Studies & Degrees in Energy Engineering
Energy Engineering Study Programs
Universidad Europea de Madrid
Energy engineering deals with how energy is produced, converted, stored, distributed and used. The Pennsylvania State University describes it as a multidisciplinary field that combines principles of materials, mechanical, electrical and chemical engineering with environmental science, systems thinking and economics. It covers conventional sources such as oil and gas as well as solar power, wind, biofuels and hydropower.
Students start with mathematics, physics and chemistry and move on to thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, heat transfer and electrical engineering. Later courses deal with specific technologies and with the economics of energy. The Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, for example, lists solar and wind energy, nuclear energy, cogeneration of electricity and heat, thermal power plants, fossil fuels and energy markets among the areas of its degree, all from an environmental and sustainability perspective.
Qualifications and levels
- Bachelor's degree in Spain. Official bachelor's degrees (grados) have 240 ECTS credits and take four years. The Grado en Ingeniería de la Energía of the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid has two common years followed by two pathways: energy management and use, and energy technologies. The Universidad de Sevilla teaches its Grado en Ingeniería de la Energía, of 240 credits over four years, as a joint degree with the Universidad de Málaga. The Universidad de Huelva lists a Grado en Ingeniería Energética, a new degree in renewable energies and hydrogen technology, and a double degree that combines electrical and energy engineering.
- Bachelor's degree in the United States. The Bachelor of Science in Energy Engineering at Penn State requires a minimum of 131 credits. Students must first pass chemistry, calculus and physics courses with a minimum grade before they enter the major. Other universities offer the subject as an addition to another engineering degree: Washington University in St. Louis lists an Energy Engineering Minor in its department of energy, environmental and chemical engineering.
- Master's degree. Official master's degrees in Spain have 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits. In Germany, the Master of Science in Power Engineering at the Technische Universität München (TUM) deals with power plant engineering and electricity generation, has 120 ECTS credits and a standard duration of four semesters, and requires proof of English.
- Doctorate. Research in areas such as energy storage, grids, hydrogen or nuclear technology is done at PhD level after a master's degree.
Degree names vary: energy engineering, energy technology, power engineering, or renewable energy engineering. Compare the study plans, because some programmes lean towards electrical systems and others towards thermal processes, fuels or mining.
Where to study
SpainExchange lists 10 active schools for energy engineering: six in Spain, three in the United States and one in Germany. In Spain they are the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, the Universidad de Sevilla, the Universidad de Huelva, the Universidad de Vigo, the Universidad de Oviedo and the Universidad de Extremadura (Badajoz campus). In the United States the list includes Penn State, Washington University in St. Louis and Butler University, and in Germany the Technische Universität München.
The Spanish bachelor's degrees are taught mainly in Spanish, and the programmes in the United States in English. At master's level some programmes in non-English-speaking countries, such as the one at TUM, ask for English. Check the language of instruction and the required certificate on each programme page.
Careers
Energy engineers work for electricity and gas utilities, renewable energy developers, equipment manufacturers, engineering consultancies, industrial plants with high energy use, and public energy agencies. Typical tasks are designing and operating generation plants, planning grids and storage, auditing energy use in buildings and industry, and analysing energy markets.
According to the International Energy Agency, the energy sector employed 76 million people worldwide in 2024, and energy employment grew faster than employment in the wider economy for the third year in a row. Solar photovoltaics accounted for half of the jobs added in the electricity sector since 2019. Under current policy settings the agency expects energy employment to grow by a further 3.4 to 4.6 million by 2035. In the United States, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of mechanical engineers to grow 11 percent and of electrical and electronics engineers 8 percent from 2025 to 2035; it does not publish a separate projection for energy engineers.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a degree in energy engineering take?
In Spain the bachelor's degree has 240 ECTS credits over four years. At Penn State the Bachelor of Science requires at least 131 credits. A master's degree adds one to two years: 60 to 120 ECTS credits in Spain, 120 ECTS credits at TUM.
What is the difference between energy engineering and electrical engineering?
Electrical engineering concentrates on electrical machines, circuits and power systems. Energy engineering looks at the whole chain, from the source to the final use, and adds thermal, chemical and economic aspects. Several universities combine both, as in the double degree at the Universidad de Huelva.
Which school subjects do I need?
Mathematics, physics and chemistry. At Penn State, for example, entry to the major depends on minimum grades in chemistry, calculus and physics courses.
Can I study energy engineering in English in Europe?
At master's level, yes in some cases: the Power Engineering master's at TUM asks applicants for proof of English. The Spanish bachelor's degrees listed are taught mainly in Spanish.