Key information
Heriot-Watt University was recently ranked 1st in Scotland in the Guardian University Guide 2026.
- Level
- Postgraduate Taught
- Delivery type
- Full Time, Part Time
- Degree qualification
- MSc
- Mode of delivery
- On-Campus
- Duration
- 1 year
- Location
- Edinburgh
- Start date
- September
MSc Energy with Entrepreneurship is a unique dual-focussed programme which on top of learning the engineering and science behind current energy issues, develops your skills in generating ideas and builds an understanding of the commercial world. The degree provides you with the opportunity to learn a balanced, integrated course which will equip you with the tools needed to positively influence organisations in developing new business strategies relevant to ‘energy,’ or in reacting to the growing portfolio of environmental legislation. The programme has been designed to provide you with the practical and theoretical grounding in technologies and develop your wider knowledge and skills relevant to the Energy sector, for both practicing engineers and decision-making managers and policy makers. You’ll learn from a broad range of energy related disciplines, with relevance to energy resources, power generation, process engineering, environmental legislation and environmental impact assessment, energy in buildings, and by studying business courses in collaboration with the Edinburgh Business School. On top of this, you’ll take three mandatory courses in entrepreneurship to learn about enterprise, creativity, entrepreneurship, and commercial awareness and planning to directly apply your knowledge to the energy sectors.
Energy is an essential component of our existence. The cost, availability and efficient utilisation of energy are increasingly strong focal points in the strategies of governments world-wide, as they realise that the 'raw material' for most of the energy used today has a finite life. You’ll explore sustainable energy options as the finite nature of our main element in our current energy chain of supply – fossil fuel – becomes more obvious.
During the master’s programme, you’ll understand energy not only as electricity, but as heat and transportation. You’ll become aware of the relationship between demand and supply of energy, a relationship that consists of much more than its technical component. You’ll learn about the political, economic, and social issues and adjust your perspective to view energy provision, consumption, and costs on a global and local scale– both in the monetary and environmental terms.
The flexible degree structure allows you to focus in on your specific Energy and Entrepreneurship interests. You’ll have the opportunity to choose courses from an extensive list, including modules on electrical power systems, renewable energy technologies, economics of renewable energy, heat exchangers and heat transfer, process intensification, design of low carbon buildings, demand management and energy storage, and quality management.
The Future Shapers scholarship
The Future Shapers scholarship is looking for students who want to use research to create solutions to solve major global challenges. This has been established for 2026 by one of our generous donors and is a testament to the talent and world-shaping potential of our University's students and researchers. We are offering 12 scholarships across our 4 research areas, worth 50%, 75% and 100% of your tuition fee respectively.
Apply nowYour student experience
Your learning will be informed by the expertise of our research-active mechanical engineers and academics.
96% of Heriot-Watt University’s engineering research was classed as world-leading in the REF 2021 review, which ranked us 1st in Scotland and 3rd in the UK for engineering research through a joint submission with the University of Edinburgh.
We were recently ranked 1st in Scotland in the Guardian University Guide 2026, reflecting the exceptional quality of our teaching, research, and industry engagement in the field.
Our MSc Energy is directly informed by the world class research carried out by Heriot-Watt’s Mechanical, Process and Energy Engineering (IMPEE) research institute which focuses on promoting excellence across four main research themes:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Digital Engineering
- Energy Harvesting and Conversion
- Multiphase Flow
You’ll benefit from our innovative approach when it comes to the promotion and communication of energy research activities. Our Energy Academy, a virtual learning centre used to connect all energy related research across the university, gives you direct access to the latest research carried out across the university. Heriot-Watt has three dedicated energy research centres which study:
- Energy Generation, Conversion and Storage,
- Intermittency of Supply, Storage and Control,
- and Energy Policy and Strategy
The research relevance of this postgraduate programme ensures your studies remain innovative and industry focused.
Course content
September Intake - Edinburgh
Year 1
Mandatory September
- Foundations of Energy
Optional September
- Transition Engineering - Achieving zero carbon InTIME
- Electrical Power Systems
- Process Intensification
- Renewable Energy Technologies
- Computational Fluid Dynamics with Heat Transfer
- Economics of Renewable Energy
- Heat Exchangers and Heat Transfer
- Strategic Project Management
- Principles of Environmental and Energy Economics
- Principles of Microeconomics
- Making Economic Policy
- Financial Analysis
- Climate Change, Sustainability and Adaptation
Mandatory January
- Technology Futures and Business Strategy
- Business Start-up
- Critical Analysis and Research Preparation
Optional January
- Energy Transition Lab
- Distributed generation
- Sustainable Processing
- Environmental Impact Assessment
- Demand Management and Energy Storage
- Advanced Thermodynamic Applications
- Quality Management
- Project Management
- Systems Thinking and Analysis
- Business Economics
- Design of Low Carbon Buildings
- Energy Systems and Buildings
Mandatory May
- Masters Dissertation
Disclaimer
The courses mentioned above may change between now and the time that you study. For more information, please view our Terms and Conditions.
Fees and funding
| Status | Full Time | Part Time |
|---|---|---|
| UK | £12,584 | £6,292 |
| International | £26,296 | £13,148 |
- Status: Your residency status is usually defined as the country where you have been ordinarily resident for the three years before the start of your course.
- International: 'International' includes applicants from European Union countries who do not hold Pre-Settled or Settled status in UK. (This does not include students from the Republic of Ireland - see above).
Scholarships and bursaries
Postgraduate scholarships and bursaries
We aim to encourage well-qualified, ambitious students to study with us and we offer a wide variety of scholarships and bursaries to achieve this. Over £6 million worth of opportunities are available in fee and stipend scholarships, and more than 400 students benefit from this support.
Entry requirements
We have standard entry requirements for all of our courses that you will have to meet.
Year 1
A minimum of honours degree at 2:1 or non-UK equivalent in a related subject with a minimum of 3-4 maths modules at 50% or above. Suitable degrees can include engineering (e.g. telecommunications, architectural, civil, mechanical, petroleum, electrical, chemical), physical sciences (physics, chemistry, material science, metallurgy, geology, environmental science) or mathematics. We will also accept applicants with a business or management degree with good mathematical skills.
We welcome applications from international students and accept qualifications from around the world. Please refer to the entry requirements for your country for more details.
English language requirements
If your first language is not English, we'll need to see evidence of your English language ability.
The minimum English language requirement for entry to this programme is IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) with no score lower than 5.5.
If you do not have IELTS 6.0, we offer a range of English language courses to help you meet the English language requirement for this programme prior to commencing your studies.
Please see our detailed English language requirements.
Why Heriot-Watt
We have been producing career-ready graduates since 1821. With our roots as the world’s first Mechanics Institute, Heriot-Watt is a pioneering university with a global reach.
At Heriot-Watt, learning goes beyond the lecture theatre. We tackle real world challenges through extraordinary research – from climate change to protecting our oceans, to advancing life-saving medical breakthroughs and shaping the next generation of AI. We are also committed to developing forward-thinking design and sustainable business practices that impact industries worldwide. On our campuses you’ll find some of the world’s most advanced facilities, while our strong industry links set you up for career success. This is why almost 90% of our graduates are in employment or further education (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2024).
Student life
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