ICTQual AB Level 5 International Diploma in Refinery Operations
The ICTQual AB Level 5 International Diploma in Refinery Operations is a comprehensive two-year programme designed to prepare learners for successful careers in one of the most vital areas of the global energy sector. With a 240-credit structure, this diploma combines technical knowledge, practical skills, and professional competencies that are directly aligned with the demands of modern refinery operations.
This course is suitable for both fresh learners who are beginning their journey in the oil and gas industry, as well as experienced professionals who wish to strengthen their expertise and gain formal recognition. Through a structured curriculum, learners develop a strong foundation in refining processes, safety and environmental management, plant operations, quality control, and advanced process optimisation. Emphasis is placed on practical applications, enabling learners to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world refinery challenges.
By completing this diploma, learners will acquire the skills needed to operate and manage refining units, ensure compliance with industry standards, and support sustainable energy practices. Graduates can progress into roles such as refinery technician, operations supervisor, quality control analyst, or process safety officer. For professionals already in the field, this qualification enhances career prospects and opens pathways to more specialised or senior roles within the refining industry.
With a balance of academic learning and hands-on practice, this qualification empowers learners to meet the evolving needs of global energy markets. Whether starting out or advancing a career, the ICTQual AB Level 5 International Diploma in Refinery Operations offers a gateway to growth, recognition, and long-term success in the energy sector.
Course overview
Level 5 International Diploma in Refinery Operations
To enrol in ICTQual AB Level 5 International Diploma in Refinery Operations, learner must meet the following entry requirements:
This qualification, the ICTQual AB Level 5 International Diploma in Refinery Operations, consists of 24 mandatory units.
Year 1 – Foundation in Refinery Operations
- Introduction to Refinery Operations
- Fundamentals of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Petroleum Processing Basics
- Refinery Equipment and Plant Layout
- Health, Safety, and Environmental Practices in Refineries
- Instrumentation and Process Control Fundamentals
- Mathematics and Physics for Process Engineering
- Crude Oil Properties and Distillation Processes
- Industrial Communication and Technical Reporting
- Quality Assurance and Laboratory Practices
- Energy Efficiency and Utility Systems in Refineries
- Academic and Research Skills for Refinery Studies
Year 2 – Advanced Refinery Operations and Applications
- Advanced Refining Processes (Cracking, Reforming, and Blending)
- Catalytic Processes and Reaction Engineering
- Process Optimisation and Plant Performance
- Advanced Instrumentation and Automation in Refineries
- Maintenance Management and Reliability Engineering
- Waste Management and Environmental Sustainability in Refining
- Energy Economics and Refinery Project Evaluation
- Digital Technologies in Refinery Operations (GIS, Remote Monitoring & AI)
- Risk Assessment and Emergency Response Planning
- Process Safety and Regulatory Compliance
- Professional Practice, Ethics, and Global Industry Standards
- Independent Research Project in Refinery Operations
Learning Outcomes for the ICTQual AB Level 5 International Diploma in Refinery Operations:
Year 1 – Foundation in Refinery Operations
Introduction to Refinery Operations
- Understand the role of refineries in the global energy supply chain.
- Explain the major processes involved in crude oil refining.
- Identify common refinery products and their applications.
- Recognise career pathways within refinery operations.
Fundamentals of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Apply chemical principles to petroleum refining processes.
- Understand chemical bonding, reactions, and thermodynamics.
- Relate chemical engineering concepts to refinery operations.
- Solve basic chemical engineering calculations relevant to refining.
Petroleum Processing Basics
- Explain the stages of petroleum processing from crude oil to final products.
- Differentiate between primary, secondary, and tertiary processing methods.
- Analyse the importance of process integration in refining.
- Identify key process challenges in refining operations.
Refinery Equipment and Plant Layout
- Recognise the functions of major refinery equipment such as pumps, heat exchangers, and reactors.
- Understand refinery plant design and layout considerations.
- Identify equipment symbols and diagrams used in process engineering.
- Apply basic maintenance and operational principles to refinery equipment.
Health, Safety, and Environmental Practices in Refineries
- Apply international safety regulations and standards in refinery operations.
- Identify common workplace hazards and develop risk controls.
- Understand the environmental impact of refining processes.
- Implement safe work practices and emergency procedures.
Instrumentation and Process Control Fundamentals
- Understand the principles of process instrumentation.
- Describe measurement systems for pressure, temperature, and flow.
- Apply basic process control strategies in refinery operations.
- Analyse control system performance in maintaining refinery efficiency.
Mathematics and Physics for Process Engineering
- Apply algebra, calculus, and statistics to process engineering problems.
- Use mechanics, heat transfer, and fluid dynamics in refinery contexts.
- Solve quantitative problems related to refinery operations.
- Interpret mathematical and physical models in refining processes.
Crude Oil Properties and Distillation Processes
- Analyse the physical and chemical properties of crude oil.
- Explain fractional distillation and its importance in refining.
- Identify distillation products and their applications.
- Evaluate the efficiency of distillation processes.
Industrial Communication and Technical Reporting
- Develop effective technical writing and reporting skills.
- Use industry-standard formats for operational and safety reports.
- Apply professional communication in industrial settings.
- Present technical findings clearly and effectively.
Quality Assurance and Laboratory Practices
- Apply laboratory techniques to analyse crude oil and refined products.
- Understand principles of quality control in refinery operations.
- Interpret laboratory results for process improvement.
- Implement quality assurance procedures in line with industry standards.
Energy Efficiency and Utility Systems in Refineries
- Identify major utility systems used in refineries (steam, water, power).
- Evaluate energy consumption in refinery operations.
- Propose strategies to improve energy efficiency.
- Understand the role of utilities in safe and reliable refinery operation.
Academic and Research Skills for Refinery Studies
- Conduct literature reviews and evaluate technical sources.
- Develop academic writing and referencing skills.
- Design small-scale research projects in refinery operations.
- Apply critical thinking and problem-solving to refinery case studies.
Year 2 – Advanced Refinery Operations and Applications
Advanced Refining Processes (Cracking, Reforming, and Blending)
- Explain the principles of catalytic and thermal cracking.
- Understand reforming processes and their role in fuel quality improvement.
- Analyse blending operations for product specification.
- Evaluate process efficiency in advanced refining operations.
Catalytic Processes and Reaction Engineering
- Describe the role of catalysts in refinery processes.
- Understand reaction kinetics and reactor design.
- Analyse performance of catalytic processes.
- Apply reaction engineering principles to optimise refinery operations.
Process Optimisation and Plant Performance
- Identify key performance indicators in refinery operations.
- Apply optimisation techniques to improve refinery efficiency.
- Evaluate process data for performance monitoring.
- Recommend strategies for plant-wide optimisation.
Advanced Instrumentation and Automation in Refineries
- Understand the role of automation in modern refinery operations.
- Apply advanced control systems and digital monitoring tools.
- Analyse data from automated systems for decision-making.
- Evaluate the benefits of automation in improving safety and efficiency.
Maintenance Management and Reliability Engineering
- Understand maintenance strategies for refinery equipment.
- Apply reliability-centred maintenance principles.
- Analyse equipment performance and predict failures.
- Implement maintenance planning and scheduling systems.
Waste Management and Environmental Sustainability in Refining
- Identify waste streams in refinery operations.
- Apply methods for waste reduction and treatment.
- Understand environmental sustainability principles.
- Propose sustainable practices in refining operations.
Energy Economics and Refinery Project Evaluation
- Understand the financial aspects of refinery projects.
- Apply economic analysis to assess project feasibility.
- Use cost-benefit and risk analysis tools in refinery decision-making.
- Evaluate refinery investments from an economic perspective.
Digital Technologies in Refinery Operations (GIS, Remote Monitoring & AI)
- Apply GIS for mapping refinery infrastructure.
- Understand the use of remote monitoring in refinery processes.
- Analyse the role of AI and digital tools in predictive maintenance.
- Integrate digital technologies into refinery operations.
Risk Assessment and Emergency Response Planning
- Identify risks in refinery operations.
- Apply quantitative and qualitative risk assessment methods.
- Develop effective emergency response strategies.
- Ensure compliance with international safety standards.
Process Safety and Regulatory Compliance
- Understand process safety management frameworks.
- Apply industry regulations and legal requirements in refining.
- Analyse case studies of refinery accidents for lessons learned.
- Develop compliance strategies for safe operations.
Professional Practice, Ethics, and Global Industry Standards
- Apply ethical principles in refinery operations.
- Understand global industry standards and codes of practice.
- Demonstrate professional behaviour in industrial contexts.
- Evaluate ethical challenges in refinery operations.
Independent Research Project in Refinery Operations
- Design and execute an independent research project.
- Collect, analyse, and interpret technical data.
- Apply research findings to real-world refinery challenges.
- Present results in professional written and oral formats.
The ICTQual AB Level 5 International Diploma in Refinery Operations equips learners with practical knowledge, technical expertise, and professional competencies essential for advancing within the refining and energy sectors. Successful completion of this qualification opens multiple progression pathways, including higher-level training, industry certifications, and career development opportunities.
Progression to Higher-Level Diplomas and Certifications
- Advance to a Level 6 International Diploma in Refinery Operations, Chemical Engineering, or Energy Management.
- Pursue specialised certifications in areas such as process safety management, automation systems, or advanced chemical processing.
- Enrol in vocational training programmes tailored to specific refinery functions such as instrumentation, reliability engineering, or plant operations.
Professional Career Opportunities
- Begin careers in refinery plants, petrochemical industries, energy companies, or industrial consultancies.
- Secure roles such as refinery technician, process operator, instrumentation assistant, quality control analyst, or health and safety officer.
- Progress into supervisory or technical specialist positions through experience and ongoing professional development.
- Contribute to sustainability initiatives by focusing on waste management, energy efficiency, and environmental compliance.
Specialisation Pathways
- Deepen expertise in niche areas such as catalytic processes, reaction engineering, energy economics, or plant optimisation.
- Undertake professional courses in digital refinery technologies, including GIS, remote monitoring, and artificial intelligence.
- Build advanced competence in risk assessment, project evaluation, and regulatory compliance to support leadership roles.
Lifelong Learning and Professional Development
- Engage in CPD (Continuing Professional Development) activities offered by training providers and industry associations.
- Participate in international workshops, seminars, and field training to keep pace with emerging technologies and best practices.
- Strengthen professional networks through membership in petroleum, chemical, and energy industry societies.
- Continuously update skills to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving global refining industry.
To deliver the ICTQual AB Level 5 International Diploma in Refinery Operations, approved centres must meet the following requirements to ensure high-quality teaching, learning, and assessment:
Physical and Learning Resources
- Provide well-equipped classrooms with modern teaching aids, including projectors, multimedia facilities, and digital learning platforms.
- Maintain access to laboratory facilities for refinery-related experiments, including equipment for chemical analysis, process simulation, and quality testing.
- Ensure access to refinery plant models, process diagrams, and virtual simulation software for practical demonstrations.
- Provide a library or digital resource hub with up-to-date books, journals, and online databases relevant to petroleum refining and energy studies.
Staffing Requirements
- Appoint qualified trainers and assessors with relevant academic qualifications in chemical engineering, petroleum engineering, or refinery operations.
- Ensure trainers possess significant industry experience in refining, process operations, or petrochemicals.
- Maintain continuous professional development (CPD) for staff to keep them updated with the latest industry practices and technologies.
- Allocate qualified assessors and internal verifiers to oversee fair and consistent learner assessment.
Assessment and Quality Assurance
- Implement robust assessment systems, including assignments, projects, practical demonstrations, and written reports.
- Ensure assessments align with the learning outcomes of each unit and reflect both theoretical knowledge and applied skills.
- Apply internal quality assurance processes to monitor assessment standards and learner progress.
- Maintain accurate and secure records of learner achievement, assessment evidence, and progression data.
Learner Support and Guidance
- Provide academic counselling and career guidance to help learners plan their progression pathways.
- Offer language support where needed to help learners meet communication standards in technical and industrial contexts.
- Ensure access to online learning platforms for blended or distance learners, with tutor support and feedback.
- Promote inclusivity and ensure equal opportunities for all learners regardless of background or experience.
Health, Safety, and Compliance
- Adhere to all relevant health, safety, and environmental regulations when conducting practical or laboratory-based activities.
- Ensure learners are trained in safe laboratory practices, risk assessments, and emergency procedures.
- Maintain compliance with ICTQual AB’s policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
Route for Candidates with No Experience
This route is ideal for learners who are new to Refinery Operations and do not have prior work experience. The process is as follows:
- Admission: Learners enrol at an ICTQual AB approved centre to begin the two-year programme.
- Training: Formal training is delivered across all required study units, combining classroom teaching, laboratory sessions, simulations, and industry-focused activities.
- Assessment: Learners complete and submit assignments, practical exercises, and projects aligned with the learning outcomes. These assessments test both theoretical understanding and practical application.
- Certification: Upon successful completion of training and assessments, learners are awarded the ICTQual AB Level 5 International Diploma in Refinery Operations.
Route for Experienced and Competent Candidates
For learners who already have relevant professional experience in Refinery Operations, the following route is available:
- Eligibility: Learners must demonstrate at least 5 years of verified work experience in refinery operations, petrochemicals, process engineering, or related sectors.
- Assessment of Competence: Instead of completing the full training programme, candidates undergo an evaluation to confirm their skills and knowledge meet the learning outcomes of the qualification.
- Evidence Submission: Learners provide documentation such as employment records, project reports, and work portfolios as evidence of competence in required areas.
- Knowledge and Understanding:Centres may conduct a skills gap analysis to identify any additional training needs. Targeted learning may be provided where necessary.
- Certification: Once competence and evidence are successfully verified, candidates are awarded the ICTQual AB Level 5 International Diploma in Refinery Operations without completing the full training pathway.
This dual-route approach ensures flexibility, recognising both new learners who require structured training and experienced professionals seeking formal certification for their skills.