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.
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.
We will endeavour to make all course options available. However, these may be subject to change - see our Student Terms and Conditions page.
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.
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.
The information below is provided as a guide only and does not guarantee entry to the University of Aberdeen.
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.
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.
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.
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 2025Petroleum 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.
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.
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.
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.
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
