Andrew Black, 19, studying for an MEng in mechanical engineering at Robert Gordon University

Before I came to university I worked in a workshop repairing parts of oil rigs. I’ve always liked taking things to bits. My father and uncle worked in oil and gas and I decided that I wanted to go into the industry too. I won a scholarship with Talisman Energy, an upstream oil and gas company, to help to pay for my studies. I’ll probably do a placement with them next year. I’ll get to learn about drilling, but I’m quite open as to what I eventually go into. I’m planning to work for a couple of years in Aberdeen then I can go wherever I want. The chance to travel is the main attraction; the industry is also very well paid, which is a bonus.

Rachel Burke, 22, studying chemical engineering at Strathclyde University

I’m doing a work placement at Marathon Oil as part of my degree. It’s a masters course and I’ll use my experience here as the basis of my dissertation. I’m on shore giving technical support to the offshore operations – assessing equipment, looking at safety issues and working on long-term improvement projects. I’ll go out to rigs if required, but that depends on available bed space and whether it’s absolutely essential.

I was 15 when I decided to become an engineer. It’s a constant challenge and you’re not restricted to technical work. It opens doors to areas such as management.

Siva Raj Periasamy, 24, studying mechanical engineering with oil and gas at the University of Aberdeen

I completed a diploma in mechanical engineering in Malaysia before moving here to complete my studies. My uncle worked in the oil and gas industry and used to tell me lots of stories about it. Now, I know the reality: it’s highly competitive and you can work in harsh environments so you have to be committed to succeed. At the moment I’m looking for a graduate job with an oil company, not necessarily one of the giants but perhaps a technical contractor. I’m happy to go in at the bottom and work my way up so I have as broad a range of experience and training as possible.

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