Engineering Geology MSc

Andrew Fletcher

Andrew Fletcher, completed an MSc in Engineering Geology and is now an engineering geologist working for Fugro GeoConsulting, part of the world's largest integrated geotechnical, survey and geosciences company.
My job at Fugro involves site investigation and analysing the samples and data we’ve collected. It’s mostly offshore because the company is at the forefront of oil and gas exploration and development. We might be looking into a potential site for a new oil platform or even a wind farm.
During my undergraduate degree in geography I’d become interested in the engineering side of geology but I didn’t have the right skills or qualification to be able to break into the field.
Opportunities in the industry are plentiful but it’s an area which requires a great deal of expertise and specialist skills and most people in the field have a Master’s qualification. After graduation I was offered several interviews and got the first job I went for and I know it was my qualification which got me the interview.
My job here means I might be in the laboratory one day then spend up to four weeks offshore on a drillship doing site evaluation anywhere in the world. I could also be writing geotechnical or engineering reports for clients.
Before I could work offshore I had to do a week’s offshore survival training including fire-fighting, lifeboat training and, the most exciting part, practising escaping from a submerged and upturned, ditched helicopter. I can’t say that every day is that much fun but I do enjoy my job.