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Oil and Gas

The oil and gas sector remains a significant employer in the United Kingdom, with the UK Continental Shelf supporting around 200,000 jobs. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), oil’s share of global total energy demand has fallen below 30% for the first time, fifty years after reaching its peak at 46%. In contrast, global gas demand has hit a new all-time high, with more than three-quarters of this growth occurring in emerging markets and developing economies. Despite these trends, the industry is undergoing rapid transformation. Major legacy operators are committing to net-zero targets and expanding into renewable energy, carbon capture, and hydrogen production. The North Sea Transition Deal is targeting a 50% reduction in emissions by 2030 while safeguarding energy security. Traditional hydrocarbon activities continue alongside emerging opportunities, such as a £15–20 billion decommissioning market over the next decade, as well as developments in carbon capture and storage and blue hydrogen production. The sector’s engineering expertise and offshore capabilities position it at the heart of the energy transition. 

Career opportunities include the following areas of work: 

  • Subsurface evaluation and reservoir engineering - analysing underground formations to optimise hydrocarbon recovery and identify carbon storage potential.
  • Drilling and well engineering - designing and executing safe, efficient drilling operations both offshore and onshore.
  • Production operations - managing facilities to extract, process, and transport oil and gas products safely and efficiently.
  • Facilities engineering - designing and maintaining complex offshore platforms, refineries, and processing plants.
  • Pipeline and subsea systems - developing underwater infrastructure for resource transportation and carbon dioxide sequestration.
  • Decommissioning and plug & abandonment - safely removing end-of-life infrastructure while minimising environmental impact.
  • Energy trading and commercial roles - optimising value through market analysis, contract negotiation, and risk management.
  • Health, safety and environmental management - ensuring operational excellence and regulatory compliance in high-hazard environments.
  • Digital transformation and data analytics - applying AI and machine learning to optimise operations and predict equipment failures.
  • Carbon management and emissions reduction - developing technologies and strategies to decarbonise operations.
  • Renewable energy integration - leveraging offshore expertise for wind power and other renewable projects. 

Key graduate roles in oil and gas 

  • Business Development Manager - identifies new opportunities in traditional and energy transition markets.
  • Carbon Capture Engineer - develops technologies to capture and store CO2 from industrial processes.
  • Commercial Analyst – assesses project economics and investment opportunities.
  • Contract Engineer – supports with negotiation and managing contracts for services, equipment, and products.
  • Control Room Operator (trainee) – learns to monitor and adjust production systems.
  • Digital Solutions Engineer – applies AI, IoT, and digital tools to operations.
  • Drilling Engineer - assists in planning and supervising drilling operations.
  • Energy Transition Specialist– contributes to renewable and low-carbon projects.
  • Geophysicist - analyses seismic and geological data to locate resources.
  • HSE Advisor - supports safety programmes and environmental protection.
  • Logistics Coordinator (graduate) – assists in supply chain and transport for remote operations.
  • Mudlogger - monitors drilling data and analyses rock samples in real time.
  • Petroleum / Reservoir / Production Engineer - model reservoirs, optimises recovery, and troubleshoots production.
  • Process Engineer - supports refinery and gas processing optimisation.
  • Subsea Engineer - assists in design and maintenance of underwater equipment.
  • Wellsite Geologists - examines samples of rock from inside the well to advise drilling direction.

Skills employers look for

Every employer is different so there are no definitive lists here. These are meant as a guide and should be considered in addition to fully exploring role the requirements outlined in the person specification, job description and advert for each role you consider applying for. 

  • Carbon management – supporting carbon capture, hydrogen production, and emissions monitoring.
  • Contract and supply chain management – supporting procurement, logistics, and vendor relationships.
  • Digital oilfield tools – using real-time monitoring, remote operations, and predictive maintenance.
  • Drilling and completions – planning safe, efficient wells.
  • Emerging tech – applying digital twins, AI, and machine learning to improve efficiency.
  • Flow assurance – preventing blockages in pipelines.
  • Geoscience skills – interpreting geological and seismic data to identify resources.
  • Market awareness – understanding global energy markets and pricing.
  • Petroleum engineering basics – reservoir behaviour, fluid flow, and recovery methods.
  • Process safety – preventing major accidents.
  • Production optimisation – improving output while controlling costs and emissions.
  • Project economics & risk management – assessing investments and managing uncertainties.
  • Regulatory compliance – working within national and international rules.
  • Reservoir simulation & data analytics – modelling performance and spotting operational trends.
  • Subsea and process engineering – designing and maintaining offshore and high-pressure systems.
  • Sustainability and stakeholder engagement – working with communities, regulators, and investors on environmental goals.
  • Well integrity – keeping wells safe throughout their lifecycle. 

Gaining Experience

All experiences ranging from volunteering, active involvement in clubs/societies can help you to develop relevant and transferable skills. You may wish to consider: 

Volunteering 

Student Societies 

Exeter Students' Guild in Exeter - find volunteering and fundraising opportunities through the Guild in Exeter and the Students’ Union in Cornwall.  Please note that societies are subject to change each academic year. 

University of Exeter Employability Schemes 

  • Career Zone Internship schemes: Internships can be extremely useful, so try and get relevant vacation work or placements
  • Exeter Award: The Exeter Award will help you stand out from the crowd and give you the confidence to shout about the experiences you've had at university
  • The Global Leaders Experience: is a unique opportunity to develop your intercultural skills as part of a short, outbound mobility experience
  • Green Consultants: provides you with additional skills and experience required to work in the highly competitive environmental and sustainability sector.  

Speculative applications and where to find opportunities 

Undertaking relevant work experience will also allow you to develop new skills and gain a valuable insight into the sector. As jobs and opportunities are not always advertised, it can be useful to develop your networking skills and apply by making a speculative application. You may find it useful to read our Researching employers page. 

When approaching oil and gas companies for work experience, be specific about which area interests you (i.e. upstream exploration, downstream refining, trading, energy transition projects) so that you can tailor and target your approach appropriately. Target both traditional operators and service companies: 

Major operators to approach: 

Service companies and consultancies: 

Developing your network and making contacts in the industry can be a useful way of discovering more about the sector.  You might find it helpful to arrange to undertake an informational interview click here  with professionals in the field.  

Finding part-time work  

Explore opportunities on local job sites and have a look at Handshake, our vacancy database with employers who are targeting University of Exeter students. Part-time roles in oil and gas, especially in areas such as upstream, are rare due to safety and location constraints. However, relevant experience can be gained through some of these roles: 

  • Laboratory assistant roles in university petroleum/geology departments.
  • Data entry or analysis for energy consultancies.
  • Event support for energy conferences and exhibitions.
  • You may want to search for SCP (Student Campus Partnership) or SBP (Student Business Partnership) roles.
  • Customer service roles demonstrating safety awareness and procedure following.
  • Administrative support in local engineering or energy companies.
  • STEM tutoring demonstrating technical communication skills.

Finding advertised graduate roles, placements and internships

Competition can be strong, especially for entry-level positions. Use the following resources to find advertised vacancies and research employers.  

Major employers adapting to transition: 

Recruitment platforms: 

For general information about finding graduate opportunities, please visit our Graduate Jobs page.

 Graduate schemes and internships 

Collection for internships on Handshake 

See listings of internships and placements on Gradcracker. 

Major operators to approach: 

Service companies and consultancies: 

Graduate Schemes 

Sample of leading operators offering structured graduate programmes; note this is not an exhaustive list but merely a snapshot of some options: 

Placements  

If you are interested in finding out more about work placements, you can also access the Work Placements SharePoint via Single Sign-On. This resource covers all aspects of credit-bearing work experiences as part of your degree, including what a placement is, how to apply for them, and bespoke information for international students or those interested in working abroad.  

The following options might also present placement opportunities: 

  • BP - industrial placements in drilling, petroleum engineering, and other energy-related roles.
  • Centrica (British Gas) - industrial placements in engineering including energy and drilling roles, process operations, and related disciplines.
  • EDT – charity promoting placements predominantly for school/college leavers but has listings of small number of undergraduate opportunities.
  • ExxonMobil - industrial placements for engineering and technical students, sometimes focused on exploration, drilling, or subsea engineering.
  • Gradcracker - aggregated listings of hundreds of oil, gas, and energy industry placements.
  • Octopus Energy, Siemens Energy, and RWE Generation - energy-related industrial placements, some covering power and gas, which can offer transferable skills relevant to oil and gas careers.
  • Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) Members - many OEUK member companies offer summer and year-long placement, including some in drilling, well engineering, and energy operations (check member company career pages).
  • Society of Petroleum Engineers Jobs Board – recruitment platform arm of professional membership body.
  • Shell - structured student placement and internship programs in engineering, geoscience, drilling, and HSE functions.
  • Step Energy - Paid summer placements with SMEs.
  • TotalEnergies - opportunities in drilling and well operations, geoscience, and related engineering areas.
  • UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) -  placements for engineering students with an interest in energy infrastructure and offshore technology 

Further sources of support 

If you are an international student, visit our international webpages for help finding opportunities both in the UK and globally. 

To find opportunities outside the UK use GoinGlobal 

For help with making speculative applications you may find it useful to read our Researching employers page. 

Further study and professional development

Some individuals decide to undertake further study to develop their skills and knowledge of the sector and related occupations. Not all roles or employers will require this, so it is important to research entry requirements and employer preferences before committing to additional training or qualifications.  

The oil and gas sector’s shift toward integrated low-carbon energy presents specialisation opportunities with programmes on carbon capture, hydrogen, and renewables alongside advanced digital skills such as machine learning, automation, and real-time optimisation. Growing investment in carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) and projected billions in North Sea decommissioning fuel demand for engineers combining subsurface expertise with project management and environmental restoration. Energy management courses covering carbon trading, renewable certificates, and hydrogen markets, and subsurface energy engineering could enable further progression to work across hydrocarbons, geothermal, and storage.  

Examples of postgraduate programmes 

  • MSc Petroleum Engineering
  • MSc Subsurface Energy Engineering
  • MSc Energy Management
  • MBA Oil and Gas Management
  • MSc Carbon Capture and Storage 

Use the sites below to research your further study options. 

  • Prospects Oil and Gas Careers - comprehensive guidance on oil and gas qualifications including conversion courses for non-engineering graduates, safety certifications, and pathways into major operators and service companies
  • Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) - The global professional body offering certification programmes, continuing education, and networking opportunities for petroleum professionals
  • Find a Masters is helpful for exploring petroleum engineering opportunities around the world
  • If you would prefer to stay at the University of Exeter you can search our Taught Masters courses 

Advice 

If you would like to pursue postgraduate study before entering your chosen sector, please visit our Postgraduate Study page for more information about choosing further study.   

Information and links from professional bodies 

If you have studied a related degree, check if your course is accredited by one of the professional bodies. Being a member of a professional body is voluntary; however, it can be valuable for developing networks, continuing your professional development, and generally keeping up to date with what's happening in the sector.  

  • Energy Institute - chartered professional membership body for the global energy sector, supporting professionals across oil, gas, and renewables.
  • Institute of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) - global professional membership organisation for chemical engineers with significant oil and gas membership. Supports attainments of chartered status, specialist training in process safety and refining operations.
  • Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) - international membership body for marine professionals including offshore oil and gas specialists. Provides chartered status and supports offshore engineering, marine technology, and subsea operations. 
  • Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) - largest individual member organisation serving the upstream oil and gas industry worldwide with 132,200+ members. Provides technical publications, certification programmes including Certified Petroleum Professional.
  • The Geological Society – UK professional society including among its body specialists in geosciences, geologists and reservoir engineers in oil and gas exploration and production.