Postgraduate Diploma in Energy and the Environment

Introduction

The Postgraduate Diploma in Energy and the Environment is offered by Murdoch University and the Research Institute for Sustainable Energy. It is intended to provide postgraduate training for Australian and overseas professionals working or wishing to work in the field of environmental management of the energy industry. The program is interdisciplinary in nature consisting of units drawn from energy studies and environmental impact assessment. The objective of the program is to provide students with an understanding of the policy context of energy systems, the environmental impacts associated with these systems, and their assessment and subsequent monitoring. The program will be relevant to consultants wishing to practice in this field and to people employed by various private and public organisations that are active in the energy and environment area.

The Postgraduate Diploma in Energy and the Environment is directed to the interface between energy studies and environmental impact assessment and assumes some prior knowledge. Students can complete the program with a focus upon the policy and/or the scientific aspects of the environmental management of the energy industry. It may be studied internally or externally and full-time over 1 year or part time over two or three years.

The program requires one year of full-time study or may be undertaken on a part-time basis. It is also available in the external mode with some attendance required and can be studied online with no attendance required. Upon completing the diploma, students can apply to enter the Master of Science (Environmental Science) or Master of Science in Renewable Energy to continue with more specialised studies.

The Postgraduate Diploma is available on a full-fee paying basis only.

Other postgraduate certificates and diplomas in energy policy, energy systems or energy studies, and in environmental impact assessment or environmental management are also available.

Applicants should hold or expect to hold a relevant first degree. Students with alternative, satisfactory preparation may also be admitted. A knowledge of high school Physics and Mathematics is required for entry into the Postgraduate Diploma. Students without this background may be required to complete bridging courses such as PEC120 - General Physics prior to entering the program. Some of the units listed below will assume some prior knowledge, details of which are in the description of each unit. Some students may therefore need to complete additional prerequisite units. Students with adequate background should seek exemptions from the Program Chair.

Refer to the University Handbook for detailed course information:

• Postgraduate Diploma in Energy and the Environment Course Detail

Note: Some of the units in each list have a policy focus, the others are more scientific in content. Refer to the description of each unit for more details.

Energy Studies Project

PEC596 Energy Studies Project if chosen as an elective is usually taken in the last semester of the Postgraduate Diploma. Students should discuss their choice of topic with the Program Chair. A list of possible project topics is available from the PEC596 website by enrolled students, but students are encouraged to propose their own topic relevant to their interest or proposed area of employment.

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.

Entry from Postgraduate Certificates

Students who have completed the Postgraduate Certificate in Energy Studies and enrol in the Postgraduate Diploma in Energy and the Environment will be given 12 points credit for those units already completed, provided that the units completed in the certificate match the core units and/or specified electives in the Diploma and will only be required to complete the remaining 12 points of required units for the Postgraduate Diploma.

External Studies Options

The Postgraduate Diploma in Energy and the Environment is available to external students who wish to study off campus. Using online (Internet) facilities, students may complete this diploma 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 Diploma in 2 or 3 years.

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