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About MSc Energy Systems at the University of Oxford

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MSc Energy Systems

This course brings together academics from across the University, combining excellence with intellectual depth. The first course of its kind in the world, it’s a chance for you to study alongside the researchers who make Oxford a globally-recognised leader in this field.

Energy is increasingly key to some of humanity’s biggest challenges, including transitioning to cleaner sources, reaching over 1.3 billion people currently without access to electricity, and maintaining the quality of supply for those who currently do have access.

Course director Professor David Wallom

This fundamental transformation of energy systems calls for a new kind of system thinker, someone who can think across traditional disciplinary boundaries. No other UK university matches Oxford's strengths across physical and social sciences in this area, and our interdisciplinary research is at the cutting edge. This course explores the social and political, as well as technical, aspects of this area, and you will graduate with the ability to look at the whole picture of energy systems in the modern age and to think innovatively to develop solutions to the problems we face.

Utilising existing relationships to leading industrials such as EDF & National Grid, you will gain first-hand experience of the real-world applications of your studies. This industry-focussed approach will leave you well placed to take up leadership and strategic roles in industry or government.

We are looking for ambitious candidates with leadership potential, with the intellectual curiosity and calibre to appreciate the importance of complex technical, societal, economic and political issues that make up the system challenges in energy.

The course is designed to be accessible by those who have a first degree in either engineering, the physical sciences or geography.

This 12-month course is delivered through a varied teaching programme, including lectures, workshops, field trips, group work and in-depth topic based electives. It is also available as a part-time course stretching over 2 or 3 years, ideal for students who wish to study while working in industry.

You will study a range of modules, divided into three different core themes:

Resources How is energy produced, converted and traded? What energy technologies are available, what energy differences are there between different parts of the world and how have we arrived where we are with global energy systems?

Systems How is energy distributed so that it is usable and what are the considerations that need to be made for bridging between the producers and consumers?

Services What, why and how is energy provided or made available to society and how may it change or be changed by society? This theme concentrates on the interface between people and energy, and considers the consumptive end of the energy chain.

Scholarships

Bseisu-Oxford Scholarship

The Bseisu-Oxford Scholarship is available to graduate students demonstrating exceptional academic merit and/or potential ordinarily resident in Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon or Syria, commencing a Masters course of study in Energy Systems at the University’s Department of Engineering Science.

The scholarship covers course fees at the Overseas rate, as well as living costs for one year.

The scholarship receives generous funding from The Bseisu Foundation.

Energy Systems Scholarship

The MSc Energy Systems Scholarship is available to students accepted onto the MSc Energy Systems programme, with preference for female students from developing countries, not already in receipt of a fully-funded scholarship.

This scholarship covers course fees at the Overseas rate, as well as living costs for one year.

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