Smart Grids, Electrical Engineering
Smart grids for smart people and smart systems
Electrification of energy system and whole society is the most important tool for mitigating the climate change. Increasing penetration of renewable energy sources like wind and solar power, electric vehicles and heat pumps is needed to reduce fossil carbon emissions and to reduce total energy usage. Huge investments and development are ongoing on these areas at the moment globally.
Smart grids are designed to enhance the effectiveness, stability and reliability of the electricity systems and to integrate distributed energy resources into system management. They are essential for increasing the share of renewable energy sources without compromising competitiveness and system security.
The Master's Programme in Smart Grids develops systems thinking skills and provides students with a comprehensive range of technical design and analysis skills in electrical power engineering. Suitable backgrounds include Bachelor of Science (Technology) degrees in electrical power engineering, power electronics, electricity markets, energy management, renewable energy sources or similar.
Our education is based on long-standing research in Smart Grids. Please see information about research groups Electric power systems and Smart Grids, High voltage engineering, Grid-Connected Power Electronic, Power electronics, and Electromechanics and some examples of recent research projects INTERRFACE, Optimal voltage regulation, Gridable, Prosumer centric energy communities – towards energy ecosystem, Social Energy - Prosumer Centric Energy Ecosystem (ProCem) and Finnish Solar Revolution (FSR).
Get to know Electrical Engineering unit of the Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences (ITC)
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Tuition fee for non-EU/EEA citizens
Link to scholarship programme
The scope of the Master's Programme in Smart Grids includes everything from component level to networks (distribution and transmission grids) and systems (electricity market and ICT/automation).
While the renewable electricity is cost-efficient to produce and deliver, the storage of variable renewable electricity in large scale is still a challenge. Traditional load following control principle of electricity system, must be changed to direction of production following, where demand response, batteries and so call sector coupling will be utilized for power system balancing together with the control of generators. The systemic change of whole electricity system requires strong technical knowledge of electricity technology and system, development of novel electricity and flexibility markets and application of latest ICT, control, signal processing, etc. technologies to name few of them. However, the most important is to have will and courage to rethink decades old traditions.
Smart grid is a concept to design and operate future electricity system, which is tightly integrated with flexibility services provided by prosumers, aggregators, microgrids and energy communities. Electricity system becomes a system of systems, where several subsystems are cooperating. All these changes will impact to all system layers from technical component layer to functional and business layers of all electricity system stakeholders like transmission and distribution system operators, energy retailers, producers and consumers/prosumers.
After completing the programme, our graduates will be qualified to work in electricity companies like production, grid, retail, aggregation or trading business, the power engineering industry in manufacturing, operation and maintenance, testing and configuration or software business and research institutes and have the knowledge and skills to develop and utilize technologies and applications in areas such as production and grid design and operation, active network management, integration of distributed energy resources, microgrids, hybrid electricity solutions and energy management.
The official language of the programme is English, meaning that all the courses, exams and student services are arranged in English. Consequently, proficiency in both written and spoken English is an absolute prerequisite. Students are required to submit an approved certificate of their language proficiency when applying for admission. In addition, students are required to complete a course in the Finnish language. The course introduces them to everyday Finnish and Finnish culture.
The studies in Smart Grids combine technical knowledge and skills related to electric power engineering with broader viewpoints of control, electricity markets and ICT/automation. The study module and courses explore existing practices and possible future ideas to design, implement and maintain smart grids, which are a critical infrastructure of future electricity systems. The study module includes two options that allows students to choose the focus area and to deepen their practical knowledge and skills in the field. Our University conducts research in various fields related to smart grids, and new knowledge created through research is integrated into teaching. The courses combine theoretical understanding and analysis with the "learning by doing" approach of computer simulations and laboratory assignments.
We offer our students the opportunity for a broad, cross-disciplinary education. A rich variety of minor studies and supplementary courses are available as well as the opportunity to concentrate purely on major studies. In fact, each degree is a unique combination of studies that the individual student has found most interesting.
The tuition fee of the programme is 12 000 euros per academic year for non-EU/EEA students with a scholarship system for fee-paying students. For more information, please see Tuition Fees and Scholarships.
The programme is comprised of 120 ECTS. Courses are worth 90 ECTS and the remaining 30 ECTS are awarded for successfully completing a Master's thesis. Each ECTS is equal to an average workload of 27 hours, including lectures, exercises, assignments, independent study and an examination. The duration of the programme is two years. Students spend three semesters completing courses and one semester preparing the final project (Master's thesis). They start their studies in late August, and the academic year ends in late May.
For more information, please see the Curriculum.
After completing the programme, you will be qualified to pursue a wide range of career opportunities in different fields of electric power systems and smart grids. You will have the knowledge and skills to pursue a career in industry or continue your studies towards a doctorate (PhD) in Finland or abroad.
Companies that manufacture electrical and specialised smart grid components and systems are looking for employees to take up design, research and development, project management and marketing roles. Electricity production, transmission and distribution companies, energy retailers and other power companies are also looking for employees for similar positions. In addition to these traditional employers, there is a growing number of services (building, maintenance, consultation, information exchange, energy saving, market analysis, electricity trading, etc.), software vendors and start-up companies specialising in the energy business and smart grids.
In addition to studies in one’s own programme, students may take full advantage of the teaching offered by the Tampere higher education community ranging from technical to vocational studies in various fields.
Carefully read through the general eligibility criteria and the programme-specific eligibility criteria and see whether you meet them. For additional questions on applying, application documents and application process, please contact our Admissions office. For questions regarding the content of the programme, please contact ee.studies@tuni.fi.
Click to see the admissions criteria
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Eligibility criteria in the master's programmes consist of two parts: Tampere University's general eligibility criteria, and programme-specific eligibility criteria, which specify and/or add information to the general criteria. Applicant must meet both to be considered eligible. Applicants who do not meet both the general eligibility and the programme-specific eligibility criteria will not be selected as students in Tampere University.
General eligibility
To be eligible to apply to a master’s programme at Tampere University, you must have:
1. Bachelor’s degree - nationally recognized first cycle degree
- an applicable bachelor’s degree at a university or a university of applied sciences in Finland
- a bachelor's degree completed in a university outside Finland which provides eligibility for equivalent University master’s degree studies in the country in which it was awarded.
- with a minimum scope of 180 ECTS credits, three to four years of full-time study
- from a relevant field for the master’s degree programme that you’re applying to
- from a recognised institution of higher education
2. A good command of the English language for academic purposes. For more information, please see Language requirements.
Applicants in their final year of the bachelor’s degree, who are due to graduate in the spring of 2022, are eligible to apply if the degree will be completed by 31 July 2022, provided that you fulfil all other requirements and deliver officially certified copies of educational documents by 22 August 2022. In this case, they would be accepted conditionally. Their applications will be assessed based on the officially certified transcript of records which they submit at the time of applying. Please see special instructions for applicants in the final year of the Bachelor's degree.
Admission to studies leading directly to a master's degree will be based on the applicant’s bachelor's degree conferred by a university or a university of applied sciences. Depending on programme-specific admission requirements, the programme may take into account skills previously acquired by applicants when considering applications.
Please see detailed information on the General eligibility criteria web page.
Programme specific eligibility criteria
The previous degree should be from a field closely related to the Master's Programme you are applying to. In the specialisation of Smart Grids in the Master’s Programme in Electrical Engineering the previous degree has to be in one of the following (or highly related) fields:
- electrical engineering or other applicable field with proficiency in mathematics, physics and elementary programming skills
An admission score will be calculated for all applicants who meet the minimum requirements.For applicants who have completed their degree in a University of Applied Sciences (AMK) or a University in Finland the required minimum GPA is the same as in the admission to the Master’s degree programmes offered in Finnish.
Minimum GPA for Bachelor of Engineering degrees completed in a Finnish University of Applied Sciences (AMK):
3,20/5
Minimum GPA for Bachelor's degrees completed in a Finnish university (yliopisto):
2,80/5
When counting the unrounded GPA (calculated to two decimal points) weighted by ECTS only the courses (incl. thesis) with numeric grade value are taken into account. Applicants in their final year of Bachelor’s degree must meet the minimum cumulative GPA when applying and after graduation.
If you have not yet graduated from your current institution, you may receive a conditional offer of admission. The offer will be withdrawn if your final GPA falls below the minimum requirements.
When applying to a master’s programme at Tampere University, you must submit evidence of your good command of the English language for academic purposes. You have two options of demonstrating your English language proficiency: language tests or previous studies.
In both cases you must submit a document as a proof of language skills. Please see detailed instructions and additional information on the language requirements web page.
Tests and the required minimum results
TOEFL iBT/ TOEFL iBT Home Edition/ TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition
92 overall with no section below 20
IELTS Academic/ IELTS Indicator
6.5 overall with no section below 5.5
PTE Academic
62 overall with no section in Communicative Skills below 42
C1 Advanced, previous as CAE
C
C2 Proficiency, previous as CPE
C1
National Certificate of Language, Proficiency (English)
Proficiency level 5 on all the subtests (reading, writing, listening and speaking).
Please see detailed instructions and additional information on the language tests accepted on the language requirements web page.
Previous studies
It is possible to be exempted from submitting a language test score if you have completed particular studies listed by Tampere University that demonstrate your good command of English for academic purposes. Only studies that fulfill the criteria will be accepted, so if you apply without a valid language test result, carefully examine the exemptions listed by Tampere University and how to submit documents.
30 students for the programme in Electrical Engineering.
The Master's Programme in Electrical Engineering includes the following specialisations: 1) Power Electronics and Electromechanics, 2) Smart Grids and 3) Wireless Communications and RF Systems.
Students are selected to the programme from those applicants who submit a complete application (application and sufficient application documents) by the deadline and fulfil the official eligibility criteria.
The student selection is made by an admissions committee based on the academic qualifications and merits shown in the application documents. Please note that not all applicants fulfilling the requirements can be admitted.
Students admitted to a Master’s programme may be required to complement their earlier degree with complementary studies. The complementary studies will be decided at the faculty case by case (maximum 60 ECTS credits).
The number of eligible applicants annually exceeds the number of students that can be accepted. The student selection is made by an admissions committee based on the academic qualifications and merits shown in the application documents. Please note that not all applicants fulfilling the requirements can be admitted.
Student admission will be based on the faculty’s academic assessment of applicants’ prior degree and the merits presented in their application documents. Applicants will be ranked according to an admission score that is calculated based on their existing degree, proficiency in the English language and other supporting factors.
Admission points (maximum 100 points) are given in the following categories:
- Previous qualifications maximum 60 points
- English language skills maximum 10 points:
- Other relevant factors that support the application maximum 30 points
The main supporting documents attached to the application, which are considered when calculating the admission score, are a CV and a letter of motivation.
An admission score will be calculated for all applicants who meet the minimum requirements. Applicants will be divided into three groups based on their preferred study option and their existing qualifications (degrees completed in Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences / in Finnish universities / foreign degrees). Please see the section on Eligibility for the required minimum GPA for applicants who have completed their degree in a University of Applied Sciences (AMK) or a University in Finland.
Admissions step-by-step checklist
- Check the general eligibility and programme-specific eligibility criteria of the programme/s you wish to apply. You are allowed to apply to three programmes at the same time.
- Read through the instructions on how to apply and start preparing your application documents as early as possible!
- Take a language test if required, please see the language requirements.
- When the application period opens, fill in the online application at Studyinfo.fi during the application period and upload required enclosures to the application. The application period is 8 December 2021 at 8.00 (UTC+2) - 12 January 2022 at 15.00 (UTC+2).
- Upload all required enclosures and send the educational documents by post to Tampere University Admissions Office within two weeks, by 26 January 2022 at 15.00 (UTC+2). The documents must reach the University by the given deadline and they must be delivered according to the country-specific requirements, if applicable.
- You can apply for a scholarship on the application form, if applicable.
- Wait for the admission results to be announced at early April 2022 (Originally end of March. Information updated on 23.2.2022).
- If you are offered a study place, remember to accept it by the given deadline. Pay the tuition fee, if required.
- Start preparing for your arrival in Finland well in advance.
- Register as a student and join the Tampere University community when the studies start in August 2022!
Additional information on application process in detail.
Online application form
The online application form will be available only during the application period at Studyinfo.fi. The application period starts on 8 December 2021 at 8.00 (UTC+2) and ends on 12 January 2022 at 15.00 (UTC+2).
You will need to upload copies of all required documents as enclosures on the application form. In addition to the general application enclosures, some programmes have listed additional programme-specific enclosures that are needed when applying to these specific programmes.
In addition to uploading the application documents as enclosures to your application form in Studyinfo.fi, you must submit the officially certified copies of your educational documents to Tampere University Admissions Office by post according to the Tampere University instructions. Applicants whose degrees have been awarded in certain countries need to pay special attention to the documentation and documents from these countries must be submitted in a particular way. These country-specific requirements must always be followed first and foremost, prior to the regular requirements.
Applicants must post the educational documents to Tampere University Admissions Office so that they arrive by 26 January 2022 at 15.00 (UTC+2). Please see the list of the required general application enclosures and detailed instructions on the Application documents webpage.
There are no programme-specific enclosures when applying to this programme.
There is a small delay in the admissions process and the admission results will be published in early April 2022 (Originally end of March. Information updated on 23.2.2022). All applicants will be informed about the admissions results.
Please see additional information regarding the publication of student selection results and Tampere University rectification procedure.
Open university route applications
- Admissions based on Tampere University open university route studies
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You will be eligible to apply for admission through this route if you are studying on the Open University MSc route in Tampere University during the academic year 2021-2022 and completing a set of required courses by the given deadline (15 June, 2022) and your academic performance meets the requirements. The MSc route studies define for which degree programme the applicant can apply for. The Degree Requirements of Tampere University will apply to the granting of a study right to applicants applying through the Open University route.
The Open University MSc routes are meant for applicants already residing in Finland with a suitable BSc degree for MSc studies. The open university organizes an application round for the routes annually (usually once a year). More information on how to enroll for an Open University MSc route in 2022 can be found on the webpage of the Open University.
As the admission is based on studies completed at the Open University of Tampere University, you will not be required to separately demonstrate your language proficiency.
All fulfilling the minimum criteria will be accepted.
The scope of route studies is 20–30 credits, depending on the study programme. You must meet the requirements set for the degree programme in question. Programme-specific requirements 2021-2022 can be found on the webpage of the Open university routes taught in English.
Please apply for admission through the electronic application system used by Finnish higher education institutions at studyinfo.fi.
Information about applying will be sent by email to students on the Open university route before the application period begins in May 2022.
MSc route students who wish to apply as degree students must attach the following documents to their application:
- A copy of your original Bachelor’s degree certificate and transcript of records
If the original documents are issued in some other language than English, Finnish or Swedish, please also attach official translations of the documents.
You will not have to attach a transcript listing the courses you have completed at our Open University to your application. We will verify that you have completed the required courses through our electronic student records system. We will consider studies which are registered by 15 June, 2022 in our study register.
You might be required to attach a document that demonstrates that you may be exempted from paying the tuition fees. Should you be considered a fee-paying student, you will also be asked whether you wish to apply for a scholarship offered within the Tampere University Scholarships Programme and further instructed on the attachments required for the application.
There is no waiting list for the Open University route.
The admission results will come out no later than 8 July 2022. We will notify all applicants of our admission decision. You can also log in to My Studyinfo at studyinfo.fi to check the status of your application.
Applicants are entitled to appeal a decision where they feel that the assessment of their application has not met the standards. Such an appeal must be made in writing and submitted to Tampere University within 14 days of the release of the admission results. Appeals must arrive before 15.00 on the final day of the appeal period. If the results are not released on the announced date, the fourteen-day appeal period will begin to run on the day following the release of the results.
The appeal should be delivered in one of the following ways:
1) Scan the document and send it by email to tau [at] tuni.fi () (pdf or docx)
2) Send the document by post and deliver it to: Admissions Office, FI-33014 Tampere University, Finland
3) Deliver the document in person to the Info Desk of the Main Building at our City Centre Campus: Kalevantie 4, 33100 Tampere
The possible reconsideration of an application following receipt of an appeal will not affect the admission of other applicants.
For additional information, please contact the Tampere University Admissions Services.
