Master of Engineering (Petroleum Engineering)
Gain accreditation in Petroleum Engineering
Domestic
International
Gain the specialised knowledge needed for a successful career as a petroleum engineer.
Faculty
Faculty of Engineering
Delivery Mode
Face-to-face (includes blended)
Award
Master of Engineering
Commencing Terms
Term 1, Term 2, Term 3
Duration (Full Time)
2 Year(s)
- Overview
- Entry requirements
- What will I study?
- Future careers
- How to apply
- Fees & Scholarships
Overview
The Master of Engineering is a flexible postgraduate degree delivered by UNSW Engineering, Australia’s leading engineering faculty. It's designed for students who require an accredited engineering qualification.
You’ll gain the accreditation required for a career in petroleum engineering, the oil and gas industry and other related sectors. While studying this degree you’ll explore a broad range of areas in petroleum engineering including:
- Project management
- Reservoir engineering
- Geophysics, Geomechanics, Geothermal engineering
- Drilling engineering
The Master of Engineering includes an integrated 60 days industrial training component and courses to develop your technical knowledge and skills in engineering management, analysis and design to ensure you graduate career-ready and accredited. This degree will build on your prior undergraduate study and is professionally accredited by Engineers Australia.
Your education will provide in-depth knowledge as well as deeper project experience and increased technical confidence across selected research disciplines. You’ll be prepared for work as a professional engineer through specialised study in your area of professional interest, equipping you with the required knowledge and skills for a rewarding career in engineering.
Why study this degree at UNSW?
When you study with UNSW Engineering, you’ll join a community that champions diverse perspectives, hands-on learning and entrepreneurship. Our degrees are designed to match global career opportunities. That’s why Australia’s top employers prefer our graduates over any other university and why we’ve been titled the ‘Most Employable University’ by the Australian Financial Review in 2021, 2021, 2022 and 2023.
When you study a Master of Engineering specialising in Petroleum Engineering at UNSW you’ll be taught by the School of Minerals and Energy Resources Engineering. Ranked 4th in the world by the 2023 QS World University Rankings by Subject, we’re a leading provider of education and research in mining engineering and recognised internationally as one of the top places to study.
We have close ties to industry with partners such as Shell, BHP and Rio Tinto. Working closely with industry, we develop innovative solutions and research outcomes for the sector and bring a real-world focus to our education and degrees. With state-of-the-art facilities, world-class researchers and some of the brightest engineering students from across the world, we’re a great place to study Petroleum Engineering.
Studying with us you'll have access to world-class facilities and opportunities in resource engineering, including:
- UNSW's floor-to-ceiling 360-degree virtual reality simulator, offering realistic underground mine scenarios for training in potential hazards, evacuation procedures and feasibility studies · UNSW technological innovations such as the Tyree X-Ray CT imaging facility and ViMINE mine planning tool
- More postgraduate specialisations and engineering opportunities than any other Australian university. Allowing you to develop career paths in multiple industries
- Close links and networking opportunities with key industrial, commercial and professional organisations
Program Code
8621
CRICOS Code
067604G
Campus
Kensington
Total Units of Credit (UOC)
96
Indicative Enrolments
1,224
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Entry requirements
Admission to this program requires one of the following:
- 4-year non-accredited (under the Washington Accord) Bachelor of Engineering degree (or equivalent) in a cognate discipline with a minimum 65% average; or
- 3-year Bachelor of Engineering Science degree in a cognate discipline, at least equivalent to the first three years of an Engineering degree accredited under the Washington Accord with a minimum 75% average.
A pathway for entry into the program for graduates from both 4-year Bachelor of Engineering degrees in non-cognate disciplines, and 3-year Bachelor of Science degrees, exists via enrolment first into the Bachelor of Engineering (BE) program, where advanced standing (to a maximum of 2 years) may be granted.
Admission pathways
Engineering Postgraduate Admissions Scheme (EPAS)
Our Engineering Postgraduate Admissions Scheme (EPAS) is an alternative pathway for students considering postgraduate study. It applies to students who don’t quite make the cut-off weighted average mark, across all UNSW Engineering schools. Find out more about the interview process and eligibility criteria. Learn More
UNSW Global Pathway Programs
UNSW Global has university pathway programs that provide seamless transition to UNSW Sydney so you can achieve your academic and career goals. Learn more.
English language requirements
You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on your educational background and citizenship. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.
If you’re completing an Australian Year 12 qualification (e.g. NSW HSC or equivalent), you do not need to provide anything extra to prove your proficiency. Your qualification will be used as evidence of your English proficiency.
If you do need to provide evidence of your English proficiency, this will be indicated in your application. You can prove this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:
- English language tests and university English courses
- Prior study in the medium of English
- Other qualifications
If you need to improve your English skills before you start your degree, UNSW College’s Academic English Programs are for you. The programs are suitable for various English levels and help you prepare for university studies and life in Australia.
Admission to this program requires one of the following:
4-year non-accredited (under the Washington Accord) Bachelor of Engineering degree (or equivalent) in a cognate discipline with a minimum 65% average; or
3-year Bachelor of Engineering Science degree in a cognate discipline, at least equivalent to the first three years of an Engineering degree accredited under the Washington Accord with a minimum 75% average.
A pathway for entry into the program for graduates from both 4-year Bachelor of Engineering degrees in non-cognate disciplines, and 3-year Bachelor of Science degrees, exists via enrolment first into the Bachelor of Engineering (BE) program, where advanced standing (to a maximum of 2 years) may be granted.
English language requirements
You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on whether you are from an English-speaking background or non-English speaking background. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.
If English is not your first language, you’ll need to provide proof of your English proficiency before you can be given an offer to study at UNSW. You can do this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:
- English language tests and university English courses
- Prior study in the medium of English
- Other qualifications
If you need to improve your English skills before you start your degree, UNSW College’s Academic English Programs are for you. The programs are suitable for various English levels and help you prepare for university studies and life in Australia.
Check the specific English language requirements for this program
Program structure
The Master of Engineering is a two-year degree, which can be studied part time or full time. In this degree you’ll gain a solid background in an area of your choice.
The structure of this degree provides the opportunity for students to specialise in an area of interest while gaining a depth of knowledge across a broad range of topics. This degree serves as an entry point to move into the Engineering Profession.
With a strong component of industrial, on-the-job training, our program structure includes:
- 60 days of industrial training
- Six disciplinary knowledge courses
- Five advanced disciplinary knowledge courses
- Two engineering and technical knowledge courses
- One design course
- A research project
Full program structure
Degree structures can vary depending on your specialisation of choice, the number of courses you choose and timetabling, to give you an indication you can consider the below.
In your first year you'll study:
- Disciplinary Knowledge courses, these are introductory courses where you’ll learn the fundamentals of your chosen specialisation
- You may also start studying some of your Advanced Disciplinary Knowledge courses where you’ll be able to tailor your degree to your interest by selecting courses which align with your career goals.
In the second year, you’ll complete the remaining Disciplinary and Advanced Disciplinary Knowledge courses, and study:
- Engineering and Technical Management courses which help you build skills in project and or staff management, leadership and strategy.
- A design course which is specific to your chosen specialisation – in this course you will be assigned a design task relevant on an area of your studies.
At the end of your degree you’ll bring together all the Engineering principles you’ve learnt to solve complex, open ended problems such as the development of a specific design, process and/or the investigation of a hypothesis.
This degree requires you to complete 60 days of Industrial Training, which gives you some on the job experience before graduating, enabling you to develop the essential technical and professional skills, so you thrive in your future career.
Future careers
Petroleum engineers explore, design, develop and produce the oil and gas resources that underpin the energy and materials industries. Our Master of Engineering graduates who specialise in Petroleum Engineering open their opportunities to pursue roles that require the direct application of petroleum engineering knowledge.
While renewable energy sources are growing in popularity, the need for Petroleum Engineers continues, with BP - one of the industry’s largest companies - stating that the need to find and produce oil is still steady. Growth in energy consumption is predicted across the globe and with this comes the need for Petroleum Engineers to find and harness this widely used source of energy.
Our graduates have gained employment with some of the world’s and Australia’s largest companies in the industry, including:
- AGL Energy
- BHP
- Shell
- Saudi Aramco
93% of Petroleum Engineers secure full-time work, which is 30% higher than the national average. Source.
The resources sector is a key part of the Australian economy, accounting for more than 70% of Australia’s good exports. Source.
Accreditation
Accredited by Engineers Australia and acknowledged by the Washington Accord, the Master of Engineering degree has professional recognition globally. This degree includes a practical component where you’ll apply your knowledge in practical settings through 60 days of approved industrial training in Australia or overseas.
How to apply
Applications must be submitted through our Apply Online portal. We encourage you to submit your completed application as early as possible to ensure it will be processed in time for your preferred term. Some high-demand programs and Faculties with limited places may have an earlier application deadline or commencement date. Find out more.
Ready to start your application?
For most international students, applications are submitted via our Apply Online service. We encourage you to submit your completed application as early as possible to ensure it will be processed in time for your preferred term.
Some high-demand programs with limited places, may have an earlier application deadline or may have an earlier commencement date. For more information visit our international applicant information page.
Ready to start your application?
Fees & Scholarships
2023 Indicative First Year Full Fee
$36,275*
2023 Indicative Full Fee to Complete Degree
$73,395*
*Fees are subject to annual review by the University and may increase annually, with the new fees effective from the start of each calendar year. The indicative fees listed here are based on an estimated average and are for tuition only other fees and charges are not included. The amount you pay will vary depending on the calendar year to enrol, the courses you select and whether your study load is more or less than 1 Equivalent Full Time Student Load (8 courses per year).
Indicative fees are a guide for comparison only based on current conditions and available data. You should not rely on indicative fees. More information on fees can be found at the UNSW fees website.
Indicative fees to complete the program have been calculated based on a percentage increase for every year of the program. Fee increases are assessed annually and may exceed the indicative figures listed here.
2023 Indicative First Year Fee
$47,740*
2023 Indicative Fee to Complete Degree
$96,925*
*Fees are subject to annual review by the University and may increase annually, with the new fees effective from the start of each calendar year. The indicative fees listed here are based on an estimated average and are for tuition only other fees and charges are not included. The amount you pay will vary depending on the calendar year to enrol, the courses you select and whether your study load is more or less than 1 Equivalent Full Time Student Load (8 courses per year).
Indicative fees are a guide for comparison only based on current conditions and available data. You should not rely on indicative fees. More information on fees can be found at the UNSW fees website.
Indicative fees to complete the program have been calculated based on a percentage increase for every year of the program. Fee increases are assessed annually and may exceed the indicative figures listed here.
Indicative fees to complete the program include tuition plus an estimate of study-related costs of approximately $1,000 per year. To find out more about other costs, visit UNSW International.
Scholarships
At UNSW, we award over $83 million in scholarships each year. We pride ourselves on rewarding excellence and making university accessible to students from all walks of life. Whether you’re a domestic or international student, our range of scholarships, prizes and awards can support your journey.
Featured scholarship
The UNSW Women in Engineering Research Scholarship was established to assist women of high academic achievement with an interest in a research and/or an academic career in engineering. UNSW Engineering offers two Women in Engineering Top-up Scholarships every semester.
Apply here and search for ‘Engineering’ in the keywords.
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Top 50WorldwideQS World University Rankings, 2020.
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MostEmployable GraduatesAFR Top 100 Future leaders Award.
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LeadingInnovation#1 Australian uni attended by start-up founders.
I love that everything in the world is being engineered by somebody.
