Since the UK is the most preferred study location for students, there is a need for a guide as regards the best petroleum engineering universities in the UK. So, in this article, we have put together the best petroleum engineering universities and schools to attend in the UK in 2024.
Petroleum engineering is a fast-growing career, especially in the UK. Students from around the world come to drink from its rich educational heritage to enhance their knowledge.
There has been a projection by BLS for a 26 percent job increase between 2012 and 2024, which is greater than the 11 percent average for all occupations.
See the table of contents below for a quick overview.
Table of contents
- What is Petroleum Engineering?
- What Are The Types of Petroleum Engineers In UK?
- How Much Will I Earn With As A Petroleum Engineer In UK?
- Can I Get An Online Degree In Petroleum Engineering In Uk?
- What Does It Cost to Study Petroleum Engineering In UK?
- Top 13 Petroleum Engineering Universities/Schools In UK
- Ranking Criteria
- 13. University of Coventry
- 12. University of Portsmouth
- 11. University of Manchester
- 10. University of Salford
- 9. University of Bradford
- 8. University of Surrey
- 7. Teesside University
- 6. Robert Gordon University
- 5. London South Bank University
- 4. Imperial College London
- 3. University of Leeds
- 2. University of Aberdeen
- 1. Heriot-Watt University
- Conclusion
- References
- We Also Recommend
What is Petroleum Engineering?
Petroleum engineering is an engineering discipline concerned with finding locations and ways for humans to extract, refine and produce oil.
Basically, the aim of petroleum engineers is to drill for hydrocarbons most efficiently and to resolve any operating issues.
They can also be responsible for using new drilling tools and techniques, getting the most out of underperforming or older wells, and reducing the impact of drilling on the environment.
Individuals who graduate from a Petroleum Engineering degree are called Petroleum engineers or Chemical Engineers and the field has many career opportunities for all graduates.
Graduates typically enter careers in research, production, consultancy, and management. These jobs are often available on international levels.
What Are The Types of Petroleum Engineers In UK?
In the UK and world, there are many subdivisions of petroleum engineers. We will outline them below.
Basically, our list of the best petroleum engineering universities in UK contains some of these courses. Don’t be surprised when you see one of our top schools offering these programs instead of the broad petroleum engineering. They are all subcategories.
Having established that, here they are;
Petroleum Geologists
These professionals find hydrocarbons by analysing subsurface structures with geological and geophysical methods.
You can also ceck: 15 Best Petroleum Engineering Schools in the World | Ranking
Reservoir Engineers
Basically, these engineers work to optimize oil and gas production by well placement, production levels, and enhanced oil recovery techniques. They use computer simulations to assist in the identification of risks and to make forecasts on reservoir potential.
Production Engineers
PS manage the interface between the reservoir and the well through tasks such as perforations, sand control, artificial lift, downhole flow control, and downhole monitoring equipment. They also select surface equipment that separates the produced fluids (oil, natural gas and water).
Drilling Engineers
They basically manage the technical aspects of drilling both production and injection wells. They work in multidisciplinary teams alongside other engineers, scientists, drilling teams and contractors.
How Much Will I Earn With As A Petroleum Engineer In UK?
The starting salary of petroleum engineers in the UK is £25,000 to £35,000. The higher salaries go to those with PhD in Petroleum engineering.
However, with relevant experience, a petroleum engineer can earn up to £55,000 to £95,000.
Consequently, experienced freelance engineers may earn over £1,000 per day when demand is high.
If you ask me, this is a worthwhile salary.
Can I Get An Online Degree In Petroleum Engineering In Uk?
To cut the chase, yes, you can earn both an undergraduate and a master’s from petroleum engineering universities in Uk entirely online. Most of these our listed schools have part-time online lessons for master’s degrees in petroleum engineering.
Go through the list of best petroleum engineering universities in UK below to find out the schools. However, for your convenience, we will list just a few of them here.
- Heriot-Watt University
- University of Aberdeen
- University of Leeds
What Does It Cost to Study Petroleum Engineering In UK?
The truth is, schooling in the UK can be quite expensive. Now consider studying a hands-on course like petroleum engineering.
However, there is no cause for alarm as all our top petroleum engineering schools in the UK give students scholarships. In the same vein, there are UK scholarships for undergraduates, masters, and doctoral degrees in the UK.
Moving on, for a typical university in the UK, international students should expect to pay not less than £32,000. This is either for masters or bachelors in petroleum engineering.
You may also choose to become a Petroleum Engineering Technologist.
Top 13 Petroleum Engineering Universities/Schools In UK
The Uk houses some of the best universities in the world. Regarding oil, gas, and petroleum engineering universities, believe us when we say that their universities are top-notch.
Ranking Criteria
Moving on, here are the best UK universities for petroleum engineering. However, the petroleum engineering universities in the Uk ranking system were used. Our ranking factors are based on the following criteria:
For your degree to count, it’s of essence you attend an accredited college or university. In line with this, the accreditation of each UK university counts in making it one of the best or top schools you should attend.
The best petroleum engineering schools in the UK will guarantee employment upon graduation, or a big chance of gaining employment. So, we prefer engineering schools with a higher employability rate.
This takes cognizance of the recognition given to the school by various ranking bodies.
Here is the list of the top Petroleum Engineering Schools/universities In UK by ranking;
13. University of Coventry
The University of Coventry offers masters in Oil and Gas Engineering, Petroleum, and Environmental Technology. These two courses are advanced studies in Petroleum Engineering.
The Oil and Gas Engineering Ms program will equip you with the advanced sector-specific knowledge and skills required to succeed in the competitive, ever-evolving energy industry. You will study the engineering theory, technology, systems. Alongside practices associated with the full oil and gas life-cycle, examining upstream, midstream, and downstream operations.
These range from exploration and production, right through to refining and marketing.
In the same vein, Ms in Petroleum, and Environmental Technology will give a comprehensive understanding of the technical operation of the industry. Together with some of the sector’s most important environmental issues – oil spillages, climate change, and renewable energies.
In both cases, the full-time is one year whereas the part-time is for two years. Also, tuition is £12,600.
12. University of Portsmouth
There is an Msc on petroleum and Gas Engineering from University of portsmouth.
Basically, this is one of the best Petroleum Engineering universities in UK is taught by industry professionals and academic experts. The program is for 12-months.
The program teaches important industry topics such as Formation Evaluation, Reservoir Engineering, and Reservoir Simulation. You’ll learn to evaluate technologies for safe production and for enhancing the recovery of hydrocarbon oil and gas, and learn new trends and technologies such as data science and artificial intelligence.
Furthermore, the part-time program will run for three years with a minimum entry requirement of a second-class honors degree or equivalent in a Science or Engineering subject.
In addition, those with other qualifications but having a minimum of three years of relevant industrial experience may also be considered.
11. University of Manchester
Founded in 1824 offers a masters in Petroleum Geoscience Exploration.
Basically, this one year program has some interesting options, including part-time, distance learnming part-time and full time options. This is ideal for anyone anywhere who wishes to up their games.
In addition, the tuition is UK/EU students (per annum): £11,500 and International students (per annum): £27,000.
Basically, this ms is ideal for anyone who wishes to pursue a career in the oil and gas industry in exploration, field appraisal, and development.
Consequently, the course focuses on exploration geoscience and develops key skills for understanding petroleum systems. You will learn how to evaluate sedimentary basins, leads, and prospect generation. You will be given the skills to explore for oil and gas (and unconventional hydrocarbons). Manchester provides a global overview of major hydrocarbon provinces and current exploration trends.
Check out other courses at University of Manchester.
10. University of Salford
This is another of our top best universities for petroleum engineering in UK.
Basically, it offers a postgraduate course in petroleum and gas engineering. With one year and two years for full and part-time courses respectively.
Developed as one of the first in the UK, Petroleum and Gas Engineering explores the geology, exploration, drilling, production (surface and subsurface), reservoir engineering and management. As well as distribution and transmission of oil and gas from practical and theoretical viewpoints.
Alongside this specialized knowledge of natural resources, you will also develop transferable skills, such as mathematical analysis, problem-solving, communications and laboratory skills.
Another related course is also a Ms on Gas Engineering and Management.
9. University of Bradford
Bradford offers an Advanced Chemical and Petroleum Engineering postgraduate course for one year.
To be eligible for this course, you must have a 2.2 equivalent bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering or Petroleum Engineering and a 6.0 in IELTS. Then, the tuition is home/EU: £8,570 per year and international: £19,890 per year.
Check also: 10 Best Masters in Petroleum Engineering Online Programs
According to the program overview, Your study at the MSc level at Bradford will be a foundation aimed at developing a deep understanding of advanced technical principles, analytical tools, and their application. In addition to a wide range of management, personal and professional skills.
The course will provide you with essential tools based on sustainability and a low carbon footprint for changing raw materials into useful products safely and cost-effectively. This course has its origins in oil, gas, and petrochemical production.
8. University of Surrey
Basically, the BEng and MEng Chemical and Petroleum Engineering courses combine core chemical engineering principles with specialist modules, design projects, equipment design, and research projects relating to energy and petrochemicals.
A typical student who chooses the BEng is for 3 years, but an additional year is required for foundational class and professional training. The same applies to the MEng, which is 5 years for either of the aforementioned.
Furthermore, Surrey is one of the few universities in the world offering you the chance to experience the complete chemical engineering process.
Because of the state of the art chemical engineering facility and process plant worth £1.7m, you get to study in one of the best schools in UK for petroleum engineering.
7. Teesside University
Basically, Teesside University has three different programs in Petroleum Engineering. No wonder it is in our list of best petroleum engineering schools/universities in the UK.
Its Petroleum and Gas Engineering Topup BEng program is typically a one-year undergraduate course. With the payment of £13,000 and £9,250 for full time international and domestic students, the part-time students get to pay £4,500 (120 credits) yearly for the two-year course duration. But, to be eligible, you must already have a Higher National Diplomas or foundation degrees in relevant courses.
Furthermore, there are three routes you can select from to gain a postgraduate masters in Petroleum engineering from this best petroleum engineering school in UK.
- MSc Petroleum Engineering – one-year full time
- Petroleum Engineering – two-year part-time
- MSc Petroleum Engineering (with Advanced Practice) two years full time
Actually, the one-year program is a great option if you want to gain a traditional MSc qualification. Then, the two-year master’s degree with advanced practice enhances your qualification by adding a vocational or research-based internship to the one-year master’s program. Teeside guarantees a research internship, but cannot guarantee a vocational internship. They will, however, provide you with practical support and advice on finding and securing your own vocational internship position should you prefer this type of internship.
6. Robert Gordon University
This petroleum engineering university in Aberdeen UK has many related masters programs. We will discuss them all briefly.
Firstly, the Petroleum Production Engineering program is both a classroom and an online program developed by experienced industry professionals. It combines academic study with talks from energy experts, industrial visits, and practical training in the use of petroleum engineering software applications. Basically, it fulfills the demand from employers for graduates with industry-relevant, problem-solving, and practical skills that can be applied immediately in the workplace.
Secondly, Oil and Gas Engineering program is aimed at students who wish to work in the oil and gas industry and specialize in offshore operations.
Lastly, the Drilling and Well Engineering course focus on well construction and other key areas of well design, drilling, and operations management.
Furthermore, all the full-time program is for one year whereas the part-time program is streamlined to your needs, the highest being 3 years and 9 months.
5. London South Bank University
Basically, this best school in UK for petroleum engineering offers a one-year full-time masters in Petroleum Engineering.
The MSc in Petroleum Engineering program aims to broaden, strengthen and integrate knowledge and understanding of the oil and gas industry processes. You’ll learn mathematics, science, computer-based methods, design, and engineering practice to solve petroleum engineering problems of varying complexity.
At the end of the program, students are expected to have obtained knowledge of the integrated model of the oil reservoir to predict, improve, maintain, and to innovate the processes of oil and gas production.
In addition, she has a Chemical and Energy Engineering bachelor’s program that combines the essentials of chemical engineering with an added flavor of geoscience, exploration, and processing to highlight and develop a deep understanding of the energy mix.
4. Imperial College London
Imperial College is one of the star petroleum engineering universities in UK.
MSc Petroleum Engineering is a one-year, full-time program designed to train professionals in the work-flow concepts now prevailing in the oil and gas industries and produce fully prepared engineers to work effectively in multi-disciplinary teams.
This autumn, the teaching will combine on-campus (in-person) and remote learning (online).
Because Imperial college is one of the best colleges for petroleum engineering in UK, their acceptance rate is quite low with a very competitive application. Only students with excellent academic records get accepted.
Because of this, the entrance requirement is a first class honours degree or equivalent from an overseas academic institution. In exceptional circumstances we will accept a good upper second class degree with three or more years of applicable industry experience.
In addition, there is a phd option for petroleum engineering.
3. University of Leeds
Leeds has an MSc in Petroleum Engineering, 12 months full time with a minimum entry requirement of a bachelor’s degree with a 2:2 (Hons) in chemical engineering or a related engineering or science discipline.
Our MSc degree in Petroleum Production Engineering provides you with the advanced knowledge and skills to pursue a successful career in petroleum production. You will study core modules covering the fundamental science and engineering topics related to petroleum production, in addition to selecting from a range of optional modules which allows you to tailor your specialization in Petroleum Production Engineering.
Furthermore, the tuition for international and domestic students is a total of £24,000 and £11,000.
Because of the quality of education you will receive at Leeds, it has made it to our best and top school/university for petroleum engineering in UK.
2. University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen is the second on our list as the best petroleum engineering school in UK.
Located in the heart of the energy industry in Europe, Aberdeen is an International Centre of Excellence for exploration and production of oil and gas. The Petroleum Engineering bachelor’s degree program is combines engineering and petroleum geoscience.
Basically, you can move from the BEng to MEng in your fourth year if you meet the grade requirement.
In addition, the MSc Petroleum Engineering program is taught jointly by the School of Engineering and the Department of Geology and Geophysics along with industry-based tutors. Some courses include the fundamentals of petroleum geoscience, enhanced oil recovery, reservoir simulation, and well and production engineering. There is also a particular focus on formation evaluation, reservoir engineering, and simulation.
Equally important, the skills from this MSc will help graduates select the appropriate technologies for safe production recovery of hydrocarbon oil and gas. Again, you gain hands-on experience using industry-standard simulation software in all aspects of petroleum engineering. Moreover, it can be taken online as well.
1. Heriot-Watt University
Here is the best school in UK for petroleum Engineering. Heriot-Watt University is one of the highest-ranked universities in the UK. Their excellence in preparing young petroleum engineers greatly affected their ranking. They enjoy a reputation as a specialized educational and research center for Petroleum engineering.
READ ALSO: Best Accredited Petroleum Engineering Schools in Texas
Since 1975 when an MSc degree in Petroleum Engineering was established Dubai, Malaysia, and online. It is one of the highest employable schools in the UK.
The MSc program allows students to study specific courses and undertake a field development project (with other students) and an individual research project. Project work allows ideas and methods assimilated through lectures and tutorials to be applied to real field evaluation and development design problems. The courses are applied in nature and have been designed.
The courses are designed so that a graduate is technically sound and prepared for the industry they will work in.
Conclusion
We have extensively discussed the best universities in UK fir petroleum engineering, do well to go through the list. We have brought almost all the relevant information, if you still have questions, get back to us in the comment box.
References
- https://www.studying-in-uk.org/
- www.studyin-uk.com/studyuk/
- https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/
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