Sustainable Engineering (including Professional Practice) MSc

This course aims to develop globally minded and socially aware engineers that are future agents of change, able to innovate and bring forward more holistic solutions that meet the needs of societies without discrimination while protecting our natural resources.

Through a balanced provision of fundamental and technical knowledge, practical application, students will be equipped with the necessary qualitative and quantitative analytical tools and skills, and further develop essential professional skills, that will enable them to tackle the evolving, complex local and global sustainable development issues and challenges.

The role of professional engineers in sustainability and sustainable development is vital; working to improve people’s quality of life, welfare and health and safety, they provide options and solutions that minimise environmental impact and maximise the sustainability of natural resources. Naturally then, this role is significantly influenced by the opportunities and challenges that accompany sustainability. These challenges include the depletion of resources, environmental pollution, rapid population growth, and damage to ecosystems.

To tackle these growing challenges, engineers are increasingly required to adopt a wider, more global perspective than a purely environmental approach that embraces the 17 sustainable development goals as set out by the UN. This presents engineers with significant opportunities to promote change by means of global connections, sharing of experience and best-practice, and leadership of increasingly multi-disciplinary teams across the world.

With this in mind, the proposed programme is designed with the primary focus of embedding sustainability and sustainable development deep within the mind-set of engineers from all disciplines and industrial sectors, where the skills to design and construct new technologies that embrace the challenges of sustainable development are of critical importance.

Accreditations

This course is fully accredited by the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA), the professional body for everyone working in environment and sustainability. The FREE student membership is for the duration of the course and on successful completion, you qualify for GradIEMA.

What you'll learn

Through an integrated approach of Multi-/Inter-disciplinary, Real-World Problem-Based Learning and collaboration with our industrial partners and network, this course will enable engineers to innovate and bring forward more holistic solutions that meet human needs while protecting our natural resources, by equipping students with the necessary tools and skills in critical thinking, communication, team working, leadership, research, project management, and innovation that are required to produce globally minded and socially aware engineers that are future agents of change, furnished with attitudes of service to engineering a sustainable world.
 

Core Modules:

• Sustainability in Engineering Practice
• Life Cycle Analysis & Circular Economy
• Pathways to Net Zero
• Environmental Regulations & Impact Assessment
• Renewable Energy & Low Carbon Technologies
• Project Management
• Research Methods
• MSc Dissertation

Optional Modules:

• Supply Chain Management
• Management in Engineering Enterprises
• Environmental Engineering 

Professional Practice

The difference between this course and the MSc Sustainable Engineering course is that this one features a professional placement. Students are responsible for finding their own work placement, with the help of our award-winning Careers and Placements Team, who have helped so many of our students to secure placement and work opportunities. Take a look at our specific placement information and support. 

If you have any questions about the application process please get in touch with our postgraduate admissions team:

Email: pgadmissions@aston.ac.uk

Call: 0121 204 3200 (Please note this line is open Monday-Friday between 10am-4pm)

Please click here for guidance on completing the postgraduate application. 

Entry requirements 

• A 2.2 in a first degree (BEng/BSc) in an engineering or a related science and/or technology discipline, or equivalent international qualification.

As well as:

• One professional reference
•  A completed application form.

International Students

IELTS 6.0 overall and minimum 5.5 in each area.

An official academic transcript, with an official English translation, of your university grades to date. Applicants whose first language is not English will be required to provide evidence of an English language qualification. Find out more about our English language requirements.

• Pre-sessional English language programmes are available for good applicants whose English qualification falls just short of these requirements.
• For more information about qualifications, view our Aston in your country webpage.
• Information on visas for international students

For International Students intending to do a foundation year. Click here to find out more.

Extensive work experience

We recognise the value of extensive professional experience. If you do not have the academic qualifications but have extensive and relevant professional experience and a proven ability to succeed, we would welcome your application.

The information contained on this website details the typical entry requirements for this course for the most commonly offered qualifications. Applicants with alternative qualifications may wish to enquire with the relevant admissions teams prior to application whether or not their qualifications are deemed acceptable. For less commonly encountered qualifications this will be judged on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the academic admissions tutor. 

Teaching and learning will take place via a variety of methods that always integrate real-world problem-based learning in a multi-disciplinary setting. The course modules will be delivered in a flexible manner through a mixture of class-room and online virtual learning environment settings. The course is assessed by means of an assortment of methods, including individual/group projects and presentations, poster sessions, coursework assignments, portfolio preparation, as well as quizzes, tests and examinations.

Professional Practice

The difference between this course and the MSc Sustainable Engineering course is that this one features a professional placement.

Taking the Professional Practice route allows you to extend the duration of your Masters to 22 months and gain valuable working experience to support your career aspirations. The placement commences after completion of your MSc dissertation and can be paid work. study abroad exchanges or unpaid research projects or even a mix of these options. You will return to Aston the following May for an intensive period on campus to draw all your learning together and finalise the assessments.

Although you are responsible for finding your placement, you will have access to the support of our award-winning Careers and Placements Team, who have helped so many of our students to secure placement and work opportunities, including by providing CV and application preparation, and practice interviews. In addition, you will participate in a programme of activities within the School designed to develop your personal and professional skills such as industry seminars and networking activities. Opportunities for one-to-one coaching and mentoring will also support your learning journey and help you become more work-ready.

 Take a look at our specific placement information and support.

Facilities 

Students will have access to state-of-the-art research and laboratory facilities, including:

•  EBRI’s analytical and processing laboratories
•  A suite chemistry and chemical engineering technology laboratories where cutting edge research is advancing the fields of Materials and Bioenergy
   

Tuition fees are reviewed annually and may increase in subsequent years in line with inflation linked to the Retail Price Index (RPI) to take account of the University’s increased costs of delivering the Programme. When undertaking a placement year a placement year fee applies.

UK postgraduate loans are now open

If you’re starting a masters course on or after 1 August 2022, you can apply for a postgraduate loan of up to £11,570 to help with course fees and living costs.

Scholarships

At Aston University we are committed to supporting the most talented and hardworking students to achieve their potential by providing a range of scholarships to help lower tuition and living costs. Find out more about our UK student scholarships here. Find out more about our international student scholarships here.

Cost shouldn't limit your career aspirations, which is why we are delighted to offer all Aston University graduates (including exchange students) a 20% loyalty scholarship in standard taught MA, MSc and Full-time MBA course fees. As an Aston University graduate, you will automatically qualify. For more information visit our webpage.

• Dr Panos Doss (Programme Director) - 0121 204 3405 

• Dr Goudarz Poursharif

• Professor Patricia Thornley

• Dr Katie Chong

• Dr Scott Banks

• Dr Qian Xu

• Dr Jiawei Wang

• Dr Christos Papanagnou

• Dr Evanthia Thanou

• Dr Shan Rajegopal

• Mrs Hilary Price

Why study Sustainable Engineering at Aston? 

You’ll gain the knowledge you need to develop a successful career and make an impact in implementing and developing sustainable engineering practices in industry.

This unique course has a multidisciplinary team of expert academics from a variety of disciplines, who will share their expertise to ensure you acquire a broad knowledge from a range of subject areas.

This course will also enable you to have a positive impact on the industry and the environment through your understanding of sustainable practices.

What will I be doing on the Sustainable Engineering course at Aston? 

You’ll take a number of taught modules and have the opportunity to put this learning into practice through projects and your major project.