Future Power Networks
Deepen your understanding of operating practice, design standards and regulatory policies in the electricity supply industry.
Course key facts
Qualification
MSc
Duration
1 year
Start date
October 2027
Study mode
Full-time
Delivered by
Location
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South Kensington
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Minimum entry standard
First-Class Honours in Electrical/Electronic Engineering or a related subject with a substantial Electrical/ Electronic Engineering component.
Course overview
Future Power Networks at Imperial is designed for students who want to work at the centre of the energy transition. The programme equips you for careers across the electricity sector, including network operators, system operators, OEMs, consultancies, regulators, clean-tech companies and research organisations.
Learn about the engineering challenges posed by a move to net zero and a rapidly changing power generation mix, with increasing fractions of clean energy such as wind and solar.
You will study the enabling technologies and the system-level solutions to facilitate deep decarbonisation of the electric power sector in a secure and cost-effective way.
You will develop the engineering skills required for an electricity industry increasingly driven by clean and low-carbon energy sources, both in the UK and overseas.
You’ll receive insights from industry experts outlining practical realities and challenges faced on the ground.
A substantial individual research project will be a major focus of your studies, carried out in an area of your interest.
This course is both for those who wish to refresh their skillset from a power background, and those with a generic electrical engineering background who want to specialise.
Structure
This page is updated regularly to reflect the latest version of the curriculum. However, this information is subject to change.
Find out more about potential course changes.
Please note: it may not always be possible to take specific combinations of modules due to timetabling conflicts. For confirmation, please check with the relevant department.
You’ll take all of the following core modules.
Core modules
Improve your lab skills and improve your understanding of the steady-state and dynamic behaviour of a microgrid.
Delve into key topics on power network control technologies, including: flexible AC transmission, power electronics in distribution, state estimation, impact of low system inertia, and multi-vector integrated energy system.
Understand the challenges of developing digitalised power systems from a techno-economic-socio perspective.
You’ll also choose six optional modules.
Optional modules
Understand the principles for designing linear multivariable control systems to meet a range of practical applications.
Gain an overview of the technologies involved in making an electric vehicle (EV), as well as those required to enable wider adoption of EVs.
This module covers two broad HVDC technologies and their system-level impact. The focus is on HVDC converter operation and control, operation of HVDC links and HVDC grids and interaction between HVDC and host AC systems.
Learn to build and use engineering-economic models that optimisation expansion plans for future power systems.
Learn how to design computer algorithms for finding minima and maxima and discover how to interpret and modify algorithms found in standard computer packages.
This module covers the analysis of market participants' strategies, the impact of demand elasticity on the market outcomes and prices, operational reliability and ancillary services, network congestion and related locational marginal pricing including transmission access rights, coordination of trading between energy and balancing services, investment in generation and transmission assets.
This module covers modelling of synchronous, asynchronous generation technologies (wind turbine generators), their control for system voltage, and frequency support and interaction with the system.
Gain the analytical skills required to study random phenomena in engineering systems and learn how to set up probabilistic models for engineering problems.
This module covers stability and control challenges encountered in a low (or zero) carbon electric power system including mitigation measures to facilitate deep decarbonisation. The scope is power systems with 100% inverter-based resources using a combination of grid-following and grid-forming converters.
Understand the concepts and theoretical techniques needed to study the stability and stabilisation of nonlinear control systems.
This module covers the enabling technologies and system-level considerations for transforming the electricity system into a more sustainable form. Apart from operation of the low carbon energy technologies (such as wind, solar, hydro, heat networks etc.) the planning and operational challenges posed by decarbonisation are described.
The individual research project allows you to investigate a real challenge facing future power networks, from renewable integration, system stability and power electronics to flexibility, digitalisation, electricity markets and decarbonisation.
With guidance from an academic supervisor, you will turn an open-ended problem into a clear research question, apply appropriate analytical, modelling or data-driven methods, and present evidence-based conclusions in a final report and poster. The project is designed to develop independent judgement, technical depth and the research skills needed for advanced study, consultancy, industry roles or further academic work.
You will be supervised by staff who are experts in the topic area of the project. This project will be assessed by written report and a poster presentation.
Professional accreditation
Accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) on behalf of the Engineering Council as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for registration as a Chartered Engineer. Candidates must hold a CEng accredited BEng/BSc (Hons) undergraduate first degree to fully meet the CEng registration educational requirements.
Our accreditation agreement with the Institution of Engineering and Technology is renewed every 5 years, and the current agreement runs between 2025 and 2029.
Teaching and assessment
Balance of teaching and learning
This is a general guide to how teaching and learning are usually balanced across this course. The methods used may change based on the modules you take.
Key
- Lectures and lab work
- Independent study
- Research work
- 20% Title 1 goes here
- 36% Title 2 goes here
- 44% Title 3 goes here
Teaching and learning methods
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Lectures
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Flipped classroom approaches
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Virtual learning environment
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Quizzes
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Computer sessions
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Individual research project
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Independent study
Balance of assessment
This is an example of how assessments are usually divided, based on a typical pathway through the course. The actual breakdown may be different depending on the modules you choose.
Key
- Coursework
- Examinations
- Practical
- 50% Title 1 goes here
- 40% Title 2 goes here
- 10% Title 3 goes here
Assessment methods
-
Coursework
-
Examinations
-
Practical
Entry requirements
We consider all applicants on an individual basis, welcoming students from all over the world.
How to apply
Applications open on Wednesday 30 September 2026
We operate a staged admissions process with several application rounds throughout the year.
Apply by 23.59 (UK time) on the closing date of an application round, to ensure you receive a response on your application by the relevant decision date.
Round 1
Business School courses only.
Round 2
- Applications open on Wednesday 30 September 2026
- Applications close on Wednesday 6 January 2027
- Decision by Wednesday 3 March 2027
Round 3
- Applications open on Thursday 7 January 2027
- Applications close on Wednesday 10 March 2027
- Decision by Wednesday 5 May 2027
Round 4
- Applications open on Thursday 11 March 2027
- Applications close on Wednesday 28 April 2027
- Decision by Thursday 1 July 2027
We recommend applying as early as you can – we cannot guarantee that places will be available, or that courses will remain open, in later rounds.
If you are applying for a Master’s course, you will need to pay an application fee before submitting your application.
The fee applies per application and not per course.
The application fees for postgraduate courses are:
- £90 for all Master's applications, excluding those to Imperial Business School
- £125 for MSc applications to Imperial Business School
- £150 for MBA applications to Imperial Business School
There is no application fee for Postgraduate Certificates, Postgraduate Diplomas, or courses such as PhDs and EngDs. This includes MRes and PhD combined (1+3) courses with the Centre for Doctoral Training.
If you are facing financial hardship and are unable to pay the application fee, we encourage you to apply for our application fee waiver.
Find out more about how to apply for a Master's course, including references and personal statements.
An ATAS certificate is not required for students applying for this course.
Fees and funding
Home fee
2027 entry
Not set
As a guide, the fee for 2026-27 was £19,400
You should expect and budget for your fees to increase each year.
Your fee is based on the year you enter the university, not your year of study. This means that if you repeat a year or resume your studies after an interruption, your fees will only increase by the amount linked to inflation.
Find out more about our tuition fees payment terms, including how inflationary increases are applied to your tuition fees in subsequent years of study.
Whether you pay the Home or Overseas fee depends on your fee status. This is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status. Find out how we assess your fee status.
If you're a UK national, or EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK government, if you meet certain criteria.
The maximum value of the loan is £13,206 if your course starts on or after 1 August 2026.
The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Please note that the loan is only available if you’re studying a full Master’s course from the start. If you start on a Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert) or Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip) and later move on to the Master’s, you won’t be eligible for this loan.
Overseas fee
2027 entry
Not set
As a guide, the fee for 2026-27 was £45,000
You should expect and budget for your fees to increase each year.
Your fee is based on the year you enter the university, not your year of study. This means that if you repeat a year or resume your studies after an interruption, your fees will only increase by the amount linked to inflation.
Find out more about our tuition fees payment terms, including how inflationary increases are applied to your tuition fees in subsequent years of study.
Whether you pay the Home or Overseas fee depends on your fee status. This is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status. Find out how we assess your fee status.
If you're a UK national, or EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK government, if you meet certain criteria.
The maximum value of the loan is £13,206 if your course starts on or after 1 August 2026.
The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Please note that the loan is only available if you’re studying a full Master’s course from the start. If you start on a Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert) or Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip) and later move on to the Master’s, you won’t be eligible for this loan.
Scholarships
View all scholarshipsHow will studying at Imperial help my career?
Develop engineering skills in a wide range of fields that employers highly value.
Shape the future of power in the UK and overseas with highly-valued specialised skills and knowledge.
You'll be highly sought after in a range of sectors, including power engineering, network operators, equipment manufacturers, and consulting firms.
Many graduates also opt to pursue doctoral research in the UK or overseas.
Further links
Contact the department
Email: eee.pgadmissions@imperial.ac.uk
Course Director: Dr Yunjie Gu
Visit the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering website.
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Events, tasters and talks
Meet us and find out more about studying at Imperial.
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Terms and conditions
There are some important pieces of information you should be aware of when applying to Imperial. These include key information about your tuition fees, funding, visas, accommodation and more.
You can find further information about your course, including degree classifications, regulations, progression and awards in the programme specification for your course.
Programme specifications