Master of Science
MSc Electrical Power Systems Engineering
A multidisciplinary MSc in electrical power systems, tackling global challenges informed by industrial needs and innovative research
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Fees and funding
Fees
Fees for entry in 2027 have not yet been set. For reference, the fees for the academic year beginning September 2026 were as follows:
-
MSc (full-time)
UK students (per annum): £14,700
International, including EU, students (per annum): £38,400
The fees quoted above are fully inclusive of tuition, administration and computational costs.
Fees for entry are subject to yearly review. The University reserves the right to increase your tuition fee by up to 7% each year for courses lasting more than one year, including to reflect rising costs associated with delivering our educational and wider student experience. Postgraduate fees information .
Always contact the admissions team if you are unsure which fee applies to your qualification award and method of attendance.
International student CAS deposit
Self-funded international applicants are required to pay a deposit of £2500 towards their tuition fees before a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) is issued. Some applicants will be required to pay a higher deposit. More information on tuition fee deposits .
Policy on additional costs
All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).
Scholarships/sponsorships
We offer a number of postgraduate taught scholarships and awards to outstanding UK and international students each year.
The University of Manchester is committed to widening participation in master's study, and allocates £300,000 in funding each year. Our Manchester Master's Bursaries are aimed at widening access to master's courses by removing barriers to postgraduate education for students from underrepresented groups.
We also welcome the best and brightest international students each year and reward excellence with a number of merit-based scholarships. See our range of master’s scholarships for international students .
And, if you have completed an undergraduate degree at The University of Manchester, or are currently in your final year of an undergraduate degree with us, you may be eligible for a discount of 10% on tuition fees if you choose to study on a taught postgraduate course here. Find out if you're eligible and how to apply .
For more information on master's tuition fees and studying costs, visit the University of Manchester funding for master's courses website to help you plan your finances.
Course unit details:
Power System Dynamics and Stability
| Unit code | EEEN60342 |
|---|---|
| Credit rating | 15 |
| Unit level | FHEQ level 7 – master's degree or fourth year of an integrated master's degree |
| Teaching period(s) | Semester 2 |
| Offered by | Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering |
| Available as a free choice unit? | No |
Overview
Brief Description Of The Unit
(1) Power System Dynamics (17 hours)
(i) Introduction to the module and review of general dynamic characteristics and control requirements of power systems as well as the classification of power system stability and instability phenomena. (3 hours)
(ii) Modelling of major power system components and controls for power system dynamic studies including (4 hours)
- Review of synchronous generator operation and reduced dynamic models, including associated controllers
- Power system loads, excitation systems and governors and review of transmission lines and transformers models
(iii) Methodologies for small and large disturbances stability studies including power system modal analysis, equal area criterion, classical transient stability model and techniques to assess small and large disturbance stability of small and large power systems. Theoretical stability limits and its practical use, including impact of non-linearities (5 hours)
(iv) Methodologies for designing and tuning damping controllers and for enhancement of small and large disturbance power system stability (3 hours).
(v) Basics of frequency and voltage stability. Low frequency phenomena (4 hours)
(2) Converter interfaced units modelling and control for power system dynamic studies (14 hours)
(i) Converter transients modelling (2 hours)
- Converter modelling fidelity
- Different modelling levels for different types of studies (RMS and EMT simulation frameworks).
(ii) FACTS and HVDC static and dynamic modelling (5 hours)
- Simplified 3-phase inverter representation
- Inverter DQ current control and Q/P/Vac/Vdc control
(iii) Renewables and storage (3 hours)
- Control aspects and schemes
- Modelling and simulation
(iv) Converter stability and system interactions (4 hours)
(v) High frequency phenomena
(3) Example classes and Computer simulation laboratory (11 hours)
(i) Example classes (5 hours)
(ii) Computer simulation laboratory covering elements of steady state voltage stability assessment and large disturbance (transient) stability assessment. The laboratory will cover the influence of load modelling on voltage stability, effects of automatic voltage regulators (AVRs), damping controllers, fault location and fault critical clearing time, generator loading and inertia on large disturbance stability. (6 hours)
Pre/co-requisites
| Unit title | Unit code | Requirement type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Machines and Power Electronic Modelling | EEEN60341 | Co-Requisite | Compulsory |
| Smart Distribution Networks | EEEN60322 | Co-Requisite | Compulsory |
Aims
This unit aims to:
Introduce students to power system dynamics and stability and develop an awareness of the reasons for changes in power system dynamic behaviour from the proliferation of converter interfaced technologies. Revise and build on control systems analysis for electrical/mechanical systems and power networks. The unit develops models for use in system studies and integration studies of renewables. These include machines, power electronic converters, other actuators, control mechanisms and electrical and thermal considerations. The unit will also revise techniques for dynamic analysis of faulted power systems and apply these to larger networks to evaluate post-fault system performance.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of the course, a student will be able to:
ILO 1 Formulate, judge and explain basic principles of power system dynamics and causes of it in modern power systems
ILO 2 Formulate the explain the reasons for the changes in system dynamic behaviour that will be caused by proliferation of low carbon technologies; Categorize and compare subdivisions of power system dynamic and stability phenomena.
ILO 3 Derive models of power system components such as, synchronous and renewable generation, storage and demand technologies and associated controls, as well as transformers, converts, AC and HVDC transmission lines and most widely used FACTS devices for transient studies; Evaluate, analyse and compare their behaviours.
ILO 4 Evaluate and analyse different aspects of power system stability including rotor angle stability, voltage stability, frequency stability, resonance stability and converter driven stability.
ILO 5 Design the software models, apply the software tools to simulate and analyse different aspects of power system dynamic behaviour and stability
ILO 6 Design and evaluate appropriate measures to improve or ensure power system stability; Develop and analyse the procedures for the tuning of power system controllers.
Assessment methods
| Method | Weight |
|---|---|
| Written exam | 80% |
| Report | 20% |
Feedback methods
.
Recommended reading
- Power system analysis Grainger, John J., McGraw-Hill Education, 2016, ISBN: 9781259008351
- Power system dynamics : stability and control, Machowski, Jan, John Wiley & Sons Inc, 2020, ISBN: 9781119526346
- Power system stability and control, Kundur, P., McGraw Hill LLC, 2022, ISBN: 9781260473551
- Power system dynamics : stability and control, Machowski, Jan., Wiley, 2008, ISBN: 1601198469
- Power system stability and control, Grigsby, Leonard L., CRC Press, 2012
- Power system control and stability, Vittal, Vijay, Wiley, 2020, ISBN: 1119433711
- Power system control and stability, Anderson, P. M. (Paul M.), 1926-, Wiley, 2002, ISBN: 0471238627
- Voltage stability of electric power systems, Cutsem, Thierry Van, Springer Science+Business Media BV, 1998, ISBN: 9780387755366
- Electric power systems quality, Dugan, Roger, McGraw-Hill, 2002, ISBN: 007138622
- Understanding Power Quality Problems: Voltage Sags and Interruptions, Math H. J.Bollen, IEEE Press, 1999, ISBN: 9780780347137
- Voltage quality in electrical power systems, Schlabbach, J. (Jürgen), Institution of Electrical Engineers, 2001, ISBN: 9780863419829
- Power quality VAR compensation in power systems, Vedam, R. Sastry, CRC Press, 2008
- Power systems harmonics : fundamentals, analysis and filter design, Wakileh, George J., Springer, 2001, ISBN: 9783662043431
- Power system harmonics and passive filter designs, Das, J. C., IEEE Press/Wiley, 2015, ISBN: 9781118887059
- Electrical power systems quality, Dugan, Roger C.; Dugan, Roger C., McGraw-Hill, 2003, ISBN: 9786610918751
- Risk assessment of power systems : models, methods, and applications, Li, Wenyuan, Wiley IEEE Press, 2014, ISBN: 9781118849972
- Reliability Evaluation of Power Systems, Billinton, Roy., Springer US, 1984, ISBN: 9781461577317
- Reliability Evaluation of Engineering Systems Concepts and Techniques, Billinton, Roy., Springer, 1992, ISBN: 9781489906854
- Reliability evaluation of engineering systems : concepts and techniques, Billinton, Roy, Plenum Press, 1992, ISBN: 0306440636
- Reliability assessment of electric power systems using Monte Carlo methods, Billinton, Roy, author, Springer, Science+Business Media, 1994, ISBN: 9781489913463
Study hours
| Scheduled activity hours | |
|---|---|
| Lectures | 31 |
| Practical classes & workshops | 6 |
| Tutorials | 5 |
| Independent study hours | |
|---|---|
| Independent study | 108 |
Teaching staff
| Staff member | Role |
|---|---|
| Mike Barnes | Unit coordinator |
| Panagiotis Papadopoulos | Unit coordinator |
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