MSc Sustainable Electrical Power Systems Engineering

Designed for engineers working in the sector, this course will arm you with the tools and techniques to keep pace with the rapidly evolving electricity industry. The course covers the latest developments in the electricity industry and delivers up-to-date training in electrical power systems.

The course has been designed to support those working in industry. Multiple entry points exist and the course can be completed in a timescale that suits your needs. Your dissertation project will ideally be based on a problem you and your company need to resolve, ensuring the programme delivers value for both you and your employer.

The course will develop your understanding of how electrical networks will be designed and operated in the future. It will provide you with a solid understanding of the characteristics of components such as generators, lines, cables, transformers and power electronics devices. The course will provide you with the skills you need to carry out power flow and fault calculations, learning how these techniques are used to study the behaviour of large systems.

The course also covers a range of other topics such as HVDC, how renewable generation is integrated into a power system, the increasing importance of smart grids, and how to assess and remedy power quality problems. The course is based on the long-running MSc in Electrical Power Systems Engineering delivered by The University of Manchester. On graduation, you will be a member of a network of global alumni, many in senior positions in the electricity supply industry.

The course has been designed to support those working in industry. Multiple entry points exist and the course can be completed in a timescale that suits your needs. Your dissertation project will ideally be based on a problem you and your company need to resolve, ensuring the programme delivers value for both you and your employer.

Unit 1 - Introduction to Sustainable Electrical Energy Systems

Mandatory for: MSc, PGDip, PGCert, Modular

• Structure of Electrical Energy systems
• Basic analytical skills for electrical energy systems
• Components associated with electrical energy systems

Unit 2 - Analysis of Electrical Power and Energy Conversion Systems

Mandatory for: MSc, PGDip, PGCert, Modular

• Faults in power systems
• Analysis and control of large networks
• Analysis and control of power electronics systems

Unit 3 - Power System Plant, Asset Management and Condition Monitoring

Mandatory for: MSc, PGDip

Optional for: PGCert

• Basic principles
• Design of major power system plant components
• Asset management and condition monitoring
• Substation and system design

Unit 4 - Power System Operation and Economics

Mandatory for: MSc, PGDip

Optional for: PGCert

• Introduction to optimisation and optimal economic system operation
• Electricity markets and power system economics
• Concepts of power system security
• Power system investment

Unit 5 - Smart Grids and Sustainable Electricity Systems

Mandatory for: MSc, PGDip

Optional for: PGCert

• Distributed low-carbon technologies
• Smart Grids
• Sustainable electricity systems

Unit 6 - Power System Dynamics and Quality of Supply

Mandatory for: MSc, PGDip

Optional for: PGCert

• Power system dynamics
• Quality of supply
• Reliability

Unit 7 - Power System Protection

Mandatory for: MSc, PGDip

Optional for: PGCert

• Introduction to protection systems
• Conventional protection systems
• Advanced protection systems

Unit 8 - Business Cases for Sustainable Innovations

Mandatory for: MSc, PGDip

• Project/team/business planning
• Ethics & professional responsibility
• Intellectual property
• Report writing (information sources, literature reviews, structure and presentation)

Project

Mandatory for: MSc

Your dissertation project will ideally be based on a problem you and your company need to resolve, ensuring the programme delivers value for both you and your employer.

• Build an advanced education in sustainable electrical power systems engineering.
• Develop the knowledge and skills you need to make sound decisions in a rapidly changing electricity supply industry.
• Investigate, compare, and analyse sustainable innovations in electrical power systems.
• Learn key principles and techniques of electrical power engineering.
• Gain a broad knowledge of the issues and problems faced by electrical power systems engineers.
• Develop a comprehensive working knowledge of the techniques used to solve these problems.

• Join hundreds of successful graduates over the past 30 years and add this prestigious MSc to your CV.
• Gain the knowledge and skills to take the next steps in your electrical power systems engineering career.
• Go on to develop your career at a top employer, such as electric utility providers, equipment manufacturers, specialised software houses, universities and consultancy companies.

Delivery - All taught units are delivered online so you can fit your studies around your work and other commitments.

Duration:

• MSc - min. 30 months, part-time
• PGDip - min. 24 months, part-time
• PGCert - min. 12 months, part-time

Academic teaching start date - 1 September 2025

Application deadline - 18 August 2025

Workload - Approximately 15 hours per week.

Teaching and learning

Once you register for the course, you will be assigned a Study Advisor, who will stay with you throughout your studies and can be contacted by phone or email whenever you have a question or a concern.

Your Study Advisor will be able to guide you through your choice of units and help you schedule and register for them. They will be familiar with all aspects of your course and your own progress and timetable and will be able to provide support on a wide range of issues or refer you to University specialist support services if necessary - such as the Careers Service, Counselling Service or Disability Support.

For each technical unit, you will be assigned an Academic Tutor with expertise in the particular subject area you will be studying. Your tutor will introduce themselves at the start of each unit to outline the material and plans for assessment. They will host regular online group discussions to review the content being presented that week and to give you the opportunity to engage with other students. They will also maintain and monitor a range of other tools including forums, blogs and live chat sessions, in case you have any questions about the course content.

You will typically need to commit around 15 hours per week during each unit taken. It is important to make sure your employer supports you by allowing suitable time to be spent on your studies.

The welcome event and induction take place one week before the academic teaching start date. Our admissions team will confirm your induction date closer to the time.

Please ensure that you complete your registration ahead of your chosen entry date to gain access to the online learning material and library services.