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Sustainable Energy – Master of Engineering by Coursework

Photo: RMIT Sustainable Energy, Master of Engineering students visit a Wonthaggi wind farm

RMIT Sustainable Energy, Master of Engineering students visit a Wonthaggi wind farm.

This course is for graduate engineers, scientists and experienced energy practitioners. It covers specialist knowledge in energy efficiency and renewable energy; triple bottom line evaluation and business case preparation. Students have career prospects in rapidly growing sustainable energy industries, and as energy specialists in industry and government.





What some of our students have to say about the course

Sustainable Energy – Master of Engineering student Ben McInnes

Sustainable Energy – Master of Engineering student Ben McInnes.

Dr John Andrews

Dr John Andrews, Program Leader, Sustainable Energy Master of Engineering by Coursework.

Bahman Shabani

Bahman Shabani, Lecturer, Sustainable Energy Master of Engineering by Coursework.

“In class, we listen to experts with over 20 years of experience in their field, such as wind turbines or bio-mass fuels, and then we discuss the topic with them.“  
Jose Walsh-Duarte

“This course is absolutely amazing; we have been exposed to the crème de la crème of Australia’s sustainable energy leaders.”  
Lisa Opray

“I chose the Sustainable Energy Masters program to change the direction of my career.”  
Ben McInnes

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Lecturers and Presenters

The program will be delivered by a highly-experienced team of RMIT specialists, with input from a range of other experts in particular areas within the sustainable energy field.

The RMIT team comprises:


Dr John Andrews, Program Leader, Master of Engineering (Sustainable Energy) program

Dr John Andrews is a Senior Lecturer and Program Leader of the Master of Engineering (Sustainable Energy) program in the Energy Conservation and Renewable Energy Group, at the School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, RMIT University. He has a Bachelor and master’s degree in theoretical physics from Cambridge University, UK, and a PhD from RMIT. His book Living Better with Lesspublished by Penguin in 1981 was one of the first works to propose sustainable development for Australia. He played a pioneering role in assessing the potential and encouraging utilisation of wind energy for electricity generation in Australia. His current research interests are in renewable-energy – hydrogen systems for remote area power supply, and solar thermal desalination. His publications include two books, two invited review chapters, 26 journal and conference papers, 18 major reports, 14 articles, and the proceedings of a major scientific conference (lead editor). He is also the program leader of the RMIT-NORTHLink Greenhouse Challenge Support program that has been giving RMIT undergraduate and masters’ engineering students the opportunity to conduct projects on emission reduction with firms in Melbourne’s north over the past five years.


Bahman Shabani assists with lecturing, student project supervision, and program coordination in the M. Eng. (Sustainable Energy) program.

Bahman Shabani has a Bachelor and Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, he has six years industrial experience, predominantly in the automotive sector specialising in engine thermodynamics and thermal analysis. He has taught on thermodynamics for several years at the tertiary level. He is currently undertaking a PhD at RMIT University on the theory, computer modelling, design and experimental testing of solar-hydrogen combined heat and power systems. Generally his prime areas of research interest and experitise are renewable energy, thermal analysis and thermodynamics.

Some of Australia’s leading experts on specialist areas of sustainable energy who have presentations to classes in the Master of Engineering (Sustainable Energy) program include:

  • Sukhvinder Badwal, Chief Research Scientist, CSIRO Manufacturing and Infrastructure Technology, on hydrogen technologies and the hydrogen economy.

  • Professor Robin Batterham, Riotinto (formerly Chief Government Scientist) on low-emission fossil-fuel utilisation.

  • Brian Barnett, Senior Consultant, Sinclair Knight Merz, on geothermal energy.

  • Ken Guthrie, Principal Project Manager, Sustainability Victoria, on solar thermal systems.

  • Graham White, Garrad Hassan, on wind power and wind farm design

  • Ron Mendelsohn, Director, Sunspun, on biomass fuels.

  • Dr Patrick Moriarty, Monash University, sustainable transport.

  • Geoff Andrews, Manager Genesis Now on sustainable buildings

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Site visits undertaken during the program

  • Wind farm
  • CSIRO Hydrogen Facility, Clayton, Melbourne: CSIRO’s Hydrogen Technologies program aims to develop and deploy science and engineering in materials, devices and tools to ensure that Australia has access to high efficiency and safe hydrogen production, distribution, storage and consumption technologies.
  • Zencorp 5 energy efficient building in Albert Road, South Melbourne.

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Frequently Asked Questions

If I do not have a Bachelor of Engineering can I enter the Masters course?

Applicants should have a recognised bachelor degree in engineering, science or related discipline. Advanced standing may be given on the basis of significant industry experience and/or relevant postgraduate studies. In this case, you would probably enter the program via a Graduate Certificate and then proceed to the Grad Dip and full master’s provided you pass each stage

What is duration of the course?

The Masters is one and a half years full time and typically three years part-time.

As an International Student can I study part-time?

Part-time study is not available to International Students.

Will I have to attend classes?

Teaching may consists of a mix of master classes and workshops, online conferencing and virtual project teams. Classes are normally scheduled in the evenings on the City Campus, with some laboratory session at the Bundoora East Campus. Students usually attend two evening classes a week and some weekend sessions to complete each stage in one year (i.e. part-time study).

What facilities are available for the course?

The Renewable Energy Park and Laboratory at Bundoora East Campus contain a passive solar conservation building, solar water heaters, photovoltaic systems, solar ponds, solar-aerogenerator, electric pumping, and micro hydro demonstration. There is also a thermofluids laboratory on campus.

How will my work be assessed?

Assessment is ongoing throughout the semester and may include essays/reports, oral class presentations, group projects, research projects, laboratory projects and practical assignments.

What career opportunities are there for graduates from this program?

Career opportunities

What are the fees for this program?

Please see the official program page.

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Detailed Course Guide

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Career Opportunities for Graduates

  • The program will allow workers in the sustainable energy industry who have an acceptable qualification and significant experience in the industry to gain a graduate qualification in sustainable energy.

  • The program will be attractive to those graduates already employed as energy managers, and those seeking to enhance their prospects of working as energy managers.

  • Engineers seeking jobs as energy consultants, or extending their existing practice into this area should undertake the program.

  • Graduates will be an excellent position to take up positions in the growing sustainable energy industry, in manufacturing and primary industries as energy managers and specialists, and in the wide range of government departments and agencies with an involvement in the energy sector.

  • As academically-accredited specialists in sustainable energy they will have a competitive advantage in the job market over more generally trained engineers and scientists.

  • There are also likely to be substantial opportunities for graduates from the program working on sustainable energy projects, within Australia and in the Asia-Pacific region. There is growing interest in sustainable development in this region and many projects relating to sustainable energy being funded there by the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, as well as national governments and private corporations.

  • Governments have introduced a range of programs to encourage business and government to incorporate sustainable energy practices and thereby reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These programs will increase the demand for professionals with expertise in sustainable energy.

  • Engineers Australia has also recently started to require engineering graduates to develop capabilities in sustainability. The consequent greater recognition by engineers in industry of the benefits of sustainability will enhance the trend of greater eco-efficiency in industry, and thus the demand for sustainable energy specialists.

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