods provides the skills necessary to successfully complete a research project of a high standard, introducing you to a range of research methodologies and practices relevant to the successful completion of the MSc
Dissertation will complete the MSc by undertaking a research project on a topic of your choice, supervised by an experienced member of research staff
Optional Modules:
Leading Change for Sustainability aims to equip students with theoretical knowledge and practical skills to enable them to play an effective leadership role in promoting sustainability. The module draws upon applied environmental psychology and theories of social and organisational change as its theoretical basis, alongside practitioner-developed understandings of behaviour change and social transformation. The knowledge and skills developed are intended to be applicable in a range of settings, including organisations, government, communities and the personal sphere.
Low-Impact Manufacturing introduces the concept of an industrial system, linking different types of industry, including raw material processing, manufacturing and waste processing, that combine to satisfy consumer demand. It explains the ways in which energy and resource use can be identified at each stage of a product life-cycle and how the associated environmental impacts can be identified and mitigated.
Key international standards relevant to sustainable manufacturing are described, and a technical approach is taken throughout the module
Engineering Business Environment enables you to understand and reflect upon the role of businesses in a rapidly changing, globalised world. As well as considering the changing environment in which businesses operate, time is spent exploring the steps a business can take to respond to the environmental challenges ahead; for example, through supply chain management, logistics, life-cycle analysis, green accounting and carbon trading
You will complete the MSc by undertaking a research project on a topic of your choice, supervised by an experienced member of research staff.
Note: All modules are indicative and based on the current academic session. Course information is correct at the time of publication and is subject to review. Exact modules may, therefore, vary for your intake in order to keep content current. If there are changes to your course we will, where reasonable, take steps to inform you as appropriate.
Teaching and academic expertise
Full-time students attend for two days each week and receive formal lectures from experienced researchers and teaching staff, complemented by informal seminars and group discussions. Part-time students attend one day per week. You will also be expected to undertake self-directed study. All teaching material is fully documented and available on the web-based virtual learning environment (VLE) before timetabled events take place.
Distance learning students follow a structured study plan provided on the VLE, supported by discussion forums with other students, and email and telephone conversations with the module leader. Our course has been commended in an academic quality review for its “innovative and sophisticated forms of e-based learning and teaching”.
All assessment is by coursework. Each taught module has two items of coursework. The first is a smaller assignment, on which prompt feedback is given while the module is being studied. A second, major assignment is submitted after the material has been assimilated.
As well as the eight taught modules, students complete either an individual dissertation or a team-based design project, and all students get to attend the annual MSc conference, where final year students present.
Contact and learning hours
You will normally attend 2-4 hours of timetabled taught sessions each week for each module undertaken during term time; for full time study this would be 12 hours per week during term time. You can also expect to typically undertake a further hours of 6 hours independent study and assignments as required per week.
The Institute of Energy and Sustainable Development's research has developed over a 30-year period to create the underlying knowledge, techniques and technology necessary to achieve more energy-efficient and sustainable lifestyles.
Current research is driven by the UK's commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase the use of new and renewable energy technology, and provide a high-quality, comfortable, safe and efficient built environment.
Applied research seeks practical solutions to contemporary problems, while more theoretical explorations seek to understand our physical and social world, generating new knowledge that can have long-term benefits in many fields of human endeavour.
Our teaching team are recognised researchers within their field and embed industry relevant case studies into the course to ensure content is current to the issue we face around sustainability and renewable energy.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology
The course is fully accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) which is one of the world’s leading professional societies for the engineering and technology community, with more than 150,000 members in 127 countries.
IET accreditation recognises the high standard of the course and confirms the relevance of its content. In order to achieve IET accreditation the course has had to reach a certain standard in areas such as the course structure, staffing, resourcing, quality assurance, student support and technical depth.
The benefits of an IET accredited course include increased opportunities, being looked on favourably by employers and completing the first step in your journey to achieving professional Chartered Engineer (CEng) status which can be applied for following a period of suitable industrial experience after graduation.
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