Overview
Our Electric Vehicle Systems MSc degree has been designed to equip you with advanced knowledge of low-carbon electric vehicle systems and advanced battery technologies.
You'll study in-depth the key areas of electronic and electrical engineering in relation to electric vehicle systems. These include power electronics and drives, vehicular communication systems, sustainable power systems, intelligent systems, and embedded systems which contributes to the design of electric vehicle charging infrastructure and converter topologies.
You’ll develop the ability to critically evaluate methodologies, analytical procedures, and research methods in electric vehicle systems; the design of powertrains and battery management systems, intra and inter-vehicular communication systems; sensors and instrumentations for electric vehicles; and energy policies and electricity markets for electric vehicle development and deployment.
During your degree, you'll have access to modern technical facilities including computer, electronics and power and control laboratories, where you'll work on practical laboratory-based exercises. The latest industry-standard engineering software packages are available for you to use in our purpose-built computer laboratories. You'll benefit from guest lectures delivered by industry professionals. You'll participate in conferences and deliver poster presentations on your research work. This allows you to network and exchange ideas with key engineering and technology experts.
Our MSc Electric Vehicle Systems degree is 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. This professional body ensures that your degree meets the academic requirement to qualify as a professional engineer.
At the end their final year, engineering and maths students are invited to showcase their project work at Brunel Engineers +, an event that both celebrates their achievements and gives them the chance to network with industry figures and employers. This video shows some of the projects exhibited at the 2024 Brunel Engineers + event, with explanations by the students themselves.
The Dean’s International Scholarship for Electronic and Electrical Engineering 2024/25
This course is eligible for a £2,000 fee waiver, per academic year, subject to availability. This Scholarship is for full-time international students only. Please read full details here.
You can explore our campus and facilities for yourself by taking our virtual tour.
Course content
You'll study the taught modules in the first two terms and then spend four months working on your dissertation. The dissertation is an advanced piece of research on a real-world challenge relevant to electric vehicle systems.
Compulsory
- Advanced Vehicular Systems TechnologyThe aim of this module is to: 1. provide students with up-to-date knowledge in advanced vehicular technology; 2. develop knowledge and understanding of vehicular technologies with which enables inter- and intra- vehicle communications, and battery management.; 3. for students to be aware of relevant technical standards related to electric vehicle systems development.
- Power Electronics and DrivesThe aims of this module are to develop students’ ability to: 1. critically analyse and design advanced power electronic circuits; 2. incorporate state-of-the-art power electronic circuits in electric vehicle machines and drives.
- Energy Economics and Power MarketsThe main aims of this module are to develop the students ability to critically assess different models and theories associated with power markets, to recognise and resolve technical, economical and regulatory issues associated with the design and operation of electricity markets and evaluate various trading strategies, and to understand environmental consequences of the electrical energy supply and transmission.
- Smart Grid Operation and ManagementThe main aims of this module are to teach the students how to: 1. critically analyse and assess smart grid operation and management objectives and functionality; 2. Evaluate and review methodologies and algorithmic structures for operational control of sustainable electrical power systems.
- Engineering Ethics and SustainabilityThis module aim to enable Engineering students to deal with legal, social, ethical and environmental issues and apply professional codes of conduct. Indicative content: Ethics and Legal Aspects, Risk and environment management systems, Risk Assessment and engineering failure methods and sustainability.
- Project and DissertationThis module aims to provide experience in defining and organising, executing and evaluating a substantial individual in-depth investigation into a topic related to the appropriate wireless and computer communication networks and presenting the information in the form of a dissertation.
Optional
- Applied Sensors Instrumentation and ControlThis module aims to enable students to focus on particular aspects of sensors, instrumentation and control through the use of real-world examples and hence to acquire knowledge and understanding of the characteristics of sensors and associated systems for monitoring and control, and the skills to evaluate, design and implement them.
- Communication Network TechnologiesThis module will focus on advanced communication technologies and networks. Indicative contents: Network Basics: ISO/OSI Reference Model and TCP/IP Reference Model, Network layer operation: TCP/IP, Packet Scheduling and Delay, IP Quality of Services (QoS), Resource Reservation Protocol (RSVP), Integrated Service Model and Differentiated Service Model, Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS), ATM Networks, Traffic Engineering IP Multicasting Mobile and wireless communication systems: Cellular system, Frequency reuse, 1st and 2nd generation systems, 2 and 2.5 G (GSM, GPRS, EDGE), UMTS-3G, (UTRAN, Core Networks, Handover, Power Control, Rake receiver), 4G (LTE – Advanced, S/P, IFFT, CP, P/S), 5G (Introduction, C-RAN, MIMO), ZIGBEE, UWB, Bluetooth. Ad-hoc and Mesh Networks: Introduction to mesh networks, power spectral efficiency and green radio, Mesh network Components, Ad-Hoc Routing protocols.
- Design for Internet of ThingsThe aim of the module is equip students with topics in digital communication systems and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies. The indicative content includes, Coding and Compression, Modulation Schemes, Propagation and Channel Modelling, MIMO Systems, IoT Systems Architectures, IoT Physical Connectivity.
- Advanced Embedded Systems DesignThe aims of this module are to: 1. provide a detailed knowledge of computing for embedded and control computer systems; 2. illustrate and develop an understanding of the various engineering, scientific and economic trade-offs necessary in the design of embedded systems; 3. understand the principles and the role of embedded systems in real world applications; 4. provide familiarity and experience with a range of architectural and programming techniques for embedded engineering systems and their evaluation; 5. understand the process of implementing algorithms on embedded systems.
- Embedded DSP for Communication SystemsThe aim of the module is develop in-depth knowledge and understanding of real-time signal processing, reconfigurable computing and embedded DSP system architecture and to develop students’ ability to implement real time algorithms on embedded DSP processors for communication applications.
- Communication Networks SecurityThis module enable graduate to acquire an important aspect of future networks concentrating on cryptography and secure communication networks.
This course can be studied undefined undefined, starting in undefined.
Please note that all modules are subject to change.
Read more about the structure of postgraduate degrees at Brunel
Careers and your future
This course will equip you with the broad knowledge and skills relevant to the demanding and dynamic electric vehicle sector.
Our closeness to the highest concentration of the UK’s electronics, information engineering, and telecommunications industry – in London and along the M4 corridor – means our careers network is second to none.
As a graduate of this programme, you'll be able to find employment in sectors that require in-depth knowledge in electric vehicle systems. This includes electric vehicle manufacturers (electrical systems designer and electrical engineer), battery management systems developers, power transmission and distribution networks companies (network operator).
UK entry requirements
A 2:2 (or above) UK Honours degree, or equivalent internationally recognised qualification in Electronic and/or Electrical Engineering; or a closely related subject.
EU and International entry requirements
If you require a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK, you must prove knowledge of the English language so that we can issue you a Certificate of Acceptance for Study (CAS). To do this, you will need an IELTS for UKVI or Trinity SELT test pass gained from a test centre approved by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and on the Secure English Language Testing (SELT) list. This must have been taken and passed within two years from the date the CAS is made.
English language requirements
- IELTS: 6 (min 5.5 in all areas)
- Pearson: 59 (59 in all sub scores)
- BrunELT: 58% (min 55% in all areas)
- TOEFL: 77 (min R18, L17, S20, W17)
You can find out more about the qualifications we accept on our English Language Requirements page.
Should you wish to take a pre-sessional English course to improve your English prior to starting your degree course, you must sit the test at an approved SELT provider for the same reason. We offer our own BrunELT English test and have pre-sessional English language courses for students who do not meet requirements or who wish to improve their English. You can find out more information on English courses and test options through our Brunel Language Centre.
Please check our Admissions pages for more information on other factors we use to assess applicants. This information is for guidance only and each application is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Entry requirements are subject to review, and may change.
Fees and funding
2024/25 entry
UK
£13,750 full-time
International
£25,000 full-time
Full time international students may benefit from a £2,000 fee waiver from the Dean's International Scholarship for Electronic and Electrical Engineering. Full details of how it is awarded can be found here.
More information on any additional course-related costs.
See our fees and funding page for full details of postgraduate scholarships available to Brunel applicants.
Scholarships and bursaries
Teaching and learning
Our electric vehicle systems degree is delivered by an expert team of multidisciplinary academic staff. Many are world-renowned researchers and their active research feeds into your course. There'll also be guest lectures from our industry advisory panel members and networking at conferences with key industry specialists.
Your study will combine lectures, seminars, workshop sessions, computer simulation, self-study, and individual and group project work.
Should you need any non-academic support during your time at Brunel, the Student Support and Welfare Team are here to help.
Assessment and feedback
Your progress will be assessed via assignments, presentations, technical analytical reports, group reports, exams, and your dissertation.
Read our guide on how to avoid plagiarism in your assessments at Brunel.