Master’s in Smart Grids
Program overview
The Master’s in Smart Grids (MSG) is a Master of Science degree comprising 90 ECTS credits, delivered by the University of Strathclyde and the ICAI School of Engineering, in close collaboration with Iberdrola. The main objective of the program is to meet the growing demand for engineers needed to lead the ongoing digitalisation of the electricity grid.
This programme provides students with a detailed understanding of the operation and planning of grids within this new paradigm, alongside the new business opportunities and models emerging in this constantly evolving field. It has been developed in close collaboration with Iberdrola. This partnership ensures both the practical aspect, thanks to industry involvement, and the academic rigour of the courses.
The international experience is one of the Program’s most appealing features
Students not only spend one semester each in Spain and Scotland, but also undertake work placements at any of the international offices of the partner organisations.
- CentersIngeniería (Comillas ICAI)
- LanguagesInglés
- CertificationMásteres propios
- ModalityIn person
- Duration1 año (90 ECTS)
- Starts On01/09/2027
Si necesitas más información puedes rellenar el siguiente formulario y recibirás información de este programa.
You will study in Madrid and Glasgow
About the programme
One step ahead
POWER NETWORKS: ESSENTIAL FOR THE ENERGY TRANSITION
The IEA estimates that global investment in power networks must double from current levels, reaching $750 billion a year by 2030.
DIGITISATION
It is the most efficient way to support the deployment and upgrading of power networks.
NEW TALENT AND SKILLS
Both are much needed – this Master’s in Smart Grids is the perfect program to lead the energy transition.
What makes us different?
Internships
Supervised work placement hours with our partner companies.
Employability
Employment rate of Comillas ICAI graduates.
Alumni
Number of alumni registered with Comillas Alumni (in thousands).
Study Plan
Study Plan
Master’s in Smart Grids / MSG
This Master’s degree lasts one year (90 ECTS). Alternatively, it may be completed over a period of two years, in conjunction with the Official Master’s Degree in Industrial Engineering (MII) or the Official Master’s Degree in Telecommunications Engineering (MIT).
Fundamentals of Power Systems or Fundamentals of Telecommunications (3 ECTS)
- Telecommunications: The aim of this course is to develop a basic understanding of the fundamental principles of telecommunications. The course focuses not only on the transmission systems and techniques currently used to transmit information at high speeds, but also explores the fundamental concepts of signal modulation and propagation.
- Power Systems: The aim of this course is to provide students with a solid grounding in power systems, enabling them to tackle more advanced concepts.
Regulation and New Business Models (7.5 ECTS)
- The course offers an in-depth, interdisciplinary perspective on the electricity sector, with regulation at the heart of the network business, serving as the link between engineering, economic, legal and environmental perspectives.
Operation and Planning of Future Distribution Networks (7.5 ECTS)
- The aim of this course is to develop an understanding of the principles and main methodologies underlying the planning and operation of distribution networks, to understand how distributed energy resources affect these activities, and to comprehend the technical solutions that distribution network operators need to implement in order to address the new challenges of the Smart Grid.
Telecommunications for Smart Grids (7.5 ECTS)
- The aim of this course is to provide students with knowledge of the main technologies and standards used in digital communications. More specifically, the course focuses on technologies that are, or could be, useful in current and future smart grids, respectively. The content will range from a mathematical model of signal transmission to a higher-level overview of the network architecture for Smart Grid networks. Cybersecurity will be a recurring theme throughout this course.
Leadership, Change Management and Corporate Responsibility (4.5 ECTS)
- This course provides the skills and knowledge required to manage staff within dynamic company structures, which are subject to change and challenges as part of a more complex organisation. In addition, the course addresses situations involving ethical and professional dilemmas and their implications, which will not only affect students in their future personal or professional lives, but will also have consequences that extend beyond their own personal lives.
Data Analytics and AI for Energy Systems (5 ECTS)
- A key part of the business case for smart grids is using intelligence and automation to extract greater capacity from existing assets, thereby avoiding significant expenditure on new assets. Furthermore, autonomy and intelligence are key to the flexible operation of smart grids, the integration of low-carbon generation and effective interaction with consumers. This module teaches the key AI and data science methods applicable to smart grids and provides case studies of their application. We are moving towards a future where much more can and will be monitored, and new techniques – utilising data analytics – are needed to fully exploit the data. Topics covered will include machine learning, knowledge-based methods, distributed intelligence methods and architectures, applications in asset management, and applications in network management and control.
Control and Protection of Future Networks (5 ECTS)
- HVDC transmission systems and renewable generation units use power electronic converters rather than synchronous machines to interface with the AC grid. Consequently, traditional control and protection methods designed for conventional power systems may not be able to cope with high levels of renewable energy penetration and long-distance HVDC links.
- The aim of this module is to enable students to understand the principles of control and protection in current and future electrical systems, including:
- The steady-state and dynamic analysis of electrical systems under normal, transient and fault conditions.
- Grid codes and other legislation that affects the functional requirements of protection systems, generation units and HVDC transmission units.
- The main concepts relating to the requirements, functions, design and operation of protection schemes for power system transmission and distribution networks.
- How HVDC and converter-interfaced generation present challenges for system operation and protection system design; but also, how their enhanced controllability offers great potential for enabling new alternative concepts.
Cyber Security and Data Privacy (5 ECTS)
- This module provides an insight into the security requirements of power networks, the basic security primitives that can be used to protect these networks, and an understanding of user security and privacy. It covers the application of security processes to power networks and components, and also discusses case studies of attacks on industrial networks. In addition to covering different methods of encryption (symmetric and asymmetric), the module covers authentication and data integrity, as well as secure system design, vulnerability and threat assessment, and security standards.
Hardware IoT Communications System Design (5 ECTS)
- This module will equip you with the essential skills to design, build and test a sensor network for your smart grid application. The course utilises radio frequency (RF) Internet of Things (IoT) development boards and a range of sensors and radio modules. You will programme the boards to communicate with the sensor nodes and wirelessly transmit data to a gateway and on to a PC receiver or mobile Wi-Fi device. You will analyse the measurement data and create a graphical user interface to display it in a user-friendly manner.
Power Electronics for Transmission and Distribution Networks (5 ECTS)
- Power electronics is one of the key technologies for delivering the flexible power networks required for future low-carbon energy systems. This module will help students to develop the skills and knowledge needed to analyse power electronics-based systems, assess their operation within the wider power network, and identify the key advances that will facilitate their wider adoption.
- In particular, the module will help students develop an understanding of the following areas:
- The operation of power electronics-based energy conversion systems.
- The application of power electronics to transmission and distribution networks.
- The advantages and disadvantages of power electronics in power systems.
5G Communications Networks (5 ECTS)
- This module covers the core principles and operation of packet-based communications networks, leading to the design and operation of future 5G networks. It describes the operation of the key transport layer protocols within the internet architecture, including wired and wireless networks. Specific areas covered include 5G Quality of Service-based networks, and techniques for measuring and reporting network performance and operation.
- The 5G Communications Networks course will also focus on topics relating to cyber security, including browser and HTTP fundamentals, security architecture and security analysis methodologies – highlighting common web vulnerabilities – as well as security management systems, policies and governance.
Créditos
- Internships + Master’s Thesis
30.0 ECTS
Energy plays a key role in tackling the unprecedented challenge we face: climate change.
Professional projection
Telecoms equipment and service providers
Government and Regulatory Bodies
Institutes for Research and Innovation
Energy Sector Consultants
Electricity supply companies
Suppliers of Electrical Equipment and Systems
Research, development and innovation
Doctoral candidates
Faculty
"Be a leader in the digitalisation of the electricity network."
Partner Companies
Admissions process
Follow all the steps in our admissions process and become a Comillas student.
Tuition fees and scholarships
- 10% off for Comillas alumni.
- Financing options will be considered on a case-by-case basis. For further information, please contact the Programme Coordinator.
| Location | Fee for the entire Master’s degree (1 year) | Registration fee | 8 instalments |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK and EU countries | €18,725 | €3,978.90 | €1,843.20 |
| Rest of the world | €24,965 | €3,977.10 | €2,623.50 |
Information for students
The aim of the program is to develop expertise in both the power systems and telecommunications aspects of smart grids.
Academic excellence, combined with work placements on real-world projects at a leading company such as Iberdrola, enables students to acquire new skills that are in high demand within the energy sector.
This type of professional profile is already in high demand within the energy industry worldwide.
Career Opportunities:
- Electricity utilities: Transmission system operators, distribution system operators, retailers, aggregators and new ventures involving distributed energy resources
- Suppliers of electrical equipment and systems
- Suppliers of telecommunications equipment and services
- Government and regulatory bodies
- Research and Innovation Institutes
- Energy sector consultants
Academic Career Paths:
- Research, Development and Innovation
- Doctoral candidates
Watch more
Quality and regulations
ICAI Quotations
Alberto Aguilera, 25.
The long-standing tradition of the ICAI School of Engineering in the education and training of engineers began in Madrid in 1908. Today, Comillas ICAI is a School of Engineering whose academic focus is on Industrial and Telecommunications Engineering.
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Q&A
As places at Comillas are in high demand and limited, the best candidates must be selected through entrance examinations.
Each class has its own tutor, whose role is to help students settle into the group and ensure they achieve good academic results. Furthermore, at Comillas, the teaching system is characterised, amongst other things, by personalised support and a close, ongoing relationship between teachers and students.
The Comillas teaching system is specifically geared towards engaging with the real world of businesses, institutions and organisations, as well as professional practice. The Internship and Employment Office is responsible for arranging work placements for students that are relevant to their studies, with a view to enriching their training. In the 2017–18 academic year, 6,296 student work placements were arranged with companies.
In addition to these work placements managed by the Internship and Employment Office, all degree programmes include a significant number of compulsory external work placements as part of their study plans.
The Internships and Employment Office provides information, guidance and support to help recent graduates enter the labour market and to help Comillas graduates plan their professional careers; to this end, it has an online tool that connects candidates directly with 5,078 companies with which Comillas has a partnership. During the 2017–18 academic year, 1,838 job offers were processed. Of the total number of graduates from the 2018 cohort, 93.22 per cent were in employment or pursuing further studies within six months of completing their studies.
Contact
Prospective Students’ Office
C/ Alberto Aguilera, 21 - 28015 Madrid
Tel.: +34 91 540 61 32
Fax: +34 91 559 65 69
Email: futurosalumnos@comillas.edu
Please check our office hours here.
Director:
Miguel Ángel Sánchez Fornié
masanchez@comillas.edu
Coordinator:
Carlos Mateo Domingo
cmateo@comillas.edu
