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Electrical Power Systems with Advanced Research

Masters/MSc (Two Years)

Start date
September
Duration
2 years full-time; 4-6 years part-time
Course Type
Postgraduate, Combined research and taught, Continuing professional development, Doctoral research, Taught
Fees

We charge an annual tuition fee.  Fees for 2024/25:
UK students:
Year 1 - £11,340
International Students:
Year 1 - £29,340
Further fee information, including year 2 fees.

Our 2-year MSc Electrical Power Systems with Advanced Research will give you the advanced skills and specialist experience required to significantly enhance your career in the electrical power industry. The course builds on a very close involvement with the power industry and our extensive research work and expertise.

Scholarships for 2024 entry

The University of Birmingham is proud to offer a range of scholarships for our postgraduate programmes. With a scholarship pot worth over £2 million, we are committed to alleviating financial barriers to support you in taking your next steps.

Each scholarship has its own specific deadlines and eligibility criteria. Please familiarise yourself with the information on individual scholarship webpages prior to submitting an application.

Explore our scholarships

This 2-year Electrical Power Systems with Advanced Research Masters programme meets the industrial demand for the training and education of both existing and future engineers in the advanced concepts of electrical power systems and renewable energy as well as advanced research skills.

It aims to produce graduates of the highest calibre with the right advanced skills and knowledge who will be capable of leading in teams involved in the operation, control, design, and economic analysis of the electrical power systems and networks of the future – smart grids as well as developing and managing R&D programmes.

Some modules will be taught by leading industry experts, which will give you the exciting opportunity to understand the real challenges that power industry is facing, hence propose innovative solutions. In addition, students working on relevant MSc projects may have the opportunity to work with leading industry experts directly. 

The 2-Year MSc Electrical Power Systems with Advanced Research will run in parallel with the existing 1-Year MSc Electrical Power Systems. The taught credits in the 1st year of the 2 Year MSc are identical to that of the 1-Year MSc while the 2nd Year is mainly focused on a research project. The 2-year programme will also be able to fill in the gap of skills between the 1-year MSc and PhD research.

It is envisaged there will be the opportunity for students to transfer between the two programmes using the University’s procedures for transfers between programmes, subject to programme requirements. This opportunity would take place at the end of the taught part of the programme.

Why study Electrical Power Systems with Advanced Research Masters/MSc at Birmingham

  • Study in our new state-of-the-art School of Engineering building which includes a 50-seat electronics and electrical focused projects space and a basement that houses a full-size set of railway points, the University’s pantograph test rig and a test track for the scaled hydrogen-powered train.
  • Postgraduate study at the University of Birmingham is a chance to learn from world leaders in their fields. This guarantees you a first-class learning experience, leading to a qualification that is respected the world over and making you an attractive prospect in a  very competitive job market.
  • The programme aims to fill in the gap between the 1-year MSc and PhD study, and provide the opportunity to understand how to use the advanced methods to solve the real challenges that energy industry is facing and develop advanced research skills for advanced R&D projects. The leading power system experts from industry will provide unique course materials which may not be found elsewhere. 
  • For some research projects, there will be joint supervision with industry experts as well as industry placement opportunities.
  • Our Department is recognised by the Research Excellence Framework (REF) for 86% of research impact ranked as world leading or internationally excellent
  • Enjoy one of the broadest portfolios and most successful track records of collaborations with industry in the country, giving you real working knowledge and valuable experience for future employment

Modules

This programme also aims to provide graduates with the ability to critically evaluate methodologies, analytical procedures and advanced research methods. Year 1 of the programme is focussed on the taught modules covering:

  • Control concepts and methods
  • Advanced energy conversion systems and power electronic applications
  • Advanced power electronic technologies for electrical power networks – HVDC and FACTS
  • Electrical power system engineering - using state-of-the-art computational tools and methods, and design of sustainable electrical power systems and networks
  • Economic analysis of electrical power systems and electricity markets. 

While Year 2 of the programme will give you the opportunity to work on an advanced research project. For some suitable projects, in conjunction with joint industry supervision, industry placement may be available.

Year 1 

The following must be taken, all 20 credits:

Year 2

Performance required for progressing to Year 2 - successful completion of Year 1 with a good overall 2.1 is needed.

Please note: The modules listed on the website for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods. Unless indicated otherwise, the modules listed for this programme are for students starting in 2024. On rare occasions, we may need to make unexpected changes to core modules; in this event we will contact offer holders as soon as possible to inform or consult them as appropriate.

Fees

Annual tuition fees for 2024/25

  • UK students: 
    Year 1 - £11,340 full-time, £5,670 part-time
    Year 2 - £4,778*
  • International students:  
    Year 1 - £29,340
    Year 2 - £27,360*

* Please note:  year 2 fees for students starting in 2024/25 will not be confirmed until 2025. The year 2 fees that are shown are relevant to students who started in 2023/24.

PLease contact us for fee clarification and part-time fees.


Are you an international applicant?

All international applicants to this course will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit of £2,000 on receipt of an offer, to secure their place.

Find out more about the deposit >>.

Scholarships

We offer a range of postgraduate scholarships for taught programmes and research opportunities to ensure the very best talent is nurtured and supported at postgraduate level.

University scholarships

Birmingham Masters Scholarship

Our Birmingham Masters Scholarship offers £2,000 via a tuition fee discount, to support the brightest and best applicants from UK or Ireland undertaking Masters study at Birmingham during 2024-2025.

Global Masters Scholarship

This £2,000 Gloabl Masters Scholarship award is available to all international students from a selection of countries who are seeking to study a taught Masters degree at Birmingham in the 2024-25 academic year.

 

How To Apply

Application Fee

For international applicants this programme is subject to a £50 non-refundable application fee. At the end of the application form, before you can submit it to us, you will be required to pay, or indicate how you will pay the required fee in order for us to process your application. Please complete and submit your application before paying your application fee.

UK and non-Tier 4 applicants

Applications will close 31 August 2024. We will close applications as soon as the programme is full, early applications are encouraged.

International applicants requiring visas

Applications to this programme from students who are international for fees will close 07 May 2024. We will close applications as soon as the programme is full, early applications are encouraged.

How to apply

To apply for a postgraduate research programme, you will need to submit your application and supporting documents online. We have put together some helpful information on the research programme application process and supporting documents on our how to apply page. Please read this information carefully before completing your application.

Apply now

Our Standard Requirements

A 2:1 Honours degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering or a relevant subject. Industrial experience and CEng/IEng qualifications will also be taken into account.

Applicants with a 2.2 with high grades in relevant modules will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Learn more about entry requirements. 

International Requirements



International Students

English language

For students whose first language is not English, one of the following English language qualifications is required:

 
  • IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band
  • TOEFL: 88 overall with no less than 21 in Reading, 20 in Listening, 22 in Speaking and 21 in Writing
  • Pearson Test of English (PTE) including online: PTE Academic 67 with no less than 64 in all four skills
  • Cambridge English (exams taken from 2015): Advanced – minimum overall score of 176, with no less than 169 in any component

Senior industry experts to teach on the programme which gives the students an exciting opportunity to understand what the real challenges and solutions are.

Programme lead Professor Xiao Ping Zhang.

Patterns of study 

The majority of students study our Masters programmes full time. Our programmes are also suitable for practising engineers who wish to study part-time or take a single module to earn Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points. Many modules are completed in three-day sessions allowing you to focus on one topic at a time. Following each session of lectures there is an opportunity for you to deepen your understanding through private study and in most cases there is also an assessed assignment. 

Core modules 

These modules cover the advanced specialist topics required for your specific degree programme, such as Power System Operation and Control, HVDC and FACTS and Power System Economics. These technologies are at the heart of many current developments in electrical power systems. 

Cross-programme option modules 

These options specialize in topics relevant to each degree programme and give you the opportunity to adapt the programme that you have chosen to study. The prior knowledge needed for each module is specified in the student handbook to help you make the most appropriate choice. This allows you the greatest possible freedom to customise your study package appropriately. 

Individual project 

In Year 2, you will have 12-months to work on a dedicated research project to develop your comprehensive research skills, which would be helpful to fill in the gap between the 1-year MSc and PhD. This is an opportunity for you to develop advanced specialist knowledge. Some projects are undertaken in collaboration with companies and, in some cases, you may work on company premises investigating issues of direct concern to future product development. 

Assessment and awards 

Assessment is by a combination of written examination and course work. There is a strong emphasis on course work to deepen understanding. The pass mark is 50%. A merit is awarded to students with an average of 60% or more and a distinction is awarded to students with an average of 70% or more, in both taught and project modules. There are prizes for students who perform especially well overall and for those who complete exceptionally good individual projects.

This course meets the industrial demand for the training and education of both existing and future engineers in the advanced concepts of electrical power systems and renewable energy.

It aims to produce graduates of the highest calibre who will be much in demand due to their skills, knowledge and ability to lead in teams involved in the operation, control, design, and economic analysis of the electrical power systems and networks of the future – smart grids.

University Careers Network

Preparation for your career should be one of the first things you think about as you start university. Whether you have a clear idea of where your future aspirations lie or want to consider the broad range of opportunities available once you have a Birmingham degree, our Careers Network can help you achieve your goal.

Our unique careers guidance service is tailored to your academic subject area, offering a specialised team (in each of the five academic colleges) who can give you expert advice. Our team source exclusive work experience opportunities to help you stand out amongst the competition, with mentoring, global internships and placements available to you. Once you have a career in your sights, one-to-one support with CVs and job applications will help give you the edge.

If you make the most of the wide range of services you will be able to develop your career from the moment you arrive.

Professional Accreditation