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Graduate Specialisation:
Smart Energy Systems

Learn to model and plan energy systems that run on renewables, with the same tools and projects the laboratory uses in its research. Two years and 120 ECTS within the Graduate Study in Mechanical Engineering at FSB Zagreb.

120ECTS · 2 years
440+graduates since 1998
>90%Employed within 6 months
20+Countries alumni work in
Graduate Programme

Smart Energy Systems Specialisation

The Energy Systems specialisation places the energy transition at the centre of your studies, inside a working research laboratory. Part of the Graduate Study in Mechanical Engineering at FSB, it is delivered within the Smart Energy Systems Laboratory, where students join researchers on funded EU projects alongside their coursework.

Strong technical foundations are applied to real energy system planning, market economics and the modelling tools used by the European Commission. From early on, students take part in active research projects, co-author publications, and complete placements with partners such as AVL, HEP, REGEA and the Croatian Ministry of Economy.

DEGREE
Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Energy Systems Specialisation (mag. ing. mech.)
DURATION & ECTS
2 years (4 semesters) · 120 ECTS
LANGUAGE
Croatian (thesis may be in English)
GRADUATES
440+ graduates since 1998 · ~50 doctoral graduates (>10% PhD rate)
Programme Highlights

Why Choose This Specialisation?

01 Direct access to senior researchers

Six senior researchers, including three on Stanford's World Top 2% Most Cited Scientists list. Cohort sizes are small; students work directly with supervisors on research problems.

02 Involvement in EU-funded projects

Horizon Europe and Interreg projects are conducted in the same building. Students contribute to running scenarios, data processing and project deliverables, typically from the second semester onward.

See active projects →
03 Professional research tools and infrastructure

H2RES, Gurobi, AVL FIRE, MATLAB, Python, QGIS, on a 128-core HPC cluster. Students use these on actual research problems within funded projects.

04 Industry links, internships & field visits

Through the lab's partners in energy, industry and the public sector, students can complete internships and placements, and courses include site visits to plants and facilities. It's a chance to see real operations and build contacts before you graduate.

05 Strong employment outcomes

Over 90% of graduates are employed within six months. Graduate employers include HEP, INA, Končar, EU institutions and international consultancies.

Where alumni work →
06 European research network

Active Erasmus+ agreements with Aalborg University, TU Munich and other partner institutions. Exchange semesters and thesis co-supervision with partner laboratories.

07 Doctoral research pathway

Approx. 50 doctoral graduates since 1998, over 10% of all graduates. Supervisors, infrastructure and EU project funding for continuation are available within the laboratory.

Course Catalogue

Courses

Courses in the Smart Energy Systems specialisation that are taught by PowerLab researchers. Core courses are mandatory; electives are chosen from the wider programme pool. Full programme with all courses: ISVU: Smart Energy Systems 2026/2027 →

Year by Year

What Two Years Here Look Like

From your first courses to the master thesis, here is how a typical two years unfold. Tap a stage to see the detail.

Year 1 · Semester 1 Core Courses and Research Orientation

You start with Energy Management as the core course, alongside electives in smart energy systems, smart cities, transport and offshore wind. From the first weeks you have access to H2RES, MATLAB and GIS, and you can begin assisting on active Horizon Europe projects.

Energy ManagementSmart Energy SystemsSustainable Energy Management in Smart CitiesEnergy and Transport
Year 1 · Semester 2 + SDEWES Summer School Electives and Project Work

Core courses cover energy systems in industry and energy economics, with student training in a company. Electives let you focus on GIS, thermochemical conversion, technical gases or smart islands. In September, the SDEWES Summer School in Dubrovnik adds five days of H2RES workshops with an international group.

Energy Systems in IndustryEnergy Economics & BusinessGIS in Energy EngineeringStudent TrainingSDEWES Summer School
Year 2 · Semester 3 or Erasmus+ Advanced Courses and Thesis Topic

You take advanced electives in energy markets, storage or biorefineries and choose a thesis topic, often one tied to a live project. This is also where an Erasmus+ semester at Aalborg, TU Munich or a partner lab fits well.

Energy MarketsEnergy StorageBiorefineriesErasmus+ Option
Year 2 · Semester 4 Work on Master Thesis

The final semester is built around your thesis. Because topics are often tied to active EU projects, you work with real data and real stakeholders, and your results can actually be put to use. It is also a strong first line on your CV when you apply for jobs or a PhD.

Thesis ResearchConference PapersEU Project Deliverables
Master Thesis

Open Master Thesis Topics

Below are the research areas in which master theses are supervised. When topics are on offer, they are listed at the bottom of this section, with the supervisor for each and an application deadline where applicable.

01100% renewable energy scenarios for a city or island
02District heating & cooling network optimisation
03Energy communities & demand flexibility
04GIS mapping of renewable & waste-heat potential
05Industrial decarbonisation & CO₂ capture (CFD)
06Offshore wind & marine energy integration
07Power-to-X system modelling
08Smart grids, storage & demand response
Thesis Repository

Explore Past Student Theses

Browse bachelor's, master's, specialist and doctoral theses supervised by our senior researchers. Each link opens that supervisor's theses in the FSB Repository, in a new tab. The data comes directly from the Faculty repository.

Neven Duić Full Professor Browse theses Goran Krajačić Full Professor Browse theses Milan Vujanović Full Professor Browse theses Tomislav Pukšec Associate Professor Browse theses Hrvoje Mikulčić Assistant Professor Browse theses Marko Mimica Assistant Professor Browse theses
Writing Your Thesis

How to Write Your Thesis

Formatting rules, templates and submission deadlines are set by the Faculty. Start here for the official guidelines, then agree a topic and supervisor within the laboratory.

Graduate

Master's Thesis (diplomski rad)

Guidelines, templates and deadlines for the master's thesis on the Graduate Study.

Faculty guidelines
Summer School

SDEWES Summer School

Five days of hands-on energy-system modelling with real tools and an international cohort, co-organised each year within the SDEWES network.

5 days
Late Sept · Dubrovnik IUC
20
Places per cohort
2 ECTS
Certificate of participation
13+
Countries represented

What you'll do

  • Lectures on smart energy systems & planning
  • Hands-on workshops in H2RES and LEAP
  • Group work building a 100% renewable scenario
  • Present your case study to international lecturers

Who it's for

  • Graduate students, PhD candidates & early-career researchers
  • Priority to applicants with energy-planning background
  • Bring your own research topic to develop all week
  • Accommodation at IUC / student dorms available
Summer School Details About SDEWES Centre
Student Experiences

Erasmus & Internship Stories

During the programme you can spend a semester abroad or take an internship, and often both. The partner universities you exchange with, like Aalborg and TU Munich, are places we genuinely collaborate with, so the semester counts toward your degree and the internships lead to real project work. Here is what that looked like for some of our students.

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso · Chile Ana Lipovac Research Internship
I went to Chile for a professional internship at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso. I had the opportunity to learn and collaborate with PhD students from Colombia and Bolivia, live with a Chilean roommate, and travel and meet students from all around the world. What I particularly enjoyed was their student-centered approach to learning and knowledge sharing. Questions are always welcome, and it is completely normal to admit you don't know something and work together to find a solution. During my internship, I learned the basics of linear optimization, which I later applied in developing my model for power system planning with hydrogen integration in Croatia.
UNIST · South Korea Klara Kurtović Research Internship
I spent two months at the Graduate School of Carbon Neutrality at UNIST in South Korea, in the Sustainable Process Analysis, Design and Engineering (SPADE) Lab, supervised by Professor Lim. During the internship I taught myself to work in Aspen and built an Air Separation Unit project, which let me apply what I had learned in theory to a concrete engineering problem. Beyond the technical experience, getting to know a completely different Korean culture and way of working broadened my perspective and made me even more interested in working internationally.
Xi'an Jiaotong University · China Ivor Prister Research Internship
My internship at Jiaotong University in Xi'an was one of the most valuable experiences of my studies. Working in an international team of students gave me the opportunity to learn in a completely new environment, exchange ideas, and collaborate with colleagues from different parts of the world. During the internship, I had the opportunity to learn about the work of laboratories dedicated to developing new waste-management solutions and to visit a modern energy plant that converts coal into liquid fuel. However, the value of this internship extended beyond the professional knowledge I gained. Discovering a new culture, working together on a daily basis, and building friendships with colleagues from around the world made this experience truly invaluable.
After Graduation

What Happens Next

Work Across Europe

Over a quarter of graduates work internationally: EU institutions, research labs in Germany, Austria, Denmark and the UK, or energy companies across borders.

Lead Croatian Energy

HEP, Elektroprojekt, Ekonerg, Plinacro. Croatia's energy infrastructure companies recruit directly from this programme. Demand has accelerated with the energy transition.

Stay in Research

47 alumni completed doctorates, above FSB average. Many now hold positions at Aalborg University, Lund, UCL, Vienna and DLR Stuttgart. The infrastructure and supervisors are here if you decide to continue.

Start Something New

Some graduates launch their own ventures: energy consultancies, engineering firms and cleantech startups, often building on the projects and networks formed during the programme.

Alumni Voices

In Their Own Words

Stories from mi-energetičari.fsb.hr, the alumni community built by graduates of this programme.

"Energy Engineering was unique: we studied and spent time together as a group, which created a genuinely stimulating atmosphere. Today I teach students about something that has purpose, that can change the future. I made the right choice."
Anamarija Falkoni
Assistant Professor · University of Dubrovnik
Read full story →
"It's a fascinating field with constant change: decentralised energy systems, optimisation, programming. Modern energy engineering combines rigorous technical depth with problems that actually matter. And we were surrounded by exceptional people."
Dominik Franjo Dominković
Senior Researcher · DTU, Denmark
Read full story →
"A PhD at FSB, then immediately co-leading a Horizon Europe project worth €9.7M. Climate change and green energy are my career path. These are the technologies that can actually save both the climate and civilisation."
Hrvoje Dorotić
Senior Researcher · Energy Institute Hrvoje Požar
Read full story →
See where our graduates work More stories
Quiz · Find Your Direction

Quiz: Which Energy Career Suits You?

A quick seven-question quiz, no wrong answers. We'll point you toward the research area and career path that fits you best.

7 questions
About two minutes. Find the energy research area and career path that fits you best.
Start the quiz
More Ways to Study With Us

Explore Other Programmes

Our researchers also teach and supervise on other study programmes. Here's where else you'll find them.

Undergraduate · FSB Zagreb

Energy & Environment Specialisation

Semesters 5–6 at FSB. The specialisation that feeds into the graduate track: core thermodynamics, energy systems and modelling.

View programme →
Undergraduate · Šibenik

University of Zagreb · Šibenik Campus

Undergraduate engineering study at the University of Zagreb in Šibenik, with focus on sustainable technology and maritime energy.

Visit website →
Postgraduate · PhD

Postgraduate Programme

PowerLab members supervise doctoral candidates in the FSB postgraduate programme. Positions open through individual research projects, contact us directly.

Programme details →
FAQ

Questions Students Usually Ask

It is demanding, but not in a way designed to filter you out. The effort goes into things that matter for your career. The support is there if you engage with it.
Yes, and it is the norm here. Students regularly contribute to Horizon Europe and Interreg projects, run scenarios, and end up in acknowledgements – sometimes as co-authors. Get involved early.
Strong. Over 90% employed within six months, across HEP, INA, Končar, EU institutions, consultancies and startups. See the Alumni page for the full picture.
No. The Computational Skills course in Semester 1 covers Python, MATLAB and GIS from scratch. Students with a programming background go deeper faster, but the baseline is built in.
Yes. Erasmus+ agreements with Aalborg, TU Munich and other partner institutions make this straightforward. Several students do their entire thesis research at a partner lab. Plan ahead with your supervisor.
Courses are in Croatian. Your thesis may be written in English, which is common for students planning to submit to international conferences. All faculty communicate fluently in English.
Students who contribute substantially to funded EU projects are sometimes eligible for paid student assistant contracts through project budgets. This varies by project availability – ask your supervisor early.
Completely fine. Most students come in unsure. Over 10% end up doing a doctorate, but the rest go straight into industry well-prepared. You do not have to decide now.
Cohort sizes vary, but the specialisation is intentionally small, so you will know your professors by name, and they will know your work.
Email or drop by any of our team members. A short conversation beats guessing, and we are happy to point you to the right supervisor.