The Master of Science in Energy Poverty Alleviation Technologies is a one-year, full-time interdisciplinary programme designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and practical experience needed to address energy poverty challenges globally. The programme integrates engineering, social sciences, policy studies, and sustainable development to provide a comprehensive understanding of energy poverty and effective strategies for its alleviation.
The FAIR MSc Programme was approved by the Senate of the University of Johannesburg in September 2025 and has successfully achieved the first phase of national accreditation through approval at the South African Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) Programme Qualification Mix (PQM) level. The programme is currently progressing through the remaining stages of the national accreditation process, including evaluation and approval by the Council on Higher Education (CHE) of South Africa.
Therefore, subject to the successful completion of the accreditation process and associated institutional procedures, student recruitment and admissions are anticipated to commence in 2027, with the inaugural cohort expected to begin the programme in 2028. Hence, prospective students, researchers, and industry professionals are encouraged to regularly visit this page for updates regarding application timelines, admission requirements, and programme commencement dates. Updates will also be communicated to the more than 590 participants who engaged with the FAIR Virtual Learning Environment and have expressed interest in the programme.
To fulfill the purpose of the MSc program, comprehensive learning materials have been developed across thirteen carefully designed modules. These materials are derived from a diverse range of sources, including text-based resources, practical demonstrations, years of experience in teaching within the energy space, cutting-edge research on energy poverty, and insights gained from laboratory experiments.
The Modules developed in this learning material are as follows.
- Module 1: Advanced Research Methodology in Energy Poverty Alleviation Technologies
- Module 2: Energy, Society, and Sustainable Technologies (SET)
- Module 3: Synthesis of Sustainable Energy Technologies (SET)
- Module 4: Energy Economics and Geopolitics – Capitalising on RES Investments in Local Markets
- Module 5: Climate, Energy Poverty Policy, and Justice
- Module 6: Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Storage – Community-Based Solutions
- Module 7: Mini Dissertation
- Module 8: Advanced Energy Efficiency Systems in Buildings for Energy Poverty Alleviation
- Module 9: Tackling Global and Local Challenges in Ethics
- Module 10: Advanced Renewable Energy Technologies
- Module 11: Sustainable Fuels and Transportation”