The undergraduate engineering degree in Photovoltaics (PV) and Solar Energy was established in 2000 and is a four year full-time program. It is the first of its kind internationally and won the Education and Awareness Award at the 2004 Energy and Water Green Globe Awards held by the Department of Energy, Utilities and Sustainability. The program has been established in response to rapid growth in the industry in recent years in both manufacturing capacity and job creation. Global manufacturing of solar cells expanded 67% in 2004, and a further 45% in 2005, and 85% in 2008 - growth reminiscent of the electronics industry in the booming 1980s. What’s more, the industry further expanded by 55% in 2009 despite the Global Financial Crisis.

The program includes training in technology development, manufacturing, quality control, reliability and life-cycle analysis, cell interconnection and encapsulation, a range of solar cell applications, system design, maintenance and fault diagnosis, marketing, policy development and the use of other renewable energy technologies. Emphasis is placed on gaining hands-on experience of working with solar energy devices, modules and systems.

Innovative teaching techniques have been developed to enhance the learning environment including the 'Virtual Production Line' and 'Virtual World Solar Car Challenge'. UNSW academics in the photovoltaic field have been consistently ranked amongst the leaders worldwide through international peer review. This team has held the world record for silicon solar cell efficiencies for decades and were responsible for developing the most successfully commercialized new photovoltaic technology internationally throughout the same period. From 2006 onwards we have seen an explosion of interest in the School's technologies from major industry players all around the world.

Second Area of Specialisation
The cross-disciplinary nature of photovoltaics and renewable energy applications necessitates many PV engineers possessing broad engineering backgrounds or else working in teams with other engineers. A good example is the UNSW Solar Car Project involving PV engineers, electronics engineers, control engineers, mechanical engineers, chemical engineers, power engineers, biomedical engineers, computer engineers, and communication engineers. Therefore it is important for photovoltaic engineers to have a broader understanding of other engineering disciplines.

A unique feature of this program is that in Year 2, students have the opportunity to select a strand to complement their education in Photovoltaics and Solar Energy. Each strand comprises 18 units of credit with the opportunity to subsequently select additional electives in the corresponding area in the final two years, subject to the approval of the Undergraduate Coordinator. The strands available are listed below and cover areas such as computing, electronics, mathematics, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, physics, chemical engineering, and architecture. Students may also formulate their own strands subject to the approval of the Undergraduate Coordinator.

Selection of a second area of specialization is subject to the program rule that states that no more than 60 UOC of first-year level courses may be counted toward the BE degree in Photovoltaics and Solar Energy.

Photovoltaics and Solar Energy is also available as a component of the dual degree programs:

For details of all academic requirements see Rules

Please see: Rules

The program structure below gives one sequence of courses that fulfils the requirements of the degree. The timing of the general education courses and elective courses may be modified to optimize the student's choice of courses. While some courses are given twice a year, many courses are given only once a year and some once every two years. In addition, courses may have prerequisites and exclusions. Thus students should plan their enrolments appropriately.

Plus choose 2 electives from the Year 1 Elective list Electives


Suggested Year 1 Electives for this program are:

Years 2 & 3 Strand Options

Please note that the strands listed below are subject to change and may not be available every year. The strands published here are for students commencing the second year of their program. Third year students should complete the strand courses they have already nominated and consult the School Office as required.

Strand 1 Computing

And choose from the following to complete the strand:

Note: Selection of this strand is subject to the program rule that states that no more than 60 units of credit of first-year level courses may be counted towards the BE degree in PV & SE. Students interested in this strand should take the appropriate courses in year 1 that will allow them to meet this requirement.

Strand 2 Electronics

And choose from the following to complete the strand:

Note: Students taking this strand are encouraged to substitute ELEC3105 Electrical Energy for a professional elective.

And choose from the following to complete the strand:

And choose one from the following to complete the strand:

And choose from the following to complete the strand:

And choose from the following to complete the strand:

And choose from the following to complete the strand:

BENV2901 - (Please note this is the only 3 UOC course available. It's not recommended for students starting a new Strand)

Professional Electives

Because of timetable clashes not all combinations or courses are possible

The course SOLA5051 is offered every second year and will next run in 2011.

With the program authority’s permission, courses can also be chosen from amongst the electives offered by other schools provided appropriate prerequisite requirements have been satisfied and they conform to the credit point requirements.

Please see Rules

Please see Rules

Please see Rules

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

Please see Rules