Overview
The smart grid is a modern form of the traditional power grid, which brings computer technology to a standard electricity grid; allowing easier communication between energy retailers, distributors, and customers.
Smart grids can help to integrate an increasing amount of renewable energy sources (RES) into the grid. RES present a challenge to traditional electricity grids because they are often both intermittent and difficult to predict. Smart grids help network companies to remotely anticipate and respond to problems so repair crews from your local distributor can fix power outages faster.
Energy companies and businesses are already exploring how to adopt RES into the grid but they lack Smart Grids management skills and knowledge among employees. This new MSc programme, therefore, offers a unique advantage to its graduates in an increasingly competitive job market with highly-sought expertise, giving you the skills you need to launch a career in this fast-growing sector.
The teaching on the course is research-led, and you will have the opportunity to learn from real-world, cutting-edge live projects. You'll also have the opportunity to undertake placements/internships with leading companies in the energy and smart grids sector, both in the UK and internationally.
Professional accreditation
Accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) on behalf of the Engineering Council as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for registration as a Chartered Engineer. Candidates must hold a CEng accredited BEng/BSc (Hons) undergraduate first degree to comply with full CEng registration requirements.
I did my dissertation at the International Energy Research Centre (IERC), Ireland. From this I gained industrial experience, and it enriched my CV.
Learning and assessment
The programme utilises a range of learning methods to offer a personalised, research-led, and digitally rooted learning experience with a holistic, international focus.
At the centre of this strategy is the focus on problem-solving through the use of creative, analytical, logical and innovative thinking, and through networking and communicating effectively with peers.
The teaching delivery team includes internationally-renowned researchers and practitioners from all the relevant smart grids and energy systems areas, including power systems, control system design, modelling and optimisation, wireless and communication systems, big data analytics and artificial intelligence and IoT. We have secured several funded projects, ensuring students will be exposed to cutting-edge knowledge and case studies.
This programme is supported through placement and internship and industry and advisory board by several well-known industries and research centres within the UK and internationally.
Formal lectures will facilitate your acquisition of knowledge and understanding, discipline specific skills, and apply this learning to industry practices. Laboratory sessions, using state-of-the-art laboratories run in conjunction with the theoretical components, give the student opportunity to enhance their understanding of particular topics.
The unique teaching content and delivery on the course is extremely well supported with several industries and special purpose labs including IoT Innovation lab and Electrical Engineering Lab. These will also help develop discipline-specific skills and personal transferable skills.
In addition, the research and development carried out in these labs and the case studies from the publicly-funded high profile projects, ensures that the content is fresh and cutting-edge. We also integrate knowledge and experience from Industrial partners through both our Industry Advisory Board and these research projects through challenging case studies, lab-based activities and invited talks, ensuring that research findings are at the heart of our curriculum.
This new programme will also involve invited external speakers from various industry sectors. This ensures that you will be exposed to the very latest and future developments.
Facilities and Placements
The unique teaching content is supported by state-of-the-art facilities, including software programmes GAMS & MATLAB, and hardware contained in dedicated laboratories:
- Electrical and Electronics Engineering lab
- IoT Innovation lab
The research and development carried out in these labs, along with case-studies from publicly-funded high profile projects, ensures that course content is fresh and cutting-edge, and that you as a student will be exposed to the very latest and future developments.
There are several placements/internships available for home and international students with leading companies in energy and smart grids sector in the UK and internationally, including:
- Electricity North West Limited (ENWL)
- N-ERGY
- Nortech Online in the UK, and Elin BioFuel, Greece
- International Energy Research Centre, Ireland
- Wilson Power Solutions
- City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council
- DEPsys
Study support
We have a commitment to strong pastoral care for all of our students, which includes a Personal Tutor for all students, regular contact hours for tutor groups and our supportive student service teams who are always ready to help with any questions and provide the advice that you need.
In addition to standard study support through taught sessions, our Virtual Learning Environment allows students to access resources, participate in group work and submit work from anywhere in the world 24/7.
University central services are rich with support teams to assist students with every aspect of their journey through our degree programmes.
From our Career and Employability Service, through our strong Students' Union, to our professional and efficient Student Finance team, there are always friendly faces ready to support you and provide you with the answers that you need.
Research
The University of Bradford has a strong presence in Smart Grids, IoT, Big Data analytics, smart technologies, and network management as part of several national and EU research projects.
These projects include:
- British Council SITARA project for smart grids operation using IoT and Big-Data analytics
- CASAGRAS 2 project on IoT and Big-Data analytics
- British Council BLESS U project for enhanced smart health services