Advanced Power Engineering MSc

Level: Postgraduate taught

Subject: Engineering

Year of entry: 2026

Study options

Mode of study

On campus

Full-time
  • MSc | 2 years | Start date: September 2026

Key facts

School

School of Engineering

College

College of Science and Engineering

Study location

King's Buildings campus

Accreditation

Available

Apply now

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About the degree programme

Our two-year MSc programme in Advanced Power Engineering will train you in the most up-to-date developments in power engineering technologies.

You will expand your knowledge of both traditional and renewable power sources and will explore efficient and sustainable methods of power production.

Through the taught courses you will acquire the advanced fundamentals, research tools and techniques of power engineering. You will also develop an in-depth knowledge of emerging technologies and advanced numerical methods to address some of the world's grand challenges, such as integration of wind energy, offshore renewables, energy storage and photovoltaics.

In your second year you will undertake a year-long research project when you will be able to focus on a relevant topic of your choice. You have the opportunity to do this either within one of our research groups, or in industry in collaboration with a power company. This in-depth project will advance your research and transferable skills, preparing you for a career in the field or further study into a PhD.

United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals

Based on our compulsory course material, this degree aligns with many of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the top three being: 

  • SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
  • SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
  • SDG 13: Climate Action

Programme rankings

  • The School of Engineering is consistently ranked in the UK's top 10 universities for engineering (Times Higher Education rankings by subject 2025 and QS World University rankings by subject 2025)
  • The School of Engineering’s joint submission with Heriot-Watt University in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF) was ranked 1st in Scotland and 3rd in the UK by Times Higher Education, based on the quality and breadth of our combined research
  • The University of Edinburgh is ranked 7th in the world and 2nd in the UK for sustainability, recognising our leadership in creating a more sustainable world (2025 QS World University Rankings)

Tuition fees

Tuition fees by award and duration

Tuition fees for full-time and part-time options are listed for one academic year.

Full-time

Graduate discount

If you are a University of Edinburgh graduate, you will be eligible for a 10% discount on your tuition fees for this programme. You may also be eligible if you were a visiting undergraduate student.

Find out how to receive your graduate discount

Deposit

If you receive an offer of admission you will need to pay a deposit to secure your place:

  • £1,500 (this contributes towards your tuition fees)

How and when to pay the deposit

Costs

Additional programme costs

You may wish to consider purchasing your own laptop, however you can also make use of our laptop and internet loan services for free while studying with us.

IT Requirements and Support

Accommodation and living costs

You need to cover your accommodation and living costs for the duration of your programme.

We estimate that you might spend £1,167 to £2,330 per month if you are a single student.

Living costs include:

  • food
  • utility bills
  • travel, clothes, books and stationery
  • recreational costs (for example, TV subscriptions and social events)

Living costs

Accommodation costs depend on where you live while studying and the type of accommodation you choose.

University postgraduate accommodation options and costs

Funding opportunities

Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.

Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:

  • borrowing money
    • taking out a loan
    • family support
  • personal savings
  • income from work
  • employer sponsorship
  • scholarships

Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study

Search for other funding opportunities

You can find scholarships, bursaries and other funding you might be eligible for on our Scholarships and Student Funding site.

Postgraduate funding opportunities

These entry requirements are for the 2026-27 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2027-28 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2026.

Qualifications

A UK 2:1 degree, or international equivalent, in Electrical and/or Electronic Engineering.  
 
Applicants with different academic backgrounds may be considered but we expect you to have passed at least two power engineering related courses with marks equivalent to UK 2:1 as a minimum. Examples of relevant courses are power electronics, power systems, electric machines, control engineering, renewable energy etc. This requirement may be partially met by relevant industrial experience; applicants with non-standard backgrounds may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
 
Applicants will also need to submit a personal statement, which should clearly indicate their level of understanding in power engineering, as well as demonstrating their strong interest in and commitment to the field.
 
Please note that entry to this programme is very competitive. A typical offer will normally require a UK first class honours degree or equivalent.

International qualifications

To find international equivalent qualifications, select where you studied from the country or region list.

English language requirements

You must prove that your English language abilities are at a high enough level to study this degree programme.

This is the case for all applicants, including UK nationals.

You can meet our English language requirements with one of the following:

  • an English language test
  • a degree that was taught and assessed in English
  • certain professional qualifications

English language tests we accept

We accept any of the following English language tests, at the specified grade or higher:

  • IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
  • C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 176 with at least 169 in each component.
  • Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components.
  • Oxford ELLT: total 7 with at least 6 in each component.
  • Oxford Test of English Advanced: total 145 with at least 135 in each component.
How old your English language tests can be
Tests no more than two years old

The following English language tests must be no more than two years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality:

  • IELTS Academic
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition)
  • Trinity ISE
  • Oxford ELLT
  • Oxford Test of English Advanced
Tests no more than three and a half years old

All other English language tests must be no more than three and a half years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality.   

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English-speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration.

UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English-speaking countries (non-MESC).

Approved universities in non-MESC

How old your degree can be

If you are not a national of a majority English-speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts.

This time limit does not apply to your degree if you are a national of a majority English-speaking country.

Find out more about our English language requirements

Find out about other English language qualifications we accept, including professional qualifications.

English language requirements

What you will study

The programme runs over two years.

In Year 1, you will take two semesters of taught courses.

In Year 2, you will complete a year-long research project leading to the submission of your masters dissertation.

The courses correspond to 120 credits of taught material, plus 120 credits for the research project.

Research project and dissertation

In close collaboration with our academics, you will spend your second year working as a full-time researcher on your research project. You will investigate an actual, industry-relevant power engineering problem, putting into practice the knowledge and skills you have acquired during the first two taught semesters.

You can carry out your research project within either:

  • one of our power research groups working alongside academics and researchers from the Institute for Energy Systems, or
  • in an industrial placement within the power sector.

A unique feature of the research project is that instead of a standard MSc dissertation, students on the MSc APE programme you will publish two journal papers: one review and one research paper, both published in the Edinburgh Power Engineering Research Archive, a journal set up specifically for the dissemination of the research outputs of the Advanced Power Engineering research projects.

Edinburgh Power Engineering Research Archive

Sustainability

Compulsory course material on this programme reflects the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), primarily:

  • SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
  • SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
  • SDG 13: Climate Action

Depending on the optional courses you choose to take, you will have the opportunity to explore others.

Further your knowledge of sustainability with our free training and resources

Social and civic responsibility is a key focus of the University.

Learn more about our focus on social and civic responsibility in our Climate Strategy

Find courses for this programme

Find out what courses you can study on this programme and how each of them are taught and assessed.

The courses on offer may change from year to year, but the course information will give you an idea of what to expect on this programme.

Full-time

We link to the latest information available. This may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching

You will learn through a combination of:

  • taught courses
  • workshops
  • group design projects
  • a research dissertation

You will be taught by our expert academics who are leaders in their fields.

You will also deepen your knowledge through:

  • our connections with leading companies in the sector
  • practical activities where you will benefit from our specialist resources and facilities
  • participating in site visits so you can apply theory to real situations
  • gaining experience of using industry-approved software
  • actively engaging in our world-leading research as part of your dissertation project

Learning outcomes

Our aim is to train the next generation of power engineers who are equipped to contribute to the rapidly changing needs of the industry and society. We will support you to:

  • build your knowledge of the most recent, cutting-edge developments in power engineering
  • acquire advanced research and development skills and training, allowing you to excel in both industrial and academic settings
  • understand and tackle the global energy trilemma of supplying secure, equitable and environmentally sustainable energy, while appreciating the technical, social and economic challenges faced in both developed and developing countries.

Support for your studies

You will have access to a range of support services if you need them throughout your degree.

We will assign you to a student adviser, and this should be the first person to contact if you need help. They can guide you to other University service teams depending on what support you need.  

How we support you

Accreditation

The MSc in Advanced Power Engineering is accredited by the UK Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), one the largest professional engineering bodies in the world.

Your MSc can therefore count towards the academic requirements for registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng) in the UK.

Chartered Engineers not only have a firm grasp of the underpinning knowledge of their field, but also possess the required professional skills to excel in the modern engineering environment.

Accredited programmes undergo continuous and robust quality review by the IET and are internationally recognised for the quality of the education they provide.

Accreditation by the IET is awarded through a renewal-based and periodic accreditation review process, which is currently underway for academic year 2026/2027 onwards. 

Career opportunities

Power engineers are in-demand worldwide with governments putting plans in place to decarbonise and modernise the electricity sector.

The transition to a green economy will require a highly skilled workforce led by electrical power engineers with a solid academic background, an appreciation of the trajectory of the industry and an understanding of the challenges and implications brought about by the introduction of new power technologies.

As a graduate from our MSc Advanced Power Engineering programme, you will be equipped to go into a wide range of careers anywhere in the world, such as in:

  • academia
  • governments
  • energy consultancies
  • energy utilities
  • engineering or construction companies
  • renewable energy developers

The programme runs in close association with other activities within the broader Electrical Engineering programme within the School and existing research associations and consortia (such as the EPSRC Centre for Energy Systems Integration), meaning you will benefit from:

  • networking events
  • industrial presentations
  • seminars

Further study

After completing this programme, you may wish to consider applying for a PhD or other research programme.

Applying for research degrees

Moving on to a PhD (advice from the University's Careers Service)

Careers Service

Our Careers Service can help you to fully develop your potential and achieve your future goals. 

The Careers Service supports you not only while you are studying at the University, but also for up to two years after you finish your studies. 

With the Careers Service, you can: 

  • access digital resources to help you understand your skills and strengths
  • try different types of experiences and reflect on how and what you develop
  • get help finding work, including part-time jobs, vacation work, internships and graduate jobs
  • attend careers events and practice interviews
  • get information and advice to help you make informed decisions 

Visit the Careers Service website 

How to apply

You apply online for this programme. After you read the application guidance, select your preferred programme, then choose 'Start your application' to begin.

If you are considering applying to more than one programme, you should be aware that we cannot consider more than 3 applications from the same applicant.

When to apply

Programme start date Application deadline
14 September 2026 30 August 2026

We encourage you to apply at least one month prior to entry so that we have enough time to process your application. If you are also applying for funding or will require a visa then we strongly recommend you apply as early as possible.

When to submit your supporting documents

You must submit all supporting documents by the application deadline, or we will be unable to consider your application. Regardless of when you apply, you have 28 days from submitting your application to supply any supporting documents through the Application Hub, after which we will automatically reject your application.

Application fee

There is no fee to apply to this programme.

What you need to apply

As part of your online application, you will need to provide: 

You will also need to submit some or all of the following supporting documents:

When you start your application, you will be able to see the full list of documents you need to provide.

References

You must submit one reference with your application.

Apply

Select the award, duration and delivery mode you want to study. Then select the start date you want to apply for.

After you apply

Once you have applied for this programme, you will be able to track the progress of your application and accept or decline any offers.

Checking the status of your application

We will notify you by email once we have made a decision. Due to the large number of applications we receive, it might take a while until you hear from us.

Receiving our decision

What to do if you receive an offer:

Accommodation

We guarantee an offer of University accommodation for all new, single postgraduate taught students from outside the UK and new, single postgraduate research (typically PhD) students who:

  • apply for accommodation by 31 July in the year when you start your programme
  • accept an unconditional firm offer to study at the University by 31 July
  • study at the University for the whole of the academic year starting in September

University accommodation website

Accommodation guarantee criteria

We also offer accommodation options for couples and families.

Accommodation for couples and families

If you prefer to live elsewhere, we can offer you advice on finding accommodation in Edinburgh.

Accommodation information from the Edinburgh University Students' Association Advice Place

Societies and clubs

Our societies and sports clubs will help you develop your interests, meet like-minded people, find a new hobby or simply socialise.

Societies

Sport Clubs

The city of Edinburgh

Scotland's inspiring capital will form the background to your studies — a city with an irresistible blend of history, natural beauty and modern city life. 

Find out more about living in Edinburgh

Health and wellbeing support

You will have access to free health and wellbeing services throughout your time at university if you need them.

The support services we offer include: 

  • a student counselling service
  • a health centre (doctor's surgery)
  • support if you're living in University accommodation
  • dedicated help and support if you have a disability or need adjustments

Health and wellbeing support services 

Disability and Learning Support

General enquiries

Phone line is open Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm.

futurestudents@ed.ac.uk
Phone:+44 (0)131 650 5737

Academic contact

Dr Paul Judge

Programme Director

Contact details

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