Confused about whether it is worth pursuing a masters or not?

Have you seen the oil price?

Unless you expect it to double in the next year, I wouldn't put my money on "oil and gas management". Incidentally, not to be offensive, but the title sounds like total nonsense anyway.

A masters won't hurt, but it also won't help unless you've any idea what you want to do. I suggest considering it seriously before getting into further debt.

Oil prices will eventually go up and it would be a good entry to oil rich countries. But i know in 30 years or so Oil will be on its way out soo....

I work in oil and gas. People are being made redundant left right and centre and the word from above is that we shouldn't expect a recovery until 2020-2025ish.

Seriously, do not put all your eggs in the oil and gas basket.

EDIT: Incidentally, I've just jumped before I was pushed and am now studying to be a teacher.

I work in oil and gas. People are being made redundant left right and centre and the word from above is that we shouldn't expect a recovery until 2020-2025ish.

Seriously, do not put all your eggs in the oil and gas basket.

EDIT: Incidentally, I've just jumped before I was pushed and am now studying to be a teacher.

I was looking to get into oil/gas with a Geophysics degree, but going in a different direction now as I don't think it is for me. I'm also thinking of studying an Engineering masters.

What did you do in oil/gas?

Thank you for the insight. Will definitely be crossing it off the list then.

Still not too sure what i want to do career wise, but having a masters shouldn't hurt surely

It could hurt a lot!

First of all there is the cost/debt - you won't get the funding mechanism you got for undergrad (assuming a UK degree), you'll have to fund it yourself and the loan payback options are tougher.

Second you may be no closer, in a year, to deciding what career to take up, but you'll have a bigger debt.

Third, you may not look any more appealing to employers, without the full package of soft skill, common sense, experience and academic ability.

Fourth, a Masters does not necessarily make up for an undergrad at a lower rated university, if you don't have the rest of the skills package.


Look for a job. It is far more common to take a higher degree mid career, and it is going to get even more common, because of career structures (much more mobile) and funding structures (you are going to have to pay for it yourself, or get employer investment)

I know nothing about Geophysics, I was a Chemical Engineer.

If you would be working in exploration then actually you might be fine. Exploration tends to do best when production is doing badly, in preparation for it doing well again.

Most geophysicists work in exploration as I understand it so you might be fine.

But the OP was talking from a management role and given the huge numbers being laid of I wouldn't suggest it is likely to be a seriously option for them in the near future.

When oil is running high, it's a great market to get into however, so I would try to keep a foot in the door if possible.

Sorry for hijacking, but i'm a petroleum engineering grad - going into a masters in Metals and Energy Finance (like you I jumped the sinking ship and terminated my MEng in PetE a few months before graduation).

Just wondering if taking roles in say metals finance post masters will keep me relevant enough to get back into oil when prices bounce back?

It could hurt a lot!

First of all there is the cost/debt - you won't get the funding mechanism you got for undergrad (assuming a UK degree), you'll have to fund it yourself and the loan payback options are tougher.

Second you may be no closer, in a year, to deciding what career to take up, but you'll have a bigger debt.

Third, you may not look any more appealing to employers, without the full package of soft skill, common sense, experience and academic ability.

Fourth, a Masters does not necessarily make up for an undergrad at a lower rated university, if you don't have the rest of the skills package.


Look for a job. It is far more common to take a higher degree mid career, and it is going to get even more common, because of career structures (much more mobile) and funding structures (you are going to have to pay for it yourself, or get employer investment)