Sustainable -

Energy Science MSc

At ISE, industry collaboration is at the core of your education. Our key partners, Reykjavík Energy (Orkuveita Reykjavíkur) and the Icelandic GeoSurvey (ÍSOR), give you direct access to field sites, data, and leading experts. You’ll also collaborate with organizations across Iceland’s energy and sustainability sector, visiting power plants, district-heating systems, and research facilities—to see how innovation, policy, and science work together in one of the world’s most advanced renewable energy environments.

There’s no one-size-fits-all for sustainable energy. You’ll select a structured pathway, Geothermal, Energy Technology, or Energy Systems Management, and customize it with electives that fit your ambitions.

• Clear structure + choice: core requirements plus targeted electives
• Room to pivot: adjust your pathway with advisor approval as your goals sharpen
• Build breadth or depth: options across departments, subject areas, and research topics

An internship is your chance to work on a real project with a company in your field while earning credit toward your degree during the semester. You’ll typically spend 1–2 days a week at the company, contributing to projects, becoming part of the company culture, and gaining experience that connects directly to your studies.

• Up to 12 ECTS if you haven’t taken an internship course at RU before
• Up to 6 ECTS if you completed an internship course during your RU undergraduate degree

RU partners with Icelandic companies to create a pool of projects. Students can apply to the ones that interest them and interview directly with companies. Placement depends on project availability and fit.

Your thesis is the centerpiece of your graduate experience, a chance to focus on a topic that excites you. Whether you collaborate with industry, join a university research group, or develop your own project proposal, you take the lead while faculty provide guidance and support.

• Most students complete a 30 ECTS thesis in their final semester.
• Students who want a deeper research experience may apply for the 60 ECTS thesis

As a master’s student at RU, you can spend up to 12 months abroad through exchange or traineeships.

• Exchange – Study at one of RU’s partner universities for 3–12 months. You’ll take courses that count toward your degree, experience a new academic environment, and broaden your perspective on energy challenges around the world.
• Traineeship – Work abroad in a company or research institution for 2–12 months. Traineeships are often linked to your internship or thesis, giving you hands-on experience in your field while building international professional connections.

These opportunities are supported by the Erasmus+ programme, which funds student mobility for up to 12 months per study cycle at the master’s level.

Whether you’re coming to RU from abroad or studying here in Iceland, exchange and traineeships let you expand your skills, grow your professional network, and add an international dimension to your degree.

Learn more from RU’s International Office

As a master’s student, you can apply to work as a teaching assistant. In these roles, you’ll support courses through tutorials, grading, or lab work.

Being a TA strengthens your subject knowledge, builds communication skills, and gives you valuable teaching experience. Positions are open to strong MSc and advanced BSc students and are advertised by the department throughout the year.

As a master’s student in ISE, you have access to a shared student space with desks for individual work, areas for group projects, couches, tables, free coffee, and a small kitchen for meals and socializing. You can also use many other study and lounge areas across the university.

You gain practical experience with machining processes in the university’s machine shop, equipped with lathes, milling machines (including CNC), welding equipment, a laser cutter, and other essential tools. Introductory courses cover safety and machining techniques, helping you bring your designs to life and tackle real-world engineering challenges.

In courses such as thermodynamics, heat transfer, power plant design, wind, and geothermal sciences, you apply theory through experiments in the Energy Technology Lab. The lab also supports your research projects and master’s thesis.

In the Electronics Lab, you work on projects in electronics, electrical engineering, power systems, control systems, and automation. The lab is equipped with oscilloscopes, microcontrollers, ADC converters, industrial robots, and a wide range of circuit components, making it a key space for both your coursework and thesis research.

For projects that require materials or chemical analysis, you may work in a fully equipped chemistry lab. Other specialized labs and workshop spaces are also available for larger-scale or interdisciplinary projects.

• Applicants from diverse academic backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Common fields of study include Energy Science, Environmental Science, Earth Science, Geology, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Engineering, Architecture, Social Sciences, Economics, Business, Management, Public Administration, and Law.
• Applicants from other disciplines may also be considered if they have completed the equivalent foundation courses listed under prerequisites.
• A minimum GPA of 7.0 (on a 1–10 scale) is required. Applicants with a lower GPA may be considered if they demonstrate relevant professional or research experience in energy, sustainability, or related areas.

If you completed your bachelor’s degree outside Iceland, submit the Prerequisite Form with your application so we can evaluate your background.

We review each case individually; if you’re missing a small number of prerequisite courses, you may still be admitted on the condition that you complete them before or alongside your MSc.

Note that these courses do not count toward your MSc degree and are usually taught at the undergraduate level in Icelandic.

Foundations in Mathematics and Statistics

Applicants to the MSc in Energy Science must have a sufficient quantitative background to succeed in graduate-level coursework. Please list all relevant courses you have completed in these subject areas. Applicants must meet the minimum ECTS requirements for each area.

All applications must include the following materials submitted with the completed application form. This is a general overview, for full details, click the button below to read more about the supporting documents.

• Official transcript (or interim transcript if still studying)
• CV / résumé
• Copy of passport (photo page) or national ID
• Two references (sent directly to ise@ru.is or admissions@ru.is)
• English language test certificate
• Prerequisite checklist for those who have completed a bachelor’s degree outside Iceland
• Application fee