MSc in Net Zero Engineering
Belfast, United Kingdom
DURATION
1 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
16 Sep 2024
TUITION FEES
GBP 25,800 *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for EU and international
Introduction
Governments around the world have set legally binding targets in support of achieving ambitious low-carbon objectives and are investing heavily in the development of technology that will deliver decarbonization of the energy sector.
Achieving these objectives is, however, a substantial challenge and requires input and engagement across a broad range of sectors. The rapid development of these sectors also emphasizes the need for advanced skills and training portfolios to be delivered to not only address these challenges but also create future opportunities.
Therefore, this program aims to provide students with a strong foundation of engineering and associated skills that are needed to underpin and contribute towards achieving sustainability and greener societies. In doing so, they will have an excellent platform to support existing and new industries in their transition toward achieving net-zero targets.
Students completing this course will possess skills that are increasingly sought after by local and international employers, particularly those in the manufacturing and energy sectors. The course will also introduce students to a suite of emerging technologies that are being considered and will provide them with the skills to be able to assess them, providing opportunities for innovation, entrepreneurship, and growth in a variety of sectors.
The course lead is Professor David Rooney, Director of the Sustainable Energy Research Group at Q.U.B. and the cross-border Bryden Centre for renewable research and an advisor to government and industry on Zero Carbon technologies.
Sustainability is one of the School’s two core goals and to pursue this aim 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 are very well placed to equip the next generation of scientists to address these issues. We are ranked 13th in the UK for the study of Chemical Engineering and joint 1st in the UK for research intensity in Chemical Engineering (Complete Universities Guide UK 2023). We are also ranked 7th for student-staff ratios in the subject (Guardian University Guide 2022).
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Applicants are advised to explore fully the funding opportunities for studying in the UK, for example, international students may find funding is available from sources within their own countries.
The funding set out in this section includes funding available from the University and from some external sources. Information provided in this section is intended to highlight some sources of funding: it is not a comprehensive list of funding sources.
Applying for funding which is available from the University is part of an integrated, online, postgraduate admissions process. An offer of a place at Queen’s does not constitute an offer of financial support.
For 2023 entry, Faculties and Schools in the University will be setting their own deadlines for postgraduate applications for admissions, studentships and scholarships. Applicants who wish to apply for postgraduate funding available from the University for 2023 entry should refer to the relevant Faculty and School websites for information.
- The Department for the Economy will provide a tuition fee loan of up to £6,500 per NI / EU student for postgraduate study.
- A postgraduate loans system in the UK offers government-backed student loans of up to £11,836 for taught and research Masters courses in all subject areas.
Curriculum
All modules below will be assessed by 100 % coursework, which will comprise written, oral and calculation-based assignments
- Sustainability and Net-Zero-Carbon Criteria (20 CATS)
- Tools for Quantifying Energy and Carbon (20 CATS)
- Applied renewable energy and low carbon technologies (20 CATS)
- Fundamental Principles of Hydrogen Generation and Use (20 CATS)
- Hydrogen System Integration (20 CATS)
- Hydrogen System Design and Practice (20 CATS)
The final module will be assessed based on the research project which is summarised below
- Research Project in Net Zero Engineering (60 CATS) – written dissertation (50 %), laboratory performance, methodology and design records (40 %), and oral presentation (10 %)
Students may enroll on a full-time (1 year) or part-time (2 years) basis. Full-time students typically complete three modules per semester. Part-time students typically complete one or two modules per semester.
The MSc is awarded to students who complete six taught modules (120 CATS points) and a 15,000 - 20,000 word research dissertation (60 CATS points).
Exit qualifications are available: students may exit with a Postgraduate Diploma by completing 120 CATS points from the six core taught modules or a Postgraduate Certificate by completing 60 CATS points from either of two defined sets of three taught modules.
There is a straightforward option to build towards a Master's degree through short courses. For example, you can choose to complete the taught sections as two individual PGCerts (60 CATS each) and then complete a research or design project and be awarded the full MSc in Net Zero Engineering.
Introduction
Achieving the Net Zero Emissions targets set by governments around the globe will not be simple. It requires engagement across a range of disciplines that are underpinned by a strong understanding of the fundamental science and engineering behind sustainability and renewable energy. This course will target that challenge by equipping students with an enhanced skill set that will provide them with the tools to not only evaluate and assess sustainability but deliver low-carbon engineering solutions to a range of international industries. As a result, our graduates will be well placed to contribute and play a crucial role across multiple sectors as we transition towards a Net Zero society.
Semester One Teaching The modules during semester one, which are listed below, are focused on the core concepts of sustainability, the associated developments, and importantly how we evaluate and assess those. This includes exploring the tools for quantifying the availability of resources and applying knowledge of Life Cycle Analysis, carbon-foot printing and model development. It also involves deploying these skills when learning about the range of renewable energies such as wind, marine, solar and bioenergy.
- CHE7301 Sustainability and Net-Zero-Carbon Criteria
- CHE7302 Tools for Quantifying Energy and Carbon
- CHE7303 Applied renewable energy and low carbon technologies
Semester Two teaching The second semester will focus more specifically on hydrogen energy systems as an approach to achieving sustainability and decarbonisation of key sectors. The underpinning science and engineering of current manufacturing routes and emerging technologies will be explored along with discussing the growth of the hydrogen economy. The sub-components of hydrogen energy systems will also be investigated to demonstrate how they are influenced by the chemical and thermodynamic properties of hydrogen and how they can integrate with existing technology such as batteries and gas separation. The relevant modules are:
- CHE7304 Fundamental Principles of Hydrogen Generation and Use
- CHE7305 Hydrogen System Integration
- CHE7306 Hydrogen System Design and Practice
Students will also conduct a research project under the supervision of an academic and/or industrial supervisor, within an applied area of net zero engineering. Students will be able to conduct their projects under two themes: lab-based or theoretical and modeling-based, which both align with research clusters within the school and reflect the scientific and engineering principles of the taught material.
- CHE7207 Research Project in Net Zero Engineering
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
This MSc will equip you with the knowledge and skills required for a successful career in sustainability and the renewable energy sector. We have good links and regularly consult with a large number of global employers from a variety of sectors including energy (including Shell, BP and Petronas), transport (WrightBus) and other chemical industries (Seren Technologies and Johnson Matthey). Furthermore, we work with a range of local companies and start-up/spin-out companies including Green Lizard Technologies and MOF Technologies. Graduates have also progressed into research at various universities.
Employment after the Course
Where would you like to be in five year's time?
Graduating from this course could lead to you becoming a project engineer in the design and development of components for low-carbon energy systems. You could also conduct environmental and sustainable impact assessments as a renewable energy coordinator for windfarms, solar installations and biorefineries. Alternatively, you might want to contribute towards the development of emerging technologies such as artificial photosynthesis through a research post or PhD. You may play a key role as a sustainable consultant for government in policy development to ensure the safety of new infrastructure for distributing green-hydrogen.
Achieving net zero emission is a global objective and therefore after your MSc you might want to travel and gain experience in places like Asia, South America or Africa. This could also be valuable for understanding the role you can play in achieving global Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs).