Postgraduate Certificate in Energy Studies

Introduction

The Postgraduate Certificate in Energy Studies program is offered by Murdoch University and the Research Institute for Sustainable Energy. It is designed to cater for graduates of any discipline who wish to acquire knowledge and skills in the design and operation of energy systems or policy, with an emphasis on renewable energy systems. These skills may assist or enhance their work in areas such as energy management, the design of small to medium size energy systems and renewable energy research. A specialisation in energy policy will assist or enhance their work in areas such as energy policy and planning, energy economics and renewable energy research.

The Certificate is equivalent to one semester of full time study (12 points) and covers the core areas of energy management and energy systems (with a focus on small to medium scale energy systems) or energy policy, planning and economics. It is designed to be studied internally or externally over one year but may be studied part time over more than one year. A knowledge equivalent to Year 11 Physics and Calculus is required for entry into the Certificate. Students wishing to specialise in energy systems will require a background equivalent to PEC120 - General Physics. Those students without the appropriate background may be required to complete bridging units such as PEC120 - General Physics or MAS164 Fundamentals of Mathematics.

The Certificate is available on a full-fee paying basis only. The certificate is available on campus (for local Australian students only) or nationally (printed or Internet-based materials) and internationally (Internet-based materials only) without needing to attend the campus. Assistance is provided by tutors who will correspond with you by telephone, letter or the internet.

Further information on application details, fees and deadlines are available by clicking here.

Program Structure

Refer to the University Handbook for detailed course information:

• Postgraduate Certificate in Energy Studies Course Details

Online Demonstrations

A demonstration of the online learning experience is available, as well as a list of topics covered for most of the energy studies units.

PEC592 Energy in Society is strongly recommended as one of the units for the course.

Specialisations

Students wishing to specialise in Energy Management should consider units PEC594, PEC625 and PEC626.
Students wishing to specialise in Energy Systems should consider units PEC590, PEC587, PEC620, PEC621, PEC622 and PEC623.
Students wishing to specialise in Energy Policy should consider units PEC632, PEC591, PEC627 and PEC593.
Students wishing to specialise in Built Environment should consider units PEC611, PEC670, PEC671†, PEC672†, PEC674 or PEC675.

Some of these units assume some prior knowledge, details of which are given in the description of each unit in the Handbook. Some students may therefore need to complete additional prerequisite units.

† Units marked with this symbol are only available to students who already have a degree in architecture.

Postgraduate Diploma Entry

Students who have completed the Postgraduate Certificate in Energy Studies may enrol in the Postgraduate Diploma in Energy Studies or the Postgraduate Diploma in Energy and the Environment and will be given 12 points credit for those units already completed and will only be required to complete the remaining 12 points of required units for the Postgraduate Diploma.

Note: The core units for the Postgraduate Diploma in Energy Studies are 20 out of the 24 points for that course. If you wish to go on to do this Diploma you should pick at least two of your units for the Postgraduate Certificate from these core units.

The Postgraduate Diploma in Energy and the Environment has PEC592 as a core unit and specified electives from both Energy Studies and Environmental Science. If you wish to go on to do this Diploma you should select your units for the Postgraduate Certificate from the core unit and Energy Studies electives from this Diploma.

External Studies Option

The Postgraduate Certificate in Energy Studies is available to external students who wish to study off campus. It is available nationally (printed or Internet-based materials) and internationally (Internet-based materials only) without needing to attend the campus. Assistance is provided by tutors who will correspond with you by telephone, letter or the internet. External students usually study part-time, completing the certificate over one year or more.

Further information on application deadlines and fees, as well as online application forms, are available by clicking here.