Skip to main content

Master in Renewable Energies and Energy Efficiency

Credits 45 credits
Session of admission and deadlines

Fall: August 1st
Winter: December 1st
Summer: April 1st
Application deadlines for international students with study permit

Regime of studies Full-time or part-time basis
Schedule Courses offered on days, evenings and some in an intensive format
Language of instruction French for the M.Eng.
French and English for the M.A.Sc.
Degree Master of Engineering (M. Eng.)
Master of Applied Science (M.A.Sc.)
Admission
Presentation

Come up with new alternatives, today!

Climate change is having major socio-economic consequences, particularly on our electrical networks, so now is the time to be seeking alternative solutions.

The same goes for the security of energy supplies. Since the first oil crisis of 1973, this issue has grown into a global concern because of its impact on national economies. At the same time, we must also consider social acceptance, which may decide the life or death of a planned energy project.

You will study these issues – and many more – in the ÉTS Master's in Renewable Energies and Energy Efficiency.

About the Master's in Renewable Energies and Energy Efficiency

Do you think the Internet will revolutionize the energy sector as it has done for communications? Are you convinced that social acceptance of energy-efficient buildings will arise from convincing performance indicators? Do you want to learn more about the socio-political and economic issues of various sources of energy? Would you like to play an active role in the development of sustainable cities? Then the ÉTS Master's in Renewable Energies and Energy Efficiency was made for you!

Whether you want to immerse yourself in the technologies of the future, earn yourself a promotion, or design innovative solutions, our program will meet your professional needs.

What will you learn in the Master’s program?

By doing your master's in renewable energies and energy efficiency at ÉTS, you will acquire scientific and technical knowledge about many forms of renewable energy, such as wind turbines, hydraulics, solar and geothermal power.

You will also broaden your horizons by developing a global vision of the world energy situation, its geopolitical and economic impacts, and the elements that differentiate Canada and Québec from other countries in the area of energy.

To be more specific, you will have the opportunity to acquire advanced knowledge in: 

  • Renewable energies;
  • Buildings of the future;
  • Optimizing the energy efficiency of existing buildings;
  • Integration and optimization of industrial processes;
  • Photovoltaic and thermal applications of solar energy;
  • Design of converters for power electronics;
  • Energy-efficient buildings, equipment and processes;
  • Measurement and verification of performance;
  • Controllable loads; 
  • Storage of electrical, mechanical and thermal energy;
  • Biomass, anaerobic digestion and gasification;
  • The energy of rivers and oceans;
  • Non-renewable energies;
  • Pre-feasibility and feasibility techno-economic analysis;
  • Demand management; 
  • Control, forecasting and optimization of energy systems.

And since more than 15 professors from three departments conduct research applicable to the environment sector, you will have access to several laboratories and lots of specialized equipment, including an intelligent mini-network integrated into our campus, a calibration bench for flow meters, and test benches for air, water and steam traps. 

Specialized test equipment for renewable energies and their energy efficiency

You will have access to many laboratories and specialized equipment:

  • Static and dynamic flight simulators;
  • A Piaggio Avanti aircraft;
  • Flight Management System (FMS);
  • A characterization bench for photonic devices;
  • A silicon photonics test bench;
  • Network technology labs including metropolitan, long-distance and submarine fibre optic transmission systems up to 100 Gbit/s;
  • Telecommunications data centres;
  • Network emulators;
  • Internet of Things networks for smart cities;
  • Mobile test infrastructure for emergency wireless communications (terrestrial and maritime), also supported by using drones;
  • Digital, analogue and RF integrated circuit design software for Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) and Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs);
  • An LTCC (Low Temperature Co-Fired Ceramic) microfabrication laboratory;
  • Sophisticated measurement devices such as logic analyzers, oscilloscopes, network analyzers, etc.;
  • A programmable-charge hydrogen-powered fuel cell with a maximum output of 30 kW;
  • A climate test chamber;
  • Exoskeletons (lower and upper limbs);
  • Solar panels installed on the school’s roof totalling 1.5 kW and accessible from the test benches in one of our laboratories


What degrees provide admission to the Master’s in Renewable Energies and Energy Efficiency?

Holders of an engineering diploma or a bachelor's degree in engineering, pure or applied science or another appropriate field may apply for admission to the ÉTS master's program in renewable energies and energy efficiency. 

What’s the Difference between the Project Profile and the Research Profile?

Our master's program in engineering with concentration in renewable energies and energy efficiency includes two profiles: one with thesis and the other with project. The thesis profile is focused on research and leads to the degree of Master of Applied Science (M.A.Sc.).  As for the project profile, it will allow you to dive deeply into a particular area of renewable energies and energy efficiency. It will lead to the degree of Master in Engineering (M. Eng.). 

Master's with thesis (research profile)

This profile is for you if you want to continue into doctoral studies or do research and development in industry.

The research project counts for 30 of the 45 credits of this program.

Master's with project (project profile)

Would you like to specialize and become an expert in renewable energies and energy efficiency? The practical and theoretical courses in the project profile will help you deepen your knowledge.

The program totals 45 credits, including 30 to 39 credits of courses plus 6 to 15 credits of courses or projects.

Master's Degree with Project (courses profile) M.Eng.

The Master's Degree with Projet is available in French only.

Would you like to proceed in French?

Master's Degree with Thesis (research profile) M.A.Sc.

Degree

Master of Applied Science (M.A.Sc.)

Program Objectives

The Master's program is intended for professionals who are interested in acquiring advanced knowledge in the field of energy efficiency. Students also acquire scientific and technical knowledge about various forms of renewable energy, including wind, hydraulic, solar and geothermal energy.

This knowledge helps them to evolve within organizations that carry out renewable energy projects, operate power stations or design energy production systems. Graduates have the necessary skills and abilities to integrate new energy technologies and modern controls into company operations. In addition, they are able to design new technologies that consume less energy and can easily integrate them into the company’s operations.

Admission requirements

Hold a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in engineering, pure science or applied science in an appropriate field, with a grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 (out of 4.3) or equivalent;

or have acquired the required knowledge, appropriate training and experience that is deemed to be relevant.

A candidate who is deemed to be inadequately prepared may be required to take upgrading courses or a preparatory course.

The candidate can be admitted on the basis of sufficient knowledge of English. In addition to the requirements of the program, the candidate must also successfully complete an out-of-program French course, appropriate to his or her level, to obtain a diploma.

Candidates admitted on the basis of English must also provide proof that a faculty member has agreed to act as their thesis supervisor.

Program Structure

  • 1 mandatory 3-hour long workshop (0 credit)
  • 2 mandatory activities (6 credits)
  • 3 optional activities (totalling at least 9 credits)
  • 1 thesis (30 credits)

List of activities

1 mandatory 3-hour long workshop:

ATE800 Intégrité intellectuelle : un savoir-être et savoir-faire (0 cr.) (Intellectual Integrity: Underlying concepts and techniques – available in French and English)

2 mandatory activities (6 credits):

MTR801 Planning for an Engineering Research Project (3 cr.)
ENR811* Énergies renouvelables (3 cr.)

3 optional activities (at least 9 credits) from the corresponding program:

*Available in French only – English equivalent available at a partner university

If you choose to take courses at a partner university, you must obtain prior approval from your supervisor.

The student must successfully complete the following activity near the end of the program (30 credits):

MTR890 Master's Thesis (30 cr.)
Career Prospects

What are the Career Prospects in the Renewable Energies And Energy Efficiency Sector?

According to the Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century, jobs in the field of energy efficiency and renewable energies are growing around the world (a year-over-year increase of 15% in 2016).

In Québec, the provincial government has put in place an energy policy that focuses particularly on the development of a low-carbon-footprint economy and on a renewed and diversified energy supply. To achieve this, it will increase investments in renewable energies, and plans to make Québec the North American leader in the areas of renewable energies and energy efficiency.  In short, the prospects are highly favourable for people interested in renewable energies and energy efficiency.

Finally, according to EnviroCompétence (site in French), engineers specializing in energy efficiency are on the list of emerging professions. There’s also a shortage of skilled labour in the environmental field.

And may we add that graduates with a master’s earn, on average, 10% more than bachelor graduates, according to the Survey on the Remuneration of Engineering Professionals in Québec published (in French) by Génium360.

Some masters’ graduates, notably those with an M.A.Sc., choose to continue into doctoral studies or make a career within a university or a college.  

Some of the positions held by graduates of the master's in renewable energies and energy efficiency

Graduates with a Master of Renewable Energies and Energy Efficiency can occupy the following jobs: 

  • Consultant in renewable energy;
  • Consultant in energy efficiency;
  • Designer of LEED, BOMA and similar buildings;
  • Designer of products, systems, or processes;
  • Certified Energy Manager (buildings, factories);
  • Energy analyst in consulting engineering firms;
  • Energy analyst in architecture;
  • R and D analyst in the public sector (e.g. IREQ, LTE, MNR, MAPAQ, MESI, MRI);
  • R and D analyst in the private sector; 
  • Infrastructure manager;
  • Numerical energy systems analyst.

Professional Recognition

Did you know that a Master’s in Engineering can give you experience credits of up to 12 months? To learn more, we invite you to consult the Regulation respecting other terms and conditions for the issuance of permits by the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec.

Research projects for students

Are you looking for a project for your master’s program?

Are you looking for a research project for your master's program?  Visit the Research Projects for Students page where faculty who are recruiting students post opportunities. 

Have you found a thesis supervisor?

You must have chosen your thesis supervisor before the end of your first semester of master’s studies, because this is a condition of registration for the second semester. We strongly recommend you begin your search before your first semester of master’s studies. For more information, see Find a Thesis Supervisor