Frequently asked questions

We are open for applications between early October and the end of April each year.

The first cohort of students was in the academic year 2007/08.

We typically have 50 students on the programme each year.

Each year we typically receive about 350-400 applications.

We require a 1st class classification in your undergraduate degree (or the international equivalent). 

If you previously studied at an overseas university you can refer to the College guide to minimum entry requirements by country of study. 

Typically our students do have a first degree in engineering. However, we have had students on the course who have completed a first degree in geoscience, natural sciences or business where there was a significant mathematical component to the course.

It is a multidisciplinary programme so those who have taken the programme from an engineering backgrounds have found it both different and challenging.

The year is made up of three terms, Autumn, Spring and Summer.

The autumn term consists of three modules running in parallel to each other enabling students from varying backgrounds to build a common knowledge base. There are also debates and research and consultancy workshops. The final week of term is the Entrepreneurship for Net-Zero module. In the first term you will be asked to choose a research project. Exams for these modules are in January.

The spring term is made up of five intensive modules. Each module is taught in two week blocks. These are taught by the leaders in their field. You will submit your literature review during the spring break. Exams for these modules are in April/May.

The summer term, following exams and the field trip, is focused solely on your research project.

Details about each term can be found on the page about the programme modules.

All modules are assessed by coursework or exam and, in some cases, both. Coursework is completed during the relevant module period and exams are at the start of the following term. All modules include an element of coursework.

Your research project assessment is made up of your literature review, a research poster, conference presentation and your final thesis.

The fees are available on the tuition fees section of the website.

At present we are unable to offer the programme part-time.

Applications are made online through Imperial College London's registry system. The Course Code is H9A1 and the course is registered under the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

This course is a quantitative programme, which means you will be expected to be able to justify your decisions numerically. In order to get the most out of the programmeand to not feel overwhelmed by it, you would need to have covered a substantial amount of maths in your undergraduate degree or during employment.

Unless you have completed an undergraduate degree or master’s degree in the UK or another English-speaking county, as defined by the College, you are required to submit an English language test as part of your application.

Information on which tests are accepted and their grades can be found on the registry's website. 

You are able to submit your application before you have taken or passed your English Language test. If you are offered a place, one of the conditions will be that you pass a recognised course at the higher level prior to starting the course.

Cengel and Boles, Thermodynamics: An Engineering Approach, McGraw Hill, ISBN: 007352932X. Chapters 1-3 are required pre-course reading. For general background reading, we also recommend David MacKay’s book Without the Hot Air.

Our students come from many different countries and professional backgrounds. As an indication, there were 25 different nationalities representatives within our 2020-21 cohort.

All applications and admissions are administered through the Engineering Admissions team engineering.admissions@imperial.ac.uk or +44 (0)20 7594 7243. Any programme specific queries can be sent to mscinsef@imperial.ac.uk. 

Our students have usually gone on to jobs within the energy sector for a variety of companies including small consultancies, multinational energy companies, academia and the public sector.

Some of our students take time out from their careers to study and return to their company following completion of the programme.

Learn more about alumni and our extensive alumni network.

When applying for the programme through Registry the MSc in Sustainable Energy Futures is course H9A1.

For administration purposes the programme is in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. However the programme is overseen and administered by Energy Futures Lab, a cross-departmental institute dedicated to facilitating and supporting energy research at Imperial College London.

Alumni of the MSc in Sustainable Energy Futures programme have gained employment with a diverse range of companies in a variety of roles, 90% being in the energy sector. There are more details on our alumni page.

We have collected together advice on funding and eligible scholarships on this page.

If during your studies you suddenly find yourself in financial difficulties or experience an unexpected change in circumstances, you may be eligible to apply for emergency financial help through the Student Support fund.

International students will require a visa to study at Imperial. You can find more information on the college's pages for international students.