MSc Subsurface Energy Engineering

Program Overview

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MSc Subsurface Energy Engineering

Overview

Earn your MSc in Subsurface Energy Engineering 100% online. Learn to design and work with subsurface energy systems in a Masters degree that fits around full-time work.

Key Info

• Learning Mode: Online
• Study Level: Postgraduate SCQF Level 11
• Credits: 180
• Typical Duration: 27 - 30 months
• Start Month: September or January
• Indicative Cost: £14,825

What You'll Study

Develop the advanced skills in energy engineering, geo-energy resources and storage that you need to work with subsurface energy systems.

• Fundamentals of fluid transport processes in subsurface media, with applications to Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS), hydrogen storage, geothermal resources, and other low-carbon energy systems
• Computational and modelling techniques to analyse and evaluate the subsurface for energy-related purposes
• Key techniques required for energy and material conservation, and
• Management systems related to the environment, geo-energy, safety, and life-cycle assessment

Prepare for Careers in a Range of Sectors

You'll graduate ready to work in the sustainable energy sector, but also in related areas including petroleum engineering, contaminant transport, geo-energy, and environmental engineering.

Interdisciplinary Learning

In this interdisciplinary degree, you'll take in aspects of chemical and petroleum engineering, geology, chemistry, and the economics of subsurface energy systems, giving you a broad overview of the industry.

A Unique Syllabus

Uniquely, you'll also cover the important area of sustainable mining for critical energy transition metals, including copper, lithium and zinc, as well as the subsequent processing, recycling and reuse of these materials.

Exceptional Expertise

This MSc builds on the University of Aberdeen's long track record of teaching and research in energy. Your learning draws on much of the ground-breaking research being conducted within our Centre for Energy Transition (CET), in geothermal energy, CCUS, and materials critical for the energy transition.

Who Can Join This Online MSc in Subsurface Energy Engineering?

This distance-learning degree is for people who want to work in subsurface energy generation and storage.

• Engineering or geology graduates who want to focus their careers on engineering aspects of subsurface energy systems and renewable energy generation, and
• Existing experienced engineers looking to upskill or reskill for careers in the sustainable energy sector.

Choose the University of Aberdeen for MSc Subsurface Energy Engineering

Earn a Respected Masters Degree

You'll earn the same globally recognised Masters degree online as you would on campus.

Train with Energy Transition Experts

Learn with a university leading the way in renewables, carbon capture, fuel cells, digitalisation and more.

Over 525 Years of Excellence

Graduate from the fifth-oldest university in the English-speaking world, founded in 1495.

By the End of This Degree, You'll Be Able To...

• Demonstrate advanced knowledge of subsurface energy systems, including CO₂/hydrogen storage and geothermal resources.
• Understand the principal theories of the flow of gases and liquids in subsurface, pipelines, and surface processes.
• Analyse challenges related to energy storage and subsurface flow systems.
• Design relevant processes for energy storage and subsurface flow systems.
• Use life-cycle assessment and efficiency evaluation to analyse the sustainability of subsurface energy processes.
• Apply a range of standards and specialised techniques to solve problems and design subsurface energy processes.
• Implement creativity in solving engineering problems, alongside testing/de-risking and decision-making approaches.
• Develop numerical models to simulate subsurface energy systems and analyse their performance.
• Evaluate engineering problems related to subsurface energy systems and analyse solutions, taking into account economics and sustainability.
• Communicate and use soft skills in delivering complex outcomes to a range of audiences through presentations and report writing.

What You'll Study

You can choose to study for a:

• Masters (180 credits)
• exit early with a Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits)
• exit early with a Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits), or
• start with one of the short courses that make up this degree (15 credits).

You can build your way to a qualification one short course at a time.

Master of Science - 180 credits

You'll work through eight 15-credit courses and a 60-credit project to earn your MSc.

You can start the degree in September or January and progress at a pace that suits you.

Duration

Typically, it takes 27 months to complete the MSc part-time. To study part-time, we recommend you take no more than 30 credits per term.

In this flexible degree, you can also take breaks between courses.

Courses

• Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (15 credits)
• Geothermal and Hydro Energy (15 credits)
• Energy Conversion and Storage (15 credits)
• Sustainable Engineering Challenges (15 credits)
• Subsurface Transport Processes (15 credits)
• Near Surface and Environmental Geophysics (15 credits)
• AI, Machine Learning and Data Science for the Petroleum Industry (15 credits)
• Critical Minerals for Energy Transition and Sustainability (15 credits)

Project

Then complete your project to earn your final 60 credits and complete the MSc.

• MSc Individual Project (60 credits)

How You'll Study

Online Learning

This distance-learning Masters in Subsurface Energy Engineering is delivered flexibly, 100% online.

You can learn with us anywhere, no student visa required, and manage your study hours to suit you.

Your Teaching

Teaching is delivered through MyAberdeen, our online Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). It holds all the materials, tools and support you'll need in your studies.

You can access your learning materials on computer, smartphone and laptop, 24 hours a day. You'll find a range of online resources available, including:

• Recorded video lectures
• Slide shows
• Reading materials
• Live online sessions
• Discussion boards with your tutors and peers
• Online access to our award-winning Sir Duncan Rice Library

Live Online Sessions

Some of the courses that are part of this degree may feature some live online sessions to assist you with your learning. All live sessions will be recorded, so you can view these at your convenience if you are not able to attend live.

Your Tutors

This online degree is delivered jointly by our School of Engineering and our School of Geosciences.

You'll learn from highly research-active lecturers who, in partnership with industry, have designed this degree to ensure you study the latest technologies and thinking in the field.

Much of your syllabus is informed by research being carried out at our interdisciplinary Centre for Energy Transition.

Assessment

This degree is assessed online.

We'll use several types of online assessment throughout your studies, including:

• Timed online exams
• Written reports, and
• Presentations

Study Hours

Hours for Taught Courses

If you plan to study part-time, we recommend you take no more than 30 credits per term. Students typically take one or two 15-credit short courses per term.

• 15 credits: Around 150 hours of study and assessment time to complete. You'll study 10 – 15 hours per week per term, plus more at assessment times.
• 30 credits: Around 300 hours of study and assessment time to complete. You'll study 20 – 30 hours per week per term, plus more at assessment times.

This is an indicative guide to the time required for a typical student at this level to achieve the learning outcomes. This includes time for independent study, as well as teaching and assessments.

You can largely set your own study hours each week to cover the materials. MyAberdeen is available 24/7, so you can log in and study when it suits you.

Activities at Fixed Times

Some activities will be scheduled for fixed times, such as online meetings with your tutor or assessments with deadlines. But otherwise, you can access and work through each course at your convenience.

Hours for 60-credit Projects and Dissertations

A 60-credit project or dissertation is around 600 hours of study time.

This is around one term of full-time study.

You can dedicate a full term to your project or dissertation and work on it full-time. Or you can complete it part-time, spreading the hours you dedicate to it over two terms.

Study Experience

When you study with us, you can expect a first-class support structure so that you're never alone in your studies.

But learning online does mean you have to motivate yourself and manage your own time.

Your most important commitment will be time – the time to work through, reflect on and understand your teaching materials.

Before you start a course that involves a high degree of independent study, we recommend looking at the time you will be able to devote to your studies each week:

• Be realistic
• Create a weekly schedule as a guide

If you have any questions about studying online, get in touch with our friendly team. We're here to help.

Support

Our first-class support structure will ensure that you aren't alone in your studies. You'll have contact with your tutors via MyAberdeen and email. You can use social media and discussion boards to chat with your fellow students too.

We provide a wide range of services to support you in your studies and beyond:

• Careers and Employability Service – including one-to-one advice sessions
• Disability support
• IT support
• Library support
• Student Support Service – help with finances, stress, wellbeing and non-academic issues
• Student Learning Service – study support, with advice sessions available via phone or Skype
• Aberdeen University Students' Association (AUSA) – run by students for students
• Toolkit – clever apps and free training that can make your study life easier

Wherever you are in the world, you'll feel part of our very special Aberdeen learning community.

Use Your Local University Libraries

We're a member of the Access scheme run by the Society of College, National and University Libraries (SCONUL).

Access Study Spaces, Books and Journals in Your Area

The SCONUL Access scheme allows you, as a University of Aberdeen student, to access books and resources at university libraries across the UK and Ireland, or visit them for a quiet place to study.

You'll be able to use study spaces, books and journals at over 150 university libraries which belong to the scheme.

Your Support Team

Our friendly team are here to answer any queries you have before, during and after your studies.

Dr Amin Sharifi

Amin is the degree coordinator. He'll be on hand to answer questions about degree content before you start and to help you throughout your studies.

Lyn Magee

Lyn is part of the School's administration team. She'll be there throughout your studies to answer any of your non-academic queries.

Where This Will Take You

Earn the Same MSc Qualification Online as You Would on Campus

You'll graduate with a respected MSc in Subsurface Energy Engineering from the University of Aberdeen, one of the UK's six ancient universities.

You'll receive exactly the same degree qualification online as you would on campus. Your degree title will not mention online or distance learning.

Your MSc qualification will be recognised by industry and educational institutions around the world, opening up international opportunities.

Careers in Subsurface Energy

You'll graduate from this MSc ready to work in various areas related to energy extraction and storage, including:

• Hydrogen transportation and storage
• The geothermal industry
• Carbon capture and storage
• Geo-energy engineering
• Nuclear waste storage, and
• Critical materials for the energy transition

Transferable Skills

The skills-based approach of this degree means you'll also develop transferable skills for complementary roles within:

• The wider energy sector
• The oil and gas industry
• Data analytics and policy
• Government agencies and regulating bodies
• Non-government organisations (NGOs), and
• Academia

Subsurface Energy Industry Growth

The UK government's Energy White Paper states that 220,000 positions will be required to support the energy transition in the UK alone over the next 10 years.

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) has been recognised as a critical technology by the UK government and is central to its Net Zero Strategy.

According to a report by Offshore Energies UK (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 10 years, and £100bn by 2050.

The growth of clean energy technologies is also creating a rapidly increasing demand for critical minerals, including copper, silicon, zinc, manganese, and rare earth minerals, with subsurface engineering skills required to harness these.

Lifelong Career Support

Our career support doesn't stop when you graduate.

You have access to our free careers service while you study, and beyond.

• 1:1 appointments
• CV checks
• Interview prep
• Job opportunities

Fees and Funding

Master of Science

• 180 credits: £14,825

This indicative cost is based on 180 credits of study over three years, starting in September 2025.

The fee quoted above is based on you starting your studies with us in the 2025/26 academic year.

Our tuition fees will rise by 3% for the 2026/27, 2027/28 and 2028/29 academic years. Our indicative cost includes a 3% fee rise each year.

Pay as You Go

This is a pay-as-you-go qualification.

You do not have to pay the full tuition fee upfront.

You can spread the cost and pay as you go, term by term.

How it Works

• You decide how many credits to study for each term.
• At the start of term, you pay only for the credits you're taking that term.
• This gives you control over your costs and workload for each term of your qualification.

Your Personalised Cost Breakdown

Use the degree scheduler to plan your studies and see your cost breakdown, term by term.

Additional Costs

Learning Resources

Access to all the books and resources you need are included in your tuition fee. They'll be made available to you online and you do not have to buy your own copies.

Printing

You may wish to set aside a small budget for printing, depending on how you like to work.

Funding Your Studies

There are several ways you may be able to get help funding your studies:

• Employer sponsorship – we accept full and partial fee payments from sponsors
• Student loans
• Scholarships – search our funding database for scholarships

Discounts

20% Alumni Discount

You're entitled to 20% off our postgraduate taught degrees and short courses if you have a degree from the University of Aberdeen.

How Discounts Work

Discounts are applied during your application process. You can only use one discount per application.

Entry Requirements

MSc, PgDip, PgCert

• A 2:2 UK honours degree (or equivalent) in any branch of Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Physics, or Geosciences.

Short Course Route to Online MSc Subsurface Energy Engineering

If you prefer to start with a short course, you may be able to use our online short courses as a route into this degree.

International Students

Entry Requirements

We welcome students from all over the world.

See the minimum entry requirements above. If you do not have qualifications from the UK, check equivalent qualifications from your country.

Visa Requirements

You do not need a student visa to study online with us.

English Language Requirements

Teaching is delivered in English.

If English is not your first language, use our English requirements checklist to see if you need to provide evidence of your English language skills when you apply.

English Language Tests and Scores

If you do need to provide English language test scores, these are the tests and minimum scores we accept for this course or degree.

These are our Postgraduate Standard requirements.

• IELTS Academic, IELTS UKVI Academic, or IELTS Online (not IELTS Indicator or IELTS General Training)
  • 6.5 overall
  • 5.5 for listening, reading and speaking
  • 6.0 for writing
• TOEFL iBT or TOEFL iBT Home Edition
  • 90 overall
  • 17 for listening
  • 18 for reading
  • 20 for speaking
  • 21 for writing
  • TOEFL DI code is 0818
• Cambridge English: B2 First, C1 Advanced, or C2 Proficiency
  • 176 overall
  • 162 for listening, reading and speaking
  • 169 for writing
• LanguageCert Academic / LanguageCert Academic SELT
  • 70 overall
  • 60 for listening, reading and speaking
  • 65 for writing
• Oxford ELLT Digital – English Language Level Test Online
  • 7.0 overall
  • 5.0 for listening, reading and speaking
  • 6.0 for writing
• PTE Academic (online test not accepted)
  • 62 overall
  • 59 for listening, reading, speaking and writing
• Skills for English: SELT
  • B2 pass with merit
• Duolingo – tests taken from 1 July 2024 onward
  • 120 overall
  • 95 for listening, reading and speaking
  • 105 for writing
• University of Aberdeen English Pre-sessional Programme (PSE)
  • Pass
  • Valid for one year. Refresher can be offered if out of date
• Pre-sessional academic English preparation programmes undertaken at other UK universities
  • Pass at an equivalent of 6.5 (C1)
  • B2 in all four skills
  • Certification must be within one year prior to the start of your course

How to Apply

You apply through our online Applicant Portal. It allows you to upload relevant qualifications and documents.

There is no application fee for our online degrees.

What You Need to Apply for This Degree

• Degree transcript
• Personal statement

When to Apply

You can apply to start in either September or January.

Apply as early as you can. This is so we have time to review your application and get a decision to you. We also want to ensure you have time to enrol before teaching starts.

September 2025 Intake

For our September 2025 intake, the application deadline is 8 September 2025.

You will need to accept your offer and provide any outstanding documents to meet the conditions of your offer by 15 September 2025.

Teaching starts on 22 September 2025.

January 2026 Intake

Teaching starts on 26 January 2026.

Application deadlines will be announced in due course.

IT Requirements

You will need access to:

A Computer (PC, Laptop or Mac) with an Up-to-Date Operating System

Most teaching materials are smartphone- and tablet-friendly. But we recommend a proper laptop or desktop for completing assignments comfortably.

Reliable Internet Access

We recommend:

• A wired connection
• A minimum download speed of 2 Mbps so you can take part fully in live sessions.

Speakers or Headphones

• We recommend a headset with built-in microphone and earphones if you're likely to study in an environment with background noise.
• A webcam is optional, but you may like to use one for some interactive sessions.

Software

We'll give you access to Office365 applications. This means you can use online versions of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneDrive and install these programs on up to five personal devices.

If your course requires specialist software, we'll provide you with access to this and a licence that lasts throughout your studies.

See our detailed IT requirements for more information.

Still not sure? Ask us a question