Genesis Oil and Gas
The vision for the new MSc is to create a world-class centre of research and teaching in process safety, It’s too important a subject to not have a real focus on it for chemical engineers.
Introduction
This programme examines the primary technologies and operations involved in upstream oil and gas processing, with a particular focus on operational safety, risk assessment and risk management.
Can be studied by on campus or online learning modes.
The School of Engineering at the University of Aberdeen has focused on safety-related teaching and research for over 25 years and is today established as one of the key centres for safety engineering teaching and research in the UK.
The MSc Process Safety is developed with the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) and industry to produce qualified Process Safety Engineers. On this programme, you will be exposed to the major issues and challenges facing industry today, including operational safety, risk assessment and management and develop a professional approach to managing these accordingly.
This programme is distinctive because it is designed for students with a chemical engineering background, or those with a background in Petroleum or Mechanical Engineering, with good chemical/chemistry knowledge.
A major component of the MSc Process Safety programme is understanding and managing risk. You will be introduced to the tools and processes used to identify, assess and manage risk, taking such issues as process operations and human factors into account.
Aberdeen is known as the Energy Capital of Europe. The city and surrounding area is a major international centre of research and innovation in every aspect of the offshore oil and gas industry.
The University’s location at the heart of the oil and gas industry means that our degree programmes benefit from direct industry involvement, including industry advisory panels, guest lectures, field trips, site visits, networking and careers events, and industry supported student projects.
Key Programme Information
At a Glance
- Learning Mode
- On Campus Learning or Online Learning
- Degree Qualification
- MSc
- Duration
- 12 months, 24 months or 27 months
- Study Mode
- Full Time or Part Time
- Start Month
- September
Study Options
- MSc 27 months Online Learning Part Time September
-
- Year 1
-
Year 1
Compulsory Courses
- Safety & Risk Management (EG50S2) - 15 Credit Points
-
The course serves as the entrance to the field of safety and reliability engineering with the introduction of the basic concepts and tools of safety and risk management. Legal frames related to engineering safety are also introduced.
Contents include: Fundamentals of safety engineering; natural and man-made hazards; safety measures; accident and failure statistics; fundamentals of risk management; risk assessment techniques; classical reliability theory; modelling of engineering systems as series and parallel systems; redundancy; fault trees and event trees; availability and maintainability; UK safety legislation, including the Health and Safety at Work Act and its historical, offshore and other regulations.
- Upstream Oil and Gas Processing (EG5099) - 15 Credit Points
-
The aim of the course is to give students a theoretical and practical understanding of the main technologies and unit operations involved in upstream oil and gas processing. The key aspects of process safety are also covered to provide the basis for developing safe and operable systems.
- Applied Risk Analysis and Management (EG5558) - 15 Credit Points
-
Risk assessment, the common tools used for (and the legal requirement associated with) risk assessment are covered. Students will have a thorough understanding on the components of good assessment and management of risks, and be familiar with the basic requirement for HAZID, HAZOP, SIL, QRA and the Safety Case.
- Process Plant, Equipment & Operations (EG55P7) - 15 Credit Points
-
The course aims to give students knowledge and understanding of how larger process systems behave and are operated and controlled. Focus is being placed on the stability of feedback control loops and on advanced control strategies aiming at enhancing safety and operability. Specific cases across the safety hierarchy (basic and advanced process control, alarm systems, emergency shutdown and interlocks, etc.) are addressed.
- Year 2
-
Year 2
Compulsory Courses
- Loss of Containment (EG503C) - 15 Credit Points
-
The nature of fires and explosions is covered together with basic models to describe their characteristics. Thermal radiation (flaring) is reviewed and modelled. Source models and dispersion models for single and multi-phase systems are presented. Toxicity & dispersion are reviewed and extended. Loss of containment statistics is reviewed together with the critical examples from chemical processes and reactions. Identification and quantification of loss of containment scenarios are presented and analysed.
- Computational Fluid Dynamics (EG503G) - 15 Credit Points
-
The course aims to provide understanding of main principles and techniques underpinning computational fluid dynamics (CFD) combining numerical methods with practical experience using appropriate software. The course develops a foundation for understanding, developing and analysing successful simulations of fluid flows applicable to a broad range of applications.
- Process Design, Layout & Materials (EG55Q4) - 15 Credit Points
-
Candidates will develop PIDs for major systems applying LOPA and including instrumentation. Inherently safe equipment layout principles for both onshore and offshore applications are addressed. Layouts will be developed for example applications.
The safety critical systems are reviewed and discussed. These include; ESD, fire and gas; HVAC; hazardous areas; active and passive fire protection; blast protection; drainage; materials transfer.
Corrosion mechanisms are addressed together with materials for construction properties. Basic corrosion models are presented for a wide range of fluids. The operational modes which present most demand on materials are reviewed. Corrosion in erosive environments is addressed. Effects of temperature deviations in fire & blowdown are illustrated and analysed. Case studies are used to illustrate common issues.
- Human Factors Engineering (EG55Q5) - 15 Credit Points
-
Human Factors Engineering (HFE) covers a range of issues relating to how people interact with complex engineering systems. These can be grouped into one of three main areas - Man-Equipment interfaces and interactions; Organisational Behaviours; and Personal Behaviour/Human Error. Failures in these three areas are involved in all major incidents and candidates will explore them as part of this course. First, a review of a number of major accidents will be undertaken to identify how the equipment design, individual behaviours, and organisational behaviours contributed. The role of equipment/system design and the effect it has on individuals' behaviours is then explored, including man-machine interfaces. Human Error is then addressed, including error types and the impact of environmental factors. This will be applied to Critical Task Analysis and Human Reliability Assessment. Finally, organisational behaviours will be examined. Leading and Lagging indicators are explored and their strengths and weaknesses considered. At each stage, students will have the opportunity to complete practical assessments led by industry practitioners with specialist expertise in HFE.
- Year 3
-
Year 3
Compulsory Courses
- Process Safety Individual Project (EG5916) - 60 Credit Points
-
This course enables students to write a dissertation based on a process safety related topic. The wide aim of the course is to engage students in a problem which ties together the learning outcomes of the programme at an appropriate technical level.
- MSc 12 months or 24 months On Campus Learning Full Time or Part Time September
-
- Semester 1
-
Semester 1
Compulsory Courses
- Safety & Risk Management (EG50S2) - 15 Credit Points
-
The course serves as the entrance to the field of safety and reliability engineering with the introduction of the basic concepts and tools of safety and risk management. Legal frames related to engineering safety are also introduced.
Contents include: Fundamentals of safety engineering; natural and man-made hazards; safety measures; accident and failure statistics; fundamentals of risk management; risk assessment techniques; classical reliability theory; modelling of engineering systems as series and parallel systems; redundancy; fault trees and event trees; availability and maintainability; UK safety legislation, including the Health and Safety at Work Act and its historical, offshore and other regulations.
- Upstream Oil and Gas Processing (EG5099) - 15 Credit Points
-
The aim of the course is to give students a theoretical and practical understanding of the main technologies and unit operations involved in upstream oil and gas processing. The key aspects of process safety are also covered to provide the basis for developing safe and operable systems.
- Loss of Containment (EG50T5) - 15 Credit Points
-
The nature of fires and explosions is covered together with basic models to describe their characteristics. Thermal radiation (flaring) is reviewed and modelled. Source models and dispersion models for single and multi-phase systems are presented. Toxicity & dispersion are reviewed and extended. Loss of containment statistics is reviewed together with the critical examples from chemical processes and reactions. Identification and quantification of loss of containment scenarios are presented and analysed.
- Computational Fluid Dynamics (EG501V) - 15 Credit Points
-
The course aims to provide understanding of main principles and techniques underpinning computational fluid dynamics (CFD) combining numerical methods with practical experience using appropriate software. The course develops a foundation for understanding, developing and analysing successful simulations of fluid flows applicable to a broad range of applications.
- Semester 2
-
Semester 2
Compulsory Courses
- Applied Risk Analysis and Management (EG5558) - 15 Credit Points
-
Risk assessment, the common tools used for (and the legal requirement associated with) risk assessment are covered. Students will have a thorough understanding on the components of good assessment and management of risks, and be familiar with the basic requirement for HAZID, HAZOP, SIL, QRA and the Safety Case.
- Process Plant, Equipment & Operations (EG55P7) - 15 Credit Points
-
The course aims to give students knowledge and understanding of how larger process systems behave and are operated and controlled. Focus is being placed on the stability of feedback control loops and on advanced control strategies aiming at enhancing safety and operability. Specific cases across the safety hierarchy (basic and advanced process control, alarm systems, emergency shutdown and interlocks, etc.) are addressed.
- Process Design, Layout & Materials (EG55P8) - 15 Credit Points
-
Candidates will develop PIDs for major systems applying LOPA and including instrumentation. Inherently safe equipment layout principles for both onshore and offshore applications are addressed. Layouts will be developed for example applications.
The safety critical systems are reviewed and discussed.
Corrosion mechanisms are addressed together with materials for construction properties. Basic corrosion models are presented for a wide range of fluids. The operational modes which present most demand on materials are reviewed. Corrosion in erosive environments is addressed. Effects of temperature deviations in fire & blowdown are illustrated and analysed. Case studies are used to illustrate common issues.
- Human Factors Engineering (EG55P9) - 15 Credit Points
-
Human Factors Engineering (HFE) relates to how people interact with engineering systems. Failures in these areas are involved in all major incidents. Candidates explore them as part of this course. First, a review of major accidents will be undertaken to identify how equipment design, individual behaviours, and organisational behaviours contributed. Equipment/system design and the effect it has on individuals’ behaviours is explored. Human Error is addressed. Finally, organisational behaviours will be examined. Leading and Lagging indicators are explored and their strengths/weaknesses considered. Candidates have the opportunity to complete practical assessments led by industry practitioners with specialist expertise in HFE.
- Semester 3
-
Semester 3
Compulsory Courses
- Process Safety Individual Project (EG5912) - 60 Credit Points
-
This course enables students to write a dissertation based on a process safety related topic. The wide aim of the course is to engage students in a problem which ties together the learning outcomes of the programme at an appropriate technical level.
Course Availability
We will endeavour to make all course options available; however, these may be subject to timetabling and other constraints. Please see our InfoHub pages for further information.
How You'll Study
Learning Methods
- Field Trips
- Group Projects
- Individual Projects
- Lectures
- Research
- Tutorials
Assessment Methods
The principal method of student assessment is through written examinations. Candidates are normally expected to pass all examinations and all projects submissions. MSc candidates must submit a dissertation on their project, and may be required to undergo an oral examination.
Why Study Process Safety?
- This programme examines the primary technologies and equipment used, as well as the operations involved in upstream oil and gas processing. Students will be exposed to the major issues and challenges facing industry and develop a professional approach to managing these accordingly.
- A major component of the programme is understanding and managing risk. Students will be exposed to the tools and processes used to identify, assess and manage risk, taking factors such as process operations and human factors into account.
- The programme produces highly employable process safety professionals who understand industry pressures and have a detailed understanding of operational safety and risk assessment. Professionals that can work across a multitude of chemical processing sectors.
- This is a relevant and highly professional programme which gives current engineering and science graduates a tremendous opportunity to further their career in a field in which, evidence suggests, there is currently limited provision and access to postgraduate study.
- The programme can be studied part-time to suit the needs of industry professionals already working in the field.
- Major incidents continue to happen, and they have a huge impact on people. A huge part of the profession is making sure that engineers have the skills to prevent these types of disasters.
- Our location at the heart of Aberdeen, Europe's energy capital, and leading "World Energy City", brings you closer to the industry. The city is an inspiring place for any future oil and gas and wider energy industry leader.
- To ensure that the degree programmes remain current and connected to industry, the programme is developed and reviewed by an Industry Advisory Board, made up of experienced professionals from a range of backgrounds.
- Our close links with industry ensures that you experience lectures taught by industry professionals, get the chance to visit relevant organisations, attend industry events, and undertake MSc projects with leading firms.
- Our engineering graduates move in to very successful careers with a large proportion working in senior roles in industry, even as high as CEO and MD level. It doesn't matter where in the world you end up working, you are likely to have a fellow Aberdeen graduate engineer working with you. Our School of Engineering truly is a global family network.
Entry Requirements
Qualifications
The information below is provided as a guide only and does not guarantee entry to the University of Aberdeen.
- 2:1 (upper second class) UK Honours degree, or an Honours degree from a non-UK institution which is judged by the University to be of equivalent worth in Chemical Engineering.
- 2:1 in Mechanical or Petroleum Engineering with evidence of strength in key aspects of Chemical Engineering.
- Those with a High 2:2 Honours degree in Engineering may also be considered if they can demonstrate 2+ years of relevant experience.
- Key subjects you must have covered: Mathematics and Thermodynamics.
Please enter your country to view country-specific entry 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 - 51; Reading - 51; Speaking - 51; Writing - 54
Cambridge English Advanced & 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
International Applicants
Fees and Funding
You will be classified as one of the fee categories below.
- MSc 27 months Online Learning Part Time September
-
Fee Information
Fee information Fee category Cost All Students £925 Modular fee programmes - Tuition fees for 2020/21 academic year. This programme is charged on a modular basis. The fee quoted is per 15 credit points. Fee does not apply to the Individual Project in Process Safety, which is quoted below. All Students £2,900 Project - Academic year 2021/22. This is the fee charged for the Individual Project in Process Safety (60 credits) which is taken at the end of the programme. Indicative Programme Fee £10,480 Indicative programme fee based on studies beginning in the 2020/21 academic year. Fees increment annually. This fee is calculated on the basis of part-time study of 180 credits of study over 3 years. - MSc 12 months or 24 months On Campus Learning Full Time or Part Time September
-
Fee Information
Fee information Fee category Cost Home / EU / RUK Students £9,000 Tuition Fees for 2020/21 Academic Year International Students £23,000 Tuition Fees for 2020/21 Academic Year
International non-EU Applicants
Further Information about tuition fees and the cost of living in Aberdeen
Additional Fees
- In exceptional circumstances there may be additional fees associated with specialist courses, for example field trips. Any additional fees for a course can be found in our Catalogue of Courses.
- For more information about tuition fees for this programme, including payment plans and our refund policy, please visit our InfoHub Tuition Fees page.
Funding Opportunities
OPITO, the skills organisation for oil and gas, is offering two scholarships worth £6,000 each to students commencing a Master’s degree in safety engineering at the University of Aberdeen. Further information on eligibility criteria and how to apply can be found on the Funding Database.
Our Funding Database
View all funding options in our Funding Database.
Careers
Safety will always remain one of the most important areas of focus for industry. This will result in a continuous demand for skilled, knowledgeable academics around the globe.
Career Opportunities
- Chemical Engineer
- HSSE Lead Engineer
- Process Safety Engineer
- Risk Analyst
- Risk and Safety Manager
- Safety Engineer
Hear from Business
-
Genesis Oil and Gas
Our Experts
- Other Experts
- Dr Euan Bain
- Dr Xiaodong Wang
- Prof Jos Derksen
- Dr Jeff Gomes
- Dr Panagiotis Kechagiopoulos
- Dr Alfonso Martinez-Felipe
- Dr Marcus Campbell Bannerman
- Dr Srinivas Sriramula
- Dr Henry Tan
- Programme Coordinator
- Dr Waheed Afzal
Information About Staff Changes
You will be taught by a range of experts including professors, lecturers, teaching fellows and postgraduate tutors. Staff changes will occur from time to time; please see our InfoHub pages for further information.
Get in Touch
Contact Details
- Address
-
Student Recruitment & Admissions Service
University of Aberdeen
University Office
Regent Walk
Aberdeen
AB24 3FX