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Energy Systems Engineering MEng Online & On Campus

Contact Energy Systems Engineering Admissions

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Ronda Hamilton (Energy Systems + Design)

Graduate Coordinator

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Suljo Linic

Program Director

Energy Systems Engineering at Michigan Statistics

#6

Best Online Graduate Engineering Programs

Top 10

engineering & business school on the same campus

19%

female, 13% underrepresented minorities and 31% international students

14:1

student-to-faculty ratio

3

cutting edge areas of excellence

Our program provides students with:

  • Excellent career prospects. 88% of our graduates are employed within six months after graduation. The average salary of our graduates with an Energy Systems Engineering MEng is $87,000.

  • Flexibility in schedule and location. Students can choose to be either full time or part-time. Most classes are taught as a hybrid, so students can take courses on-campus, remote, or fully online each semester.

  • Multidisciplinary training and integrative thinking. The curriculum takes a holistic approach and exposes students to courses from across disciplines, including engineering, natural and social sciences, public policy, environmental science, and business. Students gain a depth and breadth of knowledge and an interdisciplinary perspective of the need for energy solutions.

  • Education by world-class researchers and industry leaders. Students take courses that are taught by world-renowned researchers working on topics related to energy, as well as industry leaders who have made outstanding impacts in energy systems.

  • Immersive practicum opportunities. Students get to practice their learnings through industry-relevant capstone projects with industry, research, and non-profit organizations, integrating across traditional engineering disciplines like mechanical, industrial, material science engineering, as well as non-engineering disciplines like public policy, to create real-world solutions.

  • World-class resources and infrastructure. Students can benefit from resources like the Center for Entrepreneurship and the Energy Institute. In addition, the University hosts a wide range of research institutes and core facilities from which students can benefit.

  • student programming in CSE
    ONLINE BY DESIGN
    This degree is designed for online delivery, offering students the opportunity to pursue a high-quality graduate engineering education that is flexible and convenient. As an online student, you will have access to the same expert faculty, rigorous coursework, and breadth of resources as those studying on campus. You will also earn the same world-class Michigan Engineering degree.

What can you do with an MEng in Energy Systems Engineering?

An MEng degree in Energy Systems Engineering provides students with advanced knowledge in science and engineering of energy conversion technologies, coupled with a breadth of knowledge in sustainability, economics of energy, and public policy.

Students also get to perform capstone projects on industry-relevant problems. The acquired knowledge and skills through this degree prepare students to take on the challenges of our society in the areas of sustainable energy generation, storage, and conversion as well as in the related areas of consulting, public policy, and social sciences. Graduates are prepared to responsibly lead the future development of critically needed, sustainable infrastructures.

Align your Interest

The Energy Systems Engineering degree program offers three concentration areas that students can specialize in to align with their interest:

Energy Generation, Distribution, and Usage 

A number of developing technologies, including battery, fuel cell, and solar cell systems have the potential to make a landscape-changing impact on the way energy is produced, stored, and distributed. These emerging technologies along with well-established commercialized systems will shape our energy landscape in the foreseeable future. Coursework includes technological underpinnings and the social context describing the interplay between the emerging and established technologies in the field of global energy generation, storage, and distribution.

Transportation Power 

The internal combustion engine has set the standard for energy and power density and has enabled a level of performance in mobility that is challenging to reach by other sources. New technologies including fuel cells, batteries, and hybrid systems can meet or exceed conventionally agreed-upon targets. New infrastructure in both energy generation and automotive design and manufacturing will be necessary to realize the benefits of these approaches. Advances in fuel technologies including clean diesel, biofuels, and high compression combustion ignition require parallel fluency in-vehicle technologies, which must be adapted for their use. Coursework in this area includes vehicle and power sources technology along with specific courses on the drive trains of the future.

Sustainable Chemical Conversion

Chemical conversion plays a critical role in nearly all aspects of modern societies, including generation and conversion of energy, production of chemicals and fuels, and pollution mitigation. Many aspects of technologies related to chemical conversion have undergone and are undergoing significant changes—aiming to make these processes more energy and resource-efficient and environmentally friendly. Coursework will focus on chemical conversion technology, social implications, and perspectives from leaders in the field.

Courses Offered

Individualized plans of study will be developed by students in consultation with an advisor. The curriculum includes a capstone project that gives students the experience of confronting an energy problem and discovering a possible solution. Click on the Bulletin link for a description of each course.

Sequential Undergraduate/Graduate Studies Program (SUGS)

Current University of Michigan engineering students can complete both your bachelor’s and master’s degrees in only five years with SUGS by taking some graduate-level classes during your undergraduate years, so you can save yourself one semester and complete a master’s with only two additional semesters.

SJTU-JI Accelerated Master’s Degree Program (AMDP)

Students who receive an undergraduate BSE degree from the U-M – Shanghai Jiao Tong University’s Joint Institute (SJTU-JI) can also pursue an Integrative Systems + Design Engineering master’s degree at U-M through the U-M-SJTU Accelerated Master’s Degree Program (AMDP).

Setting Ideas into Action

Make an impact by applying the knowledge and skills acquired through your MEng degree in the Energy Systems Engineering program to solve relevant problems in the industry, research, and non-profit organizations in your community.

Capstone Project

An important element of the program is a capstone project which offers students the opportunity to solve a real-world problem with their new knowledge. The culminating project can be completed individually or on a team, virtually or locally, and in close interaction with faculty and industry leaders.

Practice your passion through projects in:

  • Research in cutting-edge labs
  • Onsite work in top-ranked companies
  • Field-work with meaningful non-profits

Graduate Student Involvement

Graduate Student Advisory Committee (GSAC)

Graduate Student Advisory Committee (GSAC)

Learn More — >

Professional Development

Engineering Career Resource Center (ECRC)

Engineering Career Resource Center (ECRC)

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Society of Women Engineers (SWE)

Society of Women Engineers (SWE)

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National Society of Black Engineers group photo
National Society of Black Engineerings (NSBE)

National Society of Black Engineerings (NSBE)

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Videos

Alumni Bios

Each of these alumni were once in your shoes, deciding on a master’s degree. Explore their educational path and how it set their life in motion.

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Alisyn Malek

MSE Energy Systems Engineering, 2012

SAFE

Executive Director of the Commission on Future of Mobility

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Christian Weigelt

MEng Energy Systems Engineering, 2018

Power Electronics

System Engineer

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Deepankar Thakur

MEng Energy Systems Engineering, 2014

General Motors Company

Global Propulsion Systems Supplier Quality Manager

Image of Priya Thyagarajan Machi

Priya Thyagarajan Machi

MEng Energy Systems Engineering, 2015

Consumers Energy

Senior Engineer - Policy Strategy

Image of Alysin Malek

Alisyn Malek

University of Michigan, BSE Mechanical Engineering and German Language, 2008

University of Michigan, MSE Energy Systems Engineering, 2012

Indiana University, Kelley School of Business, MBA, 2017

SAFE

Executive Director of the Commission on Future of Mobility

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Career Summary

I joined the ESE program in 2008 as I was graduating with my BSE and it was through the internship program that I was able to kick off my career working as an engineer at General Motors. I had the unique opportunity to work as an engineer on electric vehicle charging just as EVs were becoming a more interesting area of vehicle development. I worked as an engineer on the power electronics and grid connection which meant I was doing a lot more than just standard parts engineering. In that role I had the chance to work with the policy team to look at what charging infrastructure for the new vehicle should look like and with people in the electrical utility industry to better understand the potential impact to the grid. That multidisciplinary experience is what drove me to always want to learn more about the “how” and the “why” that new technology is adopted, which eventually drove me into a position with GM’s corporate venture investment team. This experience opened me up to a whole new world of startups and new technology which eventually led me to leave GM and co-found a startup called May Mobility. While I was at May Mobility as COO I formed the teams that worked on the business – from operations to sales and marketing. This role put me in contact much more with cities and transit agencies, which deepened my interest in broader transportation. When I decided to step down as COO, it was in part so that I could look at ways to continue to impact the industry more broadly and help it move forward, which is what led me to my current role leading the commission.

How does your Master’s degree differentiate you from others?

Interdisciplinary skillsets are becoming more and more important as technology changes so rapidly, and the Energy Systems Master’s degree definitely helped me to stand out by providing a well rounded view of new trends in energy from clean sources to EV batteries, that really helps to drive a more holistic approach to thinking about how to grow those industries.

Reflection on Time Spent at U-M

I participated in the program on-line while working full time on the technology I was learning about, which was a really fulfilling experience. So, if you decide to do this degree part time, know that you can have a great experience, even if it is different than your full time counterparts.

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Christian Weigelt

Hochschule Mannheim, BSC Power Engineering and Renewable Energies, 2014

University of Michigan, MEng Energy Systems Engineering, 2018

Power Electronics

System Engineer

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Career Summary

With the availability of the capstone project included in the degree, I was able to apply the knowledge learned from lectures outside of class. By having had the opportunity to perform my assignment at a large company, I was able to grow my network and ask detailed insider questions, such as what locations across the world are involved in which kind of manufacturing and development projects. After my return home to Germany, I knew exactly at what plant I wanted to apply. Checking the job openings, I was excited to find a position in systems engineering within a prominent, global energy firm, which I applied to and successfully secured.

How does your Master’s degree differentiate you from others?

Since energy systems engineering is a strong interdisciplinary field, the availability of choice for the courses in my masters degree helped me diversify my skill set. Having to work with colleagues from functional safety, test, software, hardware, mechanical engineering (and more) I was able to carry conversation from very early on in my career. On top of that, lectures also consisted of a multitude of students from different degree programs. Therefore, I was able to learn further and broaden my horizon through exchange in conversation with fellow classmates during projects and class assignments.

Advice to Students

I wish I would have stayed for a PhD. Since the Master’s degree was only a year, time passed very quickly for me, and by the time I had the chance to adapt to the multitude of opportunities and possibilities, it was already time to leave. I would like to recommend Michigan Electric Racing, and Blueprint, both of which I have ardently attended. Another piece of advice I would like to offer by sharing a memory and a joke: in the first week of classes my professor told me, after discovering my passion to write in ink, to make sure to get freeze-resistant ink – it does get really cold in winter.

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Deepankar Thakur

Indiana Institute of Technology, BSE Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering, 1999

University of Michigan, MEng Energy Systems Engineering, 2014

General Motors Company

Global Propulsion Systems Supplier Quality Manager

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Career Summary

I interned at an automotive supplier in my undergrad years in Indiana. After finishing my BSE, that company offered me a full time position as a quality engineer. Shortly thereafter, I applied and was selected to work at General Motors (GM) pickup truck assembly plant in Indiana as a body shop dimensional engineer. Over the next eight years, I switched roles in the same location to manufacturing engineer before volunteering to take a lateral position at a car assembly plant near Cleveland, Ohio. After spending half a year in Ohio, I was interviewed and selected to be a development engineer in Warren, Michigan at the  Tech Center to work on the Chevy Volt battery project in 2009. While working on electrification projects for the Volt and other mild hybrids and fuel cell systems, I decided to pursue the Energy Systems Engineering MEng program at University of Michigan. Now I am helping launch electrification in China for GM global operations in the worlds’ largest electric car market. 

How does your Master’s degree differentiate you from others?

This Master’s degree has helped me in my career in multiple ways. In addition to being recognized as a technical expert in my work, I was given more challenging work assignments in a global work environment. I relocated to Shanghai, China shortly after completion of this degree to help develop the electrification team and launch the electric car portfolios there. I routinely visit and am engaged in the supplier selection process for cells, power electronics and other components of electric and hybrid vehicles. I am able to ask critical questions and make sound decisions based on the knowledge gained through the course work for this degree. 

Reflection on Time Spent at U-M

This program helped me bring depth to my understanding of batteries that I was working on in my day job. It also helped me understand the economics of energy systems as well as introduce me to electro-chemistry of cells, power electronics and electrical aspects of various types of energy conversion systems. The program challenged me to learn and grow in many areas during the projects along with my classmates, many of whom were also my co-workers. 

Advice to Students

I joined the Order of The Engineer; I am an avid football fan and try to watch all U-M football games even in China along with my fellow U-M alumni in Shanghai;   My advice to students pursuing this degree is to try and work on projects alongside the classroom learning, which helps grasp the concepts better and also provide hands-on opportunities to see how things work while understanding the theory behind it. Find and reach out to your mentors to help you gain more experience and apply what you are learning.

Image of Priya Thyagarajan Machi

Priya Thyagarajan Machi

University of Michigan, BSE Chemical Engineering, 2012

University of Michigan, MEng Energy Systems Engineering, 2015

Consumers Energy

Senior Engineer - Policy Strategy

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Career Summary

After completing my undergraduate education, I started working at Consumers Energy in electric supply planning. I worked in that team for five years,during which I had the opportunity to lead the modeling team responsible for electric supply planning. This role (along with my MEng completed at the same time) gave me deep knowledge of the electricity industry, including current trends and issues. After that, I worked in IT for a short time, which broadened my mindset to understand how corporate functions support large utilities and businesses. I also got exposure to Lean, performance management, and budgeting in this role – all necessary tools when working in corporate environments. Currently, I work in regulatory policy which requires an overarching understanding of the utility industry, and part of my work is in developing and executing on the regulatory component of the long-term company strategy, as well as issue management for policy developments at the state and federal level. 

How does your Master’s degree differentiate you from others?

I was able to apply my Master’s capstone project to my role in 2015. The project focused on evaluation of storage resources in wholesale markets. This gave me the exposure to company subject-matter experts and leadership that were also interested in this area and established me as an expert in the space. More broadly, the Master’s helped with my overall understanding of the energy industry and how to best operate in the current environment including an understanding of where the industry is going.

Reflection on Time Spent at U-M

As an undergrad, I loved being a part of the Women’s Glee Club but wish I had also gotten more involved in engineering extracurricular project teams (e.g. BLUElab). 

Advice to Students

Don’t be afraid of failure (you’ll have at least one class that’s REALLY hard) – try, try again – I had to take Organic Chemistry 2 twice! Still made it!

Industries & Occupations

  • Automotive
  • Energy Utility
  • Energy Exploration and Retail
  • Green Building Council, Military
  • Sustainability Research
  • Energy Analytics, Consulting
  • Intelligent Transportation Systems
  • Clean Energy Coalition
  • Smart Energy Management
  • Battery Technology
  • Sustainable Energy
  • National Science Foundation
  • Aerospace
  • U.S. Geological Survey
  • Operations Engineer
  • Battery Systems Engineer
  • Design Release Engineer
  • Development and Validation Engineer,
  • Electric Motor Engineer
  • Electrical Performance Engineer
  • Process Engineer - Fuel Cells
  • Senior Battery Development Engineer
  • Consultant (Sustainability, Energy, and Climate Change)

Companies

  • US Department of the Interior
  • Tesla
  • GM
  • U-M
  • Continental
  • Fiat Chrysler
  • NSF International
  • McKinsey & Company
  • Whirlpool Corporation
  • Shell
  • Northrup Grumman

Salaries

Discover the value of a master’s degree!

On average, U-M graduates with a master’s degree in an engineering field can earn 15-25% more than those with a bachelor’s degree in engineering. Use the link below to research average salaries based on a U-M engineering master’s degree, experience level, and desired work location.