Full Time option suitable for:

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

This professionally accredited “Second Cycle” Master of Engineering programme aims to prepare its graduates for work in designing and developing future energy systems, taking account of climate impact / CO2 emissions, security of energy supply and economic competitiveness concerns. The scope of the programme includes analysis of global energy systems, use of finite natural resources and the impact on climate. It focuses on use of fossil fuels and on renewable and other energy sources such as wind, wave, nuclear and solar power and on the conversion, storage and transmission by electrical and other means. The programme also addresses the efficient use of energy in buildings, transport and industrial processes, together with the study of other topics such as carbon capture and sequestration.

Incoming students should have a strong understanding of fundamental principles in the discipline of their “First Cycle” degree, typically in Mechanical, Electrical / Electronic or Chemical engineering, or in a strongly mathematical science discipline. Participation in this programme ensures that they broaden their education to develop a grasp of fundamental principles from across a range of other disciplines in order to equip them to tackle the complex multi-disciplinary and often conflicting issues that arise in the search for effective solutions to the energy challenges facing mankind.

The programme draws from the expertise of UCD academic staff from all of the Schools of Mechanical & Materials, Electrical & Electronic, Chemical & Bioprocess, Civil and Biosystems & Food Engineering), and also from the Schools of Physics, Earth Sciences, Economics and Business.

Teaching is by means of lectures, supervised laboratories, tutorials, assignments and self-directed learning. The full 2-year programme includes a 6-8 month industry-based internship and all students carry out an individual Research Project, supervised by a member of academic staff which is, in many cases, carried out in collaboration with industry.

• Advanced knowledge and understanding of the mathematics, sciences, engineering sciences and technologies underpinning Energy Systems engineering.
• The ability to identify, formulate, analyse and solve complex engineering problems
• The ability to perform the detailed design of a novel system, component or process using analysis and interpretation of relevant data.
• The ability to design and conduct experiments and to apply a range of standard and specialised research (or equivalent) tools and techniques of enquiry.
• An understanding of the need for high ethical standards in the practice of engineering, including the responsibilities of the engineering profession towards people and the environment.
• The ability to work effectively as an individual, in teams and in multidisciplinary settings, together with the capacity to undertake lifelong learning.
• The ability to communicate effectively on complex engineering activities with the engineering community and with society at large.

Graduates of this ME Energy Systems programme will be equipped with the skill set and knowledge vital for crucial roles in research, design and development in companies in the energy sector. Alumni from this programme have obtained jobs in a wide variety of organisations in Ireland and further afield, the majority in the energy sector.

Previous employers of ME in Energy Systems Graduates include: EirGrid (Dublin), ESB International (Dublin), ESB Networks, SEAI, Accenture (Dublin), PwC (Ireland), Arup (Ireland), EY, Mainstream Renewable Power, TerraSolar, EPRI, ElectroRoute, GridBeyond, Berkeley Lab, Berkeley (California), Commission for Energy Regulation (Dublin), Dublin Airport Authority, Intel Ireland Limited, Veolia Ireland, Irish Water, Fingleton White, Dimplex Renewables (Irl), Dynapower LLC (USA), Eclareon (Spain), Exergyn (Dublin), ThermoKing, Irish Cement, Enercon GmbH (Ireland and Germany), Imtech (UK), Independent Market Operator (Perth, Australia), Intel (Ireland), Irish Cement Limited, KBR (Australia), KBR (UK), MCS Kenny (UK), National Grid (UK), Northstar Drillstem Testers, Edmonton, (Canada), Arup, AECOM, PM Group (Ireland), RPS Group (Ireland), Saudi Aramco (Saudi Arabia), Schletter UK Ltd, Schwenk Zement (Germany), Sea Breeze Power Corp (Canada), EDF Energy UK (Nuclear), and Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), Melbourne.

Significant numbers of graduates have also decided to pursue further study to PhD level, at UCD and elsewhere.

View All Modules Here

This section links to general module information, for a more detailed description including module selection rules click here.

ME Energy Systems (T164) Full Time
EU          fee per year - € 9300
nonEU    fee per year - € 29100

***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.

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.

The UCD ME (Energy Systems) degree programme is fully accredited at Masters level by Engineers Ireland  and the programme has been awarded the EUR-ACE® Label as a Second Cycle Accredited European Engineering Programme under the EUR-ACE Framework of Standards for Accreditation of Engineering Programmes

• An honours undergraduate degree  (NFQ level 8) with a minimum upper second class honours or international equivalence in a relevant 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 International Pre-Master’s Pathway programmes. Please see the following link for further information: https://www.ucd.ie/alc/programmes/pathways/int%20pmp/
• These are the minimum entry requirements – additional criteria may be requested for some programmes 

Graduate Profile - Siúin O’Riordan

"I chose to do the Master’s in Energy Systems Engineering in UCD to broaden my skills and career opportunities and to be trained to work in the energy systems industry. This master’s course allowed me to specialise in energy systems while also gaining important engineering skills. The course included an 8-month professional work placement which was another important factor in choosing the master’s. This work experience has given me confidence in approaching interviews, working as part of a professional team and developing my future career in the renewable energy sector. The high-quality material provided and the wide variety of modules offered have provided me with a deeper understanding of the current and future technical and economic challenges faced by the world’s energy systems. The master’s has prepared me to work as an engineer and be involved in future energy solutions."

• ME Electrical Energy Engineering FT
• MSc Sustainable Energy & Green Technologies FT

The following entry routes are available:

* Courses will remain open until such time as all places have been filled, therefore early application is advised

What's the difference between the ME Energy Systems (T164) and ME Electrical Power Engineering (T335) programmes?

The ME Electrical Power Engineering programme specialises in electrical power systems and power electronics and, in particular, emphasises detailed operation and analysis of modern electricity power grids, where the integration of inverter based renewable (wind and solar) generation units is essential. Ireland is currently a very exciting place for electrical power engineers, since it runs a synchronously isolated power system, which also incorporates a very high proportion of renewable sources, primarily from wind energy. The interactions between technical engineering constraints and the operation of electricity markets are also emphasised. Students will be exposed to strong laboratory-focussed learning and will gain experience of professional practice via an industry-based work placement, working along with major national and international companies in the power industry. With a strong emphasis on the mathematical and analytical underpinnings of the discipline, the programme educates professional engineers to excel at an advanced technical level or as a professional engineering manager. Future opportunities to pursue PhD programmes are also encouraged.

The ME Energy Systems programme takes a broader approach, which considers a more holistic view of global energy systems, including consequent environmental and climate impacts. It focuses on the interdependence between the electricity system, building energy systems, industrial production systems and transportation systems, taking account of security of supply and climate impact / CO2 emissions. The integration of renewables, such as wind and solar, into the electricity system is considered in detail, and the potential for wider incorporation of renewables in other sectors is also explored. The programme aims to prepare graduates to meet the engineering, economic and environmental challenges facing the energy systems of the future. It encompasses interdisciplinary solutions from mechanical, electrical, civil and chemical engineering, geological sciences, and provides opportunities to study a wide range of options, ranging from nuclear physics to energy economics and policy and entrepreneurship. Through academic coursework and an industry-based placement, graduates develop a broad understanding of the multi-disciplinary challenges in this field and are equipped with the technical skills to deliver solutions in the energy sector.

ME Electrical Power Engineering requires applicants to have an Electrical or Electronic Engineering background, or Energy Engineering background with strong mathematical skills. ME Energy Systems looks for candidates with a relevant Engineering background, such as in Mechanical Engineering, Electronic & Electrical Engineering or Energy Engineering.
For those with a prior knowledge of the basic principles of electrical engineering systems, and who do not require an industry-based internship, the ME Energy Systems programme can be completed in one full academic session over 12 calendar months.

Both ME programmes are professionally accredited by Engineers Ireland.