Overview
Design your future

Please refer to our Welcome and Advisement package for more information on the upcoming academic year. 


UPEI’s Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Design Engineering program focuses on engineering design as an engineering discipline in itself. Sustainable design engineers are problem solvers. They use design skills, engineering knowledge, math and science to deliver innovative and sustainable solutions to modern-day problems. A sustainable solution is one in which all factors and stakeholders are considered. It goes beyond just providing an efficient, attractive, on-time, and on-budget solution. It also cares about how such goals are achieved and about its impact on people, the environment and society. 

Our program provides students with a solid technical foundation which supports the development of their design skills. Just as important, though, the program also provides the professional skills necessary to succeed as a professional engineer. To achieve this, we have created a unique and innovative design clinic model that is integrated throughout all years of the program. In the design clinics, students are immersed in hands-on, experiential learning while working on real projects for a wide range of external partners from the community, municipalities, government, industry and others.

"With hard work and attention to detail, you can conquer every obstacle you face."

UPEI engineering student Yvan in the Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering building lab
UPEI engineering student Yvan in the Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering building lab
UPEI engineering student Yvan in the Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering building
UPEI Viewbook 2024
UPEI engineering student Yvan in the Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering building lobby

Meet Yvan, Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Design Engineering graduate (Class of 2023). Originally from Mauritius, Yvan had always wanted to come to Canada for university, and discovered UPEI's Engineering program was a perfect match.


 

Focus areas

In addition to fundamental science, engineering science and mathematics courses, students are required to develop skills in engineering design, communication, analysis, project management, professional ethics and more. With a solid grounding in these fundamentals, students in Program Years 3 and 4 can enhance their technical knowledge by choosing elective courses in one of the following focus areas:

Mechatronics
Bioresources
Sustainable energy

With a strong interdisciplinary background in engineering design, strengthened by solid professional and technical skills, our graduates are well-positioned to work in a diverse range of industry sectors such as:

  • bio and food processing
  • robotics
  • industrial automation
  • aerospace
  • automotive
  • advanced manufacturing
  • sustainable and alternative energy
  • marine applications

... and many others. Our graduates also pursue careers in research and development by enrolling in graduate programs either here at UPEI or at other schools. Some of our graduates move on to medical school and some even start their own companies.

A professor reviews a design with a student

Our student experience

You'll draw on the experience of your classmates, other senior students, professors, and knowledgeable industry experts to solve real-world problems for partners representing all industries and sectors.

First-year students are introduced to design engineering in an intimate, activity-oriented, project-based environment. Dedicated faculty members work closely and interactively with clusters of students to solve design problems in a controlled environment for community organizations and private enterprises. 

Second-year students work on projects related to mechanical and/or electrical design using the same iterative design process experienced during their first year, but with the increased responsibility of ongoing partner consultations, reporting requirements, design drawings, analysis, and prototype development.

Third year students’ projects shift to industry projects that involve designing and building functioning prototypes and conducting in-depth quality analysis, to produce industry-sponsored prototypes capable of deployment for testing in an actual industrial environment.

Fourth-year students work on projects that involve the design and optimization of systems in a wide variety of applications related to bioresources, sustainable energy, and mechatronics. These projects have the potential for higher quality design, prototypes, patents, and, in some cases, commercialization. 

Students work on a project aboard a Royal Canadian Navy ship

Need more information about Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Design Engineering?

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Course Structure
Course Sequence Options

Note: Current UPEI students should refer to Student Planning in myUPEI and the UPEI Academic Calendar governing their entry year, and speak to an academic advisor about course requirements. The course structure presented for this program is a recommended, unofficial progression for prospective students.


The following core design clinic courses must be taken in succession to support the students’ developing skills.

Community Design Program
Engineering 1210—Engineering Communications
Engineering 1220—Engineering Analysis

Junior Design Clinic
Engineering 2210—Engineering Projects I
Engineering 2220—Engineering Projects II

Senior Design Clinics
Engineering 3710—Project-Based Professional Practice I
Engineering 3720—Project-Based Professional Practice II
Engineering 4710—Project-Based Professional Practice III
Engineering 4720—Project-Based Professional Practice IV

The following are the course requirements for the Sustainable Design Engineering degree which can be taken over a four-year or a five-year course plan. Refer to the individual course matrices for the course sequencing for each of these plans:  

Four-year degree course matrix

Five-year degree course matrix

Five-year degree course matrix (Winter start)

Please note that a 60% minimum grade is required in each of the following courses to proceed to the next course: Engineering 1210, 1220, 2210, 2220, 3710, 3720 and 4710. Students are strongly encouraged to meet with an academic advisor early in the program to review course selection.

Course

Credit Hours

Engineering 1210—Engineering Communications*

3

Engineering 1220—Engineering Analysis

3

Engineering 1230—Engineering Mechanics I: Statics

3

Engineering 1250—Materials Science

3

Engineering 1310—Computer Programming with Engineering Applications

3

Engineering 1340 – Engineering Mechanics II: Dynamics

3

Engineering 1410—Sustainability in Engineering Design

3

Engineering 2130—Statistics for Engineering Applications

3

Engineering 2210—Engineering Projects I

3

Engineering 2220—Engineering Projects II

3

Engineering 2310—Strength of Materials

3

Engineering 2360—Materials, Mechanics, and Manufacturing

3

Engineering 2610—Thermo Fluids I: Thermodynamics

3

Engineering 2620—Thermo Fluids II: Fluid Mechanics

3

Engineering 2810—Electric Circuits

3

Engineering 2830—Digital Logic Design

3

Engineering 3220—Engineering Measurements

3

Engineering 3270—Machines & Automatic Controls

3

Engineering 3430—Technology Management and Entrepreneurship

3

Engineering 3630—Thermo Fluids III: Heat Transfer and Thermodynamic Cycles

3

Engineering 3710—Project-Based Professional Practice I

6

Engineering 3720—Project-Based Professional Practice II

6

Engineering 3810—Systems Engineering

3

Engineering 3820—System Dynamics with Simulation

3

Engineering 4210—Facilitated Study & Experimental Practice

3

Engineering 4710—Project-Based Professional Practice III

6

Engineering 4720—Project-Based Professional Practice IV

6

Engineering 4850—Computational Methods for Engineering Design

3

One (1) introductory engineering focus area elective**

3

Three (3) engineering focus area electives**

9

Chemistry 1110—General Chemistry I

3

IKE 1040 – Indigenous Teachings

3

Mathematics 1910—Single Variable Calculus I

4

Mathematics 1920—Single Variable Calculus II

4

Mathematics 2610—Linear Algebra

3

Mathematics 2910—Multivariable and Vector Calculus

4

Mathematics 3010—Differential Equations

3

UPEI 1010—Writing Studies

3

One (1) complementary studies elective***

3

One (1) complementary studies or science elective***

3

Total

141

Notes
* Engineering 1210 satisfies the intensive writing course requirement.
** Four engineering focus area electives are required. The first of these must be the introductory elective course in either Mechatronics (ENGN 3340), Sustainable Energy (ENGN 3440), or Bio-Resources (ENGN 3540) The remaining three engineering focus area electives can be selected from any of the elective courses listed below depending on availability. At least one of the engineering focus area electives must be at the 4000 level.
*** Complementary studies courses are any non-engineering or non-science courses.

Engineering Focus Area Electives
Engineering 3370—Mechatronic System Integration and Interface Design
Engineering 3380—Real-time Embedded Systems
Engineering 3390—Introduction to Mechatronic Computer-Aided Product Development, Modelling and Simulation
Engineering 3450—Wind and Water Power
Engineering 3460—Solar Energy and Electricity Storage
Engineering 3490—Chemical Energy Conversion
Engineering 3570—Engineering Applications of Biological Materials
Engineering 3580—Soil Mechanics
Engineering 4310—Advanced Fabrication Techniques and Computer-Integrated Manufacturing
Engineering 4320—Control System Design
Engineering 4330—Innovations in Biomedical Engineering
Engineering 4350—Advanced Robotic Dynamics and Control
Engineering 4370—Fluid Power Control
Engineering 4410—Macro Energy Systems
Engineering 4440—Advanced Energy Storage
Engineering 4450—Fluid Loads on Energy Structures
Engineering 4470—Micro Grids
Engineering 4510—Geoinformatics in Bioresources
Engineering 4530—Fundamentals of Agricultural Machinery
Engineering 4550—Biotechnological Processes
Engineering 4830—Biomedical Signal Processing
Engineering 4840—Sustainable Technology Development and Commercialization

Meet Sandy Doucette, fabrication technician with UPEI's Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering

an instructor assisting a student with welding
a welder wearing a protective helmet adjusting a steel wheel
a technician adjusting a large weather balloon on a naval ship
Campus Spotlight
a welder standing behind a work table

"Sometimes I do get weird and special requests from all sorts of people as we build all sorts of machines and prototypes—that's what makes my job so unique."

Students work on projects in a large lab
Students work on projects in a large lab
Developing engineers with exceptional design and professional skills

The UPEI Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering is devoted to developing engineers with exceptional design and professional skills combined with a global perspective.

Admissions Criteria
What's Required for Engineering Admission?

For High School Applicants

Successful completion of Grade 12 examinations in a University Preparatory Program with an overall average of at least 70% in the following courses, with no grade less than 65% and with at least 70% in Grade 12 academic Mathematics:

  • Grade 12 academic English
  • Grade 12 academic Mathematics
  • Two additional Grade 12 academic Science subjects, chosen from Biology, Chemistry or Physics
  • One additional Grade 12 academic course

The prerequisite for Chemistry 1110 (a required course in the engineering program) is Grade 12 academic Chemistry or UPEI Chemistry 0001.

Note: High school applicants should apply by March 1 to be considered for entrance scholarships.

Applicants from other institutions

Applicants attending or having attended another institution who are seeking to transfer into UPEI’s engineering program must meet the same requirements as for High School applicants as well as the requirements for University Transfer Students. Transcripts will be reviewed for possible course transfer credit.

Refer to the Specific Program Admission Requirements in the UPEI Academic Calendar for more information.

Fees and Funding
Sustainable Design Engineering Tuition

UPEI's undergraduate tuition is the second-lowest in the Atlantic region, and we offer millions of dollars in scholarships and awards. 

Tuition

$3,414 per semester ($682.80 per 3 credit course)
International students pay $8,010 per year in addition to full-time student tuition.

For a complete breakdown of part-time or full-time study as a student in the Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering, visit our Tuition and Fees page.

Scholarships and Awards

UPEI supports you and your educational goals. We administer millions of dollars in scholarships and awards to our undergraduate and graduate students every year. Depending on your faculty or program, and year of study, you may be eligible for available awards.

Search the complete list of scholarships for information and application forms.  

Celebrating Student Achievement

Including Guaranteed Entrance Scholarships and Academic Excellence Awards, these awards recognize the academic achievements of all students who meet the eligibility criteria while studying towards their first undergraduate degree.

Visit the Scholarships site for complete information.

Faculty Members
Your mentors. Our professors.

UPEI has about 250 faculty—exceptional scholars, teachers, and mentors, with more being hired each year as we open new, progressive, and unique programs. But the story isn’t just in the numbers. It’s in the quality of our people. Award-winning faculty from around the globe have made UPEI home. Here, you’ll learn directly from these world-class professors and researchers in small classes where you’ll have easy access to them.

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