Course Structure

Governments around the world have set legally binding targets in support of low-carbon growth, which will require significant investments in resources, infrastructure, and technology. The aim of this programme is to provide students with a strong foundation of the engineering and associated skills that are needed to underpin such “green growth” in a wide range of sectors. They will therefore be well placed to support existing and new industries in their transition to net-zero carbon manufacturing.

Introduction

This course will start in September 2024 and run until mid-May 2025. Assessment activities will be carried out throughout the course and may extend beyond individual module teaching blocks. Students on the course will need to have access to a computer with internet access.

The course will be divided across three 20 CATS modules (60 CATS total) and will utilize online delivery and blended-learning activities to enable students to access learning materials in a highly flexible manner, compatible with a part-time mode of study. Delivery will take the form of pre-recorded lectures and reading material being made available to students on a weekly basis, followed by regular synchronous online workshops, seminars and Q&A sessions to ensure continuous engagement with the students.

Blended teaching and assessments will be delivered via a mixture of pre-recorded lectures, live online workshop and seminar classes and self-directed study and practice materials. In addition, a short guest lecture series will be delivered with lecturers from industry.

List of Indicative Programme modules

Applied Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Technologies
Sustainability and Net Zero Carbon Criteria
Tools for Assessing Energy and Carbon

Options for further study

This programme (60 CATS), along with the one in Hydrogen Energy Systems (60 CATS), can also contribute towards the MSc in Net Zero Engineering (180 CATS). Students who are interested in using this certificate to build towards the MSc in Net Zero Engineering are encouraged to contact the MSc Programme Director (Dr Nathan Skillen – n.skillen@qub.ac.uk) to discuss this process.

Teaching Times

Blended teaching and assessments will be delivered via a mixture of pre-recorded lectures, live online workshop and seminar classes and self-directed study and practice materials.

Learning and Teaching

Our online delivery aims replicate the interactive and engaging nature of an on-campus delivery

• Online Support

  There is online advisory support for learners to connect with experts who provide bespoke one-to-one support. Offered - Monday to Friday, daytime to early evening, to flexibly support leaners.

• Practice activities

  Regular practice activities including set exercises, problem sheets and other tasks to reinforce learning and build practical skills.

• Seminars

  There are regular seminar classes to allow students to engage with lecturers and ask questions about the taught material within the teaching blocks.

• Workshops

  Workshops will consolidate learning and further explore course topics. These will be delivered live via Teams to permit learners to connect and ask / answer questions. The classes will also be recorded to permit flexible on-demand access.

Assessment

Assessment will be continuous.

• There will be regular formative assessment through written and oral assignments, presentations and group reports to measure learner progress and to provide advice and direction.

Facilities

The McClay library at QUB provides you with online access to relevant journals (e.g. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Journal of Cleaner Production, Energy Policy), books and other research literature. Key databases including Scopus and the Web of Science are also at your disposal (see the library’s information guide [https://libguides.qub.ac.uk/chem] for an overview). If you would like help with making the most of the wide range of available sources, your subject librarian at the library can be contacted for advice and one-to-one support.

Investment continues to be made in the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering extending our range of facilities. The well-equipped research laboratories are augmented by excellent computational facilities and some of the most modern instrumentation available from HPLC, GC and mass spectrometers, to FT-IR, UV-Vis and Fluorescence spectroscopy, dedicated to the training of analytical techniques. Significant additions to open-access equipment have been made recently and all activities are supported by a highly trained team of technicians.
For further information please see:
https://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/SchoolofChemistryandChemicalEngineering/Discover/Facilities/

Modules

Entrance requirements

Graduate

Normally a 2.2 Honours degree (or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University) in any STEM subject. Applicants who can demonstrate appropriate work experience in a process, manufacturing or related role will be considered on a case by case basis and may be required to successfully complete a brief skills assessment and/or interview.

The University's Recognition of Prior Learning Policy provides guidance on the assessment of experiential learning (RPEL). Please visit http://go.qub.ac.uk/RPLpolicy for more information.

There is a possibility that this course may be funded by the Department for the Economy ‘Skill Up’ for eligible applicants resident in Northern Ireland. Please indicate in the ‘Funding your Studies’ page (two sections forward) if you wish to be considered for DfE ‘Skill Up’ funding should it become available. Where there are more eligible applications received than funded places available, the academic selectors for this programme will make offers in rank order based on academic merit and potential as evidenced in the totality of the information provided in each application. We will operate a waiting list as required to allow us to fill all available funded places.

The deadline for applications is normally 30th June 2024. However, we encourage applicants to apply as early as possible. In the event that any programme receives a high number of applications, the University reserves the right to close the application portal earlier than 30th June deadline. Notifications to this effect will appear on the Direct Application Portal against the programme application page.

International Students

Our country/region pages include information on entry requirements, tuition fees, scholarships, student profiles, upcoming events and contacts for your country/region. Use the dropdown list below for specific information for your country/region.

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English Language Requirements

Evidence of an IELTS* score of 6.0, with not less than 5.5 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required. *Taken within the last 2 years.

International students wishing to apply to Queen's University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.

For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: www.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs.

Career Prospects

Introduction

Those graduating with a PGCert in Zero Carbon will have significantly enhanced their skills portfolio in renewable energy and will be able to effectively communicate low-carbon energy options to a wide range of stakeholders ranging from the general public though to industry and policy developers. As a result, they will be well placed for securing a job in one of the growing number of sustainability-focused careers, including positions such as a low-carbon technology engineer, carbon consultants, low-carbon solutions managers

Employment Links

The School has excellent links with a range of established and emerging companies for whom Sustainability and the Green Economy are key platforms.

Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award for extra-curricular skills

In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised from a world leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.

Tuition Fees

Northern Ireland (NI) 1	DfE Funded students: Free / Other students: £2,434
Republic of Ireland (ROI) 2	£2,434
England, Scotland or Wales (GB) 1	£3,083
EU Other 3	£8,600
International	£8,600

¹EU citizens in the EU Settlement Scheme, with settled status, will be charged the NI or GB tuition fee based on where they are ordinarily resident. Students who are ROI nationals resident in GB will be charged the GB fee.

² EU students who are ROI nationals resident in ROI are eligible for NI tuition fees.

³ EU Other students (excludes Republic of Ireland nationals living in GB, NI or ROI) are charged tuition fees in line with international fees.

All tuition fees quoted relate to a single year of study unless stated otherwise. Tuition fees will be subject to an annual inflationary increase, unless explicitly stated otherwise.

More information on postgraduate tuition fees.

Additional course costs

No tuition fees are payable by eligible students for the programme as it is funded by the Department for the Economy’s Skill Up programme. Please refer to https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/skillup for further information.

Applicants must meet the entry criteria for the course and be:

• over 18 years of age;
• eligible to work in Northern Ireland;
• settled in Northern Ireland, and has been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least three years; or
is a person who has indefinite leave to enter or remain in the UK

All Students

Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs which are not covered by tuition fees, which students will need to consider when planning their studies.

Students can borrow books and access online learning resources from any Queen's library. If students wish to purchase recommended texts, rather than borrow them from the University Library, prices per text can range from £30 to £100. Students should also budget between £30 to £75 per year for photocopying, memory sticks and printing charges.

Students undertaking a period of work placement or study abroad, as either a compulsory or optional part of their programme, should be aware that they will have to fund additional travel and living costs.

If a programme includes a major project or dissertation, there may be costs associated with transport, accommodation and/or materials. The amount will depend on the project chosen. There may also be additional costs for printing and binding.

Students may wish to consider purchasing an electronic device; costs will vary depending on the specification of the model chosen.

There are also additional charges for graduation ceremonies, examination resits and library fines.

How to Apply

Apply using our online Postgraduate Applications Portal and follow the step-by-step instructions on how to apply.

Apply now

Terms and Conditions

The terms and conditions that apply when you accept an offer of a place at the University on a taught programme of study.
Queen's University Belfast Terms and Conditions.

Download a prospectus