MSc Refinery Design & Operation: The University of Manchester

Course description

Major employers know that the best way to increase the profitability of a refinery is to examine its design and operation and they are keen to employ people who have a deep conceptual understanding of advanced chemical process design for the petrochemicals industry.  The course teaches you how clean and efficient processing operations not only help improve the environment but also help industry perform to its full potential.

• You examine a series of processing steps and how they interconnect to form a complete system which transforms raw materials into desired products with minimal cost and environmental harm.
• You design integrated crude oil distillation systems and efficient heat exchanger networks and utility systems and integrate refinery hydrogen systems.
• You learn how to build, solve and validate mathematical models for the simulation, optimisation and control of chemical processes and large refinery systems and use design and modelling software such as Hysys, ProII, Matlab and Aspenplus.

The course is for recently graduated chemical engineers who wish to develop their understanding of chemical process design in the petrochemical industry and use their skills and knowledge to help future employers increase their profitability.

Career opportunities

Graduates have an excellent understanding of chemical process design, in particular within the oil, gas and petroleum industries. Many find employment with large multi-national companies such as Shell, Exxon Mobil and BP. The excellent reputation of the course means that graduates are rapidly employed - indeed many are offered jobs before they have finished their study.

Many graduates go on to develop their career in process design and development as design engineers, process engineers or researchers, either in the petrochemicals industry or in other process industries. Others are employed as specialist software developers or can move into consulting or contracting.

Some graduates pursue an academic career and use the course as a stepping stone to studying for a PhD.  They go on to a career undertaking research and teaching in a University.

Entry requirements

Academic entry qualification overview:

To study MSc, Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate you will need a 2(i) (upper second class honours) first degree in a relevant discipline, or equivalent qualifications/experience. Applicants with a 2(ii) will be considered and are welcome to apply.

English language:

Applicants who do not have English as their first language will need to demonstrate competency. They generally require applicants to hold one of the following qualifications (although other formal qualifications may be considered):

• IELTS: 6.5 (with no sub score less than 5.5)
• TOEFL PB: 570 (with a minimum TWE of 5.0)
• TOEFL CB: 230 (with a minimum TWE of 5.0)
• IBTOEFL of at least 90