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ME in Electrical Power Engineering

ME (NFQ Level 9)
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This course is available through the following application route(s)

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The ME Electrical Power Engineering programme is taught by world-renowned academics from the Energy Institute (EI) at University College Dublin, which is a global research leader in energy systems integration. This professionally accredited programme addresses the challenge of transitioning towards sustainable power systems, and integrating diverse generation and demand-side technologies, while maintaining stable and economic operation. It provides strong training in various aspects of electrical engineering and enhances this through a major research project and professional work experience. If you are a mathematically strong engineering student who is interested in power system analysis and renewables integration, and you are seeking a professional career in the power system and smart grid sectors, then this programme is ideal for you. The ME programme is professionally accredited by Engineers Ireland and recognised by the Washington Accord for Chartered Engineer status.

Delivered by a highly research-active School composed of many internationally high-profile academics, including five IEEE Fellows. This programme is also taught by academics from the world-leading Energy Institute for the integration of renewables into power systems and energy systems.

Module Information:

Under the "What modules can I take?" section below you will see general module information, for a more detailed description including module selection rules click here.

Micro Credentials:
If you are not in a position to take on a full time masters the UCD College of Engineering and Architecture have micro-credentials commencing in September 2024 and January 2025. For a limited time, there is a Learner Fee Subsidy Scheme available which funds these Micro-credentials by 50% or 80% for eligible learners. See eligibility criteria here.

About This Course

  • Advanced knowledge and understanding of the mathematics, sciences, data science, analytics, and other technologies underpinning electrical power engineering, with a focus on sustainable power systems, smart grid applications and power electronics technology
  • The ability to identify, formulate and analyse complex electrical power engineering problems, placed in the wide context of smart grid applications, power electronic systems and electricity market economics
  • The ability to design innovative solutions to complex electrical power engineering problems, relating to electrical networks, power system components and power electronic systems
  • The ability to investigate, experiment and apply standard and specialised research methods, using industry standard software tools, specialist research tools and laboratory facilities
  • Understanding of, and commitment to, professional and ethical responsibilities towards people and the environment in the practice of electrical power engineering
  • The ability to work effectively independently and in diverse and inclusive teams, and to prepare for lifelong learning
  • The ability to communicate effectively on complex electrical power engineering activities to diverse audiences
  • Knowledge and understanding of engineering management principles and financial decision-making relevant to electrical power engineering, and an ability to apply these to one’s own work and to the management of projects 

By completing the ME Electrical Power Engineering programme, you will become a graduate with power systems expertise, whose rare skills will be attractive to a wide variety of technical and managerial roles in the electrical utility and smart grid sectors on an international scale, e.g. ABB, Alstom, EDF, EirGrid, EPRI, ESB, GE, NREL, Siemens. The ME programme also provides an excellent starting point for those aiming for a PhD programme and a research career within a university or specialised research institution.


  • The Professional Work Experience (PWE) module is incorporated into the two-year Masters of Engineering Programme and is designed to integrate a student’s academic and career interests with practical work experience for a 6-8 month period. 

  • The module provides students with the perfect opportunity to gain increased experience and understanding of their chosen field, assess where their strengths and weaknesses lie and maximise their knowledge of the available career possibilities. The practical skills acquired during this placement will give graduates a competitive advantage when applying for positions upon graduation.


Below is a list of all modules offered for this degree in the current academic year. Click on the module to discover what you will learn in the module, how you will learn and assessment feedback profile amongst other information.

Incoming Stage 1 undergraduates can usually select an Elective in the Spring Trimester. Most continuing undergraduate students can select up to two Elective modules (10 Credits) per stage. There is also the possibility to take up to 10 extra Elective credits.

Module Type Module   Trimester Credits
Stage 1 Core Modules
EEEN40010 Control Theory Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
EEEN40080 Power System Operation Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
EEEN40110 Renewable Energy Systems Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
EEEN40550 Power System Dynamics and Control Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A)1 of:
PROFESSIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE: In STAGE 1 (YEAR 1) Students must select ONE of the following REQUIRED MODULES relating to Professional Work Experience.
EEEN40190 ME Electrical Power Professional Work Experience (long) 2 Trimester duration (Spr-Sum)  30
Stage 1 Options - A)1 of:
PROFESSIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE: In STAGE 1 (YEAR 1) Students must select ONE of the following REQUIRED MODULES relating to Professional Work Experience.
EEEN40180 ME Electrical Power Professional Work Experience (short) Summer  10
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
REQUIRED WITH SHORT PWE ONLY: In YEAR 1 Students, taking EEEN40180 (ME Electrical Power PWE Short) must also take the following REQUIRED MODULES.
EEEN30090 Electrical Machines Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
REQUIRED WITH SHORT PWE ONLY: In YEAR 1 Students, taking EEEN40180 (ME Electrical Power PWE Short) must also take the following REQUIRED MODULES.
EEEN30070 Power System Engineering Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
REQUIRED WITH SHORT PWE ONLY: In YEAR 1 Students, taking EEEN40180 (ME Electrical Power PWE Short) must also take the following REQUIRED MODULES.
MEEN40430 Professional Engineering (Management) Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 1 of:
AUTUMN OPTIONS: Students who are taking EEEN40190 ME Electrical Power PWE (LONG) must select and complete TWO OPTION MODULES (total of 10 credits) in the Autumn Trimester. Students who are taking EEEN40180 ME Electrical Power PWE (SHORT) must select and complete ONE OPTION MODULE in the Autumn Trimester.
EEEN40300 Entrepreneurship in Engineering Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 1 of:
AUTUMN OPTIONS: Students who are taking EEEN40190 ME Electrical Power PWE (LONG) must select and complete TWO OPTION MODULES (total of 10 credits) in the Autumn Trimester. Students who are taking EEEN40180 ME Electrical Power PWE (SHORT) must select and complete ONE OPTION MODULE in the Autumn Trimester.
EEEN40310 Power Electronics Technology Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 1 of:
AUTUMN OPTIONS: Students who are taking EEEN40190 ME Electrical Power PWE (LONG) must select and complete TWO OPTION MODULES (total of 10 credits) in the Autumn Trimester. Students who are taking EEEN40180 ME Electrical Power PWE (SHORT) must select and complete ONE OPTION MODULE in the Autumn Trimester.
EEEN40580 Optimisation Techniques for Engineers Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 1 of:
AUTUMN OPTIONS: Students who are taking EEEN40190 ME Electrical Power PWE (LONG) must select and complete TWO OPTION MODULES (total of 10 credits) in the Autumn Trimester. Students who are taking EEEN40180 ME Electrical Power PWE (SHORT) must select and complete ONE OPTION MODULE in the Autumn Trimester.
GEOL40310 Fossil fuels, carbon capture and storage Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 1 of:
AUTUMN OPTIONS: Students who are taking EEEN40190 ME Electrical Power PWE (LONG) must select and complete TWO OPTION MODULES (total of 10 credits) in the Autumn Trimester. Students who are taking EEEN40180 ME Electrical Power PWE (SHORT) must select and complete ONE OPTION MODULE in the Autumn Trimester.
MEEN30100 Engineering Thermodynamics II Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 1 of:
AUTUMN OPTIONS: Students who are taking EEEN40190 ME Electrical Power PWE (LONG) must select and complete TWO OPTION MODULES (total of 10 credits) in the Autumn Trimester. Students who are taking EEEN40180 ME Electrical Power PWE (SHORT) must select and complete ONE OPTION MODULE in the Autumn Trimester.
MEEN40090 Energy Systems and Climate Change Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - D) Min 0 of:
SPRING OPTIONS WITH SHORT PWE: Students who are taking EEEN Electrical Power PWE (SHORT) must select and complete 2 OPTION MODULES (total of 10 credits) in the Spring Trimester. ***Students wishing to take COMP47670 MUST select the Spring Trimester offering of this module.
COMP47670 Data Science in Python (MD) Autumn and Spring (separate)  5
Stage 1 Options - D) Min 0 of:
SPRING OPTIONS WITH SHORT PWE: Students who are taking EEEN Electrical Power PWE (SHORT) must select and complete 2 OPTION MODULES (total of 10 credits) in the Spring Trimester. ***Students wishing to take COMP47670 MUST select the Spring Trimester offering of this module.
ECON42360 Energy Economics and Policy Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - D) Min 0 of:
SPRING OPTIONS WITH SHORT PWE: Students who are taking EEEN Electrical Power PWE (SHORT) must select and complete 2 OPTION MODULES (total of 10 credits) in the Spring Trimester. ***Students wishing to take COMP47670 MUST select the Spring Trimester offering of this module.
EEEN30050 Signal Processing: Theory and Applications Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - D) Min 0 of:
SPRING OPTIONS WITH SHORT PWE: Students who are taking EEEN Electrical Power PWE (SHORT) must select and complete 2 OPTION MODULES (total of 10 credits) in the Spring Trimester. ***Students wishing to take COMP47670 MUST select the Spring Trimester offering of this module.
MEEN30010 Applied Dynamics II Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - D) Min 0 of:
SPRING OPTIONS WITH SHORT PWE: Students who are taking EEEN Electrical Power PWE (SHORT) must select and complete 2 OPTION MODULES (total of 10 credits) in the Spring Trimester. ***Students wishing to take COMP47670 MUST select the Spring Trimester offering of this module.
MEEN30140 Professional Engineering (Finance) Spring  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
EEEN40260 ME Electrical Project 2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr)  25
Stage 2 Core Modules
EEEN40100 Power Electronics and Drives Autumn  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
EEEN40090 Power System Design Spring  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
EEEN40120 Applications of Power Electronics Spring  5
Stage 2 Options - A) Min 0 of:
REQUIRED WITH LONG PWE ONLY: In Stage 2 (Year 2) ALL Students who have taken EEEN40190 ME Electrical Power PWE (LONG) in Stage 1 (Year 1) must also take the following REQUIRED MODULE.
MEEN40430 Professional Engineering (Management) Spring  5
Stage 2 Options - B) Min 1 of:
ME OPTION MODULES: Select sufficient OPTION modules to ensure a balanced workload of 30 credits per Trimester, subject to constraints and academic guidance. ***Students wishing to take COMP47670 MUST select the Spring Trimester offering of this module.
ACM40290 Numerical Algorithms Autumn  5
Stage 2 Options - B) Min 1 of:
ME OPTION MODULES: Select sufficient OPTION modules to ensure a balanced workload of 30 credits per Trimester, subject to constraints and academic guidance. ***Students wishing to take COMP47670 MUST select the Spring Trimester offering of this module.
EEEN40300 Entrepreneurship in Engineering Autumn  5
Stage 2 Options - B) Min 1 of:
ME OPTION MODULES: Select sufficient OPTION modules to ensure a balanced workload of 30 credits per Trimester, subject to constraints and academic guidance. ***Students wishing to take COMP47670 MUST select the Spring Trimester offering of this module.
EEEN40310 Power Electronics Technology Autumn  5
Stage 2 Options - B) Min 1 of:
ME OPTION MODULES: Select sufficient OPTION modules to ensure a balanced workload of 30 credits per Trimester, subject to constraints and academic guidance. ***Students wishing to take COMP47670 MUST select the Spring Trimester offering of this module.
EEEN40580 Optimisation Techniques for Engineers Autumn  5
Stage 2 Options - B) Min 1 of:
ME OPTION MODULES: Select sufficient OPTION modules to ensure a balanced workload of 30 credits per Trimester, subject to constraints and academic guidance. ***Students wishing to take COMP47670 MUST select the Spring Trimester offering of this module.
EEEN40720 Machine Learning for Engineers Autumn  5
Stage 2 Options - B) Min 1 of:
ME OPTION MODULES: Select sufficient OPTION modules to ensure a balanced workload of 30 credits per Trimester, subject to constraints and academic guidance. ***Students wishing to take COMP47670 MUST select the Spring Trimester offering of this module.
GEOL40310 Fossil fuels, carbon capture and storage Autumn  5
Stage 2 Options - B) Min 1 of:
ME OPTION MODULES: Select sufficient OPTION modules to ensure a balanced workload of 30 credits per Trimester, subject to constraints and academic guidance. ***Students wishing to take COMP47670 MUST select the Spring Trimester offering of this module.
COMP47670 Data Science in Python (MD) Autumn and Spring (separate)  5
Stage 2 Options - B) Min 1 of:
ME OPTION MODULES: Select sufficient OPTION modules to ensure a balanced workload of 30 credits per Trimester, subject to constraints and academic guidance. ***Students wishing to take COMP47670 MUST select the Spring Trimester offering of this module.
ECON42360 Energy Economics and Policy Spring  5
Stage 2 Options - B) Min 1 of:
ME OPTION MODULES: Select sufficient OPTION modules to ensure a balanced workload of 30 credits per Trimester, subject to constraints and academic guidance. ***Students wishing to take COMP47670 MUST select the Spring Trimester offering of this module.
MEEN30140 Professional Engineering (Finance) Spring  5

The ME programme is professionally accredited by Engineers Ireland and recognised by the Washington Accord for Chartered Engineer status.


Graduate Profile - Rachel Perkinson, SSE Renewables

I chose to study engineering at UCD as you did not have to commit to a particular discipline straight away. This proved a wise choice as I went in believing I wanted to be a chemical engineering but quickly discovered electrical engineering was actually the discipline for me, and so I first completed a 3 year BSc degree, focusing on electrical engineering. The ME in Electrical Power Engineering at UCD is a challenging but rewarding course. 

I have found the course prepared me well for a career in renewable energy by making me aware of the opportunities and challenges facing the industry by mixing knowledge of the key technologies with how electricity markets and networks interact and operate. Throughout my 5 years at UCD I had the opportunity to spend a year studying in New Zealand and undertook two internships which provided invaluable experience. I am now working as an electrical engineer for SSE Renewables based in Scotland and find I use many of the skills I developed at UCD on a regular basis. 

ME in Electrical Power Engineering (T335) Full Time
EU          Year 1 - € 9300
nonEU    Year 1 - € 29100
EU          Year 2 - € 8830 aa
nonEU    Year 2 - € 27720 aa

aaSecond Year Fee applies to Students in 2nd Year in 2024 and who were a 1st Year Student on the programme in 2023/24
***Fees are subject to change

Please note that UCD offers a number of graduate scholarships for full-time, self-funding international students, holding an offer of a place on a UCD graduate degree programme. For further information please see www.ucd.ie/global/scholarships/

The College of Engineering & Architecture also offer scholarships for non-EU students, for more information see: www.ucd.ie/eacollege/study/noneuscholarships.

  • An undergraduate honours degree (NFQ level 8)  with a minimum upper second class honours or international equivalence in an Electrical or Electronic Engineering programme. 
  • Applicants whose first language is not English must also demonstrate English language proficiency of IELTS 6.5 (no band less than 6.0 in each element), or equivalent.
  • Students meeting the programme’s academic entry requirements but not the  English language requirements, may enter the programme upon  successful completion of UCD’s Pre-Sessional or International Pre-Master’s Pathway programmes. Please see the following link for further information http://www.ucd.ie/alc/programmes/pathways/
  • These are the minimum entry requirements – additional criteria may be requested for some programmes

Full Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants currently residing outside of the EEA Region. Yes


General application route(s) for Irish/UK/EU applicants* for International (non-EU) applicants* to ME in Electrical Power Engineering:

ROWCLASS Apply to   Application Type  
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt T335
ME in Electrical Power Engineering
Master of Engineering
Full-Time
Commencing 2024/2025 September
Graduate Taught Apply
* you can change options at the top of the page