Master's Degree in Mining Engineering

The Master's Degree in Mining Engineering from the Universidade de Vigo qualifies students for the regulated profession of Mining Engineer. The best way to find out what training this academic qualification provides is to get to know the profession of mining engineer: in what areas he/she works and how he/she carries out his/her professional activity.

The exploitation of mining resources and the guarantee of an adequate supply of mining products at acceptable prices is the indispensable basis of any modern industrial nation. The demand for minerals of all kinds is greater today than ever before and continues to increase as nations strive to improve their standard of living. It is therefore the task of the mining industry to provide humanity with the minerals and raw materials to meet these needs. This is why the exploitation of mining resources is and will continue to be essential for society, given that the products derived from it are essential to satisfy its basic needs.

In this context, mining engineers are responsible for the exploration, research, exploitation, benefit, processing, transformation and use of non-renewable natural resources on Earth (rocks and mines, underground water, mineral and thermal water, oil, natural gas) and other geological resources, such as underground space, all of which activities must be carried out in a safe, profitable and environmentally compatible way. In addition, his knowledge as a specialist in the removal and fragmentation through the use of explosives makes him a suitable technician to work in activities related to earthmoving and the execution and control of underground works.

Within the professional activities of the Mining Engineer, there is also the exploitation and transformation of all types of energy resources. The Mining Engineer also knows the technologies of metallic materials, ceramics, polymers and composites, from their obtaining to their use in industry, as well as iron and steel techniques, being able to design the appropriate material for each application and to supply the construction and equipment industries with the raw materials they require.

In the mining industry, the field of professional activity of the Mining Engineer includes the evaluation, planning and exploitation of mining sites and the design and practice of physical and chemical transformation processes of the mines to obtain mining products. The mining engineer carries out these tasks on the basis of a knowledge of the geological, mineralogical, physical and chemical characteristics of the deposit to be exploited and its geographic, geological, climatic and social surroundings, selecting the technologies that guarantee the lowest capital and operating costs, maximum productivity and the recovery of the substances contained in the mineral with optimum quality. All this while ensuring the safety and health of workers and the standards of protection, restoration, rehabilitation and conservation of the environment. Due to the complexity of mining projects and the large number of factors, variables and actors involved, the mining engineer carries out his activity in multidisciplinary teams. However, it is the Mining Engineer who is responsible for providing a mining project with the integrated technological management necessary to coordinate all the operations, both productive and support, according to business objectives clearly defined by the mining company.