BEng (Hons)
Renewable
& Sustainable Engineering
(with foundation year)*

• Includes a foundation year to prepare you for further years of study.
• Excellent facilities that include well-equipped computer-aided design laboratories, modern electronics laboratories, specialist manufacturing systems, simulation software, industry-standard instrumentation laboratories, industry specification. Rapid Prototyping facility (fused deposition method) Subsonic wind tunnel laboratory and well-equipped thermo-fluid dynamics lab including a fully operational Pelton wheel and Francis turbine.
• Small class sizes allow for strong tutorial and laboratory experiment support and advice.
• Dedicated maths support for students.
• There are opportunities for industrial visits to local companies, wind farms, biomass plants, Hydro plants and the centre for alternative technology.
• You will have access to industry standard software packages such as Altium Designer, Multisim, HP VEE, MATLAB & Simulink, Abaqus, AutoCAD, Fluent, Pro Engineer, SolidWorks.

Our courses have a broad base in order to allow you to develop skills and the ability to contribute to the design of renewable energy systems and progress to meet future requirements both within the UK and worldwide markets.

Year 1 (Foundation Year)

The foundation year will provide a grounding for students in all aspects of Engineering and Design in order to prepare them for further years of study.

Modules

• Analytical Methods for Engineering - Provides grounding in mathematics for students entering a degree in Engineering and gives the skills and confidence in the use of algebra, trigonometry, graphs and has a strong understanding of the different mathematical operations and concepts in order to model systems that are used within Engineering.
• Design and Technology - Gives students the opportunity to work on practical activities such as CAD design, mechanical/electrical designs.
• Mechanical Science - Core element of the foundation year, it provides coverage of the basic knowledge and key skills in mechanical engineering science in order to apply the principles to solve problems in practical situations. 
• Electrical and Electronic Science - Provides foundation-level support for HE study of Electrical Engineering, and includes consideration of fundamental areas including analogue and digital electronics, number systems, electrical/magnetic principles and CAD design.
• The skills you need - This module ensures that you develop key academic, personal and professional skills required for successful study at higher education level. The module focusses on developing the necessary practical, intellectual and communication skills which ensure a successful transition to Level 4 and progression through Honours degree programmes and prepares you for subsequent employment and/or further study.
• Contextual Studies - The module aims to introduce the students to a broad variety of contemporary issues to stimulate discussion, debate, and engagement. It will enable the students to engage with a variety of topic areas with follow-on research activity and reflective practice amongst subject groups.

Year 2 (Level 4)

Level 4 will develop an understanding of the fundamental concepts, principles and theories in engineering. Acquire basic mathematic skills related to engineering and design problems. Use CAD for engineering design. Competence of working safely in engineering laboratories and workshops, and being able to conduct laboratory procedures, measurement and workshop practices under the guidance of a tutor.

Modules

• Energy Systems and Sustainability: Gain fundamental knowledge of modern energy systems and technologies, considering the merits of energy sustainability, renewable technologies, economic and environmental impacts.
• Sustainable Design: Create and develop a preliminary idea for a new product, device, or system and evaluate it in terms of its market potential, technical feasibility, and sustainability. To provide an in depth awareness of the range of issues concerning sustainable development that could relate to designing and to develop an understanding of sustainable design.
• Mechanical Science: Apply engineering mechanics principals; solve mechanical problems, to apply analysis techniques to design problems.
• Electrical Science: Understand and predict electrical circuits.
• Engineering Mathematics: Gain a foundation of mathematical knowledge covering a wide range of basic topics and calculus.
• Engineering Design and Practice: Develop laboratory experiments with particular reference to mechanical and electrical science, to carry out practical tests to evaluate the properties of sample materials to enable selection of appropriate materials to given situations.

Year 3 (Level 5)

Level 5 will build on the knowledge, concepts and skills acquired at level 4 in addition to more specialist knowledge, skills in engineering design and analysis. More in-depth in theories in electrical power engineering, renewable energies, structures and finite element analysis, etc. Develop an understanding of business and research methods.

Modules

• Renewable Energy Engineering: Provide an up to date overview of all the major renewable sources and the engineering skills associated with selecting, designing and installing the apparatus to capture its energy and convert it into useful forms. Develop an understanding of energy storage. To provide an overview of the methods used to predict energy production from various renewable sources and the basic economic value of that energy. Develop techniques to allow a student to apply this knowledge in real-world situations.
• Business and Research Professional Development: Evaluate business practices within a company and the roles of engineers as team members contributing to the success and further development of that company.
• Structures analysis: Develop an overall design philosophy to the design of structures. Use a range of analysis techniques to predict stress and strain leading to the safe design and a range of structures. Analysis of failure mechanisms.
• Electrical Power Engineering: Current provision in the generation, distribution, protection and utilisation of electrical energy and the customers’ needs.
• Further Engineering maths: Further develop knowledge of functions suitable for solving a range of mathematical and engineering problems.

Year 4 (Level 6)

At level 6 students will acquire a critical understanding and application of the higher level concepts, principles and theories in engineering as well as a critical understanding and explanation of advanced topics in composite materials, design, modelling/simulation, and advanced renewable technologies. Use knowledge and skills acquired to do an individual project.

Modules

• Dissertation: Develop your own idea or innovation and to write an Engineering dissertation about it.
• Advanced Renewable Technology: Building on the knowledge gained in Renewable Energy Engineering at level 5, we develop a comprehensive depth of knowledge of major and complex theories, principles and concepts in a specific field of renewable energy. Develop a critical insightful evaluation of engineering feasibility, economics, environment, equipment availability and specification, grid tie feed in, transport and possible local resistance.
• Design for X: Learn how to design effective product development methodology, apply lean manufacturing to design, understand design for manufacture and assembly, apply design solutions for the sustainability of products their life cycles, to envisage how products will be recycled or dissembled after use, to evaluate reverse engineering procedures, whilst understanding intellectually property and patents.
• Maintenance and Safety Systems
• Engineering Modelling & Simulation: Develop an understanding of the analytical skills and knowledge required in the engineering design process and how it can be improved through the use of engineering modelling and simulations. This module develops industry standard software techniques to model and solve specific engineering problems. Typical software examples might be CATIA V5 and ANSYS for Mechanically related programmes, and MATLAB, SIMULINK and VEE for Electrically related programmes.

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the programme that will take the form of either core or option modules. Modules are designated as core or option in accordance with professional body requirements and internal academic framework review, so may be subject to change.

BEng (Hons) Renewable and Sustainable Engineering (four years including foundation year)

UCAS Code: HH3P

Our general requirement for the foundation year is UCAS tariff points of 48 but all applications are considered individually and we consider work experience, vocational training/qualifications, as well as motivation and potential to succeed.

If you have studied in another European country, please check the Entry Requirements for your qualification.

International Students - BEng (Hons) Renewable and Sustainable Engineering (four years including foundation year)

If you are an international student please visit the countries page and select your country to see the relevant academic and English language entry requirements.

A broad range of assessment methods are used; these include phase tests, written assignments, practical work on computers, a portfolio of work, logbooks, presentations and laboratory work case studies and CAD. A combination of this work may form part of your assessment, alongside time-constrained exams. Each module is assessed by a variety of methods, enabling students to display their full potential. A project dissertation will form one of the final parts of your assessment.

Teaching and learning

Wrexham Glyndŵr University is committed to supporting our students to maximise their academic potential.

We offer workshops and support sessions in areas such as academic writing, effective note-making and preparing for assignments. Students can book appointments with academic skills tutors dedicated to helping deal with the practicalities of university work. Our student support section has more information on the help available.

Teaching methods include lectures, laboratory sessions, student-led seminars, field trips and guided research.

The course equips you with a thorough knowledge and skills in engineering at the forefront of new and emerging technologies. Graduates will be well placed to become subject specialists within the industry or to pursue research careers within academia.

This programme prepares students for a career in Renewable Energy and sustainability-related work. Please see www.indeed.co.uk/Renewable-Energy-jobs to get an idea of the current opportunities available.

The Careers & Zone at Wrexham Glyndŵr University is there to help you make decisions and plan the next steps towards a bright future. From finding work or further study to working out your interests, skills and aspirations, they can provide you with the expert information, advice and guidance you need.

You do not have to pay your tuition fees upfront.

Wrexham Glyndŵr University’s tuition fees for 2019/20 for a full-time undergraduate degree course are £9000 per year.

The fees you pay and the support available will depend on a number of different factors. Full information can be found on our fees & finance pages. You will also find information about what your fees include in the FAQs section of those pages. 

You can see the full programme specification here.