Master’s in Financial Structuring of Energy Projects
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in financial structuring of energy projects, with 12 modules covering project finance, financial modelling, valuation metrics, debt structuring, funding sources, project contracts, risk mitigation, due diligence, merchant projects, tax and M&A (Equator Principles IV, IFC Performance Standards, LMA Green Loan Principles), with an assigned technical tutor.
Master’s in Financial Structuring of Energy Projects — studying from South Africa
Energy is a defining sector in South Africa, with Eskom operating the bulk of the national generation and transmission network and independent power producers increasingly contributing renewable capacity. Grid modernisation, renewable integration and distribution management create steady demand for engineers. The National Energy Regulator of South Africa oversees electricity regulation, while municipalities manage local distribution. Energy engineers typically work on generation, transmission, protection and system planning.
Fees for South Africa: R 148 000 (South African rand), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in South Africa
Typical roles
Questions from South Africa
Which South African bodies regulate energy and networks engineers, and would SEIUM count?
Energy engineers in South Africa are registered through ECSA, and the electricity sector is regulated by NERSA. Utilities and networks often require registered professionals for certain work. SEIUM is a private online institute, and its qualifications are not official state degrees or accredited by a national body. Recognition is for employers and the relevant body to decide, so verify this before enrolling.
Will this qualification help me find work with energy or network employers in South Africa?
South Africa's energy sector includes Eskom, municipalities, independent power producers and grid-related firms, which typically hire registered and experienced engineers. A private online qualification may support your application but does not guarantee a role. Check with target employers how they view it, and combine it with practical experience where possible.
How do I manage the workload, and can I get help with fees?
The programme is fully online and taught in English, so you need good English, and no student visa is needed to study from home. Master's programmes are 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours, with an assigned technical tutor and a final project. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship may be possible, so ask your employer whether they would support the cost.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Understand the structure of energy project finance.
Build project financial models.
Calculate valuation and debt coverage metrics.
Structure the debt of a project.
Analyse the contractual structure and risk allocation.
Coordinate due diligence processes.
Value projects and portfolios in M&A transactions.
Who it's for
- Project finance analysts
- Financial modellers
- Energy investment managers
- Energy M&A advisers
- Credit risk analysts
- Project finance directors
- Engineering or science graduates looking to move into banking
What you'll work with
- Equator Principles IV (environmental and social risk in project finance)
- IFC Performance Standards (environmental and social sustainability)
- Green Loan Principles – LMA (green lending framework)
- IFRS 9 (financial instruments)
- IFRS 16 (leases)
- Regulation (EU) 2020/852 (EU Taxonomy)
- ICMA Green Bond Principles (green bond issuance)
- Microsoft Excel
- Modano
- Bloomberg Terminal
- Python with pandas
- Power BI
12 modules
1.1Corporate finance versus project finance1.2Characteristics of project finance1.3Special purpose vehicle (SPV)1.4Parties to a financed project1.5Financing life cycle1.6Types of bankable energy projects1.7Renewable finance market1.8Financing trends1.9Characteristic risks of the sector1.10Case study: structure of a financed wind farm
2.1Structure of a financial model2.2Technical and economic assumptions2.3Revenues and production profiles2.4Investment and operating costs2.5Income statement and balance sheet2.6Project cash flow2.7Cash flow waterfall2.8FAST best practices2.9Model review2.10Lab: financial model of a solar plant
3.1Net present value3.2Internal rate of return3.3Weighted average cost of capital3.4Equity returns3.5Debt service coverage ratio3.6Loan life coverage ratio3.7Payback period3.8Sensitivity analysis3.9Scenario analysis3.10Practical exercise: calculating DSCR and equity IRR
4.1Debt sizing4.2Repayment profiles4.3Debt sculpting4.4Tenors and grace periods4.5Reserve accounts4.6Interest rate hedging4.7Guarantees and security package4.8Financial covenants of the loan4.9Debt refinancing4.10Lab: debt sculpting by DSCR
5.1Senior bank debt5.2Project bonds5.3Mezzanine and subordinated finance5.4Sponsor equity5.5Institutional investors and funds5.6Multilateral development banks5.7EU funds and the EIB5.8Export credit agencies5.9Labelled green finance5.10Case study: combining funding sources for a project
6.1Turnkey EPC contracts6.2O&M contracts6.3PPA offtake contracts6.4Equipment supply contracts6.5Grid connection agreements6.6Shareholder agreements6.7Finance agreements6.8Direct agreements with lenders6.9Contractual risk matrix6.10Practical exercise: analysis of a risk matrix
7.1Construction risk7.2Resource risk7.3Market risk7.4Counterparty risk7.5Regulatory and change-in-law risk7.6Interest rate and currency risk7.7Equipment technology risk7.8Project insurance7.9Risk allocation7.10Workshop: risk allocation matrix
8.1Technical due diligence8.2Legal due diligence8.3Market due diligence8.4Insurance due diligence8.5Environmental and social due diligence8.6Model audit8.7Lenders' advisers8.8Due diligence reports8.9Conditions precedent to drawdown8.10Practical exercise: technical checklist
9.1Merchant market exposure9.2Long-term price forecasting9.3Price cannibalisation9.4Hybrid PPA and merchant structures9.5Price hedging9.6Prudent debt sizing9.7Storage and revenue stacking9.8Volume risk9.9Experience in Spain9.10Lab: merchant project with storage
10.1Taxation of energy projects10.2Taxes on electricity generation10.3Tax depreciation of assets10.4Tax incentives for renewables10.5SPV accounting10.6Applicable IFRS standards10.7Project consolidation10.8Transfer pricing10.9Project tax planning10.10Practical exercise: tax impact on the model
11.1Buying and selling projects11.2Portfolio valuation11.3Sale process11.4Asset rotation11.5Financial investors in energy11.6Renewable platforms11.7Repowering and value11.8Divestment strategies11.9Lessons from transactions11.10Case study: valuation of an operating portfolio
12.1Project selection12.2Technical and market analysis12.3Building the financial model12.4Debt structuring12.5Risk analysis12.6Design of the contractual structure12.7Sensitivity analysis12.8Structuring recommendations12.9Master's Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so it fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standards and applied exercises. The working software is Microsoft Excel, Modano, Bloomberg Terminal, Python with pandas and Power BI, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures for project financial modelling, sensitivity and scenario analysis, and technical due diligence. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: Equator Principles IV, IFC Performance Standards, Green Loan Principles (LMA), IFRS 9, IFRS 16, Regulation (EU) 2020/852 (Taxonomy), ICMA Green Bond Principles.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- A university degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
- An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with Microsoft Excel, Modano, Bloomberg Terminal, Python with pandas and Power BI, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the Master's Thesis. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
A degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), a computer able to run the software and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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