This course is currently in the process of accreditation by the Energy Institute under licence from the UK regulator, the Engineering Council for the 2025 to 2030 intakes. The outcome of the accreditation process for September 2025 entry is due to be confirmed.
This course is jointly run with the Department of Chemical Engineering
The MSc in Subsurface Energy Engineering is a multidisciplinary masters, tackling global challenges informed by industrial needs and innovative research.
This course equips you with advanced knowledge and expertise in modern chemical engineering, preparing you for a career in multiple industries, related sectors, or academia.
This interdisciplinary MSc equips you to harness subsurface systems for a sustainable energy future. With global energy demand rising and decarbonisation targets becoming ever more urgent, expertise in subsurface geosystems is essential for delivering oil and gas, geothermal energy, and long-term carbon storage.
Delivered jointly with the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, this course is designed for students with an engineering background. You’ll develop both core and advanced skills in:
- Subsurface characterisation and modelling
- Rock and fluid physics
- Multiphase flow and transport in porous media
- Reservoir simulation and thermodynamics
- Advanced simulation using industry-standard software
- Numerical modelling and machine learning applications
A pathway to cleaner energy through integrated engineering and geoscience.
Course duration 12 months (full-time)
Accreditation This course is accredited by the Energy Institute under licence from the UK regulator, the Engineering Council .
Total self-study time Approximately 24 hours per week (depending on individual background and learning needs)
Teaching time Approximately 12 hours per week (inc. pre-recorded and live lectures, tutorials, tasks and computer simulations)
WHAT CAREER PATHWAYS ARE AVAILABLE TO ME?
Manchester is a global leader in subsurface and energy engineering, with cutting-edge research, strong industry connections, and a long-standing reputation for excellence in education. This is why our graduates are highly sought after: an MSc in Subsurface Energy Engineering from Manchester can open the door to a wide range of impactful careers in the energy transition and beyond. Graduates go on to work in sectors including low-carbon energy, geothermal energy, oil and gas, carbon capture and storage, hydrogen storage, and energy consultancy. They take on roles such as reservoir engineer, underground storage specialist, subsurface modeller, and environmental risk assessor. Recent graduates and research students have joined leading organisations such as:
- BP
- Equinor
- SLB (formerly Schlumberger)
- Shell
- Baker Hughes
- Halliburton
- EDF Energy
- Jacobs
WHAT ROLES HAVE GRADUATES SECURED?
Roles for a chemical engineering graduate can vary, including product design, research and development, project management, and manufacturing.
You could even use the skills you gain to pursue a career in a non-chemical engineering sector, such as business, finance, marketing, banking, insurance, accountancy, or IT - your job could take you anywhere in the world.
Our graduates have gained roles such as:
- Professor
- CEO/Business President
- Chemical/Process Engineer
- Technical Services Manager
- R & D Manager
- Managing Director
- Environmental/Sustainability Engineer
- Petroleum Engineer
- Application Engineer
- Engineering/Scientific Consultant
OUR STUDENTS' MSc PROJECTS
The MSc project is one of the most exciting parts of a master’s degree - you are paired with an expert supervisor and get a chance to dive deep into a topic you’re passionate about, solve real-world problems, and bring your ideas to life. It’s where everything you’ve learned comes together, showcasing your skills, creativity, and potential to stand out in your field. Here are some projects that our MSc graduates have worked on:
🔎 Modelling and simulation of underground hydrogen storage and production
🔎 Modelling and simulation and experimental work on carbon storage in subsurface
🔎 Geothermal energy modelling and optimisation Rock characterisation
🔎 X-ray imaging of dynamics of two-phase flow in porous media
🔎 Polymer flooding in subsurface
Dr Masoud Babaei Senior Lecturer Subsurface Energy Engineering
ACADEMIC'S VOICE
The MSc in Subsurface Energy Engineering addresses the growing demand for engineers proficient in modelling of the subsurface processes, with a particular emphasis on supporting the energy transition and sustainable subsurface energy.
ALUMNI'S VOICE
I have been working in the oil and gas industry for the past 12 years, with a primary focus on reservoir engineering. My expertise includes waterflooding design, surveillance, and performance monitoring, as well as portfolio management, reserves estimation, and audit processes. In my previous role, I worked on a major project that involved waterflooding and improved oil recovery (IOR) techniques to enhance the recovery factor in a mature heavy oil field, while exploring opportunities to decarbonise production. This experience inspired me to pursue the MSc in Subsurface Energy Engineering at The University of Manchester, which provided the ideal platform to strengthen my technical skills and broaden my understanding of the evolving energy landscape. The programme enabled me to deepen my knowledge of subsurface modelling and simulation, perfectly aligning with my goal of advancing my career in reservoir simulation and the energy transition. After completing my master’s degree, I re-joined my country’s national petroleum company, where I am now part of the reservoir simulation team. In this role, I am contributing to the design of a CO2 injection project in a mature oil field, which aims to manage flue gas emissions while increasing the field’s recovery factor.
Alexandra Duran Coronado
Subsurface Engineering, Class of 2025 Current role: Reservoir Engineer, Ecopetrol, Bogota, Colombia
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