Hydrogen Energy Systems

Overview
This course supports individuals who wish to undertake sustainability-focused roles in a wide range of engineering and manufacturing sectors in relation to hydrogen energy and achieving our 2050 Net Zero Emission targets. Specifically, it will provide detailed understanding and training in hydrogen generation and use for clean energy applications as well as hydrogen system design and integration with existing infrastructure. In association with the Postgraduate Certificate in Zero Carbon Engineering, this certificate course will help provide training and support for regional, national and international transition towards a net-zero economy.

Who Are You?
You are someone who is interested in the energy transition towards achieving our Net Zero Emissions targets. That could be in relation to understanding more about the fundamental process and how we can achieve it or developing the skills to directly contribute within your current sector or industry. You could be someone already working within the renewable energy sector or someone thinking about reskilling and beginning a career in a more sustainability-focused role.

Why Study This Course?
You will gain a strong foundation in the engineering and associated skills that are needed to underpin growth in the renewable energy sector. This includes exploring current low-carbon energy manufacturing routes, advancements in emerging technologies, and assessing and modelling sustainability. You will therefore be well placed to support existing and new industries in their energy system transition. Students completing this course will possess skills in each of these areas which are increasingly sought by local and international employers for positions such as a low-carbon technology engineers, carbon consultants and low-carbon solutions managers. You will therefore be well placed to support existing and new industries in their energy system transition which will play a key role in the growing local and global economy.

Hydrogen Energy Systems Highlights
The course is taught by leading academics from across the faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences including the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering which is a unique and internationally recognized School.

Industry Links
• We regularly consult and develop links with a large number of global employers from a variety of sectors including large energy producers (as well as smaller industries) including Horiba Mira and Petronas. Furthermore, we work with a range of local and start-up/spin-out companies including Wright Bus, Green Lizard Technologies and MOF Technologies.

Internationally Renowned Experts
• Sustainability is one of the School's two core themes. Core staff are leading multi-million pound research projects on sustainability and net zero research. As the UK's only combined Chemistry and Chemical Engineering School within the Russell group, our experts very well placed to equip the next generation of scientists to address these issues.

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

Online support
There is online advisory support for learners to connect with experts who provide bespoke one-to-one support. Offered - Monday to Friday, daytime to early evening, to flexibly support leaners.

Practice activities
Regular practice activities including set exercises, problem sheets and other tasks to reinforce learning and build practical skills.

Seminars
There are regular seminar classes to allow students to engage with lecturers and ask questions about the taught material within the teaching blocks.

Workshops
Workshops will consolidate learning and further explore course topics. These will be delivered live via Teams to permit learners to connect and ask / answer questions. The classes will also be recorded to permit flexible on-demand access.

Introduction
This course will start in September 2023 and run until mid-May 2024. Assessment activities will be carried out throughout the course and may extend beyond individual module teaching blocks. Students on the course will need to have access to a computer with internet access.

The course will be divided across three 20 CATS modules (60 CATS total) and will utilize online delivery and blended-learning activities to enable students to access learning materials in a highly flexible manner, compatible with a part-time mode of study. Delivery will take the form of pre-recorded lectures and reading material being made available to students on a weekly basis, followed by regular synchronous online workshops, seminars and Q&A sessions to ensure continuous engagement with the students.

Blended teaching and assessments will be delivered via a mixture of pre-recorded lectures, live online workshop and seminar classes and self-directed study and practice materials. In addition, a short guest lecture series will be delivered with lecturers from industry.

List of Indicative Programme modules
• Fundamental Principles of Hydrogen Generation and Use
• Hydrogen System Integration
• Hydrogen System Design

Options for further study
This programme (60 CATS), along with the one in Hydrogen Energy Systems (60 CATS), can also contribute towards the MSc in Net Zero Engineering (180 CATS). Students who are interested in using this certificate to build towards the MSc in Net Zero Engineering are encouraged to contact the MSc Programme Director (Dr Nathan Skillen – n.skillen@qub.ac.uk) to discuss this process.

Graduate
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.

Places available on this programme are limited. Where there are more eligible applicants than places available the academic selectors will make offers in rank order based on academic merit and potential as evidenced in the totality of the information provided within each application. We will operate a waiting list as required to allow us to fill all available places.

We may be able to consider self-funded or employer-funded applicants on a case by case basis, as capacity on the individual PG Cert programmes allow. Please indicate in your application if you wish to be considered as a self-funded or employer-funded applicant.

English Language Requirements
Applicants for whom English is not their first language must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study. Please see the following link for further information: https://www.qub.ac.uk/International/International-students/Applying/English-language-requirements/.

International students wishing to apply to Queen's University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.

For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: www.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs.

If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen's University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.

• Academic English: an intensive English language and study skills course for successful university study at degree level

• Pre-sessional English: a short intensive academic English course for students starting a degree programme at Queen's University Belfast and who need to improve their English.

The closing date for applications is Friday 25th August 2023 at 12 noon.

How to Apply
Applications should be submitted online via the Postgraduate Applications Portal for admission to the vast majority of postgraduate programmes.

New applicants will need to register via the Portal to create an application account. If you are already a Queen's student with an active Qsis account, you can log in using your student number and Qsis password. Guidance on how to complete an application is provided within the Portal and it is possible to save application data and return to complete it at a later date, if you wish. After core details about yourself and your academic background have been provided, you can submit an application, or multiple applications, if required.

If you applied in a previous cycle through the Portal and are re-applying, you should use your previous log in details. Please review and update your personal and contact details, academic and professional qualifications before submitting a new application.

Important – please ensure that the email address you provide is correct and active, as this will be used by us to communicate the progress of your application to you.

1 year (Part Time)

Teaching Times
Blended teaching and assessments will be delivered via a mixture of pre-recorded lectures, live online workshop and seminar classes and self-directed study and practice materials. At least 20 hours of study effort will be expected each week.

Career Prospects
Introduction
Those graduating with a PGCert in Hydrogen Energy Systems will have significantly enhanced their skills portfolio in renewable energy and will be able to effectively communicate hydrogen energy options to a wide range of stakeholders ranging from the general public though to industry and policy developers.

Employment Links
Employment Links
The School has excellent links with a range of established and emerging companies for whom Sustainability and the Green Economy are key platforms.

Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award for extra-curricular skills
In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised from a world leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.