What previous students say about the course
UK student graduating 2004
"My first degree was in Business and Manufacturing Engineering, but I had already changed my career direction having gained employment with consulting environmental engineers The Campbell Palmer Partnership Ltd. This company sponsored me part-time on the MSc course from which I graduated in 2004. The MSc was both challenging and very rewarding, particularly my final year thesis, which was a Feasibility Study for a Micro-Hydro Installation that has since been installed and is currently operational. I am now a Carbon Trust consultant engineer, which the MSc helped me obtain."German student graduating 1995
"Currently head of the environmental group in the architectural company I work for, I oversee projects in the context of environmental design, provide in-house training and identify innovations for project use. I graduated in 1995 from the MSc course, after a first degree in Structural Engineering. The course gave me a good foundation across different areas, such as building simulation, renewable energy strategies, planning policies, and encouraged cross disciplinary thinking, all aspects of which are important in my current work."French student graduating 2007
"After a first degree in mechanical engineering, I took up the "Energy systems and the environment" MSc offered by Strathclyde and graduated in 2007. This helped me improve my knowledge in power-plant thermodynamics which laid the groundwork for my industrial-based MSc thesis with AREVA. I was thereafter offered a job by AREVA in the Safety Engineering department where I carry out CFD calculations for nuclear power-plant accident scenarios."Brazilian student graduating 2007
"I have been working for Promon (one of the biggest engineering companies in Brazil) since 2000, currently as a Contract Manager of an EPCM (Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management) project, which will implement 3 ethanol and electricity production plants in Western Brazil. These plants will produce ethanol from sugar cane and generate electricity that will be exported to the grid. My first degree was in Chemical Engineering and I graduated from the MSc course in 2007. The MSc course enhanced my previous working experience with additional technical background which, in the future, will help me develop business opportunities in the energy and environment sectors in Brazil. The course was very motivating and the good balance between the theoretical background provided and the interaction with the industry is very useful to a future working experience in many areas."UK student graduating 1994
"I graduated from the Energy Systems and the Environment MSc course in 1994. My motivation for taking the course was to gain specialist, technical competence in energy systems to build on the broad foundations of my B.Sc in Environmental Studies and my first two years of professional experience in the field of energy use in buildings. The MSc gave me immediate access to higher level professional opportunities, initially researching Demand Side Management issues for the UK electricity industry. The group project in the second term is worthy of special mention as it equipped me with skills that have since proved invaluable. Since 1996 I have been based in Barcelona working on international demonstration projects and providing consultancy services, all related to the environmental impact of buildings. Currently I work both for the University of Barcelona and also freelance for public and private organisations in Spain and Europe. To conclude, I made some great friends in Glasgow and also met a beautiful Catalan girl who is now my wife and the mother of my daughters. So, studying on the MSc course can certainly be a life changing experience!"Indian student graduating 2006
"I am currently working as a Consultant Engineer for an energy and environmental consultancy based in England. I manage Climate Change agreements for my company’s industrial clients. The knowledge I received during the course is very valid and usable in each day of my job. It’s not just the theoretical knowledge but also the skills like team working, presentation skills etc that are beneficial to me. The course is well laid out; it imparts basic and advanced theoretical up-to-date knowledge in a short period without being too intensive. There is plenty of opportunity for applying theory into practice by means of group projects, where team working, presentation and web design skills are gained. The course has the right balance of content, which helps the student to be fully prepared for working in industry. I have to agree when Scotland is called the 'The most beautiful small country in the world'. Previously I worked as a marine engineer on ships and have visited several countries around the world. There are a few pretty places; however nothing compares to Scotland. One will only have to travel about an hour from Glasgow to agree with me!"French student graduating 2000
"I am now self employed having created my own company in the building modelling field in France. My first degree was in Energy and Environmental Engineering which I followed with the MSc course with the intention of learning about renewable energy systems, graduating in 2000. However, due to the interaction with my classmates and group project, I developed a passionate interest in architectural design, initially working for a small company where I was responsible for modelling and thermal simulation, before creating my own company. What was great in this course was that we were free to choose any subject to study during the group project and the thesis."Greek student graduating 2005
"My first degree was in Mechanical Engineering and I graduated from the MSc course in 2005. Currently I work for both the Centre for Renewable Energy Sources (CRES) and ENYP, an energy service company. For CRES, I am involved in Intelligent Energy Europe and FP7 projects related to the energy labelling of building construction materials and systems, and identifying and evaluating moisture content in building-integrated renewable energy sources working towards setting standards in this area. For ENYP my responsibility is in developing and implementing Information Management and analysis for monitoring and evaluating renewable energy projects including strategic planning. The MSc course provided me with the knowledge, experience and tools for further developing my career in the energy field. My individual project involved energy studies of Greek educational buildings, using the ESP-r thermal simulation program on a real life project. This gave me the opportunity to better understand and identify the key aspects of the building envelope that affect energy consumption. Through that study I gained experience on energy efficient building design with respect to building form, building construction materials, climatic conditions and behavioural issues of the occupants that affect energy consumption."UK student graduating 1994
"The course gave me an excellent grounding in Energy Sysytems and the Environment and allowed me to secure a position with the leading sustainable development charity Changeworks on graduating from Strathclyde. Since then I have remained with Changeworks and am now a Senior Project Manager responsible for managing and developing a range of new projects that address carbon reduction and waste prevention. Apart from the excellent teaching, Strathclyde University's course enabled me to study my chosen subject in depth, develop a specialism in energy use in the UK and, through gaining the MSc, demonstrate this to potential employers."