MScElectrical Power and Smart Grids

Source: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/courses/engineering/epsg/ Parent: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/courses/

MSc Electrical Power and Smart Grids

MSc Electrical Power and Smart Grids

Why study MSc Electrical Power and Smart Grids at Exeter?

• A unique programme that focuses on operation, control and maintenance of future Smart Grid with particular emphasis on the challenges associated with Net-Zero and low carbon futures
• Benefit from specialist facilities and equipment available at the Centre for Smart Grid where you will be encouraged to attend lab sessions and to undertake your own project work and research
• Learn from academics who are experts in their fields whose teaching is inspired by the latest research
• Graduates will be ready to take leading roles in achieving Net-Zero targets with cutting-edge technologies and data analytics for Smart Grid

Apply for Sept 2026 entry

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Select date of entry Sept 2026

Select programme Electrical Power and Smart Grids MSc

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Fast Track (current Exeter students)

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Contact

Programme Director: Professor Farhad Namdari

Web: Enquire online

Phone: +44 (0)1392 72 72 72

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Discover MSc Electrical Power and Smart Grids at the University of Exeter.

Top 15 in the UK for General Engineering

13th in the Complete University Guide 2026

£6.5million investment in our teaching labs, workshop spaces and equipment

Top 2 in the UK for Electrical & Electronic Engineering

2nd in The Guardian University Guide 2026

Study the complex systems of energy demand, generation and distribution that will govern the net-zero electrical power networks of the future

Entry requirements

All applicants are considered individually on merit although we usually require a 2:2 honours degree (or equivalent) in a science or engineering discipline.

Relevant degrees: Civil Engineering; Structural Engineering; Building and Construction; Infrastructure Engineering; Applied Geology; Traffic Engineering; Physics; Architecture; Geology; Marine Technology.

Exceptional applications may be judged on experience in lieu of academic qualifications e.g. relevant professional experience.

Please also see our guidance on essential documentation required for an initial decision on taught programme applications.

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 IELTS test scores for this course fall under Profile B1.

Please visit our English language requirements page to view the required test scores and equivalencies from your country.

As a student taking the ENGM029 Power Systems Analysis module at the University of Exeter, I find the mix of theoretical and practical elements really effective. The theoretical lectures provide a solid understanding of power system operations, and the practical, simulation-based labs help apply this knowledge in real-world scenarios. Overall, this module is challenging but extremely beneficial for anyone interested in power systems engineering. The module also includes a field trip to National Grids control room, really interesting!!

Elvin

Exchange student from Lund University

Course content

You will be introduced to the latest trends and technologies that are transforming the energy and electrical power sector as the world pivots towards sustainable and digitalised power systems.

This programme makes use of the specialist facilities at the Centre for Smart Grid where you will be encouraged to attend lab sessions and undertake your own project work and research.

Compulsory modules will cover areas such as power system analysis; digital twinning and data analytics for power networks and design, implementation and resilience of smart grids and sustainable energy systems. The dissertation will allow you to complete a more detailed research project in an area of personal interest.

The modules below 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.

Modules

Please note that the module information displayed here is from a previous year and is subject to change.

Compulsory modules

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Prof. Zhong Fan

Professor of Net Zero Energy Systems

Prof. Farhad Namdari

Associate Professor in Electrical Energy Systems

Dr. Shuhang Shen

Senior Lecturer in Smart Grids

Dr Dawei Qiu

Lecturer in Smart Energy Systems

Prof. Zhong Fan

Professor of Net Zero Energy Systems

Prof. Zhong Fan joined Exeter University as the professor of net zero energy systems. Previously he was a Professor at Keele University and the Academic Director of SEND (Smart Energy Network Demonstrator). Before that, he was Chief Research Fellow with Toshiba Research Europe, Bristol, U.K., leading research on IoT, smart grid, data analytics, and 5G communications. Earlier in his career, he was a Research Fellow with Cambridge University, a Lecturer with Birmingham University, and a Researcher with Marconi Laboratories, Cambridge. He also received a BT Short-Term Fellowship for his work at BT Laboratories. His research interests are smart energy, IoT, and machine learning applications.

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Prof. Zhong Fan

Professor of Net Zero Energy Systems

Prof. Zhong Fan joined Exeter University as the professor of net zero energy systems. Previously he was a Professor at Keele University and the Academic Director of SEND (Smart Energy Network Demonstrator). Before that, he was Chief Research Fellow with Toshiba Research Europe, Bristol, U.K., leading research on IoT, smart grid, data analytics, and 5G communications. Earlier in his career, he was a Research Fellow with Cambridge University, a Lecturer with Birmingham University, and a Researcher with Marconi Laboratories, Cambridge. He also received a BT Short-Term Fellowship for his work at BT Laboratories. His research interests are smart energy, IoT, and machine learning applications.

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Prof. Farhad Namdari

Associate Professor in Electrical Energy Systems

Farhad is an Associate Professor in Electrical Energy Systems at the University of Exeter. He received his PhD in Electrical Power Engineering from the Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST) in 2006. During his PhD and as a part of it, in 2003-2004 he worked at Queen’s University, Belfast as an Honorary Research Associate. In 2009 he joined Lorestan University (LU), Iran as an Assistant Professor, and spent the next more than 14 years there progressing to Associate Professor in 2015, Professor in 2021, and some administrative responsibilities like as the Deputy of the University for Research and Technology, and Dean of the Lorestan Science and Technology Park until he started the new role within the University of Exeter in January 2024.

He has been involved in several Industrial projects as a key designer and senior consultant since 1999 before he started working with the University and continued these relations after joining LU. These relations led him to earn several grant projects with Iranian Industries during his work with LU.

He has published more than 140 technical Journal and Conference Papers. He is an Editorial Board Member of the “Protection and Control of Modern Power Systems” Journal and a Senior Member of the IEEE.

His research activities and interests lie in Smart Grids and Low Carbon Electrical Energy Networks, Power System Protection, “Wide Area Monitoring, Protection, and Control”, Power System Transients, and also Artificial Intelligence (AI) Applications in Power Systems.

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Dr. Shuhang Shen

Senior Lecturer in Smart Grids

Dr. Shuhang Shen is a Senior Lecturer in Smart Grids in the Department of Engineering at the University of Exeter, where he previously held roles as Lecturer and Postdoctoral Research Fellow. He received his PhD in Electrical Power Engineering from The University of Manchester, following MSc degrees in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Politecnico di Milano, Italy and Xi’an Jiaotong University, China. His research spans power system operation and security, transmission asset condition monitoring and fault diagnosis, digital twinning of power transformers, and emerging solutions for grid resilience and capacity enhancement. He has published widely in leading IEEE and IET journals and conferences, and works closely with industry partners including National Grid and NESO on innovation projects in power systems. Dr Shen is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), a member of IEEE and the IET, and is currently the Programme Director for Exeter’s BEng and MEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering programmes.

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Dr Dawei Qiu

Lecturer in Smart Energy Systems

Dr Dawei Qiu is a Lecturer in Smart Energy Systems at the University of Exeter. His research focuses on advanced energy system modelling, delivering insights into the development of future low-carbon energy systems. A central theme of his work is the application of novel AI-driven reinforcement learning approaches to analyse and evaluate energy costs, carbon emissions, and strategies for improving energy system resilience.

Dr Qiu has contributed to six major EU- and EPSRC-funded research projects and has published more than 60 papers in these fields. In the SIF-funded WELLNESS project (10061033), he deployed microgrids to strengthen grid resilience against extreme weather events. In the EU-funded R2D2 project (10050683), he demonstrated how vehicle-to-grid flexibility can absorb surplus generation and reduce peak demand. As Principal Investigator of the ARIA-funded SAINTES project (Safe and scalable AI decisioN support Tools for Energy Systems), he is currently developing AI algorithms to solve optimal power flow problems and coordinate distributed energy resources to enhance grid flexibility. He also leads the GW4 AI-Driven Digital Transformation for Sustainable Energy Network, where he is developing digital twins to optimise grid flexibility.

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Fees

2026/27 entry

UK fees per year:

£14,300 full-time

International fees per year:

£30,600 full-time

Fee information

Fees can normally be paid by two termly instalments and may be paid online. You will also be required to pay a tuition fee deposit to secure your offer of a place, unless you qualify for exemption. For further information about paying fees see our Student Fees pages.

UK government postgraduate loan scheme

Postgraduate loans are now available for Masters degrees. Find out more about eligibility and how to apply.

Scholarships

The University of Exeter offers a wide range of scholarships to support your education, with £7 million available for international students applying to study with us in the 2026/27 academic year, including our prestigious Exeter Excellence Scholarships *. We also provide awards for sport, music and other achievements, as well as regional and partner scholarships with organisations such as Chevening, The Beacon Trust and the British Council. For more information on scholarships and other financial support, please visit our scholarships and bursaries page.

University of Exeter Alumni Scholarship

We are pleased to offer University of Exeter alumni beginning a standalone postgraduate programme in 2026/27 with us a scholarship towards the cost of your tuition fees. Full details can be found here.

*Terms and conditions, including deadlines, apply. See our website for details..

Find out more about tuition fees and funding »

My MSc thesis focused on “Continuous evaluation of the RMS value of main voltages using a Raspberry Pi”—a project that ignited my passion for sensor technology. Designing a low-cost, high-precision voltage monitoring system taught me the art of problem-solving under constraints. This work even inspired my next step: a PhD at the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Deep-Sea Science and Engineering, where I’ll research deep-sea sensors for extreme environments!

The programme’s intensity pushed me to grow rapidly. Modules like Sustainable Engineering and hands-on labs strengthened my technical foundation, while group projects honed my teamwork and communication skills. Exeter’s Career Services also polished my CV and interview techniques, which helped me secure a PhD position seamlessly.

Read more from Yibo

Yibo

MSc Electrical Power and Smart Grids graduate

Teaching and research

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Teaching and assessment

The programme is delivered through a mix of lectures, tutorials, simulation and experimental laboratory exercises, project work and a dissertation.

Students will develop transferable skills such as communication skills, data handling and analysis, problem solving, decision making and research methodology.

Personal tutor

You will be allocated a Personal Tutor who is available for advice and support throughout your studies, along with support and mentoring from graduates who are now in industry. 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.

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Careers

With electricity becoming the key energy vector in achieving society’s Net-Zero targets, new opportunities are on the rise in this field. Due to the integration of low carbon technologies and associated variabilities in energy supply and demand, recruiters are looking for workforce with additional knowledge and expertise in smart grid technologies, data analytics and renewables.

The MSc Electrical Power and Smart Grids prepares engineers for this demand from future power systems who will not only have knowledge on traditional power network but also latest trends and technologies to operate and maintain the future smart grid, application of data analytics techniques and addressing sustainability within the electrical power network.

Graduates will be able to progress to either a PhD degree or to various other roles across private and public sectors.

Dedicated careers support

You will receive support from our dedicated Career Zone team, who provide excellent career guidance at all stages of career planning. The Career Zone provides one-on-one support and is home to a wealth of business and industry contacts. Additionally, they host useful training events, workshops and lectures which are designed to further support you in developing your enterprise acumen. Please visit the Career Zone for additional information on their services.

Graduate destinations

The professional destinations of our graduates reflect the quality of this programme. Our graduates have gone on to enjoy prosperous and successful careers in several areas after graduation, such as engineers and teachers, and work at companies such as Devon County Council, Balfour Beatty, Pell Frischman and AECOM. This information has been taken from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) Survey (2011-2016).

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