Sustainable Energy Futures With Study Abroad

The BSc Sustainable Energy Futures with Study Abroad programme is designed for those wishing to pursue a non-engineering career, such as consultancy or project management, within the rapidly expanding clean energy sector. You will gain a grounding in the concepts and technology that underpin the Renewable Energy sector, as well as the societal and political considerations that impact its implementation. You will learn from experts in energy policy, renewable technologies, electrical power and networks, environmental law and regulation, sustainable business practice, and environmental science. The programme allows you to tailor your degree to your interests and career ambitions with a variety of options covering the legal, political and business aspects of the sustainable energy transition. Cornwall is where the UK’s renewable energy revolution began and offers state of the art facilities and exciting opportunities to engage with and contribute to solutions for environmental challenges.

The BSc Sustainable Energy Futures with Study Abroad degree programme aims to produce graduates with the knowledge and skillset to work in the clean energy sector in non-engineering roles. This is dependent upon an appropriate training in: renewable technologies, applied and environmental sciences, legal and regulatory processes, project management and energy policy; and exposure to the renewable energy industry. The programme aims to provide core knowledge and understanding across all these areas, but also, through their selections in options, to allow candidates the opportunity to acquire in-depth knowledge and understanding in specific areas of the discipline. Whilst many students enrolling upon the programme regard it as a vocational degree, the scientific and socio-economic training received facilitate careers in many fields outside the energy sector. In addition, the programme aims to develop the transferable skills frequently sought by potential employers, such as those associated with verbal and written communication and teamwork.

In its students and in its graduates, the programme aims to develop

• a thorough understanding of the energy challenges facing society and the policy and regulatory tools to address these,

• the use of creativity and innovation, properly founded on industry and sector needs and understanding,

• levels of numeracy and computer literacy commensurate with industry standard design & analysis tools,

• cost, value and quality consciousness and understanding of business,

• full commitment to social, cultural and environmental issues and a responsibility to deal with these both ethically and professionally,

• an awareness of different approaches to energy challenges in specific international contexts, and an ability to work and collaborate within a new culture and academic system.

Through this programme, the Department will provide students with: learning opportunities to match their abilities and aspirations, personal academic support and pastoral support through their university career, appropriate methods of teaching and assessment and a programme of study that they find demanding, interesting and intellectually stimulating, while allowing them to enjoy other aspects of university life.

Through this, the programme aims to enable students to become:

a) flexible and autonomous renewable energy specialist graduates equipped to adopt key roles within multi-disciplinary industrial teams, research and development groups, legislating and financing organisations.

b) sought after for their leadership contributions, their capacity for analytical and original thought and discipline specific expertise; their holistic understanding of the context within which they work, their ability and innate desire to support the work of others and take full responsibility and demonstrate self-motivation for their own personal and professional development.

c) reflective, socially and personally responsible and accurate decision makers and problem solvers, whether working individually or as part of a group.

d) aware of the environmental, economic, social and sustainability issues that are an integral part of the energy professional’s role in society.

The programme also aims, through the year of study abroad, to encourage awareness of internationalisation in the clean energy sector as well as enabling students to establish international links.
 

This programme comprises four stages of 120 credits per stage. Each stage is made up of modules, and each module studied successfully contributes 10, 15 or 30 credits towards the degree.

With the requisite number of credits a student may qualify for a Certificate of Higher Education or a Diploma of Higher Education if they exit the programme early.

Modules and other study components can be taken only with the approval of the College (normally given by the Programme Lead). Modules are not all available every year; options are offered each year at the discretion of the Department. A module may be taken only if the necessary prerequisites have been satisfied, if the timetable allows, and if the module or an equivalent module has not been taken previously. The first and second stages of this programme are modular and are taught over two semesters with examinations at the end of each semester.

Field trips are associated with all stages of the programme - with a compulsory assessed field trip in Stage 4. These have been designed as an essential component of the programme to provide exposure to practical case studies. The compulsory Stage 4 field trip typically runs in May but may be run over the Easter vacation.

The Study Abroad year will take place following Stage 2. Credit for academic work during the year abroad is arranged by agreement between the University of Exeter and the host institution. These marks are then translated back into the student’s degree at Exeter.

Some of the modules listed in this section are designated non-condonable modules. These modules must be passed in order to progress through the stages and failure in these cannot be condoned under the Undergraduate Assessment Procedures that came into force in 2005/06. (see http://as.exeter.ac.uk/academic-policy-standards/tqa-manual/aph/)

The following tables describe the programme as planned for delivery at the time of this specification. Constituent modules may be updated, deleted or replaced in future years as a consequence of normal programme development. Details at any time may be obtained from the Department web site (see https://renewable.exeter.ac.uk/).

The relative weighting of the programme stages in the determination of the final award classification can be found at https://as.exeter.ac.uk/academic-policy-standards/tqa-manual/aph/classification/#bachelors-masters.

Full details of assessment regulations for all taught programmes can be found in the TQA Manual, specifically in the Credit and Qualifications Framework, and the Assessment, Progression and Awarding: Taught Programmes Handbook.

Additional information, including Generic Marking Criteria, can be found in the Learning and Teaching Support Handbook.

Academic and personal tutors. It is University policy that all Faculties should have in place a system of academic and personal tutors. The role of academic tutors is to support you on individual modules; the role of personal tutors is to provide you with academic advice and support for the duration of the programme and extends to providing you with details of how to obtain support and guidance on personal difficulties such as accommodation, financial difficulties and sickness. You can also make an appointment to see individual teaching staff.

Computing and library facilities. Students have access to good computing and library facilities on the Penryn campus. Computer-based exercises and web-based learning materials are a feature of the programme, which can be accessed via the internet. IT Services provide a range of central services, including open and training clusters of PCs (available on a 24/7 basis) within the Centre. Wireless network access is available from all rooms in the hall of residence on site. On the Penryn campus in Cornwall, the Learning Resource Centre contains a library of 70,000 volumes and some specialist collections. In addition, students have full access to the central University of Exeter library, including the electronic library resources.

Online study resources available through the Exeter Learning Environment (ELE) provide materials for modules that you are registered for, in addition to useful subject and IT resources. Generic study support resources, information on library and research skills, past exam papers, and the Academic Honesty and Plagiarism module are also available through ELE (http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/login/index.php)

Engineering Teaching Laboratory (ETL). The ETL supports teaching in renewable energy-focused modules and is located on the top floor of the Du Maurier building at the Penryn campus. In addition to providing experimental rigs and demonstration space to support Renewable Energy Engineering modules, it also provides a suite of computers with specialist software for clean energy technologies, space for group and project work, and a dedicated digital maker space shared with other STEM disciplines. Access to these facilities will be available to Sustainable Energy Futures undergraduates, including out of hours on request.

Renewable Energy Engineering Facility (REEF). In 2018, the department opened a new-build specialist energy engineering workshop, REEF. This new facility provides an opportunity for students to get hands-on experience studying the performance of renewable energy equipment in the real environment as well as energy efficiency analysis of the building itself. All students are fully inducted in the use of the workshop equipment, and a dedicated technician is available to support individual and group design and build project work.

Student/Staff Liaison Committee enables students & staff to jointly participate in the management and review of the teaching and learning provision

Undergraduate applicants must satisfy the Undergraduate Admissions Policy of the University of Exeter.

Specific requirements to enrol on this programme are available at the Undergraduate Study Site webpages.

Each academic programme in the University is subject to an agreed Faculty assessment and marking strategy, underpinned by institution-wide assessment procedures.

The security of assessment and academic standards is further supported through the appointment of External Examiners for each programme. External Examiners have access to draft papers, course work and examination scripts. They are required to attend the Board of Examiners and to provide an annual report. Annual External Examiner reports are monitored at both College and University level. Their responsibilities are described in the University’s code of practice.  See the University's TQA Manual for details.

No specific accreditations are associated with this programme.