MSc Petroleum Downstream Technology

A good first degree in chemical engineering, mechanical engineering or equivalent.

Practitioners with suitable qualifications and relevant experience in engineering, science or technology are also welcome to apply.

English language requirements

IELTS minimum overall: 6.5

IELTS minimum by component: 6.0

All fees are subject to increase or review for subsequent academic years. Please note that not all visa routes permit part-time study and overseas students entering the UK on a Tier 4 visa will not be permitted to study on a part-time basis.

Module Overview

The full programme comprises eight taught modules and a research project. Each taught module will involve preparatory reading, attendance at the University for five days of tuition and a work-based assignment to be submitted for assessment post-tuition.

The research project would normally be conducted at the [student’s?] company and would be directly relevant to the employer’s business, whilst also meeting the University’s standards for an MSc thesis. All work-based information will remain confidential. The MSc thesis will remain confidential and unpublished for up to ten years if required.

Production Optimisation 1

This module provides you with an understanding of oil and product market economics, the key global crude, feedstock and product flows, global supply and demand of crude and products, along with other key determinants such as transportation routes and costs, and the evolution of petroleum product quality specifications.

Production Optimisation 2

This module provides you with an overview of the typical technologies employed in oil refining, petrochemical production and lubricant manufacturing facilities.

Maintenance, Reliability and Safety

This module brings together effective maintenance strategies and process safety through description of predictive and preventive maintenance processes, routine maintenance scheduling best practices using a risk management approach, and major plant turnaround plan development and execution.

Energy Optimisation and Hydrocarbon Loss Minimisation

This module explores effective tools and methods to support benchmarking and optimising plant energy consumption and measuring, reporting and reducing environmental impact.

Production Information and Control

This module addresses key features of these systems, presents best practices in the definition of model-based performance monitoring systems and explores the fundamentals of advanced and multivariable control systems. Direct experience of these concepts is provided through hands-on use of process simulation.

Continuous Improvement

This module provides you with the toolkit and methodology to develop continuous improvement strategies and implement them within your plant.

Capital Project Development

This module explains effective capital project development processes, best practices and tools, and examines the impact of applying these on project financial returns and risk mitigation.

Leadership, Management and Human Performance

This module examines the key leadership and management strategies required for safe and profitable plant operation and performance. Key skills are developed using dynamic teaching methods, including a hands-on pilot plant exercise that enables individuals to apply these best practices within a realistic operating environment.

Research Project

The research project is based on industrial implementation of any aspect of the taught modules, or a piece of conventional research on a topic allied to the programme. This will be conducted away from the University. Guidance during the project is available by contact with experienced tutors. The research project will be undertaken after completion of all the taught modules.