Overview

The smart grid is a modern form of the traditional power grid, which brings computer technology to a standard electricity grid; allowing easier communication between energy retailers, distributors, and customers.

Smart grids can help to integrate an increasing amount of renewable energy sources (RES) into the grid. RES present a challenge to traditional electricity grids because they are often both intermittent and difficult to predict. Smart grids help network companies to remotely anticipate and respond to problems so repair crews from your local distributor can fix power outages faster.

Energy companies and businesses are already exploring how to adopt RES into the grid but they lack Smart Grids management skills and knowledge among employees. This new MSc programme therefore offers a unique advantage to its graduates in an increasingly competitive job market with highly-sought expertise, giving you the skills you need to launch a career in this fast-growing sector.

The teaching on the course is research-led, and you will have opportunity to learn from the real-world, cutting-edge live projects. You’ll also have the opportunity to undertake placements / internships with leading companies in the energy and smart grids sector, both in the UK and internationally.

Entry requirements

• 2:2 or above, or an equivalent overseas qualification, in an area relevant to your proposed programme of study, for example: Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Civil Engineering, Maths, or Physics
• Applicants with lesser academic qualifications but have substantial (approx. 5 years) relevant work experience may also be considered

English language requirements

IELTS 6.0 or equivalent.

If you do not meet the IELTS requirement, you can take a University of Bradford pre-sessional English course.

We’ll ask you for a personal statement that demonstrates your ability to study the course. We’ll also ask you for references and evidence of relevant work experience.

Don’t have any of the above?

We also offer this course as a 4 year Degree which includes a foundation year (subject to validation). This first year prepares you for university-level study and is ideal if you don’t have the formal qualifications or work experience detailed above.

Non-native English speaker?
If your prior learning was not taught in English we require IELTS 6.0 or equivalent (no less than 5.5 in any element).

Course Content

All module information is subject to change.

Modules

Core

• Smart Grids and Power Systems Analysis
• Big Data Systems and Analysis
• Internet of Things
• Smart Grids Operation and Economics
• Research Methods and Skills
• Sustainable Energy
• MSc Project

Career support

The University is committed to helping students develop and enhance employability and this is an integral part of many programmes. Specialist support is available throughout the course from Career and Employability Services including help to find part-time work while studying, placements, vacation work and graduate vacancies.

Students are encouraged to access this support at an early stage and to use the extensive resources on the Careers website.

Discussing options with specialist advisers helps to clarify plans through exploring options and refining skills of job-hunting. In most of our programmes there is direct input by Career Development Advisers into the curriculum or through specially arranged workshops.

Working in the smart grids and energy systems sector

As a smart grid and energy systems engineer you can be involved in designing, constructing, commissioning and lifecycle maintenance of complex energy production, smart distribution and transmission grids.

Your work can include renewable energy integration into the grid, planning and operation of smart grids, controlling energy systems, energy storage systems, management and efficient use of energy in building, manufacturing and processing systems. You can also be involved in work relating to the environmental and economic impact of energy usage.

Examples of the types of jobs you could be doing include:

• Designing new smart transmission and distribution systems
• Managing maintenance and repair
• Managing operations and planning of existing systems
• Managing operations of a wind farm and solar photovoltaics
• Analysing the efficiency of hydroelectric power systems
• Evaluating the economic viability of new solar/wind power installations
• Assessing the environmental impact of energy systems.

Career prospects

Integrating renewable energy sources into the existing power systems in order to meet the governmental targets worldwide introduces several challenges for network operators.

This new programme aims to deliver skilled graduates able to meet these challenges, with the required knowledge and expertise in smart sustainable energy systems and the Internet of Things (IoT).

This programme is unique in its focus on the multi-disciplinary aspect of smart grids (i.e. combination of power and energy systems, Big-Data analytics, IoT, Artificial Intelligence, and economics of smart grids).

The shortage of smart grids and energy systems expertise among employees and management is viewed by the industry as the biggest obstacle to integrate renewable sources more extensively.

There are thousands of vacant positions available for power system engineers across the UK. There is also a shortage of power systems and smart grids engineers in the UK according to the Home Office website (code 2123 for power system engineers). This also applies internationally, with most parts of the world actively looking to adopt renewable energy integration into the grid, and make the existing grid smart, secure, affordable, efficient and reliable.

Therefore, this programme offers tremendous job prospects for graduates, with a wide range of businesses, start-ups, governments, councils /municipalities and large conglomerates wanting to invest in the use of smart grids and renewable energy sources integration into the existing grids but struggling to find skills.

The programme offers unique advantages to its graduates in an increasingly competitive job market with highly sought skills. For example: power system and smart grid analysis, smart grids operation and economics, artificial intelligence, big-data analytics, control systems, environmental law, and sustainability in the built environment.

Learning and assessment

The programme utilises a range of learning methods to offer a personalised, research-led, and digitally rooted learning experience with a holistic, international focus.

At the centre of this strategy is the focus on problem-solving through the use of creative, analytical, logical and innovative thinking, and through networking and communicating effectively with peers.

The teaching delivery team includes internationally-renowned researchers and practitioners from all the relevant smart grids and energy systems areas, including power systems, control system design, modelling and optimisation, wireless and communication systems, big data analytics and artificial intelligence and IoT. We have secured several funded projects, ensuring students will be exposed to cutting-edge knowledge and case studies.

This programme is supported through placement and internship and industry and advisory board by several well-known industries and research centres within the UK and internationally.

Formal lectures will facilitate your acquisition of knowledge and understanding, discipline specific skills, and apply this learning to industry practices. Laboratory sessions, using state-of-the-art laboratories run in conjunction with the theoretical components, give the student opportunity to enhance their understanding of particular topics.

The unique teaching content and delivery on the course is extremely well supported with several industries and special purpose labs including IoT Innovation lab and Electrical Engineering Lab. These will also help develop discipline-specific skills and personal transferable skills.

In addition, the research and development carried out in these labs and the case studies from the publicly-funded high profile projects, ensures that the content is fresh and cutting-edge. We also integrate knowledge and experience from Industrial partners through both our Industry Advisory Board and these research projects through challenging case studies, lab-based activities and invited talks, ensuring that research findings are at the heart of our curriculum.

This new programme will also involve invited external speakers from various industry sectors. This ensures that you will be exposed to the very latest and future developments.