Environmental Systems Engineering

The global challenge of environmental sustainability highlights the need for holistic design and management of complex environmental and technological systems. This interdisciplinary Master's programme presents environmental issues and technologies within a systems engineering context. Graduates will understand interactions between the natural environment, people, processes and technologies to develop sustainable solutions.

Students will develop an understanding of systems engineering and environmental engineering. Environmental engineering is a multidisciplinary branch of engineering concerned with devising, implementing and managing solutions to protect and restore the environment within an overall framework of sustainable development. Systems engineering is the branch of engineering concerned with the development and management of large complex systems.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.

The programme consists of four core modules (60 credits), a collaborative environmental systems project (30 credits), two optional modules (30 credits) and an individual environmental systems dissertation (60 credits).

A Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits) is offered.

Core modules

• Collaborative Environmental Systems Project
• Environmental Systems
• Systems Engineering and Management
• Systems Society and Sustainability
• Environmental Modelling

Optional modules

Options may include the following:

• Urban Flooding and Drainage
• Coastal Engineering
• Water and Wastewater Treatment
• Natural Environmental Disasters
• The Control of Noise
• Industrial Symbiosis
• Environmental Masterplanning
• Energy Systems Modelling
• Smart Energy Systems
• Low Carbon Energy Supply System Design for Buildings and Neighbourhoods
• Energy Systems & Sustainability
• Politics of Climate Change
• Natural Environmental Disasters
• Engineering and International Development
• Waste and Resource Efficiency
• Project Management for Engineers

Dissertation/report

All MSc students undertake an independent research project addressing a problem of systems research, design or analysis, which culminates in a dissertation of 10,000.

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through lectures, seminars, tutorials, laboratory classes and projects. The individual and group projects in the synthesis element involve interaction with industrial partners, giving students real-life experience and contacts for the future. Assessment is through written examination, coursework, presentations, and group and individual projects.

A minimum of an upper second-class UK Bachelor's degree in a cognate subject or related discipline or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard is usually required. Extensive work experience covering related areas will be considered.