Master of Energy

New Zealand is a world leader in - and ideally placed for - innovation in renewable energy. Gain industry insights and explore technological developments with our roster of internationally-recognised experts, and prepare to lead in a sustainable global sector that continuously evolves to meet our daily needs. With significant input from top researchers from the Geothermal Institute, you'll be provided with up-to-date skills and knowledge that directly apply to the real world. This flexible programme lets you focus on a field of energy while pursuing courses from the Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Science and Business School. We have incorporating commonly chosen courses to fit the backgrounds of most students. You will complete two core courses that provide overviews of the industry's resource economics and technology issues. In our taught programme, you will also complete a research component that allows you to work on a problem relevant to industry, which may cover economic, environmental, technical, or regulatory issues. It is also possible to align your research with your employment.

You can undertake a Master of Energy in either a taught or research pathway.

This programme is offered in two options, to suit the existing qualifications and experience of candidates.

• 120 points for candidates with a four-year bachelors (honours) degree
• 180 points for candidates with a three-year bachelors degree
  
  

Taught study

For the 120-point taught programme you will complete two 15-point core courses, one 45-point research project and three 15-point electives. For the 180-point taught programme, you will complete two 15-point core courses, one 45-point research project and seven 15-point electives.

Electives let you pursue an aspect of the industry that interests you. You'll be able to choose from a variety of courses aligned to specialised study pathways. These include focusing on a specific form of energy - such as wind or geothermal - or engineering technology, environmental science, or business.

Core:

• ENERGY 721 Energy Resources
• ENERGY 722 Energy Technology
• ENERGY 785 A/B Research Project

*Students will confirm their research topic and supervisor with the Programme Director.

Electives:

For the 120-point programme you can select up to three 15-point electives and for the 180-point programme you can select up to seven 15-point electives from the following:

• GEOTHERM 601 Geothermal Resources and Their Use
• GEOTHERM 602 Geothermal Energy Technology
• GEOTHERM 603 Geothermal Exploration
• GEOTHERM 620 Geothermal Engineering

*You can only enrol in a maximum of three for GEOTHERM courses

• ECON 771 Economics of Development
• ECON 783 Energy Economics
• ELECTENG 735 Green Energy Technologies
• ENGGEN 730 Management Skills for Project Professionals
• ENGGEN 742 Project Management
• ENGGEN 769 Research Methods for Engineers
• ENGSCI 755 Decision Making in Engineering
• ENVENG 702 Engineering Decision Making in Aotearoa
• ENVENG 752 Sustainability and Life Cycle Assessment
• ENVMGT 741 Social Change for Sustainability
• ENVMGT 742 Social Dimensions of Global Environmental Change
• ENVGMT 744 Resource Management
• ENVGMT 746 Collaborative Environmental Management
• ENVSCI 711 Assessing Environmental Effects
• GLMI 707 Responsible Business and Sustainability
• MECHENG 711 Advanced Computational Fluid Dynamics
• MECHENG 712 Aerohydrodynamics
• MECHENG 713 Energy Technology
• MECHENG 715 Building Services
• SCIENT 701 Accounting and Finance for Scientists

*Students can also select relevant courses from the Master of Engineering Studies course schedule; or other postgraduate level courses from this University. Courses not listed above will require prior approval from the Course Director and your Programme Director.

Research study


Candidates with sufficient background in research and/or work experience may be eligible to undertake a 90-point Research Thesis. For the 120-point programme you will complete two core courses followed by the research thesis. For the 180-point programme you will complete two core courses, four 15-point electives from the schedule above (excluding research project), followed by the 90-point Research Thesis.

Core:

• ENERGY 721 Energy Resources
• ENERGY 722 Energy Technology
• ENERGY 794 or ENERGY 795 Research Thesis

*Students will be required to submit a thesis topic and supervisor before starting their programme.

Electives:

For the 180-point programme you will choose four 15-point electives selected from the taught programme course schedule below (excludes research projects).

Not offered in 2024

• EARTHSCI 703 Hydrothermal Systems: Geothermal Energy and Ore Deposits
• ECON 702 Industrial Organisation
• COMENT 703 Commercialisation of Science and Technology
• ENGSCI 745 Petroleum Engineering
• ENVENG 750 Advanced Sustainability Engineering
• ENVGMT 743 Environmental Policy
• GEOG 749 Applied Climate Science
• MECHENG 714 Wind Engineering
• MECHENG 717 Advanced Thermal Systems