Best Petroleum Engineering Universities in the World

Petroleum engineering is offered in some of the best universities worldwide. Employment scopes for the graduates in the field of petroleum engineering, after having a valuable degree from the institutions, include opportunities in oil and gas companies, consultancy firms, and even government organizations.

Exploration, extraction, production, and refinement of oil and gas resources are the focus of Petroleum Engineering. A career in the energy sector is a promising one as it is one of the major sectors of the global economy. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, from 2021-2031, the petroleum industry may grow by 8%. Growth in any sector of the economy translates to better job opportunities and better job security.

Here are some reasons to study abroad from the best petroleum engineering schools in the world:

• Interesting work profile: Working on complicated projects that call for both technical know-how and ingenuity is a part of petroleum engineering. The job of engineers in this industry ranges from the discovery of new oil and gas reserves to the development of innovative drilling and production techniques.
• Job prospects: As per the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, in May 2021, the median annual wage of a petroleum engineer stood at $130,850. Moreover, 1,700 new jobs opening are projected annually in the upcoming decade.
• Contribution to the environment: Petroleum engineers can contribute to environmental sustainability by creating petroleum extraction and refining processes that are more efficient and do less damage to the environment.

Some of the best petroleum universities in the world include the University of Texas (Austin), Texas A&M University, Colorado School of Mines, etc. All these universities provide high-quality petroleum engineering courses that can offer excellent job opportunities.

Best Petroleum Engineering Universities in the World

It is important for students, who wish to pursue petroleum engineering, to know the best universities in the world which offer petroleum engineering. The table given below provides the top 10 petroleum engineering universities in the world (based on U.S. News & World Report Rankings 2023):

Note: It is important for students to do their own research as rankings for the best oil and gas universities in the world might change based on different criteria used by different ranking indices.

Best Petroleum Engineering Universities in the World: Admission Requirements

The admission requirements for these universities may vary, but generally, applicants will need to have completed a bachelor's degree in engineering or a related field. They may also be required to submit GRE scores, transcripts, letters of recommendation, and a personal statement. Additionally, some universities may require international students to provide proof of English language proficiency through tests like TOEFL or IELTS. It is best to consult each university's admissions website for their specific requirements.

The admission requirements for the top petroleum engineering universities in the world vary as per the university and course requirements. However, the following points provide an overview of the admission requirements for the best petroleum engineering schools in the world:

• Class 12th exams with certain subjects such as Advanced Functions, Calculus & Vectors, Chemistry, English, and Physics (may vary according to university).
• SAT or ACT scores (may vary according to university).
• GRE or GMAT scores (may vary according to university).
• English language proficiency test scores: IELTS, TOEFL, or Duolingo score.
• Latest resume.
• Statement of Purpose (SOP).
• LORs (Letters of recommendation).
• Essay.

Petroleum Engineering Jobs

Petroleum engineers can choose from a wide range of jobs both domestically and internationally. Reservoir engineers, drilling engineers, production engineers, completion engineers, and operations engineers are a few of the frequently occurring positions in the field of petroleum engineering. These experts do jobs like locating, evaluating, and managing energy resources, planning and carrying out drilling operations, examining geological data, and managing the operation of large-scale energy projects. Employees with a degree in petroleum engineering frequently command high incomes and enjoy possibilities for professional development and progress.

Petroleum Engineering Salary

Salary ranges for petroleum engineers can vary depending on a variety of variables, including the level of education, level of experience, region, and nature of the profession. However, petroleum engineering is often seen as a highly lucrative profession. If you complete your petroleum engineering from one of the top petroleum engineering universities in the world, you stand a chance of receiving a top percentile remuneration. As per the U.S. News & World Report, the following details have been observed for petroleum engineers when it comes to salaries and job prospects:

• Petroleum Engineering is in 2nd position in the Best Engineering Jobs.
• Petroleum Engineering jobs are at the 17th spot in the Best Paying Jobs.
• Petroleum Engineering is ranked 51st position in the 100 Best Jobs.
• The median salary of petroleum engineers was $130,850 in 2021, of which, the top 25% earned $167,750 in 2021 and the lowest 25% earned $100,880 in 2021.

Check: Which Engineering has Highest Salary Abroad?

Top Oil and Gas Companies

Some of the top oil and gas companies in the world include Saudi Arabian Oil Co. (Saudi Aramco), Exxon Mobil Corp., Shell, TotalEnergies, Chevron Corp., BP, Marathon Petroleum Corp., Valero Energy Corp., Gazprom, ConocoPhillips, etc.

Now that students are aware of the best petroleum engineering universities in the world, they must do their own research about the course curriculum and career outcomes before taking a final decision. For help with university applications, students seeking to study abroad can contact our Shiksha Study Abroad Counsellors. The comments section below allows candidates to contact us as well.