MSc Marine Renewable Energy

The course

Delivery
Full-time
Course type
Taught
Location
Orkney
Entry date
September
Podcast series: A Future Made

Nature-based solutions

In the first episode of ‘A Future Made’, Anna Ploszajski and Robbie Armstrong join Professor Bill Sanderson and Professor Lindsay Beevers, sampling oysters and pondering flooding solutions.

Contact

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Overview

This MSc is designed as a multidisciplinary transition programme relevant to students from a wide variety of backgrounds and is delivered at our Orkney Campus. The taught part of the programme addresses the technical, environmental and economic drivers that are shaping the marine renewable energy industry. An individual research project then allows students to specialise in a topic of their choice.

The programme team has strong links with stakeholders in marine renewables and has unique experience and expertise gained at the geographical heart of marine renewables in the UK. A strong emphasis is placed on project work that simulates real working situations.

If you study at our Orkney Campus, you will benefit from a number of activities including guest lectures and practical sessions which help to develop your skills and knowledge in your field of study and offer opportunities to meet developers and others involved in the renewable energy industry.

September 2023 entry

The deadline for applications from Scottish and RUK students is 31st August 2023. For EU and overseas applicants, we guarantee to consider applications submitted by 1st August 2023.

Graduate profiles

Visit our Graduate Profiles page to learn what some of our graduates said about their experiences at Heriot-Watt University.

Flexible study options

This course can be studied full-time at our Orkney Campus. Alternatively, you can study via Heriot-Watt Online, ideal for those in employment or with other commitments, providing flexible study options that fit around work or family.

Course content

Students take eight taught courses and a dissertation. There is one core course in semester 1 and one core course in semester 2. Students also choose three optional courses in semesters 1 and 2 that can be chosen from a list of options. A dissertation is undertaken in semester 3.

Degree structure

Semester 1

Core

  • Marine Renewable Energy Technology

Optional

  • Introduction to Marine Planning
  • Environmental Processes
  • Climate Change, Sustainability and Adaptation
  • Oceanography
  • Marine Resources and Sustainability
  • Transition Engineering - Achieving zero carbon InTime
  • Economics of Renewable Energy

Semester 2

Core

  • Renewable Technology Commercialisation

Optional

  • Integration of Renewable Technology
  • GIS for Marine and Environmental Scientists
  • Future Energy Systems in Buildings, Transport and Infrastructure
  • Practical Skills in Marine Surveying
  • Tropical and Coral Reefs: Monitoring and Management
  • Energy Transition Lab

Semester 3

Core

  • Environmental Dissertation

Career

Marine planning, including spatial planning, is a fast-developing discipline of global interest with excellent employment prospects. It has the ambition to promote sustainable development of the Blue Economy and mitigate the effects of climate change. The international "Blue Growth Agenda" anticipates increasing economic activity and employment from maritime industries as diverse as offshore oil and gas, renewable energy, aquaculture, biotechnologies, artificial islands, deep sea mining and tourism. The increase in activity requires increased vigilance in marine protection and conservation. Our graduates typically hold key positions in:

  • Marine development companies 
  • Utilities
  • Consultancies
  • Governments
  • Regulators
  • NGO's

Entry requirements

Masters (MSc) level entry applicants must have one of the following:

  • Minimum of 2:2 honours degree or equivalent academic qualification in a related subject area
  • For postgraduate conversion courses, non-related degrees will be considered
  • Corporate (or chartered) membership of relevant professional institutions will also be considered

PG Diploma level entry applicants must have an ordinary degree in a related subject area and relevant post qualification industry experience.

Candidates who do not meet the above entry requirements or have no formal academic qualifications will be considered individually based on their CV and possibly interview. Admission via this route will be at the discretion of the Director of Recruitment.

Recognition of Prior Learning

We are committed to providing study opportunities to applicants who have a wide range of prior experiences through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). For more information on RPL, please contact the Admissions Team (studywithus@hw.ac.uk) ahead of application. We can only consider requests for RPL at the time of application to a course of study.

English language requirements

If English is not the applicant’s first language a minimum of IELTS 6.5 or equivalent is required with all elements passed at 6.0 or above. Please refer to English language requirements for further details.

Some applicants may be asked for alternative evidence in line with UKVI recognised English speaking countries. Applicants who have previously successfully completed courses delivered in the medium of English language may be considered and will be required to provide documentary evidence of this. Examples would be secondary school education or undergraduate degree. A minimum of at least one year of full time study (or equivalent) in the medium of English language will be required.

All evidence of English language needs to be dated within two years of the commencement of study.

We also offer a range of English language courses to help you meet the English language requirement prior to starting your master’s programme:

  • 20 weeks English (for IELTS of 5.0 with no skill lower than 4.5)
  • 14 weeks English (for IELTS of 5.0 with minimum of 5.0 in writing and no skill lower than 4.5)
  • 10 weeks English (for IELTS of 5.5 with no skill lower than 5.0)
  • 6 weeks English (for IELTS 5.5 with no skill lower than 5.5)

Fees

Tuition fees for entry
Status Full-time
UK £9152
Overseas £19056

Footnotes

  1. 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. Find out more about tuition fees.
  2. Overseas includes applications from European Union countries who do not hold Pre-Settled or Settled status in the UK. Read more about the application process for EU nationals.

Additional fees information

All course costs are covered by the tuition fee. For students studying at the Orkney Campus this includes electronic versions of the course notes.

Students should budget additional funds sufficient to cover living expenses such as accommodation, travel to and from the university, food, clothing and leisure pursuits.

Financial support

Tuition fee loans of £5,500 are available to Scottish distance learning students on taught postgraduate courses. Full-time distance learning postgraduate students can also access a £4,500 living cost loan. Find out more from the Students Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS)

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.

View our full range of postgraduate scholarships.