List Of Petroleum Engineering Universities In Australia | 2024

Petroleum engineers help in sustaining society’s way of life. They do this by providing oil and gas in efficient, safe, and environmentally responsible ways. To become a petroleum engineer, you must first get the required skills and meet the required education requirements.

As a future engineer who wants to study in Australia, we’ve compiled a list of top Australian universities offering the country’s best petroleum engineering programs.

Australia is said t be one of the best countries to earn a degree in petroleum engineering. This is evident in the QS ranking of the world’s top universities for mineral and mining engineering (keep reading for the figures).

Based on this finding, we thought ranking these best petroleum engineering schools in Australia was wise.

So in this article, you will get the vital information you need about the top petroleum engineering universities in Australia. You will also learn the cost of earning a petroleum engineering degree in Australia and what petroleum engineers earn there.

Here is a breakdown of what to expect:

What is Petroleum Engineering?

Petroleum engineering is a field of engineering concerned with the activities related to producing hydrocarbons, which can be crude oil or natural gas.

It is the practical application of physics and mathematics (with some chemistry and geology) combined with engineering and economic principles to recover petroleum (natural oil and gas).

Basically, exploration, by earth scientists, and petroleum engineering are the oil and gas industry’s two main subsurface disciplines, which focus on maximizing economic recovery of hydrocarbons from subsurface reservoirs.

Why Study Petroleum Engineering Programs In Australia?

Australia has become an education hub and as such many colleges in public and private sectors have come up. The quality of education in Australia in recent times is undoubtedly at par with some of the best globally recognized institutes and maybe better sometimes. 

In regards to petroleum engineering, Australian universities are among the highly ranked schools in the field.

To be more precise, 5 Australian schools made it to the QS ranking of the top ten universities for mineral and mining engineering in the world.

So, studying a petroleum engineering program from an Australian school gives you the opportunity to benefit from the country’s quality education.

What are Petroleum Engineers Paid in Australia?

The average salary of a petroleum engineer in Australia is $134,135 per year.

Below is a tabular representation of what petroleum engineers in 5 cities in Australia earn.

City	Average salary
Petroleum Engineer in Joondalup WA	$104,595 per year
Petroleum Engineer in Adelaide SA	$189,737 per year
Petroleum Engineer in Perth WA	$129,354 per year
Petroleum Engineer in Kalgoorlie WA	$142,800 per year
Petroleum Engineer in Pullenvale QLD	$79,000 per year

The report above is as seen on Indeed.

What is the Cost of Studying Petroleum Engineering in Australia?

Basically, the tuition cost for petroleum engineering programs varies among the degree programs and universities.

Notwithstanding, the cost of petroleum engineering can go as low as AU$ 21,000.00 for certificate programs and as high as AU$ 48,000.00 for a doctoral degree program.

So, we advise intending students to visit their chosen university’s finance pages for detailed information.

Which Body Accredits Petroleum Engineering Programs in Australia?

The Engineers Australia is the trusted accreditation authority for tertiary engineering education in Australia.

The Australian Engineering Accreditation Centre (AEAC) evaluates engineering programs at Professional Engineer, Engineering Technologist, and Engineering Associate levels.

Which Universities offer the Best Petroleum Engineering Programs in Australia?

Several schools in Australia offer petroleum engineering programs both at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. However, to rank these universities effectively, we used some factors.

Here are the ranking factors.

Accreditation

This is self-explanatory. It refers to the number of accredited petroleum engineering programs the university offers at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

This is all about how top-ranking websites see the university’s petroleum engineering program.

With these schools’ accreditation constant, our ranking focus was majorly on the number of programs.

So, here are the top universities where you can study best-accredited petroleum engineering programs in Australia:

• The University of Adelaide (UoA)
• Edith Cowan University (ECU)
• University of New South Wales – UNSW
• Curtin University
• The University of Queensland

#1 The University of Adelaide (UoA)

Accreditation: Engineers Australia

Number of Programs: 11

Founded in 1874, the University of Adelaide is a public university in Adelaide, South Australia. It is the third-oldest university in Australia and one of the top universities offering the best petroleum engineering programs in the country.

Infact, the University of Adelaide is currently ranked #30 in top mineral and mining engineering universities worldwide and #8 in Australia by QS World University Rankings.

Here, the petroleum engineering program is taught under the Australian School of Petroleum or ASP because of a merger between the school of petroleum engineering and management and the national center for petroleum geology & geophysics.

The Australian School of Petroleum and Energy Resources is a world-class petroleum education, training, and research institution. It is Australia’s only multidisciplinary school serving the petroleum sector.

ASP is also one of the few schools in the world that offer a comprehensive curriculum covering wide research, petroleum geoscience, integrated teaching, management, and of course engineering.

Here, you will learn from experienced industry professionals, widely recognised for their quality teaching; and study modern, industry-designed curricula.

You will also be well-equipped to help satisfy the significant global demand for qualified petroleum engineering graduates and pursue an exciting career in one of engineering’s highest-paid fields.

To achieve this, UoA offers petroleum engineering courses at the undergraduate, postgraduate and research levels as both degree and graduate certificate programs.

Available Petroleum Engineering Degree Programs

Here are the available petroleum engineering degree programs:

• Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Petroleum): This 4-year full-time bachelor’s degree program costs AU$43,000.00 (US$ 30,005) per year.
• Master of Petroleum Engineering: This 1.5-year full-time master’s degree program costs AU$46,000.00 (US$ 32,099) per year.
• Graduate Certificate in Petroleum Engineering: This 6-months full-time certificate program costs AU$22,250.00 (US$ 15,526) per year.
• Graduate Diploma in Petroleum Engineering: This 1-year full-time diploma program costs AU$44,500.00 (US$ 31,052) per year.
• Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Petroleum) with a Bachelor of Science: This 5-year full-time bachelor’s degree program costs AU$44,500.00 (US$ 31,052) per year.
• Master of Petroleum Engineering Science: This 2-year full-time master’s degree program costs A$43,000.00 (US$ 30,005) per year.
• Graduate Certificate in Petroleum Engineering Science: This 6-months full-time certificate program costs AU$22,250.00 (US$ 15,526) per year.
• Graduate Diploma in Petroleum Engineering Science: This 1-year full-time diploma program costs AU$44,500.00 (US$ 31,052) per year.
• Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Petroleum) with major: This 5-year full-time bachelor’s degree program costs AU$44,500.00 (US$ 31,052) per year.
• Master of Science (Petroleum Geoscience): This 1-year full-time master’s degree program costs AU$44,000.00 (US$ 30,703) per year.
• Graduate Certificate in Petroleum Geology and Geophysics: This 6-months full-time certificate program costs AU$21,000.00 (US$ 14,689) per year.

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#2 Edith Cowan University (ECU)

Accreditation: Engineers Australia

Number of Programs: 6

Edith Cowan University (ECU) is an Australian public university in Perth, Western Australia. It is one of the top universities offering the country’s best petroleum engineering programs.

The School of Engineering at Edith Cowan University is one of the fastest-growing engineering schools in Australia with an annual growth of over 20% in the last few years.

The School also enjoys as some of the best-equipped hardware laboratories in the nation, with regular multi-million dollar investments into expanding and maintaining its world-class infrastructure.

Students here benefit from programs specifically designed for the needs of the Australian and Western Australian industry that cover the engineering sciences with rigor and also have a strong emphasis on ‘hands-on’, practical learning experiences.

Regarding petroleum engineering, ECU offers courses at the undergraduate, postgraduate and research levels as both degree and graduate certificate programs.

Available Petroleum Engineering Degree Programs

Here are the petroleum engineering degree programs:

• Bachelor of Engineering (Petroleum Engineering) Honours: This 4-year full-time bachelor’s degree program costs AU$30,000.00 (US$ 21,074) per year.
• Bachelor of Technology (Engineering) Major in Petroleum Engineering: This 3-year full-time bachelor’s degree program costs AU$30,000.00 (US$ 21,074) per year.
• Graduate Diploma in Petroleum Engineering: This 1-year full-time diploma program costs AU$30,500.00 (US$ 21,283) per year.
• Master of Engineering – Petroleum Engineering Specialization: This 2-year full-time master’s degree program costs AU$30,700.00 (US$ 21,422) per year.
• Master of Technology (Petroleum Engineering): This 1.5-year full-time master’s degree program costs AU$30,500.00 (US$ 21,283) per year.
• PhD – Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering – Petroleum (By Research): This 4-year full-time doctoral degree program costs AU$34,250.00 (US$ 23,900) per year.

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#3 University of New South Wales – UNSW

Accreditation: Engineers Australia

Number of Programs: 6

The University of New South Wales (UNSW) is an Australian public research university in the Sydney suburb of Kensington. It is one of the top universities offering Australia’s best petroleum engineering programs.

Infact, UNSW is currently ranked #4 in top mineral and mining engineering universities worldwide and #3 in Australia by QS World University Rankings.

The UNSW School of Minerals and Energy Resources Engineering is a leading provider of world-class mining and petroleum engineering education. They partner with industry leaders on ground-breaking research projects and graduates here work with some of the biggest companies in the industry. 

To achieve this, UNSW offers petroleum engineering courses to students at the undergraduate, postgraduate, and research levels as both degree and graduate certificate programs.

Available Petroleum Engineering Degree Programs

Here are the petroleum engineering degree programs:

• Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Petroleum): This 4-year full-time bachelor’s degree program costs AU$47,760.00 (US$ 33,327) per year.
• Master of Engineering Science Specialization in Petroleum Engineering: This 2-year full-time master’s degree program costs AU$47,280.00 ($32,992) annually.
• Master of Engineering Science Specialization in Petroleum Engineering Open Learn: This 2-year full-time master’s degree program costs AU$47,280.00 (US$ 32,992) annually.
• Graduate Certificate in Petroleum Engineering: This is a 0.7-year certificate program.
• Master of Engineering Specialization in Petroleum Engineering: This 2-year full-time master’s degree program costs AU$47,280.00 ($32,992) annually.
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Petroleum Engineering: This 3-4-year full-time doctoral degree program costs $48,000.00 ($33,494) annually.

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#4 Curtin University

Accreditation: Engineers Australia

Number of Programs: 3

Curtin University is an Australian public research university based in Bentley, Perth, Western Australia with other campuses in Dubai, Malaysia, Mauritius & Singapore offering undergrad, postgrad & research opportunities.

It is also one of the top universities offering Australia’s best petroleum engineering programs. Curtin University is currently ranked #2 in top mineral and mining engineering universities worldwide and #1 in Australia by QS World University Rankings.

Petroleum Engineering at the Curtin University’s WA School of Mines: Minerals, Energy and Chemical Engineering offer a unique blend of academic excellence and industrial expertise to the oil and gas industry.

Here, faculty members have a proven academic track record and many years’ experience in the petroleum industry. This provides a strong theoretical base coupled with a practical approach to solving real-life industrial problems.

Academic members also have research qualifications at the Doctorate level in subjects that span the pure science and engineering disciplines. This range of talent is used to tackle specific problems of relevance to the petroleum industry as well as promote an applied environment for the supervision of Masters and PhD students.

Also, a comprehensive teaching program at the Master’s level complements this research and development activities. This is done to develop graduates with the skills which the industry needs, as quickly as possible.

For this reason, Curtin University offers petroleum engineering courses at the undergraduate, postgraduate and research levels.

Available Petroleum Engineering Degree Programs

Here are the petroleum engineering degree programs:

• Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Petroleum Engineering): This 4-year full-time bachelor’s degree program costs $36,100.00 ($25,191) per year.
• Master of Philosophy (Petroleum Engineering): This 2-year full-time master’s degree program costs $38,000.00 ($26,516) annually.
• Master of Professional Engineering (Petroleum Engineering): This 2-year full-time master’s degree program costs $36,500.00 ($25,470) per year.

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#5 The University of Queensland – UQ

Accreditation: Engineers Australia

Number of Programs: 5

The University of Queensland (UQ) is a public research university in Brisbane, the capital city of the Australian state of Queensland. It is one of the top universities offering Australia’s best petroleum engineering programs.

To be more precise, the University of Queensland is currently ranked #5 in top universities for mineral and mining engineering in the world and #4 in Australia by QS World University Rankings.

Basically, the UQ Centre for Natural Gas plays a key role in meeting the educational needs of the Australian CSG/LNG industry. In 2014, it established a petroleum engineering program which is aimed mainly at professionals already in the industry seeking to upgrade their skills or change direction.

The petroleum engineering program here has recently been revamped and is now be part of UQ’s Master of Engineering, with five programs ranging from 0.5 to 3 years for full-time studies (part-time studies also available).

This petroleum engineering program combines UQ’s world-class reputation in teaching and research with current industry insights to shape you and your fellow students as the next generation of highly skilled professionals that will solve future energy challenges

The Centre has specialized lecturers and professors, both academic and from industry, engaging with Masters and PhD students as part of its educational initiative.

Also, graduates of the program have had a high success rate at finding employment soon after finishing their degree. Some companies which have snapped up UQ petroleum engineering graduates include Origin Energy, Santos, and Woodside.

Available Petroleum Engineering Degree Programs

Here are the available petroleum engineering degree programs:

• Master of Engineering Major in Petroleum Engineering: This 2-year full-time master’s degree program costs $45,120.00 ($31,485) per year.
• Master of Engineering Science Major in Petroleum Engineering: This 1-year full-time master’s degree program costs $45,120.00 ($31,485) per year.
• Graduate Certificate of Engineering Science (Petroleum Engineering): This is a 6-month full-time (8 units) program aimed at graduates and professionals in petroleum engineering to enhance and upgrade their skills.
• Master of Engineering (Petroleum Engineering): This 3-years full-time (48 units) program is suitable if you have a non-engineering background. It covers the technical disciplines of developing conventional and unconventional oil and gas resources.
• Master of Engineering Science Management (Petroleum Engineering) This is a 2-years full-time (32 units) program focused on developing business skills in engineering graduates without a prior formal background as it caters to students with relatively advanced backgrounds.
  This enables students to substitute engineering courses with advanced business management courses. The program covers the technical disciplines of developing conventional and unconventional oil and gas resources.

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FAQs On List Of Petroleum Engineering Universities In Australia | 2024

Conclusion

With five Australian schools making the QS ranking of the world’s top ten universities for mineral and mining engineering, we can say that Australia is one of the top countries for students to study petroleum engineering.

The article above provides vital information on the top universities offering petroleum engineering programs in Australia.

I hope this helps you in your decision-making process.

Good Luck And Success!!!

Reference

• QSRanking – Top Universities for Mineral and Mining Engineering in Australia
• HotCoursesAbroad – 5 institutions in Australia offering Petroleum Engineering courses
• Quora – What is the best Petroleum Engineering schools in Australia?

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