Petroleum Engineering, MSc

In this section
Petroleum Engineering, MSc

Introduction

This programme is designed and delivered by industry experts to provide the necessary knowledge and skills required for an integrated study and evaluation of a prospect, leading to a viable oil and gas field development plan.

This programme has January and September start dates. Apply Now.

MSc Petroleum Engineering is also available to study part time online.

Watch our webinar on MSc programmes in petroleum and oil and gas engineering.

Study Information

Study Options

Learning Mode
On Campus Learning
Degree Qualification
MSc
Duration
12 months
Study Mode
Full Time
Start Month
January or September
Location of Study
Aberdeen

Drawing upon a long-established track record of excellence in teaching and research, the MSc Petroleum Engineering is delivered jointly by the School of Engineering and the Department of Geology and Geophysics along with industry-based tutors covering a broad range of courses including the fundamentals of petroleum geoscience, enhanced oil recovery, reservoir simulation and well and production engineering. There is also a particular focus on formation evaluation and reservoir engineering and simulation.

The MSc Petroleum Engineering develops your skills so you are able to appraise and select the appropriate technologies for safe production recovery of hydrocarbon oil and gas and includes hands-on experience of using industry-standard simulation software in all aspects of petroleum engineering.

Aberdeen is known as the Energy Capital of Europe and with hundreds of energy operators and supply chain companies based in the city and surrounding region and numerous industry conferences, networking and career events taking place every year, there is simply nowhere better to gain industry exposure while studying for your energy degree.

Our industry advisory panels help ensure that the content and learning outcomes of our programmes reflect the needs of the industry while guest lectures from energy sector experts and industry-supported projects also help ensure our students’ learning is in line with industry's standards.

This degree holds accreditation from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and the Energy Institute, ensuring that the curriculum is designed and delivered to the highest professional standards.

Available Programmes of Study

MSc

Petroleum Engineering

Qualification Duration Learning Mode Study Mode Start Month Location  
MSc 12 months On Campus Learning Full Time January More
MSc 12 months On Campus Learning Full Time September Aberdeen More

Fees for individual programmes can be viewed in the Programme(s) above.

We will endeavour to make all course options available. However, these may be subject to change - see our Student Terms and Conditions page.

Fee Information

Additional Fee Information

  • Fees for individual programmes can be viewed in the Programmes section above.
  • In exceptional circumstances there may be additional fees associated with specialist courses, for example field trips. Any additional fees for a course can be found in our Catalogue of Courses.
  • For more information about tuition fees for this programme, including payment plans and our refund policy, please visit our Tuition Fees page.

Funding Opportunities

  • Shell U.K. Limited is offering three £20,000 scholarships for students starting a Masters programme aligned with the Centre for Energy Transition (CET) commencing in September 2024. Find out more
  • NEO Energy, an independent full-cycle energy business in the UKCS, are offering two postgraduate scholarships in a variety of taught degree programmes at the University of Aberdeen. Each scholarship is valued at £20,000. Find out more.

Scholarships

Self-funded international students enrolling on Postgraduate Taught (PGT) programmes for January 2025 will receive one of our Aberdeen Global Scholarships, ranging from £3,000 to £8,000, depending on your domicile country. Learn more about these Aberdeen Global Scholarships here.

From September 2025 all eligible self-funded international Postgraduate Masters students will receive an £8,000 scholarship. Learn more about this Aberdeen Global Scholarship here.

To see our full range of scholarships, visit our Funding Database.

How You'll Study

Learning Methods

  • Field Trips
  • Group Projects
  • Individual Projects
  • Lectures
  • Tutorials

Assessment Methods

The principal method of assessment is through end of course written examinations and continuous assessment. Examinations for the first semester courses are in December and those for the second semester are in May. Candidates are normally expected to pass all examinations and all projects submissions. As an MSc student, you must submit a dissertation on your project, and may be required to undergo an oral examination.

Why Study Petroleum Engineering?

  • This programme will enable you to develop skills and an understanding of the fundamental aspects of Petroleum Engineering, including formation evaluation, well drilling and production, and reservoir engineering and simulation.
  • You will also be able to appraise and select the appropriate technologies for safe production and enhancing the recovery of hydrocarbons leading to a viable field development plan.
  • Hands-on experience using industry-standard simulation software in all aspects of petroleum engineering is developed within the taught courses.
  • Field trips and visits to industry organisations are a key part of the programme.
  • Our location at the heart of Aberdeen, Europe's energy capital, and leading "World Energy City", brings you closer to the industry. Aberdeen is an inspiring place for future energy industry leaders.
  • Our location and industry links also put us in a unique position of offering a curriculum that is highly relevant to the needs of employers and means you develop crucial industry links while studying the programme.
  • The programme is developed and reviewed by an Industry Advisory Board, made up of experienced professionals from a range of backgrounds.
  • Industry professionals help deliver many of our courses, and you will also have opportunities to visit companies, attend energy industry networking events, and undertake MSc projects with leading firms.
  • Our engineering graduates move into very successful careers with a large proportion working in senior roles in the industry. It doesn't matter where in the world you end up working, you are likely to have a fellow Aberdeen graduate engineer working with you.
  • Programmes within the School of Engineering are accredited by relevant organisations.
  • Teaching is informed by the latest industry developments and research. The Centre for Energy Transition (CET) at the University of Aberdeen is undertaking technical research to find energy solutions compatible with the UN Sustainability Goals and to provide the relevant skills training to support people and communities who seek to deliver the energy transition.

Entry Requirements

Qualifications

The information below is provided as a guide only and does not guarantee entry to the University of Aberdeen.

  • 2:1 (upper second class) UK Honours degree, or an Honours degree from a non-UK institution which is judged by the University to be of equivalent worth in any branch of Engineering or Applied Mathematics.
  • Those with a High 2:2 Honours degree in Engineering or Applied Mathematics may also be considered if they can demonstrate 2+ years of relevant experience.
  • Students with Geology, Physics or Chemistry degrees may be considered if they have a 2:1 degree AND 2+ years relevant work experience.
  • Key subjects you must have covered: Mathematics and Physics.

Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate

The CAH3 code for this degree is CAH10-01-09. Students who need a visa to live or study in the UK must to apply for ATAS clearance. The ATAS clearance certificate must be valid when you apply for a visa to enter the UK. To find out if you need to apply for ATAS clearance, please visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/academic-technology-approval-scheme

Please enter your country to view country-specific entry requirements.

English Language Requirements

To study for a Postgraduate Taught degree at the University of Aberdeen it is essential that you can speak, understand, read, and write English fluently. The minimum requirements for this degree are as follows:

IELTS Academic:

OVERALL - 6.5 with: Listening - 5.5; Reading - 5.5; Speaking - 5.5; Writing - 6.0

TOEFL iBT:

OVERALL - 90 with: Listening - 17; Reading - 18; Speaking - 20; Writing - 21

PTE Academic:

OVERALL - 62 with: Listening - 59; Reading - 59; Speaking - 59; Writing - 59

Cambridge English B2 First, C1 Advanced, C2 Proficiency:

OVERALL - 176 with: Listening - 162; Reading - 162; Speaking - 162; Writing - 169

Read more about specific English Language requirements here.

Document Requirements

You will be required to supply the following documentation with your application as proof you meet the entry requirements of this degree programme. If you have not yet completed your current programme of study, then you can still apply and you can provide your Degree Certificate at a later date.

CV
an up-to-date CV/Resumé
Degree Certificate
a degree certificate showing your qualifications
Degree Transcript
a full transcript showing all the subjects you studied and the marks you have achieved in your degree(s) (original & official English translation)
Personal Statement
a detailed personal statement explaining your motivation for this particular programme

Aberdeen Global Scholarship

Eligible self-funded Postgraduate Taught (PGT) students will receive the Aberdeen Global Scholarship. Explore our Global Scholarships, including eligibility details, on our dedicated pages.

January 2025 September 2025

Careers

Petroleum Engineering is an over-arching discipline which contains a number of more specialised elements, including Reservoir Engineering and Drilling. Our programme is fast becoming one of the most respected of its kind in the UK and recognised by industry employers around the globe. Graduating from our MSc Petroleum Engineering degree will open up a number of career opportunities for you.

Career Opportunities

  • Drilling Engineer
  • Operations Engineer
  • Piping Specification Engineer
  • Production Engineering
  • Reservoir Engineer
  • Reservoir Simulation Engineer
  • Subsurface Engineer
  • Wellhead Engineer

Hear from Business

  • AGR TRACS Training
    AGR TRACS Training

    AGR TRACS Training

    This partnership follows on from TRACS' involvement in the MSc Field Development Plan and Economics (FDP) course, which was a team-based integrated case study involving the technical and commercial development of an offshore oil field.

Accreditation

This degree holds accreditation from

Petroleum and Oil and Gas Postgraduate Programmes

Join Dr Lateef Akanji and Dr Roozbeh Rafati from the School of Engineering to learn more about our MSc programmes in petroleum and oil and gas.

What our Alumni Say

Zhaslan Lukpanov

Zhaslan Lukpanov

Zhaslan Lukpanov

Job Details
Drilling & Workover Supervisor
Graduated 2015

The process of studies, social life, ability to interact with people from different countries, great sport facilities, fascinating nature of Scotland, calm and peaceful atmosphere.

Derek du Plessix

Derek du Plessix

Derek du Plessix

Job Details
E&P Sales Manager
Graduated 2015

Great reputation for its Petroleum Engineering program and the fact that Aberdeen represents a pioneering city in the Oil & Gas sector.

Emmanuel Odoom

Emmanuel Odoom

Emmanuel Odoom

Job Details
Executive Trainee
Graduated 2015

My MSc in Petroleum Engineering did not only prepare me for the petroleum industry but also equipped me with requisite skills needed for the job industry at large.

Surakat Kudehinbu

Surakat Kudehinbu

Surakat Kudehinbu

Graduated 2015

The experience of being tutored, by persons with decades of experience in industry. The partnership cultivated by the course and the local industrial sector, providing a good practical ethos to the course.

Our Experts

Other Experts
Professor David Macdonald, The University of Aberdeen
Dr Yukie Tanino, The University of Aberdeen
Programme Coordinator
Dr Lateef Akanji, The University of Aberdeen

Information About Staff Changes

You will be taught by a range of experts including professors, lecturers, teaching fellows and postgraduate tutors. However, these may be subject to change - see our Student Terms and Conditions page.

Features

Image for MSc Petroleum Engineering Field Trips
MSc Petroleum Engineering Field Trips

MSc Petroleum Engineering Field Trips

Geological field trip to Fife, Scotland, Baker Hughes - visit to technical operations facilities, Plexus Ocean Systems - visit to technical operations facilities, Aberdeen Drill Centre - well drilling operations site visit.

Image for Industry Support
Industry Support

Industry Support

Across our programmes in Engineering we have extensive support from industry organisations who teach on individual courses. Here, AGR listen to presentations from Petroleum Engineering students on the Field Development Plan course, which they support

Get in Touch

Contact Details

Address
Student Recruitment & Admissions
University of Aberdeen
University Office
Regent Walk
Aberdeen
AB24 3FX