Careers with this subject
Key features
- Be at the forefront of the rapidly growing field of offshore renewable energy at a time when such expertise is increasingly sought after.
- Develop knowledge and confidence in the processes involved in the design, development, installation, operation and decommissioning of a cost-effective offshore power station.
- Develop an understanding of the factors that affect the Levelized Cost of Energy delivered by an offshore power station.
- Develop familiarity with industry standard software used in design.
- When our new engineering and design facility is launched, students in engineering, science and the arts will have access to a range of specialist equipment and innovative laboratories.
- Study at the University named eighth in the world – and best in the UK for the quality and impact of its research in Marine and Ocean Engineering in the Shanghai Ranking Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2019.
- Benefit from our research team’s expertise – our staff achieved ratings of ‘world leading’ and ‘internationally excellent’ in the UK Government’s most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF 2014).
- Take advantage of the University of Plymouth’s leadership role in the Supergen Offshore Renewable Energy Hub.
- Gain experience in the use of world leading facilities such as the COAST Lab test tanks as part of your taught programme and your research.
- Live and study in ‘Britain’s Ocean City’, with easy access to businesses and the marine environment, this is an ideal location to study offshore renewables.
- This degree is accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM) comprising of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Institution of Structural Engineers, Institute of Highway Engineers, the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation and the Permanent Way Institution on behalf of the Engineering Council as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for a Chartered Engineer (CEng) for candidates who have already acquired a partial CEng accredited undergraduate first degree.* See jbm.org.uk for further information.
*It should be noted that candidates completing the MSc who hold an underpinning accredited IEng degree or a non-accredited bachelor degree will need to apply for an academic assessment to determine whether they will meet the educational base for CEng registration.
Course details
Year 1
- The MSc Offshore Renewable Energy Engineering programme provides an employability focused curriculum primarily designed to enable engineers to specialise in the skills and topics needed to work within the offshore renewable energy industry.During the first two semesters of this one-year programme, you will study a range of core taught modules – covering how the disciplines of meteorology, aerodynamics, mechanical, control, electrical, structural and offshore engineering are utilised in multi-disciplinary teams to deliver a cost-effective offshore power station. Students obtain hands-on experience of using state-of-the-art software tools as well as developing physical modelling skills within the COAST Laboratory.In the final semester you will complete an independent dissertation project focused on an aspect of offshore renewable engineering, supervised by academic staff actively researching this field. Throughout your studies, we will support you in gaining the research and professional skills to help you get the most from the programme – and launch a successful career.
Core modules
Coastal and Offshore Engineering (COUE510)
This module covers essential theoretical concepts for coastal and offshore engineers. Topics include: water wave theory, wave transformation processes, shallow water waves, coastal environments, climate change, introduction to flood defence, introduction to data analysis & software tools for coastal and offshore engineers, introduction to coastal and offshore structure design.
The Offshore Power Station (ENGR502)
This module will familiarise students with processes involved in the design, development, installation, operation and decommissioning of a cost-effective offshore power station. Students will get hands-on experience of industry standard design software. Factors affecting the Levelized Cost of Energy will be explored. External lecturers will provide context through presentation of up to date case studies.
Introduction to Offshore Renewable Energy (MAR534)
This module provides an introduction to the engineering, technological, environmental, socioeconomic and legal issues relevant to the development and exploitation of offshore renewable energy. The relative influence of the various factors in determining the success of specific sites is assessed and the current barriers to future development identified.
Mechanics of ORE Structures (MAR536)
This module will cover engineering aspects of offshore renewable energy conversion. The module comprises lectures and tutorials, invited industry lectures, a field trip visit to a marine engineering company and a wave energy converter performance experiment in the COAST lab.
MSc Dissertation and Research Skills (PROJ518)
You will develop a methodical approach to research that helps propose research projects that are practically realistic and academically worthwhile. A substantial project will be planned and carried out using ethically suitable quantitative and qualitative research methods. The project will be reported through a high quality, scholarly and professional write-up, either as a formal dissertation or journal paper.
Economics, Law and Policy for Offshore Renewable Energy (MAR535)
This module provides an overview of key economic concepts and issues relevant to the development and exploitation of offshore renewable energy (ORE). The module also provides an overview of the relevant legal regimes relevant to ORE, including property rights, climate change and energy, marine environmental protection and maritime safety and security.
Optional modules
Integrated Power Systems (ELEC517)
This module will focus on current power systems pertinent to renewable energy. The design and performance of converters will be main focus of this module.
Applied Marine Autonomy (MAR537Z)
This module introduces students to marine autonomous platforms for marine environmental data collection. It focuses on the appropriate use of platforms, covering theory of operation and developing practical skills in autonomous marine data collection through workshops and fieldwork. The module also allows direct interaction with scientific researchers and industry practitioners through seminars.
Advanced Naval Architecture (MARN501)
On completing this module, students will have a comprehensive knowledge of mathematical models associated with marine hydrodynamics and marine structures. The students will be able to understand their limitations, and to interpret data from them. Topics covered will include Vessel Manoeuvring, Marine structural response and analysis of irregular seaways.
Modelling and Analytics for Data Science (MATH501)
This module gives students an understanding of modelling and analytics techniques for Data Science. It supplies modern data modelling tool boxes for making strategic decisions in a broad range of Business related practical situations. It offers a hands-on introduction to Bayesian inference and machine learning. It provides additional practice in making professional presentations.
Every postgraduate taught course has a detailed programme specification document describing the programme aims, the programme structure, the teaching and learning methods, the learning outcomes and the rules of assessment.
The following programme specification represents the latest programme structure and may be subject to change:
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