| UCAS code | 1234 |
|---|---|
| Duration | 1 year full time |
| Entry year | September 2025 |
| Campus | Penryn Campus |
| Discipline | Geography |
| Contact |
| Typical offer | Normally a 2:1 degree |
|---|---|
Overview
- Gain a deep understanding of the technical, institutional and societal challenges and opportunities facing the energy industry, policymakers, and wider society
- Led by an interdisciplinary team of experts from across energy policy, renewable energy engineering, business and social science
- Based in Cornwall, a focal point for energy system innovation around onshore and marine renewables and wider energy system solutions
- Develop skills in critical thinking and problem solving and access to professional networks to prepare you for a career in understanding and managing energy system change
- Part of the Graduate School of Environment and Sustainability community, a hub for interdisciplinary thinking towards greener, healthier and fairer futures
Top 15 for Geography and Environmental Science
11th in the Complete University Guide 2025
Home to the £30 million Environment and Sustainability Institute: researching solutions to environmental change
Expertise in energy policy and governance, onshore and marine renewables, energy system solutions, and sustainable business
Based in Cornwall, a key centre of innovation for energy system change
1st in the UK for Climate Action
Top 15 for Geography and Environmental Science
11th in the Complete University Guide 2025
Home to the £30 million Environment and Sustainability Institute: researching solutions to environmental change
Expertise in energy policy and governance, onshore and marine renewables, energy system solutions, and sustainable business
Based in Cornwall, a key centre of innovation for energy system change
1st in the UK for Climate Action
Entry requirements
The MSc in Energy Policy provides a progression route both for technology-oriented students, such as engineering graduates seeking to develop business and policy perspectives, as well as students from non-technical backgrounds (e.g. from geography, economics etc.) seeking to move into energy-related careers.
All applicants are considered individually on merit although we usually require a 2:1 honours degree.
Helping you to apply
The programme has been designed to bring together students from a wide range of backgrounds. Entry to some of the optional modules from Renewable Energy require an A-level in Maths.
Entry requirements for international students
Please visit our entry requirements section for equivalencies from your country and further information on English language requirements.
Entry requirements for international students
English language requirements
International students need to show they have the required level of English language to study this course. The required test scores for this course fall under Profile B2. Please visit our English language requirements page to view the required test scores and equivalencies from your country.
Course content
Making the transition to a sustainable energy system is a defining challenge of the 21st century, with impacts across all parts of the economy and society. There is a growing need for organisations, whether in the private or public sector, to better understand the challenges and opportunities that energy transitions present.
Core modules will help you develop an understanding of the dynamic relationship between policy, society and innovation as they affect the shift to cleaner, fairer energy systems. Access to a wide range of optional modules will allow you to understand energy system change from multiple perspectives and allow you to tailor your studies to your own personal interests.
Dissertations can either be developed in collaboration with an academic supervisor, or in partnership with an external organisation.
The modules we outline here provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.
90 credits of compulsory modules, 90 credits of optional modules
Compulsory modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GEOM247 | Transforming Energy Systems | 15 |
| GEOM436 | Dussertation | 60 |
| GEOM408 | Transdisciplinary Methods for Sustainability Science | 15 |
Optional modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MSc Energy Policy optional modules 2025-26 | ||
| ENE2009 | Renewable Energy Systems | 15 |
| ENE3003 | Marine Renewable Energy | 15 |
| ENE3010 | Sustainable Architecture | 15 |
| ENEM105 | Low Carbon Vehicles and Transport | 15 |
| POCM102 | Comparative Case Study Design | 15 |
| BEPM011 | Environmental Governance | 15 |
| BEPM009 | Strategic Innovation for Sustainable Business | 15 |
| HAPM102 | Environmental Justice in Policy and Society | 30 |
| BEP3172 | Future 17: Sustainable Development Goals Challenge | 15 |
| BEPM008 | Sustainable Business Management | 15 |
| GEOM363B | Themes in Climate Change | 15 |
| LAWM184C | Climate Change Law | 15 |
| GEOM407 | Perspectives on Sustainable Development | 15 |
| ENE2001 | Energy Management | 15 |
Fees
2025/26 entry
UK fees per year:
£13,700 full-time
International fees per year:
£28,600 full-time
Scholarships
The University of Exeter has many different scholarships available to support your education, including £5 million in scholarships for international students applying to study with us in the 2025/26 academic year, such as our Exeter Excellence Scholarships*.
For more information on scholarships and other financial support, please visit our scholarships and bursaries page.
*Terms and conditions apply. See online for details.
Teaching and research
Teaching
The programme is delivered through a blend of lectures, seminars, tutorials, presentations, case studies, industry visits, group work and a dissertation.
Personal Tutor
You will be allocated a Personal Tutor who is available for advice and support throughout your studies. There is also a Postgraduate Tutor available to help with further guidance and advice.
A research and practice-led culture
We believe every student benefits from being taught by experts active in research and practice. You will discuss the very latest ideas, research discoveries and new technologies in seminars and in the field.
All our academic staff are active in internationally-recognised scientific research across a wide range of topics. You will also be taught by leading industry practitioners.
Graduate School of Environment and Sustainability
You will become part of Exeter's Graduate School of Environment & Sustainability - a vibrant and supportive postgraduate community based here on our Penryn campus in Cornwall. The Graduate School brings together experts from across the spectrum of earth and life sciences, engineering, humanities, social sciences and business. You will interact with students from other MSc programmes and have the opportunity to explore issues from a range of perspectives, benefiting from a truly interdisciplinary experience. All our programmes are designed with a focus on developing solutions to global challenges and creating a better future for our planet and its people.
I am an environmental social scientist focused on understanding processes of change within energy systems. I draw on ideas and methods from multiple disciplines to a) advance our theoretical understanding of energy system change and b) develop practical recommendations for stakeholders from across policy, industry and civil society seeking to affect change towards more sustainable energy systems.
Dr Iain Soutar
Programme Director
Careers
You will develop transferable skills of value to a wide range of employers. These will vary depending on your choice of optional modules, but may include critical thinking, management and communication skills, computational techniques, data handling and analysis, problem solving, decision making and research methodology. The programme is practice-oriented, meaning you will be exposed to real world challenges and opportunities from across industry, commercial and policy settings.
The programme benefits from the close links we have developed with organisations working on energy system solutions. Seminars from speakers from within industry offer valuable perspectives on system change and will help broaden your professional network. There will also be opportunities to develop in-depth research projects in collaboration with organisations.
