Applications are open for September 2025
Our application deadline for online degrees and awards starting in January 2025 has passed. But you can apply now to start in September 2025.
Prepare for a career as a world-class petroleum engineer.
MSc Petroleum Engineering is accredited by the Energy Institute. It’s designed to ready you for career success in the oil and gas sector.
- You’ll gain the skills you need to deliver viable oil and gas field development plans.
- You’ll learn to appraise and select the right technologies for safe production recovery of hydrocarbon oil and gas.
- And you’ll train using industry-standard simulation software.
Studying part-time online, you’ll cover every aspect of petroleum engineering, including:
- the fundamentals of petroleum geoscience
- formation evaluation
- well drilling and production
- reservoir engineering and simulation.
Hand-in-hand with industry
This degree has been developed by experienced industry professionals. Its content is reviewed and supported by an Industry Advisory Board of energy experts working in the field. This ensures that what you learn here is always current and connected to industry skills needs.
You can also study this degree full-time on campus.
Fits around full-time work
This degree fits around full-time work, with flexible hours and 24/7 study access.
You’re in expert hands
We’ve been delivering online and distance learning for decades.
20% alumni discount
University of Aberdeen alumni receive 20% off fees for this online degree.
Accredited online degree
This online MSc is accredited by the Energy Institute (EI).
The EI is the global professional body for the energy sector. It’s the only membership body spanning the whole of the energy industry.
What you’ll study
You can choose to study for a:
- Masters (180 credits)
- exit early with a Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits)
- exit early with a Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits), or
- start with one of the short courses that make up this degree (15 credits).
You can build your way to a qualification one short course at a time.
Try our degree scheduler
Choose your courses
See all the courses that are part of this degree and choose what you want to study.
Manage your study schedule
Control the pace and cost of your degree. Decide how much you want to study each term.
Save to your wishlist
Save your schedule to your wishlist so you can view and edit anytime.
How you’ll study
Online learning
This distance learning MSc Petroleum Engineering is delivered flexibly, 100% online.
You can learn with us anywhere in the world, no student visa required, and set your study hours to suit you.
Your teaching
Teaching is delivered through MyAberdeen, our online Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). It holds all the materials, tools and support you’ll need in your studies. Take a look around MyAberdeen.
You can access your learning materials on computer, smartphone and laptop, 24 hours a day. You’ll find a range of resources available, including online access to our award-winning Sir Duncan Rice Library.
Your tutors
This online Masters is designed and led by our School of Engineering, Department of Geology and Geophysics and energy industry experts.
You’ll learn from a team of internationally experienced engineers, academics and professionals working within the oil and gas industry today.
Your support team
Our friendly team are here to answer any queries you have before, during and after your studies.
Dr Lateef Akanji
Lateef is the degree coordinator. He’ll be on hand to answer any questions about degree content before you start and to help you throughout your studies.
Lyn Magee
Lyn is part of the School’s administration team. She’ll be there throughout your studies to answer any of your non-academic queries.
Get in touch
The online education team is here to answer any questions you have right now about this qualification, or about studying online.
Ask us a questionWhere this will take you
Careers
On graduating with an accredited Masters in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Aberdeen, you’ll have acquired one of the most respected degrees of its kind in the UK. Your qualification will be recognised by industry employers around the globe.
You’ll receive exactly the same degree qualification as you would on campus.
Petroleum engineering is an over-arching discipline. You can use your qualification in this field to find work in its more specialised areas, including reservoir engineering and drilling.
You’ll be ready to seek work as a:
- Drilling Engineer
- Operations Engineer
- Piping Specification Engineer
- Production Engineer
- Reservoir Engineer
- Reservoir Simulation Engineer
- Subsurface Engineer
- Wellhead Engineer.
MSc Petroleum Engineering not only prepared me for the petroleum industry but also equipped me with skills for the job market at large.
Emmanuel Odoom, MSc Petroleum Engineering graduate, Executive Trainee
Lifelong career support
Our career support doesn’t stop when you graduate.
You have access to our free careers service while you study, and beyond.
- 1:1 appointments
- CV checks
- Interview prep
- Job opportunities
Fees and funding
Master of Science
180 credits
£14,750
This indicative cost is based on 180 credits of study over three years, starting in January 2025.
The fee quoted above is based on you starting your studies with us in the 2024/25 academic year.
We have confirmed that our fees will rise by 5% for the 2025/26 academic year. Our indicative cost includes a 5% fee rise each year.
Pay as you go
This is a pay-as-you-go degree.
You do not have to pay the full tuition fee upfront.
You can spread the cost and pay as you go, term by term.
How it works
- You decide how many credits to study for each term.
- At the start of term, you pay only for the credits you’re taking that term.
- This gives you control over your costs and workload for each term of your degree.
Your personalised cost breakdown
Use the degree scheduler to plan your studies and see your cost breakdown, term by term.
Entry requirements
MSc
A 2:1 (upper-second) UK honours degree (or equivalent) in any branch of Engineering or Applied Mathematics.
You can also apply if you have:
- a high 2:2 UK honours degree (or equivalent) in Engineering or Applied Mathematics at least two years’ relevant experience
- or a 2:1 UK honours degree (or equivalent) in Geology, Physics or Chemistry and at least two years’ relevant experience.
Key subjects you must have covered: Mathematics and Physics.
These are our minimum entry requirements. They are given as a guide and do not guarantee entry.
Apply for this programme
- Start month
- January or September
- INDICATIVE COST
- £14,750
This indicative cost is based on 180 credits of study over three years, starting in January 2025.
Apply via our Applicant Portal