Petroleum Engineering

Petroleum engineering is a highly specialised branch of engineering concerned with the exploration and extraction of oil and natural gas from beneath the earth's surface. It sits at the intersection of geology, reservoir physics, drilling technology and process engineering, requiring practitioners to understand both the underground formations in which hydrocarbons are trapped and the surface technologies needed to extract them safely and efficiently. The field is technically demanding and operates in some of the most challenging environments on earth, from offshore platforms in the North Sea to desert oilfields and deep-water installations.

At the University of Aberdeen this five-year full-time programme includes a year abroad, which extends the degree and gives you the opportunity to study or gain professional experience in an international context. Aberdeen has a long-established reputation in petroleum engineering, situated as it is at the heart of the UK's North Sea oil industry and with strong connections to the global energy sector. As the course description notes, the discipline is concerned with the design and development of front-end engineering technologies required in the exploration and extraction of oil and gas reservoirs.

You will study reservoir engineering, drilling engineering, production engineering, petroleum geology and the technical, economic and environmental dimensions of the energy industry.

The programme develops rigorous quantitative and analytical skills alongside the problem-solving and project management abilities that engineering careers require. As the energy sector navigates the transition towards lower-carbon alternatives, petroleum engineers with a broad understanding of subsurface engineering are also being drawn into geothermal energy, carbon capture and storage, and hydrogen production.

Graduates pursue careers in the oil and gas sector, energy consultancy, oilfield services and increasingly in energy transition technologies. Many pursue chartership through professional engineering institutions. The specialised nature of the degree means Aberdeen graduates are sought by employers globally, and postgraduate study is also an option for those interested in research or further specialisation.