Master of Energy study tracks

Energy as a field of study can be approached from many academic disciplines and angles, and the Master of Energy (MEnergy) is therefore open to students with many different undergraduate backgrounds, with the opportunity to choose from a variety of elective courses.

To help you get the most out of your MEnergy experience, we strongly recommend selecting electives that align with your previous studies and your future career or research goals.

This will not only deepen your expertise but also set you up for success in your chosen field. We also encourage you to choose a research project that complements your elective choices – this way, everything you learn works together to support your development.

Entry into electives is not guaranteed. You’ll need to ensure you meet any prerequisites or have an equivalent background before enrolling.

• 120-point MEnergy: you will select two electives alongside a 60-point research project, across TWO semesters.
  
• 180-point MEnergy: you will select six electives and a 60-point research project. This allows you to choose from a wider range of electives, or two specialised study tracks. Generally, you would start your research project in the second semester of your studies.

Note: Students who began their studies prior to 2026 still have the option to complete either a 45-point OR 60-point research project.

Not all courses are offered every semester, so it’s a good idea to plan your study pathway early. For most specialisation tracks – except Geothermal Energy – you’ll typically need to begin your MEnergy programme in Semester One to ensure access to the required courses.

You may also be able to include other 700-level postgraduate courses in your MEnergy degree. However, in many cases, to be considered, you’ll need to apply for an enrolment concession.

This process helps confirm that you meet the course prerequisites or have an equivalent background, and ensures the course is a good fit for your study plan.

Your request will be reviewed by:

• The Course Coordinator, to check if you meet the prerequisites or have the right background.
• The Programme Director, to ensure the course fits well within your MEnergy study plan.

We recommend checking course requirements early and contacting us if you're unsure as support is always available to help guide your choices.

Geothermal Energy is one of the core specialisation tracks in the MEnergy programme, developed in close collaboration with the University’s Geothermal Institute and key industry partners. If you're interested in this track, please note that core geothermal courses are typically offered in Semester Two each year.

This means careful planning is important to ensure you can enrol in the required courses at the right time. Below is a range of suggested electives that complement this track and help you build a strong foundation in geothermal energy systems and technologies.

GEOTHERM 701: Geothermal Resources and their Use
Worldwide occurrence of geothermal systems, introductory geology, volcanoes and volcanic rocks, New Zealand geothermal systems, structure of the TVZ, hydrothermal alteration, permeability and porosity, introduction to geochemistry of geothermal systems, geothermal surface manifestations, water compositions, geothermometry, silica geochemistry, overview of geophysics for geothermal exploration, geothermal resource assessment.

Corequisite: GEOTHERM 702, and 703 or 720
Offered in: Semester Two

GEOTHERM 702: Geothermal Energy Technology 
Worldwide geothermal development, types of geothermal systems, thermodynamics, properties of water and steam tables, heat transfer, fluid mechanics, steam-field equipment, geothermal power stations, geothermal drilling, wellbore processes, completion tests, downhole measurements, reinjection, corrosion, stored heat, Darcy's law, cold groundwater, geothermal reservoirs, direct use, reservoir modelling, reservoir monitoring and steam-field management.

Corequisite: GEOTHERM 701
Offered in: Semester Two

GEOTHERM 703: Geothermal Exploration
Hydrothermal alteration, clays, fluid inclusions, direct use, subsidence, scaling and corrosion in geothermal wells, production geochemistry, environmental aspects of geothermal development, feasibility study, physical properties of rocks and self-potential (SP), magnetics, thermal methods, gravity, seismic methods, electrical methods, magnetotellurics (MT).

Corequisite: GEOTHERM 701, 702
Offered in: Semester Two

GEOTHERM 720: Geothermal Engineering
Completion tests, wellbore flow, two-phase flow, geothermal power cycles, flow measurements, direct use of geothermal energy, environmental effects, scaling and corrosion in geothermal wells, drilling engineering, flow measurements, steam-field operation and maintenance, subsidence, waste heat rejection, heat exchangers, geothermal well-test analysis, stimulation, pipeline design, feasibility study, reservoir modelling theory, TOUGH2, reservoir modelling process, case study (data and conceptual model, natural state modelling), Wairakei model.

Corequisite: GEOTHERM 701, 702
Offered in: Semester Two

If you have the appropriate background, you may be able to take additional electives from the Department of Physics or the School of Environment in the Faculty of Science. These can be approved on a case-by-case basis, so be sure to check prerequisites:

Explore how energy technologies and projects are shaped by economic policies and regulatory frameworks. This track will introduce you to quantitative tools used to evaluate complex energy and transport for strategic decision-making.

To succeed in this track, you’ll generally need a solid foundation in economics and/or mathematics, as these are prerequisites for the core course listed below. If you have a strong background in these areas, you might also be interested in exploring additional relevant courses:

ECON 780: Climate and Energy Economics (formerly ECON 783)
Examines issues related to the economics of climate change, energy transitions toward electrification, competing energy sources (fossil fuels and renewables), and regulation and market design issues for energy and carbon markets. Natural resource and electricity markets are explored in depth.

Restriction: ECON 783
Offered in: Semester One

ECON 777: Economic Development and Wellbeing (formerly ECON 771)
Examines economy-wide issues in development, focusing on key factors and using real-world examples. Emphasis is placed on extracting policy insights from recent research and country experiences. Topics include geography, institutions, social welfare, and policy design for enhancing well-being in developing nations.

Restriction: ECON 771
Offered in: Semester Two

ENGSCI 755: Decision Making in Engineering
Introduction to techniques for decision making in engineering systems including decision heuristics, simple prioritisation, outranking approaches, analytic hierarchy process, application to group decision making.

Prerequisite: ENGSCI 211 or MATHS 221 or 250
Offered in: Semester Two

ENGSCI 760: Algorithms for Optimisation
Meta-heuristics and local search techniques such as genetic algorithms, simulated annealing, tabu search and ant colony optimisation for practical optimisation. Introduction to optimisation under uncertainty, including discrete event simulation, decision analysis, Markov chains and Markov decision processes and dynamic programming.

Prerequisite: COMPSCI 101 or ENGGEN 131
Offered in: Semester One

ENGSCI 763: Advanced Simulation and Stochastic Optimisation
Advanced simulation topics with an emphasis on optimisation under uncertainty. Uniform and non-uniform random variate generation, input distribution selection, output analysis, and variance reduction. Simulation-based optimisation and stochastic programming. Two-stage and multi-stage programs with recourse. Modelling risk. Decomposition algorithms. Scenario construction and solution validation.

Prerequisite: ENGSCI 391 or ENGSCI 765
Offered in: Semester Two

If you have the appropriate background, you may be able to take additional electives Engineering Science, Economics, or Supply Chain Management. These can be approved on a case-by-case basis, so be sure to check prerequisites.

This track is designed for students who have a strong interest in wind energy and thermodynamics and want to understand the technologies behind them and their practical applications.

You’ll explore how to make the most of energy resources, learn the principles of sizing wind farms for different locations, and dive into the analysis and optimisation of heat pumps. The track also covers innovative uses of binary plants in geothermal energy, giving you a well-rounded view of how these systems work together in real-world scenarios.

This track is a great fit for students with a background in mechanical or industrial engineering, as it builds on core principles from these disciplines. For those looking to broaden their expertise, there may be additional postgraduate elective options available in Mechanical Engineering.

MECHENG 711: Advanced Computational Fluid Dynamics
Application of computational methods to fluid dynamics and heat transfer. Finite volume and finite difference methods. Convergence and stability. Mesh generation and post-processing. Application of commercial computer programs to industrial problems. An individual project in which the student will be required to apply a commercial CFD code to a research problem of the student's choice.

Restriction: MECHENG 718
Offered in: Semester One

MECHENG 712: Aerohydrodynamics 
The study of fluid mechanics relevant to external flows, e.g., wind turbines, yachts, aircraft or wind loadings on buildings, boundary layers, and computational fluid dynamics.

Prerequisite: MECHENG 325
Offered in: Semester One

MECHENG 715: Building Services
Principles and practice of heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC&R), psychrometry, heating/cooling loads, mass transfer and air quality, refrigeration/heat pump systems, cooling towers, pumps, fans, valves, pipes and ducts.

Prerequisite: MECHENG 325
Offered in: Semester Two

MECHENG 718: Computational Fluid Dynamics
Application of computational methods to fluid dynamics and heat transfer. Finite volume and finite difference methods. Convergence and stability. Mesh generation and post-processing. Application of commercial computer programs to industrial problems.

Restriction: MECHENG 711
Offered in: Semester One

The Power Systems track is designed for students with a strong foundation in electrical or power systems engineering who want to tackle the exciting challenges of modern energy integration.

This track focuses on the technical and market aspects of bringing renewable technologies – such as wind, solar, and geothermal – into existing grids and standalone village systems.

You’ll gain insights into how these innovations impact grid stability, energy markets, and community-scale solutions, preparing you to shape the future of sustainable power networks.

ELECTENG 731: Power Systems
Builds on the knowledge of three-phase power systems components to understand modelling, formulation and typical analysis carried out by electricity transmission, distribution and generation entities. Load flow, fault, stability and power quality. Supplemented by laboratories where students learn to use professional software to implement the theoretical aspects.

Prerequisite: ELECTENG 309. Restriction: ELECTENG 411
Offered in: Semester One

ELECTENG 703: Advanced Power Systems
Electricity markets: structure, pricing, optimisation, ancillary services; Power system protection practices; Distribution network development: Smart Grid, demand side participation; HVDC and FACT devices theory and application; renewable energy grid integration.

Prerequisite: ELECTENG 731. Restriction: ELECTENG 738
Offered in: Semester Two

ELECTENG 738: Selected Topics in Advanced Power Systems
Electricity markets: structure, pricing, optimisation, ancillary services, power system protection practices, distribution network development, smart grids, demand side participation, integration of DG/renewable sources and electric vehicles. Core concepts are extended by an individual research project, a self-guided protection laboratory and industry engagement in advanced power system practices.

Prerequisite: ELECTENG 731. Restriction: ELECTENG 703
Offered in: Semester Two

If you’re passionate about how energy initiatives can drive a country’s development, this track is an excellent choice. It focuses on critical areas such as rural electrification, climate change impact and mitigation, solar energy projects, and rural development. You’ll explore the intersection of technology, policy, and community needs, gaining insights into how energy solutions can transform lives and support sustainable growth.

To build a well-rounded perspective, you could want to include courses in Development Studies, sustainability, and risk management, giving you the tools to address global challenges and create meaningful change.

DISMGT 701: Disaster Risk Management
A broad-based understanding of the critical elements of risk and risk management in pre- and post-disaster scenarios. Key elements include risk identification with regard to the forms and types of risk inherent in areas prone to disasters. Risk management approaches are explored and applied to different aspects of disaster management.

Offered in: Semester One

DISMGT 703: Disaster Management and Resilience
Disaster management concepts and approaches related to urban resilience, including societal and infrastructure resilience. Key elements include exploring holistic approaches to disaster management and assessing the relationship between resilience and disaster management. This includes systems and complexity, policy and general regulatory environment. This course involves group work and a course project.

Offered in: Semester One