Renewable Energy Systems – Environmental and Process Engineering
HAW Hamburg · Hamburg, Germany
QS World University Ranking: N/A
Quick Overview
Apply Now📘 Program Overview
Germany is at the forefront of renewable energy technologies, and Hamburg is a leading centre for renewable energy industries and research institutions. HAW Hamburg is a key player in the city’s energy cluster, and renewable energy engineering is a major discipline supported by teaching and research at the university’s energy campus.
The international Master’s degree course in Renewable Energy Systems looks at the technology and engineering of wind, solar and bio-energy systems as well as downstream systems for energy transformation and distribution, with a focus on systems engineering. In addition to lectures, project and lab work are an essential part of the programme, and you complete your Master thesis in your third semester, usually in an industrial setting.
🎯 Course & Curriculum
Course structure
- Numerical Mathematics
- Data Acquisition and Processing
- Wind Energy
- Bioenergy - Biofuels
- Solar Energy - PV Systems
- Solar Energy - Converter
- Electives (from the elective module options)
- Energy Conversion and Distribution
- Electrical Engineering
- Numerical Simulation for Renewable Energy Systems
- Advanced Control Systems
- Plant Engineering and Project Management
- Project Work
- Energy Practice
- Energy Policy and Finance
- Master Thesis (3rd semester)
Curriculum
Master of Science programme; credits are published as CP (credits points) in the official module handbook.
| Semester | No. of modules | Module / subject category | ECTS | Semester total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st semester | Compulsory modules in the first semester | Solar Energy - Converter | 5 | 30 |
| Electrical Engineering | 5 | |||
| Numerical Simulation for Renewable Energy Systems | 5 | |||
| Advanced Control Systems | 5 | |||
| Wind Energy Conversion - Converter | 5 | |||
| Renewable Energy Systems - Fundamentals | 5 | |||
| 2nd semester | Compulsory modules in the second semester | Energy Conversion and Distribution | 5 | 30 |
| Plant Engineering and Project Management | 5 | |||
| Energy Practice | 5 | |||
| Energy Policy and Finance | 5 | |||
| Electives | 5 | |||
| Project Work | 5 | |||
| 3rd semester | Master thesis semester | Master Thesis | 30 | 30 |
| Total | Compulsory modules, electives, project work, and Master Thesis | 90 CP | ||
Career outcomes
- You build systems-engineering expertise across wind, solar, and bioenergy and their downstream energy transformation and distribution, which matches how renewable energy projects are designed and operated in Germany.
- You gain engineering-ready experience through laboratory work and projects, so you can contribute in technical teams for renewable energy technology and system integration.
- You learn process simulation techniques and computational simulation approaches used for renewable energy systems, helping you work in roles that require modelling and technical evaluation of energy systems.
- You develop control, electrical engineering, and distribution knowledge that supports career paths in smart grids, grid integration, and energy conversion engineering.
- You complete your Master thesis in an industrial setting in the renewables sector (typically), giving you job-relevant experience and a smoother transition into employment.
- You strengthen business and management capabilities alongside engineering training, supporting roles that move beyond pure technical execution into planning, project leadership, and evaluation.
Employability rate
Graduates of renewable energy systems and energy engineering in Germany typically see an employability rate of around 86% and an unemployment rate of about 14%, reflecting steady hiring linked to renewable energy deployment and grid integration projects.
Together, these figures point to a generally stable career outlook with reliable opportunities in engineering, project delivery, and technical advisory roles.
✅ Entry Requirements
Academic qualification
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) | International applicants need a Bachelor's degree or a comparable course of studies in a related discipline, or a German Diplom from a university worth 210 ECTS. The program also requires sound knowledge of mathematics, physics, IT, electrical engineering, thermodynamics, environmental process engineering, and CAD, plus demonstrated knowledge of specialist course-relevant engineering subjects. |
| ECTS credit requirement for the first degree | International applicants whose first degree consists of 180 ECTS must acquire another 30 ECTS during the first semester of their studies. The department decides which examinations and tuition must be completed, and applicants are temporarily admitted and enrolled for one term to complete the missing 30 ECTS. |
Module matching by study area
| Study area | Match possible? | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering & Technology | Direct match | The program is open to applicants with a Bachelor’s (or equivalent) degree in environmental engineering, process engineering, or related engineering fields such as electrical or mechanical engineering. |
Language requirements
The Master’s program is taught in English. For international applicants, HAW Hamburg requires proof of English language ability and may also accept certain certificates based on previous education abroad.
TOEFL iBT
IELTS Academic
MOI (Medium of Instruction)
MOI waiver details are not published for this programme. See the English test requirements above.
Other accepted proofs
Exam / assessment
| Component | Required? | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Graduate Record Examination (GRE) | conditional | Applicants holding a first academic degree from non-EU countries require the GRE. Further information is provided by the university in its admissions information for this master’s program. |
💶 Fees & Funding
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Semester fee | EUR 397 / per semester | Semester contribution including semester ticket and Germany-wide rail pass. |
Proof of financial resources
Important dates
Application window
| Milestone | April - Winter intake | October - Summer intake |
|---|---|---|
| Application portal opens | April 01, 2026 | October 01, 2026 |
| Application deadline (final submit) | May 15, 2026 | November 15, 2026 |
| Application deadline (EU students) | N/A | N/A |
| Application deadline (Non-EU students) | N/A | N/A |
| Recommended apply-by | N/A | N/A |
| Semester begins | October 01, 2026 | October 01, 2026 |
Pre-application & reviews
| Milestone | April - Winter intake | October - Summer intake |
|---|---|---|
| VPD request - recommended | N/A | N/A |
| VPD result expected | N/A | N/A |
| APS - recommended | N/A | N/A |
| Start eligibility check | N/A | N/A |
Document submission deadlines
| Milestone | April - Winter intake | October - Summer intake |
|---|---|---|
| Application submission deadline | May 15, 2026 | November 15, 2026 |
| Document submission deadline (EU students) | N/A | N/A |
| Document submission deadline (Non-EU students) | N/A | N/A |
| Language certificate deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Official transcripts deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Certified translations deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Postal / hard-copy documents deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Missing documents (if requested) | N/A | N/A |
📝 How to Apply
Prepare eligibility checks and required reviews
Review the program’s admission requirements for international applicants, including degree background and English language proof. If you are applying with a first academic degree from non-EU countries, also prepare for the GRE requirement as stated by the university. International students also require a VPD (preliminary review documentation) from uni-assist, which you should obtain before submitting the HAW Hamburg application. Start early so you can request the VPD and compile all required documents in time.
Submit the online application in the published application window
Submit your application online during the program’s active application periods. For the winter semester, the application period runs from 1 April to 15 May, and for the next semester (second semester in the program schedule) it runs from 1 October to 15 November. The online process is activated only during these periods, so applications outside the window are not possible. Complete the application form in myHAW and upload all necessary documents there.
Upload documents and submit by the deadline
Upload your certificates and supporting documents in the required format through the myHAW application form. Make sure your English test (or accepted English certificate evidence) matches the minimum requirements stated for international applicants. If your profile requires it, upload the GRE documentation and the VPD documentation as part of the application process. Re-check all document uploads before you submit to avoid missing information.