As the world transitions towards cleaner energy sources, the demand for professionals well-versed in photovoltaic technology and solar energy systems has never been greater. Our program equips you with cutting-edge knowledge and hands-on experience in this rapidly evolving field, positioning you for an array of rewarding job opportunities.
Examples of subjects covered are the design of photovoltaic systems, solar thermal and hybrid systems, energy storage, solar project management, and financing of solar energy.
Connect with Industry – Learning by Doing
Professional connections are just as important to your success as the theoretical knowledge and practical skills you will gain through your studies. With this understanding, we have developed this programme to ensure that you have ample opportunities to cultivate such connections through:
- Site visits to solar installations and research centres, as well as through guest lectures from experts in areas such as solar cell physics and chemical energy storage. These will ensure you are up-to date on the latest developments in this expansive field.
- Internships possibilities as part of your programme, where we can develop national and international contacts.
- Your thesis project, which will afford you close contact with research facilities and companies both in Sweden and abroad.
A history of expertise in solar energy
Since 1999 the European Solar Engineering School (ESES) at Dalarna University offers a specialised educational experience that will broaden your professional opportunities in the renewable energy industry. For over 20 years, students from nearly 50 countries have come to a small town in central Sweden to gain knowledge and skills that are in high demand within the renewable energy industry.
When you take this programme, you will be taught by industry experts and researchers from 10 countries, while becoming a member of the international ESES community, which comprises your classmates and our many alumni who currently work locally and internationally.
Programme Overview
The programme aims to enhance the skill-set of students in our core solar-engineering subject areas, especially PV and systems design. You will gain international exposure through the faculty and your classmates as well as having the opportunity to partake in an international internship upon completing the program.
Programme Structure and Content
All courses are taught in English by international faculty staff. The programme comprises 60 credits (1 credit = 1 ECTS) and begins at the start of the autumn semester in late August. Note: 1.5 credits = one week of full-time study.
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Year 1:
Electrical Storage Technology and Conversion Technology*, 5 credits
Energy Transition in Society*, 5 credits
Installation of PV Systems and Off-grid System Design*, 5 credits
Project Course 1 – Data Analysis for Solar Energy Systems*, 5 credits
Project Course 2 – Measurement Systems*, 5 credits
PV On-grid System Design*, 7.5 credits
PV Technology*, 5 credits
Solar Economics and PV Asset Management*, 7.5 credits
Solar Radiation and Solar Geometry*, 5 credits
Sustainable Heating System Design*, 5 credits
Sustainable Heating Technology*, 5 creditsYear 2:
Degree Thesis in Solar Energy Engineering*, 30 credits
Electrical Storage Systems and Services, 5 credits
Grid Integration of Renewable Power, 7.5 credits
Project Course 3 – Group Project and Communication*, 5 credits
Sustainability of Solar Energy Systems*, 5 credits
Urban Energy Systems, 7.5 credits*Courses required to meet the learning outcomes of the programme
Elective course:
Solar Engineering Internship, 7.5 or 15 credits (summer course)
Degree Awarded
Degree of Master of Science (60 Credits) in Solar Energy Engineering
Tuition Fees
300,000 SEK (total*)
*EU/EEA citizens are not required to pay tuition fees.
Payment schedule:
- Tuition is paid in per-semester installments of 75,000 SEK.
- First semester: Pay as soon as you receive your invoice, and no later than the deadline stated on it. This ensures enough processing time for your residence permit application.
- Subsequent semesters: You will receive a new invoice before each semester. Payment is due no later than the deadline on that invoice—usually before the semester begins.
Visit our Tuition Fee website for more information about paying tuition fees and what is included in the fee.
If you have any questions about tuition fee payments, please e-mail tuitionfees@du.se.
Scholarships for International Students starting in 2026
If you apply on time and are admitted to the Solar Energy Engineering programme as your first-choice programme on UniversityAdmissions.se, you are eligible for a one-time scholarship of 5,000 SEK. This amount will be deducted from your first semester tuition fee, provided that you also apply for the scholarship no later than February 15th.
Academic Excellence Scholarship
Students in the Solar Energy Engineering programme can also qualify for the Academic Excellence Scholarship, which recognises outstanding academic achievement during the programme.
- Semester Award: Receive 15,000 SEK per semester when you meet the criteria for outstanding academic results.
- Programme Distinction: An additional 30,000 SEK may be awarded if you receive the Semester Award in every semester of the programme.
To qualify for the Semester Award, you must:
- Complete all 30 credits that are part of the programme curriculum for that semester
- Earn a VG (pass with distinction) in at least 15 credits
- Have all course results reported within 6 weeks after the semester ends
The Semester Award is evaluated independently for each semester—you may receive it for one semester even if you do not qualify in the other.
For full eligibility details and how to apply, visit our Scholarships Overview webpage
Career Opportunities
Many of our over 300 solar energy alumni are active as engineers and managers in the global solar energy industry. After graduating, many go on to start their own solar businesses, while others go on to pursue a Ph.D. and become researchers and teachers at universities. The majority of our graduates go on to work in companies and organisations throughout the world.
Potential future employers are:
- Solar equipment manufacturers,
- Engineering and consulting companies with a renewable energy focus,
- Energy utilities, and
- Government and non-government organisations
Increasing Job Opportunities
Until a few years ago, jobs in the solar energy sector were found mostly in countries where political efforts had led to an early adoption of renewable energy, often through subsidies for businesses and private individuals to invest in renewable energy sources such as solar energy.
Today the cost of solar energy is lower than ever before: it has become competitive, even without subsidies, in many developed and still developing economies. While the cost of installing solar energy has decreased, the possibility to harness and store solar energy is constantly improving, ensuring excellent long-term job prospects for programme graduates.
Further studies including studying towards a PhD
Upon completion of the programme, you may also apply for a PhD position within Resource Efficient Built Enviornments or similar fields at any Swedish university.
Stay in Dalarna and look for a job after graduating
You can apply for a 12-month residence permit to stay in Sweden and look for work after you complete a degree programme of at least 60 credits. International students are encouraged to stay in Dalarna and look for a job after graduating from the Master's Programme in Solar Energy Engineering.
Using your degree overseas
The degree awarded by Dalarna University for this programme is internationally recognized and has been used by previous students to attain employment or pursue further studies outside of Sweden.
You can also apply to receive an Erasmus+ grant for an internship, even up to 12 months after completing your studies. This opportunity is available to all students in the programme, regardless of nationality, who pursue an approved internship within an Erasmus+ programme country other than Sweden.
The faculty at Dalarna University is engaged in research and collaboration regionally and internationally. Many of the researchers are organized in the
The faculty at Dalarna University is engaged in research and collaboration both regionally and internationally. Visit the Sustainable Energy Research Centre (SERC) to explore our current projects, meet our researchers, and learn about our collaborations with industry and public stakeholders.
SERC promotes interdisciplinary research in the field of energy and supports efforts to achieve a sustainable and inclusive energy transition. The centre’s work spans multiple research fields, including Energy and Built Environment, Data Science, Industrial Engineering, Economics, and Social Sciences.
Specific Entry Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in engineering (mechanical, electrical, energy, engineering physics) or equivalent field of study of at least 180 credits (ECTS), or an equivalent degree.
- Documented English language proficiency equivalent to English B/English 6 at Swedish upper-secondary school (more information below).
Documents to Submit:
- Proof of a completed bachelor’s degree, equal to a Swedish bachelor's degree in one of the approved subject areas. If you are currently completing a degree you can apply; please submit a certificate from your university.
Be sure to read the information specific to the country where you previously studied to know how to submit the appropriate documents. - Proof of English language proficiency equal to an IELTS result of 6.5 overall with no part of the test below 5.5
In some cases your previous studies may fulfill the English proficiency requirement. Please check the University Admissions information on English Language Proficiency to see if you are required to submit a TOEFL or IELTS test result.
If you have taken an English proficiency test that fulfills the requirements listed on the UniversityAdmissions.se website then you can ignore the information below.
For 2026, Dalarna University has made a temporary local exemption to the English proficiency requirements listed on the UniversityAdmissions.se website.
If you previously studied in India or Sri Lanka
Applicants from India and Sri Lanka should submit your upper-secondary documents to show your English proficiency as explained on the UniversityAdmissions website.
This will fulfill the formal English proficiency requirements for most courses and programmes at Swedish universities.
If you do not have the required proof of English proficiency from your upper-secondary studies and you have completed a 4-year bachelor’s degree majoring in a technical or science subject (such as engineering, IT or physics) which is equal to a Swedish bachelor’s degree, then you will not need to submit a TOEFL or IELTS result.
If you previously studied in Nepal
If you have not taken a TOELF or IELTS and you have completed a 4-year bachelor’s degree majoring in a technical or science subject (such as engineering, IT or physics) which is equal to a Swedish bachelor’s degree, then you will not need to submit a TOEFL or IELTS result.
Typically, around 30 students from across the globe join the Solar Energy Engineering Programme each year. About half choose to study at our modern campus in central Borlänge, while the other half study online.
With such a close-knit group, you’ll quickly get to know your classmates and take part in activities in and around Dalarna and across Sweden. The friendships you build, along with the skills and knowledge you gain, will prepare you to join our growing network of alumni who are now working in exciting roles within the renewable energy sector.
Throughout your studies, you will attend lectures, carry out practical exercises and lab work, prepare individual and group projects, take part in seminar discussions, join study visits, and, of course, sit exams. You can expect 15–30 hours of class time each week, plus an additional 25–40 hours for independent study.
Study Environment
Dalarna University’s smaller size means you’re not just another face in the crowd—you’ll get to know both your classmates and your teachers personally. If you study on campus, you’ll be based in Borlänge, a small town surrounded by forest, lakes, and the peaceful Swedish countryside. While the town centre itself is compact, the region is home to both established industries and new developments. Major employers include SSAB and Borlänge Energi, while nearby Ludvika—about a 30-minute commute—hosts Hitachi Energy, a global leader currently expanding at record pace, including work on the largest export order in Swedish history. The area is also set to welcome one of Sweden’s largest data centres, further strengthening the region’s role in innovation and technology.
Borlänge is two hours north of Stockholm and just 20 km from the historic town of Falun, the political centre of Dalarna County.
