MSc Petroleum Engineering 12 months Postgraduate Programme By Heriot-Watt University |TopUniversities
Subject Ranking

# 15QS Subject Rankings

Programme Duration

12 monthsProgramme duration

Tuitionfee

29,960 GBPTuition Fee/year

Main Subject Area

Engineering - PetroleumMain Subject Area

Programme overview

Main Subject

Engineering - Petroleum

Degree

MSc

Study Level

Masters

Study Mode

On Campus

Overview

Since its establishment in 1975, the Institute of GeoEnergy Engineering (IGE) (originally the Department of Petroleum Engineering) at Heriot-Watt University has delivered its internationally renowned Petroleum Engineering MSc programme, providing thousands of graduates with the knowledge and skills to tackle the oil and gas industry’s most challenging problems across the globe.

The programme includes a combination of lectures, tutorials, field-trips, and self-study using rich course content, real field data, latest industry software and seminars by industry experts. The dynamic nature of our research-led, industry-focussed, multi-disciplinary approach to delivery means that graduates will be technically well-prepared with a sound knowledge of the industry and society requirements. In addition to traditional petroleum engineering topics, the programme now includes material related to energy transition along with data science.

Energy Transition aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance energy security, and support long-term environmental and economic sustainability- enhancing global equity. Petroleum engineering remains vital during the energy transition. Its core skills—subsurface analysis, reservoir management, and fluid flow—are directly applicable to geoenergy solutions like geothermal energy extraction as well as carbon and hydrogen storage. Efficient extraction and utilization of fossil fuels also ensures minimal environmental impact while bridging towards a more sustainable, resource-conscious energy future.


The programme will appeal to science and engineering graduates or those of you from a various numerate academic backgrounds who are interested in developing sustainable oil and gas assets to meet global energy and resource demands. You’ll develop skills in the fundamental concepts, theories, and principles of the main petroleum engineering and geoscience disciplines – through the following eight taught courses, one field development group project and one individual research project:

  • Reservoir engineering
  • Geoscience with integrated data science
  • Drilling engineering
  • Formation evaluation
  • Reservoir simulation
  • Energy project economics
  • Production technology

Our Expertise

Your learning will be informed by experts in geoenergy engineering and applied geoscience from our Institute of GeoEnergy Engineering at the Edinburgh campus, part of Heriot-Watt’s School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society. The School is one of the United Kingdom’s leading institutions for multidisciplinary research and teaching in areas critical to economic development and societal equity.  

The research relevance of this postgraduate programme ensures your studies remain innovative and industry focused.  

Your Learning Environment

The MSc Petroleum Engineering programme is taught though a combination of lectures, tutorials, and project work allowing you to get to know and build relationships with your teaching staff, academics, and peers. You will be assessed by coursework, exams, written reports and oral presentation, including group presentations. You’ll be supported and receive feedback throughout the programme.  

During your studies, you’ll benefit from and have access to our specialist equipment, state-of-the-art computer technology and industry standard software. You will have the opportunity to work on real-world problems individually and collaboratively to deliver practical solutions with global impact.  

Outside of the classroom, you can get involved with the Heriot-Watt Student Union, based at the Edinburgh campus, by participating in student groups, becoming an Academic Rep, and joining societies.  Societies provide a great opportunity to meet likeminded people, get involved in regular social and networking events, and gain insights into career prospects.  You may be particularly interested in joining some academically related societies including:  

  • Eco Society 
  • Geography Society 
  • Net Zero Society 

Customise Your Learning

You’ll take eight mandatory taught courses in semester one and semester two. You’ll be introduced to geoscience and use data to calculate the volume of hydrocarbons in the subsurface. You’ll gain knowledge of drilling engineering, formation evaluation, and reservoir simulation. Petroleum economics and production technology will also be explored, along with learning the fundamentals and applications of well test analysis for improved reservoir management. 

In semester three, you’ll strengthen your collaborative and communication skills through the field development project, where you will work in groups and produce a full field evaluation and development plan, using data from a real oilfield.  

You can customise your learning in semester three to match your specific interests or desired career pathway by choosing the topic of geoscience and engineering in which you’ll complete your detailed individual project. Projects are offered by the Institute of GeoEnergy Engineering and by industry, and normally include a wide choice of experimental research, computer modelling, and real-world problems.  

Programme overview

Main Subject

Engineering - Petroleum

Degree

MSc

Study Level

Masters

Study Mode

On Campus

Overview

Since its establishment in 1975, the Institute of GeoEnergy Engineering (IGE) (originally the Department of Petroleum Engineering) at Heriot-Watt University has delivered its internationally renowned Petroleum Engineering MSc programme, providing thousands of graduates with the knowledge and skills to tackle the oil and gas industry’s most challenging problems across the globe.

The programme includes a combination of lectures, tutorials, field-trips, and self-study using rich course content, real field data, latest industry software and seminars by industry experts. The dynamic nature of our research-led, industry-focussed, multi-disciplinary approach to delivery means that graduates will be technically well-prepared with a sound knowledge of the industry and society requirements. In addition to traditional petroleum engineering topics, the programme now includes material related to energy transition along with data science.

Energy Transition aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance energy security, and support long-term environmental and economic sustainability- enhancing global equity. Petroleum engineering remains vital during the energy transition. Its core skills—subsurface analysis, reservoir management, and fluid flow—are directly applicable to geoenergy solutions like geothermal energy extraction as well as carbon and hydrogen storage. Efficient extraction and utilization of fossil fuels also ensures minimal environmental impact while bridging towards a more sustainable, resource-conscious energy future.


The programme will appeal to science and engineering graduates or those of you from a various numerate academic backgrounds who are interested in developing sustainable oil and gas assets to meet global energy and resource demands. You’ll develop skills in the fundamental concepts, theories, and principles of the main petroleum engineering and geoscience disciplines – through the following eight taught courses, one field development group project and one individual research project:

  • Reservoir engineering
  • Geoscience with integrated data science
  • Drilling engineering
  • Formation evaluation
  • Reservoir simulation
  • Energy project economics
  • Production technology

Our Expertise

Your learning will be informed by experts in geoenergy engineering and applied geoscience from our Institute of GeoEnergy Engineering at the Edinburgh campus, part of Heriot-Watt’s School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society. The School is one of the United Kingdom’s leading institutions for multidisciplinary research and teaching in areas critical to economic development and societal equity.  

The research relevance of this postgraduate programme ensures your studies remain innovative and industry focused.  

Your Learning Environment

The MSc Petroleum Engineering programme is taught though a combination of lectures, tutorials, and project work allowing you to get to know and build relationships with your teaching staff, academics, and peers. You will be assessed by coursework, exams, written reports and oral presentation, including group presentations. You’ll be supported and receive feedback throughout the programme.  

During your studies, you’ll benefit from and have access to our specialist equipment, state-of-the-art computer technology and industry standard software. You will have the opportunity to work on real-world problems individually and collaboratively to deliver practical solutions with global impact.  

Outside of the classroom, you can get involved with the Heriot-Watt Student Union, based at the Edinburgh campus, by participating in student groups, becoming an Academic Rep, and joining societies.  Societies provide a great opportunity to meet likeminded people, get involved in regular social and networking events, and gain insights into career prospects.  You may be particularly interested in joining some academically related societies including:  

  • Eco Society 
  • Geography Society 
  • Net Zero Society 

Customise Your Learning

You’ll take eight mandatory taught courses in semester one and semester two. You’ll be introduced to geoscience and use data to calculate the volume of hydrocarbons in the subsurface. You’ll gain knowledge of drilling engineering, formation evaluation, and reservoir simulation. Petroleum economics and production technology will also be explored, along with learning the fundamentals and applications of well test analysis for improved reservoir management. 

In semester three, you’ll strengthen your collaborative and communication skills through the field development project, where you will work in groups and produce a full field evaluation and development plan, using data from a real oilfield.  

You can customise your learning in semester three to match your specific interests or desired career pathway by choosing the topic of geoscience and engineering in which you’ll complete your detailed individual project. Projects are offered by the Institute of GeoEnergy Engineering and by industry, and normally include a wide choice of experimental research, computer modelling, and real-world problems.  

Admission Requirements

6+
169+
59+
2.7+
79+
A minimum of a 2:2 honours degree, or its non-UK equivalent in an engineering subject or a physical or earth science discipline, including evidence of a good understanding of mathematics. Degrees in chemistry, maths, physics, geology or computing may also be considered with demonstrable maths ability.
In addition, work or project experience in a related company role will be taken into consideration, please include your CV as part of your application.

1 Year
Sep
Jan

Domestic
13,000 GBP
International
29,960 GBP

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