MSc Sustainable Energy Engineering
Stockholm, Sweden
DURATION
2 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Aug 2025
TUITION FEES
SEK 342,000 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* non-EU/EEA/Swiss is 342,000 SEK.
Introduction
The master's programme in Sustainable Energy Engineering provides advanced education in solar energy, power generation, energy utilisation and transformation of energy systems. Students gain a multidisciplinary foundation in energy engineering and skills to manage complex energy-related problems with a lifecycle perspective. Graduates lead the development in the energy sector with skills and insights into industrial challenges, leadership, innovation and entrepreneurship.
Sustainable Energy Engineering at KTH
The master's programme in Sustainable Energy Engineering equips you with skills and insights into leadership, industrial challenges, innovation and entrepreneurship in the energy field. The programme provides an atmosphere and learning environment that fosters global responsibilities and sustainable development. Therefore, the emphasis is placed on dealing with energy engineering tasks with due consideration of technical, environmental and socio-economic issues.
The first semester of the programme is an intensive introductory period with broad-based coursework in energy engineering, including conversion technologies, systems and applications. Participants follow a learning path in advanced-level energy engineering courses, where their pre-requisite knowledge in thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer is put to use in challenge-based problem-solving. Advanced methods are applied to identify, describe, quantify and find solutions to a diverse range of energy engineering problems.
For the second semester, you choose one of three profiles for in-depth studies for the rest of the programme.
Energy Supply through Clean Conversion Technologies
The profile Energy Supply through Clean Conversion Technologies focuses on sustainable energy conversion processes and systems for generating and distributing electrical power, district heating and cooling, and water treatment to drinking water quality. Within this profile, we also address turbomachinery development and applications and sustainable energy solutions for transportation. We cover the evolution of conventional energy systems to integrate a growing share of renewables and the challenges demanding further evaluation and innovation towards broader electrification, energy storage, efficient co-generation, polygeneration, transmission and improved solutions for energy supply-side management.
Energy in Buildings and Cities
More than 70 per cent of the world and European population live in urban areas. Energy systems in buildings and cities play a pivotal role in driving economic growth, ensuring the well-being of citizens, and mitigating the environmental impact of unprecedented urbanisation at the global level. The SEE profile "Energy in Buildings and Cities" focuses on the engineering challenges and opportunities for energy systems in the current and future urban areas.
The future energy engineers and managers must be able to analyse the complex energy systems at the district/city level. However, an impactful analysis of energy systems at the district/city level is hard to achieve without going through the complexity of the system components and proper understanding of the behaviour of the various energy technologies. Therefore, this profile has been designed to provide an adequate knowledge of urban energy systems at both technology and district/city levels.
The profile guides students through a comprehensive learning journey in three distinct phases: initially offering a macro-level overview of energy systems in buildings and cities, it subsequently delves deeply into crucial energy technologies, imparting technology-level engineering knowledge. Once students have gained a solid understanding of energy technologies such as heat pumps, district heating, and solar technologies, they return to system analysis and system integration with enhanced proficiency, enabling them to engineer and manage systems more effectively, considering both technical and economic perspectives.
Energy System Analysis
The profile Energy System Analysis focuses on the systems perspective of the sustainable energy transition, where energy technology innovation, planning, and policy are linked to sustainable development. You will learn how to develop quantitative models for analysing energy systems as the basis for strategic investment decisions and policy in the circular economy context. Through qualitative analyses, the impact of policies on the transition to a sustainable society is analysed. Central to this profile is the knowledge and skills necessary for contributing to a secure and low-carbon energy sector at the local, national, and international levels – and in harmony with the Sustainable Development Goals.
Courses and teaching methods
We offer courses by faculty staff who are also engaged in research and collaboration with the industry. Similarly, many courses employ professionals from the industry as guest lecturers on topics related to the practical side of the curriculum. Examples of external partnerships in 2022-2023 are Northvolt, Abengoa, Swedish Biofuels, , Swedish Biofuels, Torresol, Sweco, Ellevio, Stockholm Exergi, Vattenfall, Energi & Kylanalys, Fortum, World Bank, the International Energy Agency and Stockholm Environmental Institute.
KTH is a member of Unite, a network of seven top universities in seven European countries. Unite offers virtual exchange studies in energy technology, which allows students in the programme to follow several online courses as a complement to the courses at KTH. These courses will be included in your degree from KTH.
Teaching methods aim at student-centred learning, hands-on work and challenge-driven education. This means a significant content of project-based learning activities. Digitally based learning activities are common, including the concept of flipped classrooms, video lectures, and computerised automatically corrected homework/quizzes/exams.
Admissions
Curriculum
Year 1
One profile must be chosen during year 1:
- Energy in Buildings and Cities
- Energy Supply through Clean Conversion Technologies
- Energy System Analysis
Mandatory courses within the profile:
Energy in Buildings and Cities
MJ2518 "Energy Demand and Supply Distribution Systems in the Built Environment", 6cr
MJ2519 "Energy Supply Systems for Buildings", 6cr
Energy Supply through Clean Conversion Technologies
MJ2426 "Applied Heat and Power Technology", 6cr
MJ2438 "Modeling of Energy Systems - Heat and Power Generation", 6cr
Energy System Analysis
MJ2381 "Introduction to Energy Systems Analysis and Applications - Minor Course", 6cr
MJ2512 "Transformation in Energy Policy and Climate Agenda", 6cr
One of the following courses must be taken (applies to all profiles)
MJ2514 "District heating and cooling" 3cr
MJ2515 "Numerical Heat Transfer in Energy Technology" 3cr
MJ2516 "Sustainability perspectives for assessing and designing research, projects and policies" 3cr
Mandatory courses
- Sustainable Power Generation (MJ2405) 9.0 credits
- Renewable Energy Technology (MJ2411) 6.0 credits
- Energy Systems for Sustainable Development (MJ2508) 6.0 credits
- Energy in the built environment (MJ2509) 9.0 credits
- Methods of research in sustainable energy (MJ2510) 7.5 credits
- Energy Management (MJ2511) 7.5 credits
Year 2
Course list: Information is based upon the curriculum for academic year 2023/2024 changes may occur.
Mandatory courses within the profiles:
Energy in Buildings and Cities
MJ2520 "Energy Systems for Smart Cities", 6cr
MJ2521 "Integrated Energy Systems for Buildings", 6cr
and one of:
MJ2460 "Green Building - Concept, Design, Construction and Operation", 6cr
MJ2517 "Heat pumping technologies", 6cr
MJ2386 "Energy Storage Technology", 6cr
Energy Supply through Clean Conversion Technologies
MJ2503 "Small Scale Polygeneration", 6cr
MJ2505 "Practical Optimization of Energy Networks", 6cr
and one of:
MJ2506 "Energy Technologies for Sustainable Transportation", 6cr
MJ2386 "Energy Storage Technology", 6cr
MJ2523 "Aircraft Propulsion, General Course", 6cr
Energy System Analysis
MJ2513 "Circular Economy and Energy System", 6cr
MJ2383 "Energy System Economics, Modelling and Indicators for Sustainable Energy Development", 6cr
and one of:
MJ2506 "Energy Technologies for Sustainable Transportation", 6cr
MJ2386 "Energy Storage Technology", 6cr
MJ2505 "Practical Optimization of Energy Networks", 6cr
Mandatory courses
- AI applications in Sustainable Energy Engineering (MJ2507) 6.0 credits
Program Outcome
Sustainable development
Graduates from KTH have the knowledge and tools for moving society in a more sustainable direction, as sustainable development is an integral part of all programmes. The three key sustainable development goals addressed by the master's programme in Sustainable Energy Engineering are:
- 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
- 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
SDG7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) is addressed in many courses in the programme, for example in the courses Renewable energy technology and Sustainable power generation, where technologies and tools for sustainable energy systems are studied. To address SDG9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), the programme offers courses on Energy system analysis and Energy policies. An example of programme courses that address SDG11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) is the course on Solar energy for buildings and cities.
Sustainable development
Graduates from KTH have the knowledge and tools for moving society in a more sustainable direction, as sustainable development is an integral part of all programmes. The three key sustainable development goals addressed by the master's programme in Sustainable Energy Engineering are:
- 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
- 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
SDG7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) is addressed in many courses in the programme, for example in the courses Renewable energy technology and Sustainable power generation, where technologies and tools for sustainable energy systems are studied. To address SDG9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), the programme offers courses on Energy system analysis and Energy policies. An example of programme courses that address SDG11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) is the course on Solar energy for buildings and cities.
As a graduate you may work as energy consultant, project manager, research and development scientist (academic and in industry), and, not least, entrepreneur in the energy sector which is full of opportunities and has a huge room for energy system related innovations
Scholarships and Funding
KTH offers four different scholarship opportunities for master's studies. The KTH Scholarship covers the tuition fee of a one or two year master’s programme. The KTH One-Year Scholarship is aimed at current KTH master's programme students and covers the tuition fee of the second year of studies. The KTH Joint Programme Scholarship is aimed at students in certain joint programmes and covers the tuition fee for the study period spent at KTH. The KTH India Scholarship is aimed specifically at students from India.
- KTH Scholarship
- KTH One-Year Scholarship
- KTH Joint Programme Scholarship
- KTH India Scholarship
Swedish Institute
The Swedish Institute (SI) offers a number of scholarships for students from targeted countries coming to Sweden.
KTH associated scholarship organisations
KTH cooperates with the following organisations providing scholarship opportunities for prospective KTH students.
- COLFUTURO (Programa Crédito Beca) for students from Colombia
- LPDP (Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education) for students from Indonesia
- FUNED for students from Mexico
Scholarship portals
IEFA database
The IEFA database offer a comprehensive scholarships search, grant listing and international student loan programmes.
Studyportals
The Studyportals scholarship database lists over 1,000 scholarship and grants for students worldwide applying for studies in the EU.
Scholars4dev
Scholarships for Development is a database of scholarships open to students from developing countries.
WeMakeScholars
WeMakeScholars helps students from India secure education loans from banks and NBFCs. They also lists more than 26,000 international scholarships from different trusts, foundations and govt. bodies.
Deferment of student loans in the United States
KTH is an accredited institution at the US Department of Education and holds a Title IV 'Deferment Only' status (OPE ID 03274300). US students may defer payments on existing federal student loan accounts while enrolled in a master’s programme at KTH. The 'Deferment Only' status does not allow students to take out federal student loans for enrolment at KTH. However, the accreditation facilitates grant and loan opportunities for US students as many private student loan institutions in the US use this designation as a requirement to grant new loans. Students who wish to defer payments must contact their lending institution in the US.
Several scholarship options are available. Please check the institute website for more information.
Gallery
Career Opportunities
The energy field is an international and dynamic area in which well-trained engineers are in constant demand. Graduates find employment in industry, government agencies and consultancies. The master's programme in Sustainable Energy Engineering is also an excellent starting point for a research career, as many graduates go on to doctoral studies.
After completing the programme, you will be able to manage technical problems from a systems perspective, with a holistic view of their life cycle, from concept to specification, development, operation and decommissioning. You will also be confident in characterising an energy challenge, determining the necessary resource consumption and managing processes for problem-solving/realisation. During your studies, you will gain a particularly good understanding of the fact that engineering problems are often complex and sometimes involve conflicting conditions. You will become aware of the responsibilities and ethical standpoints that may arise in connection with various technical, organisational, economic, ecological and societal activities.
Thus, the programme prepares you for immediate engagement in the development and implementation of sustainable energy technology, leadership positions in the field, as well as academic research. The future is bright, and, with properly trained engineers, society will reach sustainability in energy systems. Graduates from the programme can be among else be found in entrepreneurial companies like Northwolt and Phoenix Biopower, in consulting companies like AFRY, SWECO and WSP, in energy utilities such as Vattenfall and EDF, in the building companies NCC and Skanska, and other organisations such as Scania Group, InnoEnergy and Swedish Energy Agency, IRENA, World Bank and the International Energy Agency.
After graduation
As a graduate you may work as an energy consultant, project manager, research and development scientist (academic and in the industry), and, not least, entrepreneur in the energy sector which is full of opportunities and has a huge room for energy system-related innovations.