Iain Mackenzie
Decommissioning, MSc
Introduction
This programme focuses on the key technical, commercial, regulatory and environmental aspects associated with the decommissioning of energy infrastructure.
This programme is also available to study online.
Study Information
At a Glance
- Learning Mode
- On Campus Learning
- Degree Qualification
- MSc
- Duration
- 12 months
- Study Mode
- Full Time
- Start Month
- September
Over the next decade, around 100 platforms and 7,500 kilometres of pipeline on the United Kingdom Continental Shelf (UKCS) are forecast for decommissioning, with costs estimated to be £59 billion to 2050. As the rate of decommissioning activity increases across the UKCS and around the globe, there are also increasing commercial opportunities for UK supply chain companies both at home and abroad.
Decommissioning therefore presents both challenges and opportunities for the energy industry, as the UK government seeks to ensure the full economic recovery of hydrocarbons while also enabling the achievement of the country’s net zero target by 2050.
By working closely with major operators, supply chain companies and regulatory bodies, the MSc Decommissioning is instilling the innovators with the necessary advanced understanding of the technical, commercial and regulatory aspects of decommissioning so that they can lead the transition to sustainable sources of energy.
The programme includes taught courses covering the various interdisciplinary aspects of decommissioning, followed by a research project based on your particular interests or experience, which can be undertaken with an external organisation.
We welcome students from a broad range of educational and industry backgrounds, including engineering, business, law and environmental science including experienced professionals who are looking to upskill or move into the growing decommissioning sector.
The University of Aberdeen is home to the National Decommissioning Centre. Established with support from the Scottish Government, through the Net Zero Technology Centre, the centre works in partnership with companies to develop and deploy technology that delivers cost-effective net-zero decommissioning.
What You'll Study
- Stage 1
-
Compulsory Courses
- Getting Started at the University of Aberdeen (PD5006)
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This course, which is prescribed for all taught postgraduate students, is studied entirely online, is studied entirely online, takes approximately 2-3 hours to complete and can be taken in one sitting, or spread across the first 4 weeks of term.
Topics include University orientation overview, equality & diversity, MySkills, health, safety and cyber security, and academic integrity.
Successful completion of this course will be recorded on your Transcript as ‘Achieved’.
- Fundamentals of Energy Transition (EG506U)
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The course will provide students an overview of the energy transition, opportunities, and key challenges to reach net-zero carbon societies. It will introduce concepts and ideas useful in more advanced courses involving energy systems based on renewable sources. These will include fundamentals of renewable technologies, economic parameters, basic legal regulations, and societal implications of implementing energy transition projects.
- Introduction to Subsea Systems and Offshore Structures (EG506V)
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This course will give you an overview of subsea oil and gas production systems and offshore renewables, and an appreciation of the infrastructure and facilities that need to be removed when the time arrives for decommissioning.
You’ll be introduced to various aspects of offshore structures and subsea systems, including wind turbines, subsea oil and gas hardware and pipelines, and their associated infrastructure. You’ll also learn how these systems are maintained and monitored.
- Well Plugging and Abandonment (EG50R2)
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15 Credit Points
Decommissioning of offshore oil and gas infrastructure requires graduates to have a competent and realistic understanding of well plugging and abandonment. This course allows students to understand the scientific, engineering, and economic rationale for abandoning wells and decommissioning fields.
- Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (Ccus) (EG504K)
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15 Credit Points
To develop a broader understanding of carbon capture, its pipeline transportation, utilization and safe underground storage (CCUS) in the geological formations, in terms of the fundamental concepts, their practical applications and their implementation in the ongoing projects.
- Decommissioning of Offshore Installations: Regulatory Aspects (LS502H)
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15 Credit Points
This course provides a detailed overview of the international and domestic legal regulatory framework pertaining to the decommissioning of offshore oil and gas installations. Teaching and instruction will be by a variety of methods including podcasts, directed reading, and interactive discussion. Topics covered are: International law of the sea; global legal regime for offshore decommissioning; dumping – the UNCLOS, London and Oslo Conventions; Implementing international law in the UK and the Brent Spar Case; Legal and regulatory consequences of Brent Spar; the ongoing evolution of UK decommissioning law; the comparative dimension; waste. This course is available to students registering for the Online LLM Oil and Gas Law programmes (Dissertation or Professional Skills) and MSC Decommissioning.
- Introduction to Energy Economics (BU5053)
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15 Credit Points
This course introduces key techniques from economics and finance to allowing understanding of the basics of business decision making within the energy industries and the economic implications of key energy policies. We consider basic financial concepts such as: present value, the opportunity cost of capital and their role in business decision making in energy industries. We also consider key economic elements of markets and how the economic environment structures the way in which businesses make decisions and energy market outcomes.
- Stage 2
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Compulsory Courses
- Group Project in Comparative Assessment (EG55R3)
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15 Credit Points
Decommissioning of oil and gas infrastructure is becoming a major issue for the North Sea and other mature basins. This course provides students with an insight into the process used to find the best decommissioning option for a particular installation, taking account of the complex interactions between, cost, technical feasibility, environmental and societal considerations and safety.
- Process Shut Down, Structural Decommissioning & Disposal (EG55R1)
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15 Credit Points
Decommissioning of oil and gas infrastructure is becoming a major issue for the North Sea and other mature basins. This course provides students with an overview of the stages of shutting down the production process and cleaning of the system and then the possible methods of removal of the structure.
Optional Courses
Select ONE from:
- EG552U Marine and Wind Energy (15 Credit Points)
- EG551K Renewable Energy Integration to Grid (15 Credit Points)
Plus ONE from:
- LS552J Decommissioning of Offshore Installations: Commercial Aspects (15 Credit Points)
- EG555S Sustainable Engineering Challenges (15 Credit Points)
- Marine and Wind Energy (EG552U)
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15 Credit Points
To provide an understanding of the physical principles, technologies and systems associated with renewable energy generation from wind and marine sources. To provide an understanding of the position of these sources of energy in the current and future global energy requirements and the technical challenges in meeting the future energy demand
- Renewable Energy Integration to Grid (EG551K)
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15 Credit Points
The course aims to develop a broad understanding about the challenges and requirements of integrating renewable generators (RE) to grid, how these requirements can be met using converters, and high voltage direct current (HVDC) as a method of connecting RE to AC grids.
- Decommissioning of Offshore Installations: Commercial Aspects (LS552J)
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15 Credit Points
The course provides students with a comprehensive overview of the commercial issues which arise when decommissioning offshore installations. The course will focus in particular upon the UK example. It will consider standardised documentation including LOGIC and BIMCO contracts, key contractual clauses, innovative contracting models and the legal (including tax) issues which arise as a result of decommissioning costs.
- Stage 3
-
Compulsory Courses
- MSc Individual Project (EG59F1)
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60 Credit Points
The MSc Individual Project is an independent piece of research based on a topic related to a student’s degree programme. Students are encouraged to focus on a problem confronting industry or a related area. The individual project provides students with an opportunity to demonstrate how the in-depth skills and knowledge they have gained during the taught courses can be used to provide solutions to practical problems. The individual project should contain a degree of original research.
We will endeavour to make all course options available. However, these may be subject to change - see our Student Terms and Conditions page. In exceptional circumstances there may be additional fees associated with specialist courses, for example field trips.
| Fee category | Cost |
|---|---|
| UK | |
| Tuition Fees for 2025/26 Academic Year | £11,100 |
| Tuition Fees for 2025/26 Academic Year (University of Aberdeen Graduates *) | £7,000 |
| EU / International students | |
| Tuition Fees for 2025/26 Academic Year | £26,250 |
| Tuition Fees for 2025/26 Academic Year (Self-funded Students *) | £18,250 |
Funding Opportunities
- Shell U.K. Limited is offering three £20,000 scholarships for students starting a Masters programme aligned with the Centre for Energy Transition (CET) commencing in September 2024. Find out more
- NEO Energy, an independent full-cycle energy business in the UKCS, are offering two postgraduate scholarships in a variety of taught degree programmes at the University of Aberdeen. Each scholarship is valued at £20,000. Find out more.
Scholarships
All eligible self-funded international Postgraduate Masters students starting in September 2025 will receive an £8,000 scholarship. Learn more about this Aberdeen Global Scholarship here.
To see our full range of scholarships, visit our Funding Database.
How You'll Study
Learning Methods
- E-learning
- Group Projects
- Individual Projects
- Lectures
- Research
- Seminars
- Tutorials
Assessment Methods
Assessed by a combination of coursework and written examination. In addition MSc candidates must submit a dissertation on their individual project, and may be required to undergo an oral examination. The online learning coursework is submitted to the course tutor through the website and marks and comments will be sent back, also via the web. Arrangements can be made for examinations to be taken at a convenient place for you.
Why Study Decommissioning?
- Teaching is based on the latest research from the National Decommissioning Centre which was established with support from the Scottish Government, through the Net Zero Technology Centre. The NDC works in partnership with companies to develop and deploy technology that delivers cost-effective net-zero decommissioning.
- Broaden your knowledge of the key elements of the decommissioning process and gain an understanding of specific areas that you may not already be familiar with but would like to learn more about.
- Learn from world-class academics, many of whom have worked in industry and/or alongside industry on research collaboration.
- Close consultation has already taken place with those working in industry involved in decommissioning and this level of industry engagement will continue as the degree develops.
- This programme completes an impressive suite of energy-related degrees already offered by the University, which now cover all aspects of the oil and gas industry life-cycle.
- The degree attracts a broad range of students, many of whom are currently working on decommissioning projects around the world.
- There are significant opportunities in key regions around the globe where skills and knowledge of the decommissioning process are going to be a huge advantage.
- Current figures indicate that the UK will have a major shortage of workers skilled in these activities unless there is a significant increase in production of engineering and technical graduates from schools, colleges and universities as well as sustained retention of experienced workers within the industry.
What Our Students Say
Entry Requirements
Qualifications
The information below is provided as a guide only and does not guarantee entry to the University of Aberdeen.
2:2 UK Honours degree, or an Honours degree from a non-UK institution which is judged by the University to be of equivalent worth, in Engineering, Geosciences, Economics, Business, Law, or other science, technology and commercial degrees.
Other degree classifications may be considered if the applicant can demonstrate 3+ years of industry experience.
Please enter your country or territory to view relevant entry requirements.
Aberdeen Global Scholarship
Eligible self-funded Postgraduate Taught (PGT) students will receive the Aberdeen Global Scholarship. Eligibility details and further information are available on our dedicated page.
Aberdeen Global ScholarshipEnglish 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
Read more about specific English Language requirements here.
Document Requirements
You will be required to supply the following documentation with your application as proof you meet the entry requirements of this degree programme. If you have not yet completed your current programme of study, then you can still apply and you can provide your Degree Certificate at a later date.
- CV
- an up-to-date CV/Resumé
- Degree Certificate
- a degree certificate showing your qualifications
- Degree Transcript
- a full transcript showing all the subjects you studied and the marks you have achieved in your degree(s) (original & official English translation)
- Personal Statement
- a detailed personal statement explaining your motivation for this particular programme
Careers
There are many opportunities at the University of Aberdeen to develop your knowledge, gain experience and build a competitive set of skills to enhance your employability. This is essential for your future career success. The Careers and Employability Service can help you to plan your career and support your choices throughout your time with us, from first to final year – and beyond.
- More information on employability at the University of Aberdeen
- More information on the Careers and Employability Service
Industry Links
In establishing the programme, industry feedback has included:
"We are very short of competency generally, and it’s good that AU is interested in helping plug that gap."
"The course is very timely. I think there would be interest in it and it offers a good way to encourage people to think about careers in decommissioning rather than viewing it as the end of the cycle with no opportunities."
"Concept is good given there will be a 40 year career in decommissioning ahead . "
Accreditation
This degree holds accreditation from
- The Energy Institute
- The Institute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology
- Institute of Mechanical Engineers
Our Experts
A range of academic experts will teach on the programme from across engineering, law, business, economics, environmental science.
- Other Expert
- Dr Richard D. Neilson
Information About Staff Changes
You will be taught by a range of experts including professors, lecturers, teaching fellows and postgraduate tutors. However, these may be subject to change - see our Student Terms and Conditions page.
Get in Touch
Contact Details
- Address
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Student Recruitment & Admissions
University of Aberdeen
University Office
Regent Walk
Aberdeen
AB24 3FX