Triangle

Course overview

Our MSc Sustainable Energy and Entrepreneurship course provides students with advanced skills in renewable energy, energy efficiency and business.

The course has been designed timely and deliberately in response to the worldwide commitment to tackle climate change and develop the renewable energy economy and the program is designed for students with a background in engineering (e.g., mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, energy engineering, civil engineering) or science (e.g., physics, chemistry, environmental science) or economics.

The course is also suitable for the applicants with a background in architecture, geography, business, management or other similar subjects, with an evidence of their basic mathematics skill and their basic knowledge or experience in energy.

Following the successful completion of their study on this course, some graduates have started their own companies or worked as renewable energy investment managers for large organisations. This course equips you with the required knowledge and skills to contribute in the fast growing renewable energy economy.

Why choose this course?

Collaboration

Offered in collaboration with Nottingham University Business School

Vocational skills

Will learn through making, building your design whilst developing an environmentally responsible attitude

Collaborative links

The department has strong collaborative links with practices

Course content

This course provides vital training in each of the areas within the field of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. Students will gain technical skills in this field as well as becoming fluent in the financial, marketing and managerial aspects of modern business. It aims to develop confidence and understanding in the specialist field of entrepreneurship applied to technology that can arise from the research base of sustainable energy subjects.

By the end of the course, you will have gained useful and technical knowledge in the areas of sustainable energy and business as well as the application of technologies to proposed business models, and you will be adept at communicating and presenting yourself and your projects to an audience. Graduates from the course will be well placed to pursue careers in renewable energy industries.

Modules

Principles of Renewable Energy 20 credits

This module aims to provide students with a comprehensive grounding in renewable energy sources and allied conversion systems with the focus on their application within the built environment. Specifically the module will cover:

  • energy principles
  • solar energy resources
  • solar thermal collectors
  • solar photovoltaics
  • wind energy
  • district heating and heat pumps
  • biomass energy
  • CHP
  • efficient boilers
  • heat recovery

For each of the renewable and energy efficient systems, the student will learn and develop an understanding of principle of operation, basic components, merit and limitations, and investigate the contribution they can make to a building's energy requirement with reference to their environmental impact.

By undertaking this module you will acquire the ability to relate building design and context to energy needs and from this develop and assess environmentally responsible approached to meeting these needs. You will also learn to design and evaluate key renewable and energy efficient energy technologies with a focus on building application.

Entrepreneurial Creativity (autumn) 20 credits

The module will introduce you to the latest thinking in the areas of creativity, the creative process, knowledge management practices and the nature of entrepreneurship. Having established the vital link between creativity, entrepreneurship, innovation and value creation, the course uses directed reading, case study exercises, reflective blog writing and group-based creative problem solving to illustrate entrepreneurial creativity in practice. You will be introduced to a variety of creative problem solving techniques and learn how to apply these techniques in the context of the development, evaluation, and application of ideas and concepts with commercial potential. The course culminates in you pitching your entrepreneurial opportunity to peers and real world entrepreneurs.

This module is worth 20 credits.

Launching New Ventures (autumn) 20 credits

This module will introduce you to the more practical elements of innovation and enterprise activity across multiple contexts, including not just new venture creation but corporate and social entrepreneurship as well.

Whereas Entrepreneurship and Creativity focuses on idea generation and entrepreneurial theory, Launching New Ventures will prepare you to recognise opportunities, and to implement innovation and enterprising ideas. The ability to make informed and timely decisions will be an important aspect of this, and the module will use a start-up business simulation to encourage this.

Research Skills (autumn and spring) 20 credits

This module enables students to acquire the core skills used in research, and to practice these through exploration of a specialist subject relevant to architecture and the built environment.

This module covers the skills and resources needed to conduct independent academic research, including how to present findings effectively. It will cover choosing a research topic, how to shape research literature search techniques, including the use of the web.

As a result, students will be able to conduct their own primary research, including quantitative and qualitative methodologies; data collection and simple statistical analysis. Opportunities to practice these skills will be presented through participation in a mixture of lectures, seminars and workshops designed to introduce specialist subject areas relevant to the field of architecture and related disciplines.

Renewable Energy Technology Design and Appraisal (spring) 20 credits

This module will examine aspects of performance analysis and system design/sizing of renewable energy systems for building integration. The course provides opportunities to gain experience in issues of technology selection, system design, installation and performance analysis of a range of renewable energy systems. The module will emphasize solar energy technologies (photovoltaic and solar thermal systems) and small-scale wind turbines, and their integration into buildings.

This includes aspects of weather data resource/collection, system performance analysis, system design parameters, design/simulation tools, field evaluation of these technologies and cost appraisal.

Managing Innovation in Entrepreneurial Organisations (spring) 20 credits

This module develops a knowledge and understanding of: 

  • the dynamics of the global economy and international business and/or an awareness of cultural, legal/regulatory, political, and economic differences across countries and/or an appreciation of management issues from a global perspective
  • business innovation - creativity, intrapreneurial - and entrepreneurial behaviour and enterprise development, and the management and exploitation of intellectual property
  • leadership and management of people within organisations - leadership, organisational behaviour and motivation
  • strategic management - the development and implementation of appropriate strategies within a changing environment
Renewable Energy Technology Transfer Project (summer) 60 credits

The purpose of the dissertation project is to undertake independent research into a topic appropriate to Renewable Energy or Energy Efficiency Technology Transfer. In undertaking the project, students should draw on and extend material presented in the course. The project has several aims, beyond reinforcing information and methodology presented in the taught modules. Students will gain experience by:

  • addressing the challenges involved in developing the commercial potential of a scientific advance;
  • giving a PowerPoint presentation that describes some aspects of the work achieved;
  • producing a written report in a style that would be useful, not only to the scientists involved in the field of your investigations, but also to potential investors.

The project will commence in June after the end of the examination period.

The above is a sample of the typical modules we offer but is not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules that will be available in any given year. Modules (including methods of assessment) may change or be updated, or modules may be cancelled, over the duration of the course due to a number of reasons such as curriculum developments or staffing changes. Please refer to the module catalogue for information on available modules. This content was last updated on Wednesday 24 July 2024.

Due to timetabling availability, there may be restrictions on some module combinations.

Learning and assessment

How you will learn

  • Lectures
  • Workshops

This course combines three elements: lectures in business and industrial skills (60 credits); lectures in leading-edge renewable energy technologies (60 credits) and the application of these technologies to a proposed business model via a 60-credit dissertation project.

How you will be assessed

  • Examinations
  • Coursework
  • Presentation
  • Dissertation

This programme will comply with the University Postgraduate taught assessment regulations.

Contact time and study hours

In general, one credit is equal to approximately 2 hours of contact time and 10 hours of self-study time for taught modules, and flexible hours for the dissertation module.

Teaching for this course usually takes place on Mondays to Fridays during term-time. This is subject to timetabling.

Entry requirements

All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements below apply to 2025 entry.

Undergraduate degree2:1 – applicants with a high 2.2 and relevant work experience may also be considered

Applying

Our step-by-step guide covers everything you need to know about applying.

How to apply

Fees

Qualification MSc
Home / UK £11,250
International £30,750

Additional information for international students

If you are a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland, you may be asked to complete a fee status questionnaire and your answers will be assessed using guidance issued by the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) .

These fees are for full-time study. If you are studying part-time, you will be charged a proportion of this fee each year (subject to inflation).

Additional costs

All students will need at least one device to approve security access requests via Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). We also recommend students have a suitable laptop to work both on and off-campus. For more information, please check the equipment advice.

As a student on this course, you may factor some additional costs into your budget, alongside your tuition fees and living expenses. You should be able to access most of the books you’ll need through our libraries, though you may wish to purchase your own copies or more specific titles which could cost up to £100 per year.

In addition to this you may spend up to £100 on printing and other consumables. Please note that these figures are approximate and subject to change.

Funding

There are many ways to fund your postgraduate course, from scholarships to government loans.

We also offer a range of international masters scholarships for high-achieving international scholars who can put their Nottingham degree to great use in their careers.

Check our guide to find out more about funding your postgraduate degree.

Postgraduate funding

Careers

We offer individual careers support for all postgraduate students.

Expert staff can help you research career options and job vacancies, build your CV or résumé, develop your interview skills and meet employers.

Each year 1,100 employers advertise graduate jobs and internships through our online vacancy service. We host regular careers fairs, including specialist fairs for different sectors.

International students who complete an eligible degree programme in the UK on a student visa can apply to stay and work in the UK after their course under the Graduate immigration route. Eligible courses at the University of Nottingham include bachelors, masters and research degrees, and PGCE courses.

Graduate destinations

The unique interdisciplinary feature of this MSc programme puts graduates in a superior position to fulfil their ambition and contribution in the fast-growing renewable energy economy. Graduates have entered both industry and academia in the UK and overseas. Some graduates have started their own companies or worked as renewable energy investment managers for large organisations. 

Two masters graduates proudly holding their certificates
" This course has given me the opportunity to learn about the latest technologies in renewable energy and how they can be implemented into the built environment. It has also made me a more well-rounded individual because unlike other renewable energy courses, the links to the business school allows for development of a whole different set of skills. I have really enjoyed this course; especially the variety of content that has been taught with such passion from the staff. "
Olivia Lewis, Sustainable Energy and Entrepreneurship MSc

This content was last updated on Wednesday 24 July 2024. Every effort has been made to ensure that this information is accurate, but changes are likely to occur given the interval between the date of publishing and course start date. It is therefore very important to check this website for any updates before you apply.