Program Overview

This MSc equips graduates of engineering and science degrees with the skills they need to join the rapidly growing offshore renewable energy industry, incorporating offshore wind, wave and tidal energy. You’ll learn how the disciplines of meteorology, aerodynamics, mechanical, control, electrical, structural and offshore engineering are utilised in multi-disciplinary teams to deliver a cost-effective offshore power station.

The MSc Offshore Renewable Energy Engineering programme provides an employability focused curriculum primarily designed to enable engineers to specialise in the skills and topics needed to work within the offshore renewable energy industry.

During the first two semesters of this one-year programme, you will study a range of core taught modules – covering how the disciplines of meteorology, aerodynamics, mechanical, control, electrical, structural and offshore engineering are utilised in multi-disciplinary teams to deliver a cost-effective offshore power station. Students obtain hands-on experience of using state-of-the-art software tools as well as developing physical modelling skills within the COAST Laboratory.

In the final semester you will complete an independent dissertation project focused on an aspect of offshore renewable engineering, supervised by academic staff actively researching this field. Throughout your studies, we will support you in gaining the research and professional skills to help you get the most from the programme – and launch a successful career.

Key features

• Be at the forefront of the rapidly growing field of offshore renewable energy at a time when such expertise is increasingly sought after.
• Develop knowledge and confidence in the processes involved in the design, development, installation, operation and decommissioning of a cost-effective offshore power station.
• Develop an understanding of the factors that affect the Levelized Cost of Energy delivered by an offshore power station.
• Develop familiarity with industry standard software used in design.
• Students in engineering, science and the arts have access to a range of specialist equipment and innovative laboratories in our new engineering and design facility.
• Study at the University named eighth in the world – and best in the UK for the quality and impact of its research in Marine and Ocean Engineering in the Shanghai Ranking Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2019.
• Benefit from our research team’s expertise – our staff achieved ratings of ‘world leading’ and ‘internationally excellent’ in the UK Government’s most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF 2014).
• Take advantage of the University of Plymouth’s leadership role in the Supergen Offshore Renewable Energy Hub.
• Gain experience in the use of world leading facilities such as the COAST Lab test tanks as part of your taught programme and your research.
• Live and study in ‘Britain’s Ocean City’, with easy access to businesses and the marine environment, this is an ideal location to study offshore renewables.
• Supervised and supported by members of the School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics, you will have the opportunity to undertake a substantial research project focused on an aspect of offshore renewable energy.
• This degree is accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM) comprising of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Institution of Structural Engineers, Institute of Highway Engineers, the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation and the Permanent Way Institution on behalf of the Engineering Council as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for a Chartered Engineer (CEng) for candidates who have already acquired a partial CEng accredited undergraduate first degree.* See jbm.org.uk for further information.
• *It should be noted that candidates completing the MSc who hold an underpinning accredited IEng degree or a non-accredited bachelor degree will need to apply for an academic assessment to determine whether they will meet the educational base for CEng registration.