MSc Decommissioning

Program Overview

---

MSc Decommissioning

Overview

The MSc Decommissioning is a unique, accredited online degree that trains students in the decommissioning of oil rigs, platforms, and offshore structures. This program is designed in collaboration with major industry operators, supply chain companies, and regulatory bodies, providing students with a broad range of knowledge and expertise in the physical process of taking offshore platforms out of service.

Key Information

• Learning Mode: Online
• Study Level: Postgraduate SCQF Level 11
• Credits: 180
• Typical Duration: 27 months
• Start Month: September or January
• Indicative Cost: £14,335

What You'll Study

The MSc Decommissioning covers a wide range of topics, including:

• Engineering: Students will learn about the engineering aspects of decommissioning, including the physical process of taking offshore platforms out of service.
• Project Management: Students will gain knowledge and skills in project management, including planning, execution, and monitoring of decommissioning projects.
• Business: Students will learn about the commercial aspects of decommissioning, including cost estimation, budgeting, and risk management.
• Law: Students will gain an understanding of the legal framework governing decommissioning, including regulatory requirements and contractual obligations.
• Health and Safety: Students will learn about the health and safety aspects of decommissioning, including risk assessment, hazard identification, and mitigation strategies.
• Environmental Studies: Students will gain knowledge of the environmental impacts of decommissioning, including waste management, pollution prevention, and habitat restoration.

Hand-in-Hand with Industry

This distance-learning MSc Decommissioning has been designed in collaboration with major industry operators, supply chain companies, and regulatory bodies. As a result, students will enjoy guest lectures from leading decommissioning industry experts and undertake industry-based projects.

Who Can Study Online MSc Decommissioning

This flexible degree is suitable for:

• Graduates: Students with a degree in engineering, geosciences, economics, business, law, or other science or technology fields.
• Experienced Professionals: Professionals with at least three years of industry experience in decommissioning or related fields.

Accreditation

This online MSc is accredited by the:

• Energy Institute
• Institute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology

National Decommissioning Centre

The University of Aberdeen is home to the UK's newly established National Decommissioning Centre (NDC), which partners with companies to develop and deploy innovations in decommissioning technology.

What You'll Study

Students can choose to study for a:

• Masters (180 credits)
• Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits)
• Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits)
• Short courses (15 credits)

Compulsory Courses

• Fundamentals of Energy Transition
• Introduction to Subsea Systems and Offshore Structures
• Decommissioning of Offshore Installations: Regulatory Aspects
• Well Plugging and Abandonment
• Process Shutdown, Structural Decommissioning and Disposal
• Group Project in Comparative Assessment
• Introduction to Energy Economics
• Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage

Optional Courses

• Marine and Wind Energy
• Sustainable Engineering Challenges
• Decommissioning of Offshore Installations: Commercial Issues
• Renewable Energy Integration to Grid

Project

• MSc Individual Project

How You'll Study

• Online Learning: This distance-learning MSc Decommissioning is delivered flexibly, 100% online.
• Teaching: Teaching is delivered through MyAberdeen, our online Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).
• Tutors: Students will learn from academic experts across engineering, law, business, economics, and environmental science.
• Assessment: This degree is assessed online, using a range of online assessment methods.

Study Hours

• Hours for Taught Courses: Students typically take one or two 15-credit short courses per term, requiring around 150 hours of study and assessment time to complete.
• Hours for 60-Credit Projects and Dissertations: A 60-credit project or dissertation is around 600 hours of study time.

Support

• First-Class Support Structure: Students will have contact with tutors via MyAberdeen and email, as well as access to a wide range of services, including careers and employability support, disability support, IT support, library support, and student support services.

Fees and Funding

• Master of Science: £14,335 (indicative cost based on 180 credits of study over three years, starting in September 2025)
• Pay as You Go: This is a pay-as-you-go qualification, allowing students to spread the cost and pay as they go, term by term.
• Additional Costs: Students may need to budget for learning resources, printing, and software.

Entry Requirements

• MSc: A 2:2 UK honours degree (or equivalent) in engineering, geosciences, economics, business, law, or other science or technology fields.
• International Students: Students from outside the UK must meet the minimum entry requirements, including English language requirements.

How to Apply

• Applicant Portal: Students apply through our online Applicant Portal, uploading relevant qualifications and documents.
• Application Deadlines: Application deadlines will be announced in due course.

IT Requirements

• Computer: Students will need access to a computer (PC, laptop, or Mac) with an up-to-date operating system.
• Internet Access: Students will need reliable internet access, with a minimum download speed of 2 Mbps.
• Software: Students will be given access to Office365 applications and any specialist software required for the course.

Program Outline

---

Degree Overview:

---

Objective:

Train students in all aspects of decommissioning oil rigs, platforms, and offshore structures.

---

Program Description:

• Delivered 100% online.
• Part-time study format.
• Typical duration: 27 months.
• Accredited by the Energy Institute and the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology.
• Combines engineering, project management, business, law, health and safety, and environmental studies.
• Designed in collaboration with major industry operators, supply chain companies, and regulatory bodies.
• Benefits from guest lectures from leading decommissioning industry experts and industry-based projects.

---

Target Audience:

• Graduates or experienced professionals seeking to upskill or transition into the growing decommissioning sector.
• Students from diverse academic and industry backgrounds including engineering, business, law, and environmental science.

---

Outline:

---

Program Structure:

• Earn an MSc (180 credits) or exit with a Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits) or Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits).
• Build your qualification one short course at a time.
• MSc comprises 8 x 15-credit courses and a 60-credit project.
• Short courses are available individually or as part of the degree.

---

Compulsory Courses:

• Offshore Structures and Subsea Systems
• Decommissioning of Offshore Installations: Regulatory Aspects
• Marine and Environmental Impact Assessment
• Process Shutdown, Structural Decommissioning and Disposal
• Well Plugging and Abandonment
• Petroleum Economics and Project Evaluation
• Group Project in Comparative Assessment

---

Elective Courses (Choose one):

• Decommissioning of Offshore Installations: Commercial Issues
• Engineering Risk and Reliability Analysis (suitable for students with engineering, mathematics and physics background)

---

Project:

• MSc Individual Project (60 credits)

---

Course Schedule:

• Courses are offered in September and January.
• MSc typically takes 27 months to complete part-time (recommended: 30 credits per term).
• Breaks between courses are permitted.
• Degree completion must occur within six years.

---

Assessment:

---

Assessment methods:

• Online assessments.
• Written exams (currently replaced with online assessments due to COVID-19, expected to return in September 2023).

---

Exam locations:

• University of Aberdeen campus.
• Other universities or exam centres.
• British Council Offices.

---

Exam costs:

• Free on campus.

---

Resit opportunities:

• Next exam period.

---

Teaching:

---

Teaching methods:

• Online learning through MyAberdeen virtual learning environment.
• Access to materials, tools, and support 24/7.
• Resources include online library access and award-winning Sir Duncan Rice Library.
• Mobile-friendly learning materials.

---

Faculty:

• Academic experts from engineering, law, business, economics, and environmental science.
• Industry experience and research collaborations.
• Guest lectures from decommissioning industry professionals.

---

Delivery:

• School of Engineering.

---

Careers:

---

Career opportunities:

• Global decommissioning market.
• Estimated 100 offshore platforms and 5,700km of pipeline decommissioned/reused on UK Continental Shelf in the next decade.
• £59 billion estimated cost by 2050.
• Opportunities in key regions around the globe.

---

Career support:

• Free careers service during and after studies.
• 1:1 appointments.
• CV checks.
• Interview prep.
• Job opportunities.

---

Other:

• National Decommissioning Centre partnership.
• 20% alumni discount.
• Global network of learners.
• Lifelong career support.
Updates may have occurred since then.