As the importance of renewable energy has increased over recent years, more renewable energy degree courses have been added by UK university physics, engineering and other departments. Now it is possible to do a dedicated undergraduate and postgraduate (taught and research) renewable energy degree made up of IT, electronics, mathematics, engineering, geology, and other natural and physical sciences and/or as a joint-honours programme with electronic engineering, engineering, and mechanical engineering.
With practical project work looking at wind, solar, geothermal, wave, tidal, and hydro power, these degree courses are a fantastic introduction to the world of renewable energy and should help their graduates find jobs in renewable energy.
Below are a list of links to the websites of some of the courses currently available in UK universities (last updated 26th June 2013). University websites are the worst for constantly moving files around resulting in dead links. If you find any of the links below are dead, please email neil@reuk.co.uk. Similarly, if you know of any other UK university RE courses which we have missed here, please let us know so we can add them below.
UK Renewable Energy Degree Courses
Centre for Alternative Technology – MSc Sustainability in Energy Provision and Demand Management and MSc in Sustainability and Adaptation in the Built Environment.
University of Exeter – BSc Renewable Energy. Taught on the UoE’s Cornwall Campus. In 2006 the UK’s first ever renewable energy students graduated from this course.
University of Nottingham – MSc Electrical Technology for Sustainable and Renewable Energy Systems, also Electrical Engineering and Renewable Energy Systems BEng/MEng (undergraduate).
University of Dundee – BSc/BEng Renewable Energy and MSci Renewable Energy. (The linked to web page has a lot of information about the courses on offer which makes interesting reading for anyone interested in finding out more about RE). Click here for information about Tullow Group renewable energy scholarships available.
Cranfield University – Offshore Renewable Energy (MSc/MTech/PgDip/PgCert).
Cranfield University – MSc in Renewable Energy Engineering.
Cranfield University – MSc in Carbon Capture and Transport
University of Cumbria – BEng Sustainable Energy Technology.
University of South Wales (formerly University of Glamorgan) – MSc Renewable Energy and Resource Managment, and also BSc Renewable Energy Systems.
Heriot-Watt University – MSc/Diploma/Certificate in Renewable Energy Engineering.
University of Reading – MSc/PgDip in Renewable Energy: Technology and Sustainability.
University of Ulster – BEng in Renewable Energy Engineering.
Durham University – MSc New and Renewable Energy.
University of Leeds – MEng/BEng Electronics and Renewable Energy Systems.
Centre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology – Modular MSc Renewable Energy Systems (Loughborough University). Course available via distance learning.
University of Edinburgh – BEng/MEng Mechanical Engineering with Renewable Energy.
Edinburgh Napier University – MSc Renewable Energy (full-time), or the same course part time.
Also, MSc Energy and Environmental Engineering is available full-time and part-time.
Glyndwr University North East Wales Institute of Higher Education – BEng Renewable Energy and Su