Engineering (Renewable Energy) H811

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Typical offers

Typical offers
A Level	A*AA
BTEC	D*DD
International Baccalaureate	38

Course details

This is a four-year degree that delivers the breadth and depth that you will need to succeed in the world of engineering. It is designed to produce graduates who will go on to lead engineering teams.

A common first two years in General Engineering provide you with the broad knowledge required to effectively work on multi-disciplinary engineering problems. The course structure offers a huge amount of flexibility – you could join us on a civil engineering pathway but decide to pursue renewable engineering at the end of your second year. We believe in empowering our students to make informed decisions that would best serve their future careers.

After your first two years, you will start to specialise in Civil, Electrical, Electronic or Mechanical Engineering, and supplement this discipline-specific knowledge with Engineering Design activities and focused practical skills. You can further specialise in your final year, with three additional choices: Aeronautical Engineering, Renewable Energies, and Bioengineering, learning advanced topics at the forefront of engineering knowledge whilst working with a world-leading academic on a research and development dissertation project, the highlight of many of our students’ degrees.

Course structure

Year 1

You will study four modules in engineering, one in mathematics and one optional module. In your engineering modules, you will examine 3D Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software and implement engineering algorithms into computer code. You will also take part in a group design activity where you have to design, build and test a device to solve a specific engineering challenge. Recent examples include miniature hydroelectric generators and chain-climbing robots.

Core modules:

Solid Mechanics and Structures 1 gives you a working knowledge of solid mechanics, structures and structural analysis, in a wider engineering context.

Electronic and Electrical Systems 1 provides you with knowledge of electrical and electronic circuit theory, components, electromagnetism and hardware interfacing.

Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics 1 offers a knowledge of thermodynamics and fluid mechanics including dimensional analysis, fluid statics and fluid dynamics.

Engineering Practice 1 provides you with practical engineering skills relevant to multiple engineering disciplines. It shows how the material covered in other engineering modules fits together in the wider engineering context, and will also introduce you to engineering ethics and professional issues.

Mathematics for Engineers and Scientists gives you all the maths skills and techniques needed for studying Engineering and other sciences.

In recent years, optional modules have included:

Introduction to Programming
Computational Thinking

Year 2

Core modules:

Engineering Mathematics 2 provides a working knowledge of probability and statistics and advanced mathematical methods for modelling engineering problems.

Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics 2 gives you further working knowledge of thermodynamics and fluid mechanics.

Solid Mechanics and Structures 2 builds your knowledge of the mechanics of dynamics and vibration, stress analysis of structures and sections, trusses and frames, and the mechanics of soils. It also provides an introduction to finite element methods.

Electrical Engineering 2 provides you with a working knowledge of mathematical methods for modelling engineering problems and computing.

Electronics 2 gives you a working knowledge of electronics and computing in terms of circuits, digital electronics and microprocessor design.

In Engineering Design 2 you will learn about various aspects of the design process including the principles of design and project management. You will undertake a major design project with guidance from an academic supervisor and an external (industrial) engineer.

Year 3

At this point in the degree you will specialise in Renewable Energy Engineering.

Core modules:

Materials 3 gives you an understanding of processing–structure–properties relationships. It will introduce you to commercially important manufacturing and processing techniques including life-cycle analysis.

Solid Mechanics 3 develops principles in the subject areas of dynamics, materials, computational stress analysis and fatigue. Practical use of computational stress analysis is also developed.

Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics 3 builds upon previous modules and builds specialist knowledge in turbomachines, and how to apply these to the analysis and design of hydraulic machines, axial flow steam and gas turbines.

Electrical Engineering 3 covers the fundamental concepts and the range of techniques used for electromechanical energy and power conversion in industrial applications. It introduces the foundations of power electronics control in modern industrial applications and the issues regarding renewable resource integration in modern energy networks.

Engineering Design 3 will enhance your understanding of the design process and the way theoretical work supports design. It will give you an introduction to innovation and business aspects of engineering design projects.

Control and Signal Processing 3 builds on your knowledge of different mathematical techniques used in the design and analysis of control systems. It will also teach you about methods of analysis for both continuous and discrete signals.

Year 4

Core modules:

Renewable Energy Technologies 4 provides an overview of the major renewable energy technologies. It will explain the working principles of the systems used, as well as the economical constraints and solutions.

In Future Vehicles 4 you will explore future transport devices. It will explain the technical and economical constraints and solutions for future vehicles, and the analytical methods and simulation tools for system design and analysis.

Electrical Energy Conversion 4 provides an overview of renewable electrical energy conversion. It will explain the principles of systems along with the technical and economic constraints and potential solutions.

Smart Energy Networks 4 explains the principles of systems for integrating renewable energy sources, along with the technical constraints and potential solutions.

Decarbonisation of Heating and Cooling 4 examines heating and cooling systems that are not based on carbon technologies.

You can choose between the MEng Research and Development Project or the MEng Technical Project plus the module Engineering into Schools.

In recent years, optional modules have included:

Internet of Everything 4
Optimisation 4
Environmental Engineering 4

Additional pathways

Students on the MEng in Engineering courses can apply to be transferred onto either the ‘with Year Abroad’ or ‘with Placement’ pathway during the second year. Places on these pathways are in high demand and if you are chosen your studies will extend from four years to five.

Placement

You may be able to take a work placement. Find out more.

Accreditation

This programme is accredited on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer.

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Department information

Engineering

Enter the exciting world of engineering and gain the skills you need to plan, design and analyse engineering projects aligned to the needs of local, national and global industry.

Engineering at Durham is designed to develop talented, modern engineers who are equipped with the skills to solve problems across traditional discipline boundaries – from offshore wind turbines to electro-mechanical devices manufactured on a microchip.

With an outstanding reputation for excellence in teaching, research and employability, we are one of only a small number of general engineering departments in the UK. We offer a range of BEng and MEng qualifications with flexible pathways to suit your interests and career goals, including the possibility of a work placement or year abroad.

We consider Engineering as an integrated subject so, whichever degree you choose, you will study a common General Engineering for the first two years. After this time, you will have developed enough knowledge to make an informed decision about your future, both in terms of your discipline and the length of your degree, with transfer possible between the courses up to the end of the second year.

All courses are accredited by the relevant professional institution. Our MEng programmes fulfil the educational requirements for Chartered Engineer status.

From research-led study to project-based learning, our courses are designed to develop students who will take on the challenges of the twenty-first century.

Rankings

Ranked 5th in The Complete University Guide 2024
Ranked 7th in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024.

Facilities

We are located on the main campus at Lower Mountjoy. We are one of the most comprehensively equipped engineering departments in the UK with dedicated teaching laboratories and advanced facilities, including the newly refurbished electrical laboratory, wind tunnels, microelectronics clean rooms, a geotechnical engineering laboratory and powerful computers for computationally demanding projects.

Our students benefit from the Engineering Open Access area, built to facilitate both group work and individual project. For their Capstone dissertation project, students can access our dedicated project room for independent work.