Master of Science in Energy and Sustainable Development (with Optional Placement Year)

at De Montfort University United Kingdom

With a rich heritage from the end of the 19th century to the contemporary footwear industry, this degree will help to equip you with the skills and experience to set you apart in the fashion sector. You will be working directly with industry professionals and big brands to gain valuable insights into new products and technologies.  

Throughout the course your shoe design and technical making skills will be developed, emphasising the crucial relationship between design and manufacture and the needs of the footwear industry. You can specialise in performance footwear, which is unique for a UK university, or men’s, women’s, or children’s footwear.

You will develop drawing and illustration, bespoke biomechanics and model prototyping skills, along with the ability to present and communicate ideas and concepts to a high professional standard. You will learn technical modern shoemaking skills and make a range of prototype shoes using our excellent specialist studio facilities, including 3D design equipment.

The future of the design industry lies in advancing technology and emerging digital techniques. Whether your creative specialism lies in media, products, interiors, exhibitions, fashion or branding and marketing, on this course you will explore and embrace digital and design related technologies in your field.

You can specialise in technologies such as user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design, mobile app design, e-learning, virtual and augmented reality, 2D and 3D animation, 3D digital printing, digital display and projection design, visual and special effects for TV and film, interactive kiosk and installation design, wearable devices and smart clothing. The course is designed for students with a good working knowledge of multimedia software tools such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator Flash, Dreamweaver and After Effects, and 3D software such as Autodesk MAYA or 3DMax, providing an opportunity to develop these technical skills to an advanced level.

You will examine the practical skills and the academic theories surrounding digital design methods. We will take you all the way from concept development and prototyping to production techniques and testing. In-depth insight into each stage of the creative production process will be supported by training in project management. This broad base of specialised skills will equip you for wide-ranging creative careers as digital designers, web and app developers, and multimedia production directors, while the understanding you will build of business planning and web presence management will teach you the key skills needed to launch a freelance career.

With us, you will gain real-world experience through live design projects, with the opportunity to collaborate with students from other disciplines. Through your major project (either creative practice based or research focused) you will have the freedom to draw on your learning and respond creatively to your chosen specialism.

Throughout the course we will empower and support you to challenge conventions, experiment boldly, and take risks. Prepare to embrace new ways of thinking and innovative approaches to contemporary design challenges, with a sophisticated suite of devices and industry software and hardware  for you to realise your creative visions.

The English language is one of the most widely spoken across the world. This program will enrich your understanding of the form, culture and function of today’s use of the English language, alongside teaching you a second language of either French, Mandarin or Spanish. 

English language is a stimulating, thought-provoking course designed to make you analyse and reflect on how language in general, and English in particular, functions in the world today. You will examine the origins of English and how it could evolve in an era of global change and technological innovation. You will discover how the importance and impact of language in a variety of contexts, both as a complex system for embodying ideas, emotions, and beliefs, and as a means of influencing, persuading, and moving others.

You will be able to develop a set of linguistic and analytical skills which will help you become a highly effective communicator. This is a course about how language shapes your world – by learning and understanding how language works, we can help the world open up to you.

Alongside your English language curriculum, you can choose to study French, Mandarin or Spanish from either beginner level or post-beginner level. You will develop your linguistic skills and gain an understanding of the social, cultural, political, historical, and artistic topics from the Francophone, Chinese or Hispanophone world.

Learn about the diverse roles and responsibilities of a fashion buyer and merchandiser, and explore the associated roles that are key within the modern fashion industry.

You’ll develop in-depth knowledge of the buying cycle and the critical path, and key activities around trading the range, reacting to sales and managing sales promotions. The merchandising pathway focuses on the numbers behind buying a fashion range, its selection process and strategic stock management.

We will nurture your professional practice through personal development planning, as well as guided research and critical reasoning. We place strong emphasis on sustainability and social responsibility, ensuring that you will graduate with the tools to drive innovation at all stages of the buying process.

The fashion industry is evolving with the shift in fashion retailing from high street to commerce. We work alongside industry professionals to put your learning into context and will equip you with the skills and adaptability to take on the challenges of our rapidly changing industry.

Energy Engineering MSc will give you an in-depth understanding of contemporary issues in energy and sustainability, and will develop your knowledge of experimental and computer modelling techniques for the design of energy systems, such as electricity grids, thermal energy networks and transportation systems.

You can choose from a range of modules to focus on either sustainable development in practice, sustainability in the built environment, or techniques of energy analysis. The course is informed by research from the Institute of Energy and Sustainable Development (IESD) so that you develop industry-relevant and up-to-date knowledge and expertise.

With a rich heritage from the end of the 19th century to the contemporary footwear industry, this degree will help to equip you with the skills and experience to set you apart in the fashion sector. You will be working directly with industry professionals and big brands to gain valuable insights into new products and technologies.  

Throughout the course your shoe design and technical making skills will be developed, emphasising the crucial relationship between design and manufacture and the needs of the footwear industry. You can specialise in performance footwear, which is unique for a UK university, or men’s, women’s, or children’s footwear.

You will develop drawing and illustration, bespoke biomechanics and model prototyping skills, along with the ability to present and communicate ideas and concepts to a high professional standard. You will learn technical modern shoemaking skills and make a range of prototype shoes using our excellent specialist studio facilities, including 3D design equipment.

Computational Intelligence (CI) encompasses the techniques and methods used to tackle problems that traditional approaches to computing struggle to solve. The four areas of fuzzy logic, neural networks, CI optimisation and knowledge-based systems encompass much of what is considered to be computational (or artificial) intelligence. There are also opportunities to apply what you learn in areas such as robot control and games development, depending on your interests.

You can choose from a number of specialist modules including natural language processing, artificial neural networks and data mining techniques, while developing your skills in our dedicated robotics laboratory, equipped with a variety of mobile robots. The applied computational intelligence module considers knowledge-based systems, as well as the historical, philosophical and future implications of AI, and focuses on current research and applications in the area.   

The Creative Writing MA is a practice-led programme, giving you the chance to develop your writing in chosen areas, or experiment with new forms and genres through exploratory writing exercises and craft challenges. The programme is designed to develop your writing practice in both research and professional contexts and so you will follow both craft and writing industry-focused modules. You will have the opportunity to graduate with an advanced understanding of the professional landscape and how to use the skills you have acquired to forge a career in a range of contexts.

The taught modules are divided into three areas. Researching as a Writer involves exploring practice research methodologies and research skills, giving you a toolbox for discussion of your practice from a theoretical perspective. Developing Writing covers a range of genre opportunities and exploratory writing tasks, while Writing Ecosystems focuses on networking, performance, manuscript presentation and publishing advice.

The programme culminates in a dissertation in which you will work independently on an extended creative writing project in a form or genre of your choice, with tutor guidance and feedback. You will shape and grow projects to a professional standard, while also learning how to provide a theoretical basis to discuss and conceptualise your practice.

You will also be encouraged to participate in the Leicester Centre for Creative Writing research culture and public engagement events, such as independent book festival States of Independence. Our diverse community of writers work in a wide range of forms and genres including long and short fiction, science fiction, autobiographical, crime, literary and experimental, as well as performance, poetry of all kinds, digital work and scripts for radio, independent film and graphic novel.

Accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), this course puts you at the forefront of specialist areas of electrical and electronic engineering and will help you master a skillset that meets industry needs. You will study a range of core topics, including Electronic Circuits and Systems and Embedded Systems, and choose from optional modules, such as Mobile Communication and Advanced Power Electronics and Applications, to tailor the course to your interests.

Whether you opt for the three-year BEng (Hons) programme or the four-year integrated master's MEng, our experienced staff will further your understanding of electrical and electronic engineering principles, and will also develop your design, research and project management skills.  

In your final year you will focus on a substantial piece of individual research or product development work targeted to your interests, giving you the opportunity to showcase your understanding and skills.

Our dedicated facilities are divided into several specialised areas each featuring experimental equipment, such as: general electronics and assembly, digital electronics and microprocessor engineering supported by state-of-the-art measurement devices and workstations, power electronics, control systems and communications engineering, and Smart Grid.

Mechanical engineering touches virtually every aspect of modern life. It’s at the forefront of developing new technologies for a multitude of industries including transport, healthcare, construction, and robotics.

You will learn fundamental skills and knowledge by studying core modules such as Engineering Mathematics, Mechanical Principles and Machines and Mechanisms. You will be able to take optional modules such as Design for 3D Printing, Bioengineering and Emerging Materials and Processes to tailor the course to your interests. Modules such as Product Design, Project Management and Engineering Business Environment equip you with the professional skills you need to work in industry.