Subsurface Energy Engineering

University of Aberdeen

United Kingdom, Aberdeen

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Home/United Kingdom/Aberdeen /University of Aberdeen/Subsurface Energy Engineering

University of Aberdeen

United Kingdom , Aberdeen

Key Facts

Program Level

Master by Research

Study Type

Full Time

Delivery

On Campus

Campuses

Aberdeen

Program Language

English

Start & Deadlines

Next Intake Deadlines

Apply to this program

Go to the official application for the university

Duration 12 month(s)

Tuition Fee

GBP 27,000 / year

Subsurface Energy Engineering

About

Introduction

The subsurface has a critical role to play in addressing global warming. Not only does the subsurface provide sources of low-carbon energy, for example, geothermal, but it also enables the storage of energy, including hydrogen, and the permanent sequestration of CO₂ in geological formations such as depleted oil and gas reservoirs.

By studying this programme you will gain the engineering skills you need to launch your career in subsurface energy production and storage.

This programme is also available to study part time online.

Study Information

Study Options

The MSc Subsurface Energy Engineering programme builds on the University of Aberdeen's long track record of teaching and research in energy, to provide advanced training in the design and use of available subsurface resources in conjunction with low-carbon energy sources for achieving a sustainable energy future.

You will learn the fundamentals of fluid transport processes in the subsurface with applications to hydrogen transportation and storage, geothermal resources and Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS). Unlike other engineering programmes, we also cover the important area of sustainable mining for critical energy transition metals, such as lithium and zinc, as well as the subsequent processing, recycling and reuse of these materials. Also, we look at sustainability tools, management systems and standards around the management of quality, environment, energy, safety and life cycle assessment.

This MSc will provide you with a thorough understanding of subsurface transport processes and how to apply the latest computational and modelling techniques to analyse and evaluate the subsurface for various energy related purposes. You will therefore be able to pursue a career not only in sustainable energy sector, but also in related areas such as petroleum engineering, contaminant transport, hydrology and environmental engineering.

The programme syllabus draws on much of the ground-breaking research being conducted within the Centre for Energy Transition (CET), in areas such as geothermal energy, carbon capture and storage, and critical materials for the energy transition.

Requirements

Entry Requirements

Qualifications

The information below is provided as a guide only and does not guarantee entry to the University of Aberdeen.

Either:

A 2:1 UK honours degree (or equivalent) in any branch of Engineering

A 2:1 UK honours degree (or equivalent) in Applied Mathematics, Physics or Geosciences

A 2:2 UK honours degree (or equivalent) in Engineering and three years of relevant industry experience

Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate

The CAH3 code for this degree is CAH10-01-09. Students who need a visa to live or study in the UK must to apply for ATAS clearance. The ATAS clearance certificate must be valid when you apply for a visa to enter the UK. To find out if you need to apply for ATAS clearance, please visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/academic-technology-approval-scheme

Please enter your country to view country-specific entry requirements.

English Program Requirements

English Language Requirements

To study for a Postgraduate Taught degree at the University of Aberdeen it is essential that you can speak, understand, read, and write English fluently. The minimum requirements for this degree are as follows:

IELTS Academic:

OVERALL - 6.5 with: Listening - 5.5; Reading - 5.5; Speaking - 5.5; Writing - 6.0

TOEFL iBT:

OVERALL - 90 with: Listening - 17; Reading - 18; Speaking - 20; Writing - 21

PTE Academic:

OVERALL - 62 with: Listening - 59; Reading - 59; Speaking - 59; Writing - 59

Cambridge English B2 First, C1 Advanced, C2 Proficiency:

OVERALL - 176 with: Listening - 162; Reading - 162; Speaking - 162; Writing - 169

Career

Careers

The MSc Subsurface Energy Engineering prepares students for careers in various areas related to energy extraction and storage, including hydrogen transportation and storage, geothermal resources, carbon capture and storage, nuclear waste storage and critical materials for the energy transition. The skills-based approach also gives students the transferable skills for complementary roles in oil and gas, as well data analytics and policy.

The UK boasts a significant advantage in CO₂ storage technology due to the technical and commercial offshore energy skills built up over the last 50 years, the existing energy infrastructure and the unique geology of the North Sea basin.

CCS alone has been recognised as a critical technology by the UK government in helping carbon-intensive industries meet their net zero goals and is central to the UK government’s Net Zero Strategy. According to OEUK, the UK has an estimated total carbon storage capacity of 78 gigatons, one of the largest in Europe and enough to hold two centuries’ worth of the UK’s current emissions. The same report states that CCS could be worth £20bn to the offshore oil and gas supply chain in the next ten years, and £100bn by 2050.

Energy companies are diversifying their portfolios to include low carbon energies and technologies such as offshore wind, hydrogen and carbon capture and storage. A number of large-scale low carbon projects are now underway in the UK and around the World, and projects are expected to expand as we move towards a net-zero economy.

The UK government expects 220,000 positions will be required to support the energy transition in the UK over the next 10 years. In addition, the growth of clean energy technologies from wind turbines and solar panels, to electric vehicles and battery storage is creating a rapidly increasing demand for critical minerals such as copper, silicon, silver, zinc, manganese, chromium, nickel, lithium, cobalt, graphite and rare earth minerals.