Energy and Environment – (M.Sc.)

The impacts of climate change are becoming visible through out the world, with receding glaciers, changing weather patterns, coastlines and ecosystems. The links between climate change and poverty and human health are a significant future concern. Gas and oil prices have recently been very unstable, and whilst world energy demand carries on increasing, it is likely that production will peak during the next decade. Urban populations are also continuing to grow, bringing with them waste disposal problems, traffic congestion and greater power, heating and refrigeration needs, as well as fire and explosion hazards.

As a response to this we are now seeing changing energy policies worldwide, geared towards encouraging energy autonomy by developing renewable energies and recycling initiatives as well as implementing low carbon technologies. The UK Climate Change Bill will be a driver for change. At the same time pollution control guidelines and emission regulations have tightened both within the EU and world wide. There will be an increasing demand for graduates with an understanding both of the environmental impacts of energy technology choices as well as the technical expertise to further develop them.

The need for all businesses and industrial companies to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions will be a major driver within future development. The demand for graduates with the skills offered by the MSc is therefore high.

Typically, graduates of this course are likely to go on to work in senior posts with high levels of responsibility in energy and environmental consultancies, energy specialists, architectural firms, environmental departments of local authorities, government agencies, major funding bodies, large industrial companies and emerging businesses in the renewable sector. Some graduates choose the path of academic research and so subsequently undertake a PhD.