Dimitrios Savvidis

Dimitrios, from Athens in Greece, studies the MSc Petroleum Engineering at the Institute of Petroleum Engineering. He expects to graduate from the programme in November 2016.

Why did you decide to come to Heriot-Watt over other places offering similar courses?

It was the world class reputation of Heriot-Watt in petroleum engineering that attracted me. Compared to other universities Heriot-Watt has a great reputation in the oil and gas industry with graduates recruited every year by the leading petroleum companies. The experience of being tutored by lecturers with decades of experience in industry and the very international culture of students on the course has also been a major plus.

The HWU Career Service Adviser provided me with crucial business links and I had the opportunity to have my CV and cover letter checked before submitting any applications.

Do you feel your degree has prepared you well for a career?

My MSc in Petroleum Engineering did not only prepare me for the petroleum industry but also equipped me with the required skills needed for the industry at large. Apart from the courses that provided me with the ability to deeply understand how the petroleum industry works, I was given the opportunity to develop my team working skills. After passing 8 courses successfully I had the opportunity to develop my skills and put in practise everything I had been taught during the Field Development Plan. I gained a lot of knowledge and skills required for an integrated study and evaluation of a prospect, leading to a viable oil and gas field development plan.

Has your degree programme helped you develop links with industry?

Heriot-Watt indeed offers you the opportunity to develop links with industry. I attended several events organised by Petroleum companies this year. I got the chance to personally meet professionals working in Shell, Petex as well as the CEO of Merlin ERD. Also, the HWU Career Service Adviser provided me with crucial business links and I had the opportunity to have my CV and cover letter checked before submitting any applications. Moreover I had the opportunity to meet professionals from leading companies in the field during the IPE dinners.

What was the teaching support like?

The professors have always been helpful and approachable. I have always had the opportunity to meet them in their offices for questions related with the courses or my career.

What advice would you give to a postgraduate student considering embarking on their studies at Heriot-Watt?

I would definitely advise postgraduate students to study at Heriot-Watt. This year was a life-changing experience for me offering loads of knowledge and great friends from all over the world. Getting in contact with a variety of cultures improved my personality. It will no doubt be a challenging year, but at the end the feeling of achieving a goal is compared with nothing else.