The MSc in Electrical Engineering provides you with a solid foundation of knowledge and experience in this vital aspect of engineering that you can apply to the global challenges of creating sustainable and resilient energy management systems.
Through a combination of theoretical and practical education and using cutting-edge tools and technologies, you will develop valuable engineering insight and apply a range of innovative solutions to help meet challenges in areas such as electricity generation from renewable and conventional sources, energy transmission and distribution and future vehicle technologies.
As well as undertaking taught modules through lectures and seminars, you will develop valuable collaborative working skills by joining with other students to carry out advanced design work, to the appropriate design standards and using complex engineering analysis tools.
You will also have the opportunity to showcase your own capacities for innovation and application by undertaking a major research and development project which will ultimately demonstrate how to address some of the key challenges in electrical engineering.
Our MSc in Electrical Engineering gives you a focused engineering perspective on the wide range of issues that exist in the industry and equips you with the ability to help meet these challenges, either by working in industry or by using knowledge and experience in a research function.
Course structure
Core modules:
Research and Development Project offers you a stimulating challenge as part of the development of your electrical engineering knowledge. With the support of a supervisor, you will identify and apply the specific methods needed to investigate your chosen subject. You will then generate data and carry out analysis in order to make recommendations and findings that you will present in a report.
Group Design Project sees your participation in a complex engineering system design task which will develop your knowledge of system design, introduce the concept of interdisciplinary design teams and will enable you to apply knowledge gained in lectures to a complex engineering problem.
Future Vehicles 4 looks at future transport devices, explaining their characteristics and their technical and economic constraints and possibilities for the future. It will introduce you to analytical methods and simulation tools for system design and analysis.
Power Electronics 4 gives you the full rundown on power electronic systems and their application to a range of renewable energy systems. You will also learn analytical and practical methods for characterising power electronic circuits and the use of simulation tools to support their conclusions.
Renewable Energy Technologies 4 provides you with an overview and description of the major renewable energy technologies and an explanation of the working principles of systems for the renewable energy technologies. It will also explain the technical, as well as economic, constraints and solutions of renewable energy technology.
Smart Energy Networks 4 describes the characteristics of energy networks, explains their working principles of systems for integrating renewable energy sources and sets out explanations for the technical constraints and potential solutions related to smart energy networks.
Electrical Energy Conversion 4 looks at the characteristics of renewable electrical energy conversion and offers explanations for the working principles of systems for renewable electrical energy conversion, and the technical and economic constraints and potential solutions associated with renewable electrical energy conversion.
This course with its mix of taught modules, a group design project and an individual research and development project provides you with an exciting and challenging learning experience covering electrical engineering in depth.
Core modules involve 38 hours of lectures on the topics that are at the heart of electrical engineering. A key module is the group design project, which offers the opportunity to learn a wide range of skills and develop technical expertise in the application of system design ideas, with content including energy systems and sustainability. The make-up of this module will also enhance your presentation skills, your ability to project manage and to work in a team with colleagues. It will also help boost your research skills.
You will complete an individual research and development project with the support of a supervisor who will hold regular meetings to check on your progress and to discuss any planning issues. This will include 12 hours of quality contact time with your supervisor and more than 500 hours of research work and preparation, during which you will be supported by the school’s technicians and other research workers.
As well as the core modules, you will also select one of three optional modules that fits with your interests.
Assessment
Course assessment is thorough and includes a combination of project work, written exams, a competency portfolio and presentations.
A mid-term assessment is carried out to ensure your research and development project is on track and following the completion of the project, you will be required to submit a report on your work, in the style and format of a research paper. You will also have an oral examination centering on the technical aspects of your project.
Finally, you will be required to create and deliver a presentation of your project in poster form to staff and colleagues.
Entry requirements
A UK first or upper second-class honours degree or equivalent in engineering, sciences (physics) or a relevant related subject. Plus the usual language requirement.
The tuition fees shown are for one complete academic year of study and are set according to the academic year of entry. Fees will be subject to an annual inflationary increase and are expected to rise throughout the programme of study. The fee listed above is for the first year of the course only. More information is available here: Tuition fees - how much are they - Durham University
We take great pride in our reputation for producing engineers who make a successful and significant contribution in a wide range of professional career roles around the world.
We have strong links with industrial partners and our postgraduates have achieved rewarding and stimulating positions in civil, mechanical, electronic, electrical, manufacturing, design, aeronautics and systems engineering. They work as consultants, technology analysts, and software developers and as entrepreneurs, and also gain prestigious positions in banking and finance.
The Department has a dedicated careers contact who is available to offer advice and carry out mock interviews.
Our Industrial Partnership Committee of around 20 local, national and international companies will ensure you have access to the best employment opportunities.
Department information
Department of Engineering
The Department of Engineering is a general engineering department that works on the principle that engineering is an integrated subject rather than a series of unconnected topics. The world-leading teaching and the research opportunities that we offer underline this academic positioning.
We guide postgraduate researchers so that they are able to make a significant contribution in the Department’s key areas of engineering focus. These topics range from the development of energy systems of the future, through next generation materials and microsystems to creating sustainable infrastructures. All reflect the challenges now facing the modern world.
Taught courses include MSc qualifications in Advanced Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering and Renewable and Sustainable Energy. We also offer the Doctor of Philosophy and the Master of Science by Research, which involve individualised training and require an extensive research project or thesis to be completed.
Teaching and supervision are provided by the Department’s subject specialists, who have an outstanding reputation for their expertise. An extensive range of facilities is available to support research work and we have strong and productive links with industry partners, ensuring that the research is relevant and applicable at this challenging yet exciting time to be in engineering.
Facilities
The Department of Engineering features a number of modern dedicated teaching laboratories including the newly refurbished electrical laboratory. Other facilities include a wind tunnel, state-of-the-art clean rooms for experiments in very controlled environments and a geotechnical engineering laboratory.
An investment of more than £4 million has boosted the computing resources available, providing large memory and high-end processor machines for projects requiring major computer capacity.
Our students benefit from the Engineering Open Access area, which was built to facilitate both group work and individual projects.
The Department is located on the main campus at Lower Mountjoy, close to the centre of Durham and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Apply
Find out more:
Apply for a postgraduate course (including PGCE International) via our online portal.
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