Find out more about the course structure of our MSc Energy for Smart Cities programme. Here, you can see an example of how your courses could look. These pages also provide information on mandatory modules and minimum credit points needed to proceed with the programme.
The two-year MSc Energy for Smart Cities programme gives you a broad education in electrical and mechanical energy systems. It enables you to refine your knowledge of the electrical, thermo-mechanical and technical-economic aspects of the energy industry, and to participate fully in the design and operation of advanced energy solutions.
Your technological and engineering studies are combined with knowledge of socio-economic and environmental aspect of smart cities, such as energy efficiency in buildings, electric transportation, energy economics, smart lighting, and other urban services.
You will learn how to construct and employ contemporary energy-conversion technologies and secure energy supply, while taking into account the technical limitations, environmental consequences and economic considerations of new energy technologies and systems. Throughout your studies, you are asked to consider the impacts of changing energy systems on the end users in the electrical value chain: the people, the businesses, and the city itself.
MSc Energy for Smart Cities has strong partnerships with internationally renowned businesses, smaller companies and a network of start-ups, who actively participate in the programme to ensure it remains current and relevant to their needs – and to yours. Partners are involved in curriculum design, selection processes, internships, support for Master’s theses, and job opportunities. Experts from the private sector, municipalities and other government bodies also take classes and give guest lectures.
During the MSc Energy for Smart Cities programme, all students have the opportunity to visit at least one international Smart Cities event, two energy companies and an energy research institute. In addition, all students engage with at least one start-up company that is working with InnoEnergy Business Creation Services – our business accelerator and investor.
For the first year of the MSc Energy for Smart Cities programme, you can choose to attend either KU Leuven or KTH: Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm. In your first year, you will combine electrical and mechanical engineering courses with energy-related socio-economic subjects.
In the second year, you choose to attend KU Leuven, KTH, INP: Grenoble Institute of Technology, or UPC: Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya · BarcelonaTech. You will have the opportunity to take general and option-specific elective courses that enable you to specialise in areas that interest you most.
The choice of courses in the second year will determine which university you attend.
Please note: you must attend a different university in each year of study. This means you may not spend both years at KTH or both years at KU Leuven.
Your Master’s thesis
During your second year, you will also undertake a research project on electrical or thermo-mechanical energy, or on one of energy’s technical-economic aspects for your Master’s thesis. During your thesis you will learn to integrate and apply the knowledge and skills acquired throughout the programme. Each year, the programme directors and the directors of InnoEnergy Benelux award a prize for the best thesis on innovation and the best on entrepreneurship.
Details of the syllabus and course structure, including mandatory modules and minimum credit points needed to proceed with the programme, are available here.
During the two-year programme, there are plenty of opportunities for engaging with our industry and research partners and networking with your fellow students across Europe. More details are available here.