Sustainable Energy & Green Technologies

The programme is underpinned by the best European practice by incorporating compatible EU policy drivers such as the Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET Plan) for energy research, current R&D in crops (through ongoing and research initiatives under the Charles Parsons Energy Research programme), and the collaboration with internationally acknowledged experts in the subject domains from universities, research institutions and industry. This programme enables you to maintain relevance of academic and research training, and therefore enhance your employability in the area of sustainable energy.

This programme is delivered by a highly research-intensive School comprised of a European Research Council Fellow and six Marie Curie Fellowships. The programme Director Prof. Kevin McDonnell won the inaugural SEAI Energy Innovation award, the Environcom award for energy innovation and is a Fulbright Scholar. This programme provides opportunities for site visits and industry internships where possible. The UCD School of Biosystems & Food Engineering consistently wins up to €3 million in annual research funding.

Vision and Values Statement
The programme in Sustainable Energy & Green Technologies is aimed at science and technology graduates who wish to develop a career or further studies in the sustainable use of energy and to understand the impact of energy choices on the environment. We enable our students to understand and address the resource and environmental challenges the world faces. The programme challenges students to engage with topics such as sustainable energy, life cycle assessment, environmental impacts, and to have a balanced and technical approach to understanding those topics. The programme is delivered by internationally recognised research active academic staff who bring their research experience to the classroom for the benefit of the students.

In this programme, energy is considered in the wider context of consumption patterns, efficiency, economics, policy and regulation both nationally and internationally. While there is particular focus on the deployment of renewable energies in grid-connected systems, there are also opportunities to explore off-grid systems in dissertation projects. Students are challenged to take on a number of case studies in teams as well as individually, and present their findings to their peers in an open forum. The teaching and assessment techniques used include problem based learning, individual and team project work, presentations, as well as in-term and end of year assessments. Students are also actively encouraged and supported in obtaining a work placement that support and underpins their chosen thesis research topic.

Related Programmes
ME Biosystems & Food Engineering FT
MEngSc Food Engineering FT
MSc Environmental Technology FT

The programme is structured in three academic semesters (12 calendar months).

The first semester covers Science & Technologies modules that include analytical assignments, laboratory and group work, and a foundation module on Research Methods. Also in the first semester, students will be required to identify and develop the scope for their major research project, which will be further developed and completed in the second and final semesters. The second semester focuses on energy projects and markets analyses interfacing with innovation and Technologies transfer concepts. A major individual Research Project is completed in third semester.

During the last semester of this programme, students will be required to complete their MSc Thesis. Co-requisite for embarking on the Research Project module include, successful completion of the On-line Research Skills (5 credits), and completion of a series of Term Papers related to specific taught modules.

A primary requirement in the MSc Research Project is that the final thesis should be of near publishable quality for peer-reviewed journals in the relevant Sustainable Energy and Green Technologies project domain.

Stage 1 - Core
The Bioeconomy; A strategy for sustainable fuel, material and chemical production BSEN30310
Life Cycle Assessment BSEN30360
Thesis BSEN40090
Advanced Air Pollution BSEN40110
Waste to Energy Processes & Technologies BSEN40320
Energy Systems Integration BSEN40350
LCA Applications BSEN40400
Research and Teaching Methods BSEN40460
Biorefinery Process & Tech BSEN40560
Energy System & Sustainable Environments BSEN40700

An honours undergraduate degree (NFQ Level 8) with a minimum upper second class honours or international equivalence in an engineering, physical science or environmental related degree.

Applicants whose first language is not English must also demonstrate English language proficiency of IELTS 6.5 (no band less than 6.0 in each element), or equivalent.

Students meeting the programme's academic entry requirements but not the English language requirements, may enter the programme upon successful completion of UCD's Pre-Sessional or International Pre-Master's Pathway programmes. Please see the following link for further information http://www.ucd.ie/alc/programmes/pathways/

These are the minimum entry requirements – additional criteria may be requested for some programmes.

How to apply?
The following entry routes are available:
MSc Sustainable Energy & Green Technologies FT (X413)
Duration
1 Years
Attend
Full Time
Deadline
Rolling*

* Courses will remain open until such time as all places have been filled, therefore early application is advised.

1 year full-time.

Career & Graduate Study Opportunity
Graduates of the MSc in Sustainable Energy and Green Technologies programme will have competences and skill sets for employment in companies and organisations geared to planning, deploying and utilising a wide range of green technologies systems including environmental impact mitigation. Typical opportunities will be in waste-to-energy facilities, biogas plants, ethanol production facilities, district-heating operations, renewable energy research laboratories, facilities utilising wind energy (including wind farms), solar energy, biomass and hydrogen energy, as well as leading energy utility companies, and research institutions. The knowledge and skill you gain from the Innovation and Technology Transfer module specifically will provide you with unique insights into the entrepreneurial process, from identification of the innovative idea through to the launch of a successful business.