MSc Petroleum Refining Systems Engineering
Developed in response to the worldwide shortage of qualified engineers in the relevant industries, this programme is suitable for graduates in an engineering, science or technology subject with an interest in pursuing a successful career in the energy or petrochemical sectors.
This programme will equip you with the essential knowledge and skills required to work as an engineer in the oil, gas and petrochemical sectors. The key learning outcomes are an understanding of oil refining and associated downstream processing technologies, operations and economics; process safety and operations integrity; and methods for the optimal design of process systems.
This programme combines petroleum refining (technologies, operations and economics) and systems engineering (modelling and simulation, optimisation, and process design and integration).
In addition, it provides opportunities for you to learn about the general economics of the energy sector, oil exploration and production, as well as renewable energy systems. Furthermore, study of the various aspects of petroleum refining will be augmented by unique work assignments at a virtual oil refining and chemical company.
Entry standards
A good honours degree or an overseas equivalent in an engineering, science or related subject. Practitioners with suitable qualifications and relevant experience in engineering, science or technology are also welcome to apply.
English language requirements
Non-native speakers of English will normally be required to have IELTS 6.5 or above, with a minimum of 6.0 in each component (or equivalent).
Please note that the University of Surrey offers English language programmes and is also an IELTS Test Centre.
MSc Petroleum Refining Systems Engineering - structure and modules
Module Titles
Compulsory Modules
- Refinery and Petrochemical Processing
- Process Safety and Operations Integrity
- Process and Energy Integration
- Process Modelling and Simulation
- Process Systems Design
- Optimisation and Decision Making
- Dissertation
Optional Modules
- Introduction to Petroleum Production
- Energy Economics and Technology
- Economics of International Oil and Gas
- Renewable Energy Technologies
- Sustainable Development
- Research Methods and Principles
- Knowledge-based Systems and Artificial Intelligence
- Supply Chain Management
- Transitions to a Low Carbon Energy Economy
- Biomass Processing Technologies
Compulsory Modules
Refinery and Petrochemical Processing
This module provides an understanding of refining and immediate downstream petrochemical processing. Specifically, you will gain a holistic understanding of refinery systems and the family of hydrocarbon products (and their individual processing steps and corresponding technologies), and grasp the principles for improving refinery economics.
Process Safety and Operations Integrity
This module provides an understanding of the principles for analysing and tackling major hazards and operational problems in refineries and petrochemical plants. Specifically, you will become aware of major types of operational and safety problems, and understand the causes and consequences of individual types of problems, as well as the ways of handling them. You will also master the methods of HAZOP and HAZAN and be able to apply the principles of operations integrity management.
Process and Energy Integration
This module develops an understanding of process integration, highlighting solution strategies for the synthesis of energy recovery networks in the context of the overall flowsheets of processing plants and utility systems. The principle and methods apply to refinery, petrochemical and other processes.
Process Modelling and Simulation
This module provides an introduction to the concepts and tools for mathematical modelling and simulation of refinery, petrochemical and other process systems. Specifically, you will acquire knowledge on types of modelling tools and gain experience of applying the standard simulation tools commonly employed in the industrial workplace.
Process Systems Design
This module develops your understanding of how to systematically synthesise and design refinery, petrochemical and other process systems. It will cover process synthesis and integration technologies that reduce the costs and environmental impact of chemical plants, with a particular focus on reaction and separation.
Optimisation and Decision Making
This module develops an understanding of the technology available for optimising process systems, business models and operations. You will be provided with state-of-the-art versions of modelling and optimisation approaches in order to understand both the potential and the limitations of available techniques.
Dissertation
This project provides an opportunity for you to pursue a single topic in depth and to demonstrate evidence of research potential for the Masters award. You are encouraged to either research a new concept or apply existing technology in a new field. A number of dissertations are carried out in collaboration with industry. Through this module, you will be able to approach an open-ended topic to research new ideas and experiment with new technologies.
Optional Modules
- Introduction to Petroleum Production
- Energy Economics and Technology
- Economics of International Oil and Gas
- Renewable Energy Technologies
- Sustainable Development
- Research Methods and Principles
- Knowledge-based Systems and Artificial Intelligence
- Supply Chain Management
- Transitions to a Low Carbon Energy Economy
- Biomass Processing Technologies
Programme Structure
We offer a set of optional modules that will allow you to tailor the programmes to suit your individual needs, whilst the compulsory modules provide the fundamental knowledge and skills needed in industry today.
Graduate students will find the programmes of substantial benefit in developing the knowledge and skills acquired in their undergraduate programmes. For practising process engineers with professional business experience, the programmes are an opportunity to update their knowledge of current design practice and also to familiarise themselves with developments in codes and methods of analysis.
Successful completion of four modules is required to gain a Postgraduate Certificate and eight modules for a Postgraduate Diploma. To be awarded the MSc, you will need to take eight modules and successfully complete a dissertation.
Each module is worth 15 credits. The majority of modules are provided by University academic staff. In addition, the business and research seminars and renewable technologies and business modules are coordinated and supervised by University academic staff but delivered by experts from industry, research institutions and business organisations. The majority of modules run for ten weeks and comprise approximately 30 hours of class time (three hours per week) and 120 hours of self-study and assignments.
There is a wide selection of modules on offer within the programmes covering the most relevant areas in the sector of business and technology in the process industry. At the end of the programme, you will have an opportunity to pursue a single topic in depth and to demonstrate evidence of research potential through the project dissertation.
Academic support in the form of consultations is constantly available to enable further knowledge and skill comprehension.
MSc Petroleum Refining Systems Engineering - entry standards
Entry standards
A good honours degree or an overseas equivalent in an engineering, science or related subject. Practitioners with suitable qualifications and relevant experience in engineering, science or technology are also welcome to apply.
English language requirements
Non-native speakers of English will normally be required to have IELTS 6.5 or above, with a minimum of 6.0 in each component (or equivalent).
Please note that the University of Surrey offers English language programmes and is also an IELTS Test Centre.
Planned intake
Up to 25
Start date
September
Programme Director
MSc Petroleum Refining Systems Engineering - fees and funding
Fees
Petroleum Refining Systems Engineering (full time):
UK/EU - £5,740
Overseas - £14,830
Petroleum Refining Systems Engineering (part time - per module and for the dissertation):
UK/EU - £638
Overseas - £1,648
MSc Petroleum Refining Systems Engineering - professional context
Careers
Engineers and scientists are increasingly expected to have skills in information systems engineering and decision support systems alongside their main technical and/or scientific expertise.
Graduates of these programmes will be well prepared to help technology-intensive organisations make important decisions in view of vast amounts of information by adopting, combining, implementing and executing the right technologies.
MSc Petroleum Refining Systems Engineering - teaching
Staff perspective
Dr Aidong Yang
A chemical engineer by training, I am teaching several MSc modules in the areas of process systems design and modelling, and biomass processing.
My teaching is well informed by active research in the fields of multiscale modelling of complex systems and modelbased
analysis and optimisation of manufacturing systems based on renewable resources.
As a lecturer and a researcher in systems engineering, I believe the coupling of process, information and business engineering with the systems perspectives, as offered by the family of MSc programmes from PRISE, is instrumental in developing future engineers and policy makers who will inevitably be expected to seek efficient and systematic solutions for problems of increasing complexity.
MSc Petroleum Refining Systems Engineering - learning
Facilities, Equipment and Academic Support
Modules related to the different groups are taught by a total of six full-time members of staff and a number of visiting lecturers.
An extensive library is available for individual study. It stocks more than 85,000 printed books and e-books and more than 1400 (1100 online) journal titles, all in the broad area of engineering. The library support can be extended further through inter-library loans.
As part of their learning experience, students have at their disposal a wide range of relevant software needed to support the programme material dissertation projects. In recent years this work included the design of various knowledge-based and business systems on the Internet, the application of optimisation algorithms, and semantic web applications.
Numerous laboratory facilities across the Faculty and the University are also available for those opting for technology-based projects, such as the process engineering facility, a control and robotics facility and signal processing labs.
The work related to the MSc dissertation can often be carried out in parallel with, and in support of, ongoing research. In the past, several graduates have carried on their MSc research onto a PhD programme.
Teaching and Assessment
Our programmes utilise our research-active staff in conjunction with state-of-the-art facilities to provide a range of learning experiences – lectures, seminars, directed study, practical laboratories and project work.
Lectures are delivered by specialised, expert academic staff. Further in-depth knowledge and skills are gained through seminars delivered and guided by experienced professionals from industry, business and research organisations with the focus on the latest trends and problem-solving methods. You will also work on a number of projects, individually and in groups, supervised by academic staff and focusing on real-life problems.
Modules are generally assessed by a combination of examinations and continuous assessment. The latter will be based on solutions to tutorial questions, reports covering practical sessions and fieldwork, and essays on a number of suitable topics. Each module is examined separately. There is a written final examination for most modules at the end of each semester, although some modules are examined by continuous assessment only. The modules and the dissertation project have a minimum pass mark of 50 per cent.
MSc Petroleum Refining Systems Engineering - graduate profile
MSc Petroleum Refining Systems Engineering - more
Centre for Process and Information Systems Engineering
Process integration and systems analysis for sustainability of resources and energy efficiency are carried out within the well-established Centre for Process and Information Systems Engineering (PRISE). PRISE, supported through industrial membership, fosters interactions with R&D centres around the world. The most notable of the successes in this area include design technology for chemical reactors and chemical process flow sheets, optimisation solvers, the knowledge management h-TechSight and a long array of synthesis tools.
Major research interests in PRISE include:
- Chemical reactor design, addressing specific industrial reactors or reaction/separation and reactive separation processes
- Process operations, including graph-based methods, mathematical programming, stochastic optimisation
- Computer-aided molecular design (CAMD): integrated synthesis of optimal process designs and optimal solvents, novel solvent options and retrofit decision making
- Bioprocess systems: the research targets optimal biocatalytic process design problems focusing on membrane and solvent-based reactive and non-reactive separations, and solid/liquid separations
- Knowledge management and grid applications inviting real-life problems to be used as pilot studies
- Oil exploration: research investigates the effective production and exploration of oil and the optimum design capacity of production facilities
- Sustainable systems engineering: with strong links with the Centre for Environmental Strategy (CES)
Other Programmes You May Be Interested In
- Information and Process Systems Engineering
- Process and Environmental Systems Engineering
- Process Systems Engineering
- Renewable Energy System Engineering
MSc Petroleum Refining Systems Engineering - apply
You can apply for this programme online using the link(s) below. We recommend making an application as soon as you can, even if you do not have all the necessary supporting information ready at that time.
As part of the application process, you will be asked to enter a username and password. If you've used our application system before, please enter your details or click the forgotten password link.
If you are a new user, you will need to create a username and password by clicking the New User button.
Start date
September
Programme length
12 months full-time; up to 60 months part-time
Programme Director
For general enquiries
T: 0800 980 3200 or
+44 (0)1483 681681
E: pg-enquiries@surrey.ac.uk
For admissions enquiries
T: +44 (0)1483 682357
E: feps-pg@surrey.ac.uk
Related courses
- Information and Process Systems Engineering
- Process and Environmental Systems Engineering
- Process Systems Engineering
- Renewable Energy Systems Engineering