DEGREE PROFILE OF
Master of Science (MSc) in Renewable Energy
Degree Programme: European Master in Renewable Energy
TYPE OF DEGREE & LENGTH
Double Degree (90 ECTS credits/1,5 years)
INSTITUTION(S)
Hanzehogeschool Groningen
(Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Groningen)
The Netherlands
in cooperation with the EUREC Consortium, which also
includes:
Ecole des Mines de Paris (Paris, France)
University of Zaragoza (Zaragoza, Spain)
Loughborough University (Loughborough, UK)
Oldenburg University (Oldenburg, Germany)
National Technical University of Athens (Athens, Greece)
University of Northumbria (Newcastle, UK)
University of Perpignan (Perpignan, France)
Instituto Superior Técnico (Lisbon, Portugal)
ACCREDITATION ORGANISATION(S)
Nederlands-Vlaamse Accreditatie Organisatie, NVAO
(Accreditation Organization of the Netherlands and Flanders)
PERIOD OF REFERENCE
The programme was accredited on 29 May12 2012 for a
period of 6 years.
CYCLE/LEVEL
Master’s degree
QF for EHEA: 2nd cycle
EQF for LLL: level 7
NLQF: level 7
LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION
English
MODE OF STUDY
Full-time
A
PURPOSE
The aim of the European Master in Renewable Energy is to train post-graduate students to fill the
gap between the growing industry demand for specialised renewable energy expertise and the
skills currently available on the job market.
B
CHARACTERISTICS
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DISCIPLINE(S) / SUBJECT AREA(S)
Main subject areas
 Technical modules (electrical engineering, wind, hydro,
solar, biomass energy, storage and distribution): 70%
 Energy transition context (international energy policy,
research, professional skills and mentoring): 30%
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GENERAL / SPECIALIST FOCUS
Students will get a general basis from which they can
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specialise in one of the technical topics: wind, photovoltaics,
grid integration, solar thermal and ocean energy.
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ORIENTATION
The academic (MSc) programme is application oriented and
context oriented.
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DISTINCTIVE FEATURES
The programme’s main features:
 Competence based learning with focus on academic,
technical and social and communicative learning outcomes.
 The international context: students will spend at least their
specialisation semester in a second European country at
one of the partner universities.
 Development of professional and personal competence.
The participating universities are all well-established in the
education sector as well as recognised at an international
level for their work in the field of renewable energy
technology.
C
EMPLOYABILITY & FURTHER EDUCATION
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EMPLOYABILITY
Market research has shown that there is and will be a great
need for qualified technical specialists in renewable energy.
Recent graduates have easily found employment in their field
of interest (3 out of 6 within a month after graduation).
Upon successful completion of the degree programme,
students receive the degree European Master of Science in
Renewable Energy. In addition to their diploma, students
receive a Certificate of Equivalence from the EUREC
Agency, which will add extra value to their employability.
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FURTHER STUDIES
D
EDUCATION STYLE
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LEARNING & TEACHING
APPROACHES
Applied, practical, lab work, integrated multidisciplinary
approach, applied research. Students are handed real life
cases and assignments, mostly individually and partly in
teams.
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ASSESSMENT METHODS
Assessment is done on the basis of written exams, written
assignments (papers, lab reports, research proposals,
research report) and presentations.
E
GRADUATE COMPETENCES
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GENERIC
This programme gives access to 3rd cycle PhD/doctoral
programmes in related areas.
Research ability:
- the capacity to conduct applied research independently, demonstrating a sound grasp of
research methodology.
Communication skills:
- the ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing at an appropriate level to clients and
stakeholders (in English).
Professional skills:
- the capacity to plan and manage projects and work in international multidisciplinary teams. In
doing so, show the capability to reflect on oneself and to give effective feedback to others.
- the capacity to stay abreast of relevant (inter)national developments in society, policy, and
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professional practice and to translate, develop and introduce these in an innovative manner to
improve professional practice.
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SUBJECT SPECIFIC
- The capacity to explain the functioning of renewable energy technologies (biomass, wind, hydro,
solar and storage and distribution).
- The capacity to apply the principles of renewable energy technologies.
- The capability to analyse, evaluate and improve renewable energy technologies.
- The ability to integrate renewable energy (wind, solar [photovoltaic, thermal], water, biomass
energy) into a flexible, distributed energy system.
- The capability to weigh the social, environmental and economic effects of renewable energy
technologies (People, Planet, Profit, PPP).
- The capability to incorporate socio-economic energy policy in renewable energy systems
development.
- The ability to integrate technical knowledge and skills with strategic, and socio-economic issues.
- The capability to analyse and improve the energy efficiency of production chains (implementing
innovations).
- The ability to use appropriate (mathematical) tools for modelling and analysing engineering
problems relevant to renewable energy systems.
- The ability to handle complexity associated with the energy transition.
F
COMPLETE LIST OF PROGRAMME LEARNING OUTCOMES
These six key competences defined below agree with the Dublin Descriptors for a Master level
programme and implement the recommendations of the European Federation of National
Engineering Associations and of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology.
 Academic learning outcomes
The graduate is able to demonstrate that s/he is competent to use a range of applied research
methods and techniques independently, viz.:
a. to formulate a problem definition, employ specific research and analysis methods and plan and
conduct research on real-life non-routine problems.
b. to translate a practical problem into questions in terms of a conceptual model, to collect
relevant data and to translate the outcomes of the model into answers to the original problem.
c. to apply appropriate scientific methods and techniques, mathematics, economics and other
sciences in energy systems design.
d. to communicate findings in both written and oral form in English to the problem owner and
other relevant stakeholders.
e. to display a reflective attitude (investigative, critical) towards the possibilities and limitations of
the scientific methods used and the development of a body of knowledge and, based on that
attitude, make meaningful contributions to the energy debate.
 Application-oriented learning outcomes
The graduate is able to demonstrate that s/he is competent in:
a. multiple renewable energy technologies and – depending on the specialisation chosen by the
student – a specialist in at least one renewable energy technology.
b. integrating renewable energy sources (wind, solar [photovoltaic, thermal], water, biomass
energy) into a flexible, distributed energy system.
c. applying the principles of integrated storage techniques.
d. analysing and improving the energy efficiency of production chains (implementing innovations).
 Context-oriented learning outcomes
The graduate is able to demonstrate that s/he is competent in:
a. applying knowledge and insights of the principles of a range of renewable energy systems for
optimal energy conversion.
b. designing a (range of) renewable energy system(s) for optimal energy conversion at a given
location and for particular applications.
c. critically appraising codes of practice relevant to renewable energy systems.
d. analysing economic and sustainability aspects of renewable energy systems as well as
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technological considerations.
e. statistically assessing renewable energy resources at a specific location given appropriate
data.

 Integrative learning outcomes:
The graduate is able to demonstrate that s/he is competent in:
a. using appropriate mathematical methods for modelling and analyzing engineering problems
relevant to renewable energy systems.
b. using knowledge and understanding of the socio-economic effects of introducing and using
relevant technologies.
c. making an economic evaluation of the profitability and competiveness of renewable energy
projects.
 Communication learning outcomes
The graduate is able to demonstrate that s/he is competent in:
a. carrying out tasks in a project environment.
b. participating effectively in an international, multidisciplinary team.
c. communicating effectively orally, visually and in writing at an appropriate level (in English) to
clients and stakeholders.
d. communicating the link between technological projects and strategic objectives, to the
management and other relevant stakeholders.
 Professional development learning outcomes
The graduate is able to demonstrate that s/he is competent in:
a. staying abreast of relevant (inter)national developments, trends and ideas in society, policy,
and professional practice and to translating, developing and introducing these in an innovative
manner to improve professional practice.
b. managing his or her own learning process and sharing expertise with peers and other experts
in professional practice.
This DPP was finalised on 14 April 2014
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