Key information
- Funding
- Self-funded
- School
- Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society
- Location
- Edinburgh
- Delivery type
- Full-time, Part-time
- Start date
- September
Heriot-Watt University has an active and growing capacity in Applied Geoscience which sits alongside and complements its Petroleum Engineering capabilities and research. At present, the main focuses of activity are the Shell Centre for Exploration Geoscience which was opened in 2013 at our Edinburgh Campus and the NERC Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Oil and Gas that Heriot-Watt leads on behalf of a consortium of 17 UK universities, 2 NERC affiliates (The British Geological Survey and the National Oceanography Centre) and 10 industry sponsors.
Research projects
The Shell Centre was set up by joint agreement between the University and Royal Dutch Shell and currently supports 3 PhD and 2 PDRA positions in Applied Geoscience. The Centre’s main research themes are in regional geology, the structural development and evolution of sedimentary basins, subsurface mapping and field geology. In supporting opportunities for postgraduate research in these areas, the Shell Centre provides a key input to both academia, through publication and presentation of results, and industry by enhancing the understanding of prospective basins currently under exploration for oil and gas. Examples of recent projects include studies focusing on the tectonostratigraphic evolution of the Eastern Mediterranean, the formation and development of the Tanzanian passive continental margin and the spatial and temporal evolution of the Peri-Adriatic region.
The NERC CDT in Oil & Gas offers a unique combination of PhD research projects and bespoke industry-relevant training to around 30 PhD students per annual entry cohort across the UK partnership, 3 of whom are based at Heriot-Watt each year. The research themes currently within the CDT’s remit are Unconventional Hydrocarbons, Extending the Life of Mature Basins, Exploration in Challenging Environments and Environmental Impact & Regulation. The CDT aims to equip students not only with the skills needed to explore for and sustainably extract hydrocarbons, but also an understanding of the need for, and techniques to undertake, responsible environmental management of such activities. The CDT is creating a highly skilled workforce with expertise that can be used across the wider energy and environmental sectors, be that in industry, academia and public organisations.
The present Applied Geoscience capacity at Heriot-Watt University will be greatly enhanced by the move of the British Geological Survey (BGS) into the newly built Lyell Centre on our Edinburgh campus, creating exciting new opportunities to collaborate with their staff on a wide range of geoscientific research topics. A number of new appointments are also being made by both organisations under the themes of Earth and Marine Science, which will add to our existing research capability.
Entry requirements
Candidate criteria
Please contact the institute to discuss.
English language requirements
If your first language is not English, we'll need to see evidence of your English language ability.
The minimum English language requirement for entry to this programme is IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent) with no score lower than 6.0.
If you do not have IELTS 6.5, we offer a range of English language courses to help you meet the English language requirement for this programme prior to commencing your studies.
For more information about your application and our English Language requirements, please see Section 10 of our page on English Language Requirements as part of your application.
Funding information
| Status | Full Time | Part Time |
|---|---|---|
| Scotland | £5,151 | £2,575.50 |
| England / Wales / N Ireland | £5,151 | £2,575.50 |
| International | £20,456 | £10,228 |
- Status: Your residency status is usually defined as the country where you have been ordinarily resident for the three years before the start of your course.
- International: 'International' includes applicants from European Union countries who do not hold Pre-Settled or Settled status in UK. (This does not include students from the Republic of Ireland - see above).
We offer a number of competitive funded scholarships for research degrees. Full or partial support may be available for well-qualified candidates from UK research councils, research pools, charities or industry.
View our full range of scholarships.
Why Heriot-Watt
We have been producing career-ready graduates since 1821. With our roots as the world’s first Mechanics Institute, Heriot-Watt is a pioneering university with a global reach.
At Heriot-Watt, learning goes beyond the lecture theatre. We tackle real world challenges through extraordinary research – from climate change to protecting our oceans, to advancing life-saving medical breakthroughs and shaping the next generation of AI. We are also committed to developing forward-thinking design and sustainable business practices that impact industries worldwide. On our campuses you’ll find some of the world’s most advanced facilities, while our strong industry links set you up for career success. This is why almost 90% of our graduates are in employment or further education (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2024).
