Join our online Marine and Wind Energy course and gain in-demand skills in renewables.

Specialise in marine (tidal and wave) and wind energy, studying online with our team of internationally experienced energy engineers.

  • Learn about the principles and design of marine and wind energy systems.
  • Discover how tidal, wave and wind energy sources integrate into the grid.
  • Explore the technical and environmental challenges of these renewable energy sources and where they fit into the global energy mix.

You can study this online course anywhere, with no need for a visa, and flexible hours that fit around full-time work.

Who is this online renewable energy course for?

This course is ideal for graduate engineers, graduates of the Physical Sciences, and energy industry professionals.

Build credits towards a Masters degree

This online course is part of:

You can use the credits you earn on this short course towards any of these MSc qualifications.

What you’ll study

You’ll study the resources used in marine and wind energy, and the physical principles involved.

You’ll explore the environmental effects of marine and wind energy capture, and the technical challenges faced by these industries.

This course uses engineering concepts to introduce the principles and design of marine and wind energy systems.

You’ll cover the following topics:

Wind energy

  • Introduction to wind turbines
  • Wind characteristics and resources
  • Wind turbine blade and rotor design 1 – aerodynamic design
  • Wind turbine blade and rotor design 2 – structural design
  • Wind turbine materials, components, and manufacturing
  • Wind turbine siting, technology advancement, environmental impact, and limitations
  • Design and integrity assessment against fracture
  • Design and integrity assessment against fatigue
  • Industrial talks on offshore wind, and other relevant topics

Tidal energy

  • Tidal energy resources
  • Physical principles: Boundary layer; Flow structure of tidal currents; Flow-structure interactions; Wakes; Drag and lift forces; Drag coefficient
  • Tidal power generation technologies
  • Environmental considerations
  • Integration
  • Current projects and potential projects

Wave energy

  • Marine energy resources
  • Physical principles: Definition of waves; Natural and design waves; Waves parameters; Wave types; Wave theories, Wave pressure, Wave energy; Wave power; Wave forces on structures; Morison’s equation
  • Wave energy technologies
  • Environmental impact
  • Integration

The course also includes industrial lectures delivered by professionals working in renewable energy area.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to...

  • Describe marine and wind energy resources, physical principles, technologies and systems.
  • Identify sources of marine and wind energy and the technologies available to fully exploit them.
  • Discuss where marine and wind energy fit in the future energy strategy.
  • Evaluate different sources of marine and wind energy.
  • Quantify the energy potential from marine and wind energy resources.
  • Determine flow current and wave-induced forces acting on wind and marine energy devices.
  • Communicate complex information to technical experts and the wider public.

Choose the University of Aberdeen for online renewable energy courses

Get ready for energy transition

Progress your career with a university leading the way in renewables, carbon capture, fuel cells and digitalisation.

You’re in expert hands

We’ve been training energy professionals for decades and delivering online learning for over 20 years.

20% alumni discount

University of Aberdeen alumni get 20% off this online course.

How you’ll study

Online learning

This distance-learning renewable energy course is delivered flexibly online.

You can learn with us anywhere in the world, no student visa required, and manage your study hours to suit you.

Your teaching

This course is taught at Masters level.

Teaching is delivered through MyAberdeen, our online Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). It holds all the materials, tools and support you’ll need in your studies. Take a look around MyAberdeen.

You can access your learning materials on computer, smartphone and laptop, 24 hours a day. You’ll find a range of online resources available, including:

Your tutors

This Masters-level short course is delivered by our School of Engineering.

You’ll learn from a team of internationally experienced engineering staff.

Involved in active research, they’ve worked on major projects all over the globe. You’ll benefit directly from their industrial experience and academic expertise.

Industry input

Your course content is also developed and reviewed by an Industry Advisory Board. This group of experienced professionals ensures your learning is always in line with the latest industry trends, technology and career opportunities.

This course usually combines online assessment with a written exam that you attend in person at the end of term.

However, as a result of Covid-19, in-person exams will not take place until the September 2023 term at the earliest.

Until then, we’ll use alternative online assessments.

Online assessment

Online assessment will take place throughout the teaching term.

Types of assessment for this course may include:

  • coursework
  • online quizzes
  • timed online open-book assessments.

Assessment deadlines

Your assessments will have submission deadlines, either during or at the end of the course. Your course coordinator will let you know when your assessment deadlines are, so you can plan your study time accordingly.

From September 2023 - Return of exams

We may reintroduce in-person exams for this course from the September 2023 term onwards.

If exams are reintroduced, you’ll be assessed via a mix of online assessments and a final, in-person exam. We can help you find an exam centre in your area for this exam if you are not able to attend exams on-campus in Aberdeen.

There may be a fee for sitting an exam at an external examination centre.

We’ll keep you updated as to assessment methods well in advance of any changes.

The course totals approximately 150 hours of study and assessment time. That’s around 10 – 15 hours per week.

This is an indicative guide to the time required for a typical student at this level to achieve the learning outcomes.

You can largely set your own study hours each week to cover the materials. MyAberdeen is available 24/7, so you can log in and study when it suits you.

Activities with deadlines

There will be some activities scheduled for fixed times, such as assessments with deadlines or meetings with your tutor. But otherwise, you can access and work through the course at your convenience.

Our first-class support structure will ensure that you aren’t alone in your studies. You’ll have contact with your tutors via MyAberdeen and email. You can use social media and discussion boards to chat with your fellow students too.

We provide a wide range of services to support you in your studies and beyond:

Wherever you are in the world, you’ll feel part of our very special Aberdeen learning community.

Your course coordinator

Dr Nina Nikora

Nina is a Lecturer in our School of Engineering. She has extensive experience in hydraulic engineering and hydrological modelling. Nina is currently researching the effects of aquatic vegetation on hydraulic resistance in open-channel flows.

View Nina’s profile

Where this will take you

Towards a Masters

You’ll earn 15 credits at Masters level (SCQF Level 11) with this course. You can use these credits towards our:

Accredited Masters in Renewable Energy Engineering

Become an engineer in the renewable energy sector with our triple-accredited online MSc. Train online with internationally experienced engineers and learn direct from industry.

View MSc Renewable Energy Engineering

Masters in Energy Transition Systems and Technologies

Join an online MSc that’s training the next generation of systems engineers. Help our planet transition from oil and gas to net-zero, with a degree you can study online, part-time.

View MSc Energy Transition Systems and Technologies

Accredited Masters in Offshore Engineering

Join our accredited online MSc and gain the skills you need to work in a wide variety of roles in the offshore engineering sector, including marine renewables.

View MSc Offshore Engineering

Build your learning

We have a range of online short courses you can use to build your skills in this area.

Many carry credits you can build up into postgraduate qualifications, including Masters degrees:

Careers

This course will prepare you for professional and managerial roles in the renewable energy sector.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

Your employer or professional institute may recognise this course for CPD hours. Talk to your employer or institute to find out more.

Free career support

Access our free careers service while you study.

  • 1:1 appointments
  • CV checks
  • Interview prep
  • Job opportunities

See how our careers service can help you.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

We welcome students from all over the world.

This course has no formal entry requirements. You do not need to provide proof of your qualifications.

But you do need to check the entry guidance above to understand the level of teaching delivered, to decide if this course is right for you.

If you do not have qualifications from the UK, check the equivalent teaching level for your country.

Visa requirements

You do not need a student visa to study online with us.

English language requirements

Teaching is delivered in English.

You do not have to provide proof of your English language skills to join this course. But we want to make sure that you can use English well enough to study successfully.

Recommended level of English

For this course, we recommend the following level of English language proficiency.

These are our Postgraduate Standard requirements, and these are minimum scores.

IELTS Academic, IELTS UKVI Academic, and IELTS Online (not IELTS Indicator or IELTS General Training)

  • 6.5 overall
  • 5.5 for listening, reading and speaking
  • 6.0 for writing

TOEFL iBT and TOEFL iBT Home Edition

  • 90 overall
  • 17 for listening
  • 18 for reading
  • 20 for speaking
  • 21 for writing
  • TOEFL DI code is 0818

Cambridge English: B2 First, C1 Advanced, or C2 Proficiency

  • 176 overall
  • 162 for listening, reading and speaking
  • 169 for writing

LanguageCert Academic/LanguageCert Academic SELT

  • 70 overall
  • 60 for listening, reading and speaking
  • 65 for writing

LanguageCert International ESOL B2 Communicator (Written and Spoken) – Online / In-centre

  • Overall High Pass
  • 33 for listening, reading and speaking
  • 38 for writing

Oxford ELLT Digital – English Language Level Test Online

  • 7.0 overall
  • 5.0 for listening, reading and speaking
  • 6.0 for writing

PTE Academic (online test not accepted)

  • 62 overall
  • 59 for listening, reading, speaking and writing

For full information about language requirements, see our English Language Requirements page.

You will need access to:

A computer (PC, laptop or Mac) operating on either:

  • Windows 10 or later
  • macOS 10.15 (Catalina) or later.

Most teaching materials are smartphone- and tablet-friendly. But we recommend a proper laptop or desktop for completing assignments comfortably.

Reliable internet access

We recommend:

  • a wired connection
  • a minimum download speed of 2 Mbps so you can take part fully in live sessions.

Speakers or headphones

  • We recommend a headset with built-in microphone and earphones if you’re likely to study in an environment with background noise.
  • A webcam is optional, but you may like to use one for some interactive sessions.

Software

We’ll give you access to Office365 applications. This means you can use online versions of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint and install these programs on up to five personal devices.

If your course requires specialist software, we’ll provide you with access to this and a licence that lasts throughout your studies.

See our detailed IT requirements for more information.

When you study with us, you can expect a first-class support structure so that you’re never alone in your studies.

But learning online does mean you have to motivate yourself and manage your own time.

Your most important commitment will be time – the time to work through, reflect on and understand your teaching materials.

Before you start a course that involves a high degree of independent study, we recommend looking at the time you will be able to devote to your studies each week:

  • Be realistic
  • Create a weekly schedule as a guide

If you have any questions about studying online, get in touch with our friendly team. We’re here to help.

Fee payment

Your course fee needs to be paid in full before you start your course.

We accept payment via Visa Debit, Visa Credit and Mastercard.

Exam fees

If your course features an in-person exam, you may have to pay a fee depending on where you sit your exam.

It’s free to sit exams on campus at the University of Aberdeen.

If you sit an exam at another university, exam centre or a British Council Office, they may charge you for this service. This is a fee that you pay directly to the service provider when booking your exam with them. It is not a fee that you pay to us.

Ways to save

You may be able to get help funding this course via:

  • discounts – if any discounts are available for this course, they’ll appear in the section below
  • employer sponsorship – we accept full and partial fee payments from sponsors.

Find out more about funding options.

Student card

All our students are entitled to a University of Aberdeen student card. This gives you access to a range of student discounts around the city and online.

This course has no formal entry requirements. You decide if it’s suitable for you.

The course is delivered at Masters level. At this level of teaching, you’d usually have at least:

  • a 2:2 UK honours degree (or equivalent) in Engineering or the Physical Sciences, or
  • relevant experience that supports this level of study.

Mathematical skills

This course includes significant mathematical content. Please review our mathematical skills document, which we’ve prepared to give you an indication of the level of mathematics you’ll require.

Apply for this course

Start date
27 January 2025
Cost
£1,290
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