Engineering - Sustainable Energy

Course Outline

If you want to help the world address the energy 'grand challenge' of the 21st century, then Ireland’s first Masters in Engineering Science degree programme in Sustainable Energy is for you. Our modern world depends on a secure, reliable, and affordable energy supply and Sustainable Energy is crucial to addressing some of the most challenging issues facing the world today. Our Sustainable Energy graduates will be required to source, design, convert, transmit and supply useful energy to meet our present and long-term needs for electricity, mobility and heating and cooling.



In this MEngSc programme, we consider firstly how to reduce human impact on the climate through innovative low-carbon energy supply systems and secondly, how to provide a better standard of living for the world’s growing population through access to sustainable and secure energy supplies.



This programme is open to Engineering graduates of all disciplines with an 8-month programme option leading to a Postgraduate Diploma in Sustainable Energy.

Students take credits over two parts as follows:



Part I



Students take 60 credits as follows:



Core Modules

NE6003 Wind Energy (5)

NE4008 Photovoltaic Systems (5)

NE6005 Ocean Energy (5)

NE6012 Energy in Buildings (5)

NE6013 Sustainable Energy (5)

NE6014 Energy Innovation (5)

CE6042 Transportation and Energy (5)

NE6004 Sustainability, Bioenergy and Circular Economy Systems (5)

NE6010 Offshore Wind Energy (5)

NE6212 Clean Energy Futures (5)

NE6008 Preliminary Research Project in Sustainable Energy (10)



Depending on the background of the student, the Programme Coordinator may decide to replace some of the above taught modules with modules from the following list up to a maximum of 20 credits:



NE6016 Energy Systems in Buildings (5)

CE4020 Environmental Hydrodynamics (5)

CE6024 Finite Element Analysis (5)

EE3011 Power Electronics & AC Machines and Systems (5)

EE3012 Electric Vehicle Energy Systems (5)

EE4001 Energy Systems, Power Electronics and Drives (5)

EE4002 Control Engineering II (5)

EE6035 Electrical Power Systems (5)

EE6048 Smart Grids (5)

ME6007 Mechanical Systems (5)

NE6007 Energy Systems Modelling (5)

NE6015 Data Analytics for Engineering (5)



Part II

NE6009 Dissertation in Sustainable Energy (30 credits)



Postgraduate Diploma in Sustainable Energy

Students who pass but fail to achieve the requisite grade of 50% across the taught modules and the Preliminary Research Report will be eligible for the award of a Postgraduate Diploma in Sustainable Energy. Candidates passing Part I of the programme who do not wish to proceed to Part II may opt to be conferred with a Postgraduate Diploma in Sustainable Energy.

- Candidates must have a BE (Hons) or BEng (Hons) Degree or equivalent engineering qualification, with a minimum Second Class Honours Grade II (NFQ, Level 8). However, candidates with equivalent academic qualifications and suitable experience may be accepted subject to the approval of College of Science, Engineering and Food Science under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). In all cases, the course of study for each candidate must be approved by the Programme Coordinator.



- Candidates from Grandes Écoles Colleges are also eligible to apply if they are studying a cognate discipline in an ENSEA or EFREI Graduate School and are eligible to enter the final year (M2) of their programme.



For Applicants with Qualifications Completed Outside of Ireland

Applicants must meet the required entry academic grade, equivalent to Irish requirements. For more information see our Qualification Comparison page.



International/Non-EU Applicants

For full details of the non-EU application procedure visit our how to apply pages for international students.



- In UCC, we use the term programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools, and departments.



- Note that not all courses are open to international/non-EU applicants, please check the fact file above. For more information contact the International Office.



English Language Requirements

Applicants who are non-native speakers of the English language must meet the university-approved English language requirements. Visit our PG English Language Requirements page for more information.



Additional Requirements (All Applicants)

Please note you will be required to provide additional information as part of the online application process for this programme. This will include the following questions:



- You may enter the details of professional or voluntary positions held. We strongly encourage you to complete this section with all relevant work experiences that will support your application.

- Please upload your CV here.

- Please enter the name and email address of two referees.

Closing Date: Rolling deadline. Open until all places have been filled. Early application is advised.



Non-EU Closing Date: Open until all places have been filled or no later than 15 June. Early application is advised.

1 year full-time.

Start Date 7 September 2026

Career Opportunities

Students will benefit from up-to-date content, industry-relevant assessments and guest lectures from experts in the energy sector. Additionally, 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.