Sustainable Engineering 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 engineer a sustainable world.
 

Modules

• Sustainability in Engineering Practice (core)
• Indicative Module Content:
• Core concepts of Sustainability and Sustainable Development (SD) 
• UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
• The Global Engineer
• Engineering for SD – Social and Ethical Considerations; Principles and practice of Design for SD
• Sustainable Resource Use & Asset-Based Community Development
• Participative exercises based on real case studies of SD in Engineering

•  Students will work in multi-disciplinary teams to identify, design and develop sustainable engineering solutions within a real-world, complex SD context, taking part in International Design Competitions such as:

Core Modules:

 SD Engineering Global Design Challenge

The Efficiency for Access Design Challenge in partnership with Engineers without Borders UK

Optional Modules (select one):

• Supply Chain Management
• Management in Engineering Enterprises
• Entrepreneurship & Innovation in Emerging Economies
• Environmental Engineering

• A 2.2 in a first degree (BEng/BSc) in engineering or a related science and/or technology discipline.
• IELTS 6.0 overall and minimum 5.5 in each area 
• For International Students intending to do a foundation year. Click here to find out more.

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.

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 scholarships here.

You can find out more about our Postgraduate scholarships for international students here. If you are a UK or EU student, please email seaspgtaught@aston.ac.uk for information on funding.

• Dr Panos Doss (Programme Director) - 0121 204 3405 
• Dr Goudarz Poursharif
• Professor Patricia Thornley
• Professor Edward Sweeney
• Professor Kate Sugden
• Dr Jose Sodre
• Dr Brian Price
• Dr Bochra Idris
• Mr Dewi Lloyd

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.