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Energy Systems and Data Analytics (ESDA) MSc

London, Bloomsbury

Energy Systems and Data Analytics MSc provides an academically leading and industrially relevant study of energy systems through the lens of data analytics. Advanced analytics, fuelled by big data and massive computational power, has the potential to transform how energy systems are designed, operated and maintained. You will gain the skills and knowledge to unlock the transformative potential of big energy data and understand how it can reshape the energy sector.

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2023/24)
£18,000
£9,000
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Overseas tuition fees (2023/24)
£32,100
£16,050
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Duration
1 calendar year
2 calendar years
5 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2023
Applications accepted
All applicants: 17 Oct 2022 – 30 Jun 2023

Applications closed

Find similar courses still open

Entry requirements

A minimum of an upper second-class Bachelor's degree or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 2

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level. International Preparation Courses

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree


Energy Systems and Data Analytics MSc is the first programme in the UK to combine the study of energy systems with data science. As a student studying this MSc you will gain a broad understanding of energy systems as a whole, covering supply and demand, the interconnectedness and dependencies between different sectors and a multi-vector multi-sector approach to analysis. You will learn about the theory and practice of data analysis, how to write code to manipulate and clean data to extract insights and train models to make predictions from that data. You will gain a theoretical understanding of machine learning and statistical methods such as supervised and unsupervised learning and deep learning methods, the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches and when they should be applied. You will also learn how to deploy these methods and you will gain practical experience of the challenges of working with different data sets relating to energy throughout the programme and modules.

Energy systems are strongly influenced by spatial and geographic features and the course features a dedicated spatial data analysis module to train students in some of the unique aspects of doing data analysis on data with a spatial component.

Who this course is for

This programme is suitable for: Those with a quantitative background who have an interest in energy and are motivated by the use of data science to solve sustainability problems. Those with an energy background who are interested in data science. Early and mid-career energy professionals looking to expand their data skills and domain knowledge.
Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

What this course will give you

Energy Systems and Data Analytics MSc is delivered by leading researchers in the UCL Energy Institute. You will benefit from their specific expertise, research communities and industry contacts (including guest lecturers drawn from the energy industry), as well as our multidisciplinary and cross-domain approach.

We have consulted across industry to identify key skills gaps for the energy data scientists that will be required by utilities, consultancies and small and medium enterprises. There is an established need in industry for graduates who combine an understanding of energy systems with the skills and abilities to extract insights from data through the use of data science and machine learning.

UCL Energy Institute is part of The Bartlett School of Environment, Energy and Resources, home to specialist sustainability-focussed institutes in UCL’s Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment. The QS World University Rankings (2022) places our Faculty as #1 for Architecture/Built Environment studies in the UK and #3 in the World. The Bartlett's research received the UK's most world-leading ratings for Built Environment research in the most recent Research Excellence Framework.
 

Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

There is a strong emphasis placed on innovation throughout the programme. You will also benefit from a skill set in data science and machine learning that will be highly transferable and applicable across a range of industries and domains.

The programme has been developed with input from industry leaders. You will gain exposure to real life energy and sustainability challenges.

Students from the programme go on to take positions at leading energy companies such as Octopus Energy, National Grid, Drax and EDF. As well as prominent energy consultancies such as Baringa Energy, Modo Energy and innovative start-ups such as Limejump and Kiwi Power. A number of start-ups have been founded by graduates of the course including Ensemble Analytics an advanced logistics company solving sustainability problems in the maritime space and Modo Energy a leading Energy Analytics company. The high technical level of the programme means it is also a very good basis for getting into research with several students pursuing PhDs after the programme at leading universities such as UCL, Imperial College and Denmark Technical University (DTU).
 

Employability

Graduates will be ideally placed to gain employment as energy analysts/data scientists in consultancies, utilities, innovative start-ups and government institutions which value expertise in energy systems and have a need for data literate analysts. The ongoing digital transformation of the energy sector means there is a real demand for graduates who can bring the power of machine learning and data science to bear to solve problems in the energy system such as grid resilience, fuel poverty and renewable power forecasting.

You will gain employable skills in data science, machine learning and artificial intelligence as well as expertise in energy systems and energy consumption in the built environment and transport system.
The strong emphasis placed on research and integration of the course with research activities in the department means you will get exposure to the state-of-the-art in energy research at one of the UK’s leading research centres.
 

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials, problem-based learning and project work. Assessment is through a combination of methods including problem sets, individual assignments and coursework, group-based data analysis assignments with a report and presentation, unseen examinations and a dissertation.

In terms 1 and 2 full-time students can typically expect between 8 and 15 contact hours per teaching week through lectures, workshops and tutorials. In term 3 students will be completing their own dissertation research, keeping regular contact with their dissertation supervisors.

Outside of lectures students typically study the equivalent of a full-time job, using their remaining time for self-directed study and completing coursework assignments.

The Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip) programme consists of five compulsory modules (75 credits) and two optional modules (45 credits). Full-time PG Dip study is nine months. The Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert) programme consists of two compulsory modules (30 credits) and two optional modules (30 credits). Part-time PG Cert study is nine months.

Modules

You will take eight taught modules across Term 1 and Term 2. You will complete the dissertation during Term 3 and the summer, having had preparatory tutorials during the previous terms. 

You will take six compulsory modules which will provide compulsory skills and knowledge in Energy Systems, different energy domains and data analysis. Students will choose two optional modules. Optional modules allow you to explore more advanced methods of data analysis or gain a more rounded understanding of different aspects affecting energy systems (such as law and policy).
 

You will take eight taught modules across Term 1 and Term 2 over 2 years. You will complete the dissertation during Term 3 of your final year having had preparatory tutorials during the previous terms. 

As a part-time student you will take six compulsory modules which will provide compulsory skills and knowledge in Energy Systems, different energy domains and data analysis. Students will choose two optional modules. Optional modules allow you to explore more advanced methods of data analysis or gain a more rounded understanding of different aspects affecting energy systems (such as law and policy).

As a Flexible student you will have up to 5 years to complete 8 taught modules. You will complete the dissertation during Term 3 of your final year having had preparatory tutorials during the previous terms. 

You will take six compulsory modules which will provide compulsory skills and knowledge in Energy Systems, different energy domains and data analysis. Students will choose two optional modules. Optional modules allow you to explore more advanced methods of data analysis or gain a more rounded understanding of different aspects affecting energy systems (such as law and policy).

Compulsory modules










Optional modules







Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

For the Master of Science (MSc), students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. For the Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip), students undertake modules to the value of 120 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MSc in Energy Systems and Data Analytics (ESDA). Upon successful completion of 120 credits, you will be awarded a PG Dip in Energy Systems and Data Analytics (ESDA). Upon successful completion of 60 credits, you will be awarded a PG Cert in Energy Systems and Data Analytics (ESDA).

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support & Wellbeing team.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2023/24) £18,000 £9,000
Tuition fees (2023/24) £32,100 £16,050

Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.

Additional costs

If you are concerned by potential additional costs for books, equipment, etc. on this programme, please get in touch with the programme administration team by emailing bseer-studentqueries@ucl.ac.uk.

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs.

Funding your studies

UCL offers a range of financial awards aimed at assisting both prospective and current students with their studies.

Additional funding available from our Institute and Faculty is advertised on UCL Energy Institute's scholarships page and The Bartlett's scholarships page.

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

Bartlett Promise Scholarship - Master's

Deadline: 31 May 2023
Value: Tuition fees plus £15,364 maintenance/yr (Duration of programme)
Criteria Based on financial need
Eligibility: UK

Bartlett Promise Sub-Saharan Africa Masters Scholarship

Deadline: 31 March 2023
Value: Fees, stipend and other allowances (Duration of programme)
Criteria Based on financial need
Eligibility: EU, Overseas

Ecclesiastical Insurance Bursary

Deadline: 1 May 2023
Value: Up to £25,360 (to cover the cost of fees and a stipend) (1yr)
Criteria Based on academic merit
Eligibility: UK

Rising Leader in Sustainable Business Scholarship

Deadline: 14 July 2023
Value: £6,000 towards fees (1yr)
Criteria Based on academic merit
Eligibility: UK, EU, Overseas

Next steps

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

There is an application processing fee for this programme of £90 for online applications and £115 for paper applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

  • how your academic and professional background meets the demands of this programme
  • why you want to study this programme at graduate level
  • what particularly attracts you to this programme
  • where you would like to go professionally with your degree and how this programme might meet your goals.

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this programme match what the programme will deliver.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Got questions? Get in touch

Bartlett School of Environment, Energy and Resources
Bartlett School of Environment, Energy and Resources

bseer-studentqueries@ucl.ac.uk

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