Master of Engineering Electrical and Renewable Energy Engineering Specialisation

2 Years On Campus Masters Program

Edith Cowan University

Program Overview

The Master of Engineering Electrical and Renewable Energy Engineering Specialisation at Edith Cowan University is a good choice for engineering graduates who want to develop advanced skills in electrical engineering while focusing on renewable energy technologies. Students explore areas such as power systems, energy conversion, electrical machines and control systems while building practical problem-solving, project management and professional engineering skills.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students start by developing their professional engineering knowledge through Engineering Innovation and Ethics and specialist subjects such as Renewable Energy Conversions 1, Power Electronics and Fluid Mechanics. These units help students understand how energy is generated and converted while building their knowledge of electrical technologies and engineering systems.

Year 2: Students move into more advanced topics through subjects such as Power Systems 2, Electrical Machines and Transformers and Control Systems. They also complete Engineering Professional Practice, Engineering Management and Master of Engineering Project 1 and 2, giving them the opportunity to apply their technical knowledge to a substantial engineering project.

Focus Areas

Electrical engineering, renewable energy, energy conversion, power electronics, power systems, electrical machines and transformers, control systems, communication networks, engineering design, engineering management and sustainable energy technologies.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates develop advanced knowledge of electrical and renewable energy engineering and learn how to analyse and solve complex engineering problems. They also strengthen their communication, teamwork, project management and professional skills while gaining experience in planning and completing substantial engineering projects.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The Master of Engineering is professionally recognised through Engineers Australia for eligible accredited specialisations. Students should check the specific accreditation status of the Electrical and Renewable Energy Engineering specialisation when applying.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

ECU has a strong focus on practical, career-oriented education and reports 5-star ratings for overall experience, skills development, student support and teaching quality in the Good Universities Guide. The university also emphasises industry-relevant learning, helping students develop skills that can be applied in professional engineering environments.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Master of Engineering Electrical and Renewable Energy Engineering Specialisation at ECU gives students plenty of opportunities to develop practical engineering skills alongside their academic learning. Students work with renewable energy and electrical engineering technologies, complete substantial engineering projects and gain professional industry experience, helping them understand how their knowledge is applied in real engineering environments.

Students can build their practical experience through:

Renewable Energy Laboratory: Students can work with equipment such as wind turbines, photovoltaic arrays, battery storage systems, hydrogen fuel cells, electric vehicle chargers, and grid-connected and hybrid inverters.
Renewable energy software: The Renewable Energy Laboratory provides access to HOMER and LabVIEW, which support renewable energy modelling, monitoring and experimentation.
Power Engineering Laboratory: A dedicated facility supports practical teaching and research in electrical power engineering.
Circuits and Systems Laboratory: Students can develop practical skills related to electrical circuits and engineering systems.
Electronics Systems Laboratory: A dedicated facility supports practical learning and experimentation in electronic systems.
Sustainable Energy and Resources Laboratory: Students can benefit from research facilities focused on sustainable energy production, hydrogen storage, decarbonisation and related engineering technologies.
Engineering projects: Master of Engineering Project 1 and Master of Engineering Project 2 allow students to apply their technical knowledge to substantial engineering projects.
Team-based learning: The course develops practical problem-solving and teamwork skills through engineering projects and collaborative learning.
Professional industry experience: Students are required to complete at least 12 weeks of professional practice in a relevant industry environment, providing valuable exposure to professional engineering work.
Research opportunities: ECU's engineering facilities support research and industry collaboration in areas such as renewable energy integration, microgrids, energy storage, electric vehicles and intelligent control.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Master of Engineering Electrical and Renewable Energy Engineering Specialisation prepares graduates for professional engineering careers in areas such as power generation, renewable energy, electricity distribution and energy management. The combination of advanced technical knowledge, practical industry experience and engineering project work can help graduates move into technical and project-based roles across the energy and engineering sectors.

Typical career roles include Electrical Engineer, Power Systems Engineer, Renewable Energy Engineer, Professional Engineer.

Students can strengthen their career prospects through:

Industry experience: Students complete at least 12 weeks of professional practice in a relevant industry environment before graduating, giving them valuable workplace experience.
Industry projects: ECU's School of Engineering works with industry on student placements, industry-driven projects, commercial projects, design consultancy, prototyping, testing and research activities.
Industry partnerships: ECU Engineering works with organisations such as South32, GHD, Konica Minolta, Magellan Power and Schneider Electric. These partnerships provide exposure to current engineering practices and technologies.
Renewable energy opportunities: The Magellan Power partnership includes work related to renewable energy storage solutions, while ECU's relationship with Schneider Electric provides exposure to automation and control technologies.
Career development: ECU's industry engagement activities help students connect with employers and gain experience through placements, projects and other industry-focused opportunities.
Professional skills: Students develop analytical thinking, communication, teamwork, practical problem-solving and project management skills that can support progression into more senior engineering positions.
Long-term professional value: Professional engineering study and industry experience can help graduates work towards professional recognition and build a long-term career in engineering.
Employment sectors: Graduates can pursue opportunities in energy generation, energy conversion, electricity distribution, energy management, power utilities, mining, manufacturing and renewable energy.
Graduate outcomes: ECU identifies career opportunities such as Electrical Engineer, Power Systems Engineer and Renewable Energy Engineer for graduates of this specialisation.
Employment and salary figures: ECU's official course information does not provide a specific graduate employment rate or salary figure for this particular specialisation, so no program-specific figure should be assumed.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates who want to continue into advanced research can progress to a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in engineering. This can provide an opportunity to specialise further in areas such as electrical power engineering, renewable energy or other related engineering research fields.