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Photovoltaics and Solar Energy - 8512

This Program is no longer accepting new enrolments

Program Summary

   
   
 
Campus: Kensington Campus
 
 
Career: Postgraduate
 
 
Typical Duration: 1 Years
 
 
Typical UOC Per Session: 24
 
 
Min UOC Per Session: 3
 
 
Max UOC Per Session: 27
 
 
Min UOC For Award: 48
 
 
Award(s):
 
 
Master of Engineering Science (Specialisation)
 
  

Program Description

This program is not available to commencing students. Details below are provided for the reference of continuing students only.
Prospective students should refer instead to the new program, Master of Engineering Science - 8538.

This one year full-time postgraduate coursework program is designed to build on the previous education of engineers from other engineering disciplines who are currently being attracted to the growing photovoltaic and renewable energy industries. Students study courses from the areas of photovoltaic devices, photovoltaic systems and applications, and renewable energy technologies.

Program Objectives and Learning Outcomes

The objective of the program is to produce well educated postgraduate qualified engineers with the skills, attributes and knowledge required to practice as professional engineers in the photovoltaic and renewable energy industries.

Students in each course are assessed by way of assignments, tutorials, laboratory/project work and formal examinations.

Program Structure

The courses satisfying the 48 Units of Credit requirement may be selected from the following:
  • Year 4 Electives (0-6 Units of Credit)
  • Core Postgraduate Course (6 Units of Credit)
  • Postgraduate Research Project (0-12 Units of Credit)
  • Postgraduate Electives (0-42 Units of Credit)
18 Units of Credit must be taken in the area of specialisation.

Year 4 Electives only available to students who have not completed a BE in Photovoltaics and Solar Energy at UNSW.

Variations from the above combinations of courses comprising the 48 Units of Credit can be approved by the Head of School or Program Authority.

ONE YEAR 4 ELECTIVE
This may be selected to make up prerequisite requirements for an area of study within the postgraduate program. These courses are taught by lecture during the day, and require attendance at laboratory sessions.

CORE POSTGRADUATE COURSE
The core course is taught in-session at Kensington, and may include a component of web-based learning. However, these courses will require attendance at formal lectures.

THE POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH PROJECT
The Postgraduate Research Project must be supervised by a member of the Academic Staff of the University. The project must relate to the major area of study being undertaken by the candidate. The project may take one of two forms:

Industry - Related Project:
Such a project will require the agreement of an industry "sponsor", who will define the industrial requirements of the project. The project must still meet academic requirements, defined by the academic supervisor. An industry co-supervisor may be appointed from persons with appropriate academic standing or industrial experience, acceptable to the Committee.

Academic Project:
Such projects will be undertaken in the School's laboratories. The project may be motivated by an industrial problem, or it may be theoretical, experimental or design-based.

POSTGRADUATE ELECTIVES

Electives may each contribute 3 or 6 Units of Credit (although no 3 Units of Credit electives are currently offered), and may take one of several forms:
  • Formal Coursework: These courses will have the same format as the Core Postgraduate Course above.
  • Distance Education: Such courses will be taught using web-based material, formal course notes, books, CD-ROMs and papers, and will require extensive self-study by the candidate. The subjects may require a component of attendance at lectures given within the School, or at other suitable venues.
  • Short Courses: Short courses are oriented toward continuing education. Each course will deal with a topical subject, and will provide Units of Credit which may be counted toward the MEngSc, or may be taken as a non-award course. Short courses may contribute either 3 Units of Credit or 6 Units of Credit, (the equivalent of 75-90 hours or 150-180 hours of work on the part of the candidate). Short courses will typically require attendance at lectures, either periodically or in a block, supplemented by self-study and assignment work.
  • Symposia: Symposia will be similar to short courses, except that material will be delivered in a conference format, by the course candidates themselves, and/or by members of academic staff and invited speakers
PROGRAM OUTLINE
Major Areas of Study:

Programs consist of 48 Units of Credit of Coursework, with 6 Units of Credit comprising the core postgraduate course:
At least 18 Units of Credit must be taken from one of the following areas of specialisation:

Photovoltaic Devices
The following courses are offered every second year and will not be offered in 2007:
SOLA9006 and SOLA9008. For course descriptions please refer to courses by course code.


Photovoltaic Systems and Applications
SOLA9009 is offered every second year and will not be offered in 2007.
For course description please refer to courses by course code.

Renewable Energy Technologies
The following courses are offered every second year and will not be offered in 2007:
SOLA9004, SOLA9011, SOLA9012, SOLA9018.
For course descriptions refer to courses by course code.

Postgraduate Electives

Not all the postgraduate electives listed above are offered every year. Some are organised as part of a two-year rolling program. Students should consult with course advisors prior to completing enrolment to ascertain course availability.

Students not enrolling in the project are permitted to select no more than 12 Units of Credit from the Special Electives from the MBT program.

Academic Rules

Qualifications

1. A candidate for the degree shall have been awarded a Bachelor of Engineering from the University of New South Wales in an appropriate discipline, or a qualification considered equivalent from another university or tertiary institution at a level acceptable to the Higher Degree Committee of the Faculty of Engineering (hereinafter referred to as the Committee).

2. Articulation from a Graduate Diploma, or upgrading from a Graduate Diploma program with advanced standing may be allowed by the Committee. Upgrading in other circumstances may be permitted by the Higher Degree Committee on the recommendation of the Head of School, and may be offered with a reduced level of advanced standing.

3. In exceptional cases an applicant who submits evidence of such other academic and professional qualifications as may be approved by the Committee may be permitted to enrol for the degree.

4. Where a potential candidate does not meet the prerequisite required knowledge, a qualifying program can be arranged which will generally require enrolment in the Graduate Diploma, with the inclusion of Year 4 Electives. Upgrading to the MEngSc will be allowed after satisfactory progress and completion of at least 18 Units of Credit, with advanced standing in courses which meet the requirements for the MEngSc. Progress will not be deemed to be satisfactory unless all courses are passed at the first attempt.

5. Enrolment with advanced standing will be permitted where a candidate has completed non-award courses which would otherwise be acceptable for the MEngSc.

Enrolment and Progression

1. An application to enrol as a candidate for the degree shall be made on the prescribed form which shall be lodged with the Registrar at least two calendar months before the commencement of the session in which enrolment is to begin. Candidates may commence in Session 1 or Session 2.

2. All candidates elect to study in the Photovoltaics and Solar Energy program offered by the School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering. The Program Coordinator will advise if applicants are adequately qualified to undertake the proposed courses and must recommend the chosen program to the Committee.

3. A candidate for the degree shall be required to undertake such courses and pass such assessment as prescribed.

4. The progress of a candidate shall be reviewed at least once annually by the Committee and as a result of its review the committee may cancel enrolment, permit the candidate to re-enrol in a Graduate Diploma, or take such other action as it considers appropriate.

Fees

For information regarding fees for UNSW programs, please refer to the following website:  https://my.unsw.edu.au/student/fees/FeesMainPage.html


Area(s) of Specialisation

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© The University of New South Wales (CRICOS Provider No.: 00098G), 2004-2011. The information contained in this Handbook is indicative only. While every effort is made to keep this information up-to-date, the University reserves the right to discontinue or vary arrangements, programs and courses at any time without notice and at its discretion. While the University will try to avoid or minimise any inconvenience, changes may also be made to programs, courses and staff after enrolment. The University may also set limits on the number of students in a course.