Petroleum Engineering - Master of Science Degree Programme


Study programme description for study year 2024-2025

Facts

Credits (ECTS)

120

Studyprogram code

M-PETENG

Level

Master's degree (2 years)

Leads to degree

Master of Science

Full-/Part-time

Full-time

Duration

4 Semesters

Undergraduate

No

Language of instruction

English

The master’s programme in Petroleum Engineering at The University of Stavanger is open to Norwegian and international students. A master’s degree in Petroleum Engineering qualifies students for a variety of positions primarily within the petroleum sector, but also provides excellent opportunities in other sectors. The study programme offers a variety of petroleum engineering topics, including drilling and well engineering, petroleum production engineering and process engineering.

The general goal is to educate competent engineers with theoretical and technical knowledge, giving them the ability to work independently, and to take responsibility for the interaction between technology, the environment, and society. The programme is research-based and provides a foundation for lifelong learning. The study programme also gives students the option to continue to PhD studies.

The master's programme in petroleum engineering provides competency and knowledge about methods that reduces emissions related to extraction and use of fossil fuels in a world that has an energy mix of fossil and renewable energy sources. The study primarily addresses sustainable development goals 7 and 12.

Programme content, structure, and composition

Of the programme's 120 credits, 40 ECTS is common courses that ensure a broad and common basis in key topics within petroleum engineering, and also ensure multidiciplinarity. The remaining 80 ECTS consist of 50 ECTS from specialisation courses and a master's thesis of 30 ECTS. The master's thesis is a large, independent project completed in the final semester, often in close co-operation with an external company.

All teaching is in English. This is a plus for any students who are planning to work in an international company where English is the language of business.

UiS is committed to offer all programmes according to plans but emphasises that this is subject to the availability of resources and/or students. Over time, the academic content and choice of topics may change due to general developments in the subject field, the use of new technology, and wider societal changes. All courses and programmes are revised annually.

A description of each individual course is provided, detailing:

  • Working and teaching methods
  • Course literature
  • Evaluation methods
  • Assessment methods
  • Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

After having completed the master’s degree programme in Petroleum Engineering, the student shall have acquired the following learning outcomes, in terms of knowledge, skills and general competences:

Knowledge

K1: The candidate has advanced knowledge within the field of petroleum engineering and specialised insight into a particular area in this field.

K2: The candidate has in-depth knowledge of scientific theories and methods connected to the subject area. The candidate can apply this knowledge to new areas within the subject area and analyse technical issues based on the history, tradition, distinct nature, and societal importance of the subject area.

K3: The candidate can apply this knowledge to develop, manage and implement petroleum engineering solutions within the oil and gas sector.

Skills

S1: The candidate can analyse existing theories, methods and interpretations within petroleum engineering, and work on practical and theoretical issues independently.

S2: The candidate can independently carry out a specialised research or development project within petroleum engineering under supervision and in line with current ethical norms of research.

S3: The candidate can solve petroleum engineering problems by integrating different types of data used in the oil industry.

S4: The candidate can use state-of-the art technology and manage, develop and carry out processes within petroleum engineering.

General Competence

G1: The candidate can analyse relevant, professional, research and ethical issues.

G2: The candidate can apply her/his own knowledge and skills to new areas to carry out advanced assignments and projects.

G3: The candidate can communicate information relating to independent work to other petroleum engineers. The candidate has an excellent command of the terminology related to the subject area.

G4: The candidate can communicate, not just with other petroleum engineers, but also with the general public on professional issues within the subject area, thus contributing to the innovation process with new ideas.

Career prospects

The master's programme in Petroleum Engineering educates highly qualified engineers for a wide range of jobs in the oil and gas industry. This is an international industry, and master students in petroleum engineering will have many opportunities on the international jobs market after completing their degrees

The general goal of the programme is to provide the candidate with a broad knowledge base to help manage the world`s petroleum resources in the most profitable and sustainable way.

A Master’s degree in Petroleum Engineering gives a solid foundation for admission to PhD studies in the areas relevant to the chosen academic specialisation. In particular, the PhD studies in energy engineering and geoscience are relevant.

Course assessment

Schemes for quality assurance and evaluation of studies are stipulated in Quality System for Education.

Study plan and courses

  • Compulsory courses

    • PETMAS: Master Thesis in Petroleum Engineering

      Year 2, semester 3

      Master Thesis in Petroleum Engineering (PETMAS)

      Study points: 30

  • 3rd semester at UiS or Exchange Studies

    • Courses at UiS 3rd semester

      • Recommended electives 3rd semester

        • PET640: Advanced Energy Conversion Technologies

          Year 2, semester 3

          Advanced Energy Conversion Technologies (PET640)

          Study points: 10

        • PET675: Well Integrity and Permanent P and A

          Year 2, semester 3

          Well Integrity and Permanent P and A (PET675)

          Study points: 10

        • PET685: Economics and Decision Analysis for Engineers

          Year 2, semester 3

          Economics and Decision Analysis for Engineers (PET685)

          Study points: 10

        • PET690: Well Completion and Intervention

          Year 2, semester 3

          Well Completion and Intervention (PET690)

          Study points: 10

      • Other electives 3rd semester

        • MLJ560: Oilfield Chemistry

          Year 2, semester 3

          Oilfield Chemistry (MLJ560)

          Study points: 10

        • PET515: Energy, Energy Technologies, and Energy System Integration

          Year 2, semester 3

          Energy, Energy Technologies, and Energy System Integration (PET515)

          Study points: 10

        • PET695: Practical Training in Petroleum Engineering

          Year 2, semester 3

          Practical Training in Petroleum Engineering (PET695)

          Study points: 10

    • Exchange 3rd semester

  • Compulsory courses

    • GEO502: Reservoir Physics and Chemistry

      Year 1, semester 1

      Reservoir Physics and Chemistry (GEO502)

      Study points: 10

    • PET505: Directional Drilling and Well Flow Engineering

      Year 1, semester 1

      Directional Drilling and Well Flow Engineering (PET505)

      Study points: 10

    • PET510: Computational Reservoir and Well Modeling

      Year 1, semester 1

      Computational Reservoir and Well Modeling (PET510)

      Study points: 10

    • PETMAS: Master Thesis in Petroleum Engineering

      Year 2, semester 3

      Master Thesis in Petroleum Engineering (PETMAS)

      Study points: 30

  • Choose one course

    • IND520: Decision Analysis in Excel

      Year 1, semester 2

      Decision Analysis in Excel (IND520)

      Study points: 10

    • IND550: Project Cost Estimation and Risk Analysis

      Year 1, semester 2

      Project Cost Estimation and Risk Analysis (IND550)

      Study points: 10

    • RIS525: Risk Assessment, Economic Evaluation and Decisions

      Year 1, semester 2

      Risk Assessment, Economic Evaluation and Decisions (RIS525)

      Study points: 10

  • Recommended Electives 2nd semester

    • PET555: Process Simulation

      Year 1, semester 2

      Process Simulation (PET555)

      Study points: 10

    • PET575: Modeling and Control for Automation Processes

      Year 1, semester 2

      Modeling and Control for Automation Processes (PET575)

      Study points: 10

    • PET580: Advanced Well and Drilling Engineering

      Year 1, semester 2

      Advanced Well and Drilling Engineering (PET580)

      Study points: 10

  • Other electives 2nd semester

    • MOD600: Data-driven Modeling of Conservation Laws

      Year 1, semester 2

      Data-driven Modeling of Conservation Laws (MOD600)

      Study points: 10

    • PET615: Catalysis for Energy Conversion

      Year 1, semester 2

      Catalysis for Energy Conversion (PET615)

      Study points: 10

  • 3rd semester at UiS or Exchange Studies

    • Courses at UiS 3rd semester

      • Recommended electives 3rd semester

        • PET515: Energy, Energy Technologies, and Energy System Integration

          Year 2, semester 3

          Energy, Energy Technologies, and Energy System Integration (PET515)

          Study points: 10

        • PET640: Advanced Energy Conversion Technologies

          Year 2, semester 3

          Advanced Energy Conversion Technologies (PET640)

          Study points: 10

        • PET675: Well Integrity and Permanent P and A

          Year 2, semester 3

          Well Integrity and Permanent P and A (PET675)

          Study points: 10

        • PET690: Well Completion and Intervention

          Year 2, semester 3

          Well Completion and Intervention (PET690)

          Study points: 10

      • Other electives 3rd semester

        • MLJ560: Oilfield Prod Chem

          Year 2, semester 3

          Oilfield Prod Chem (MLJ560)

          Study points: 10

        • PET695: Practical Training in Petroleum Engineering

          Year 2, semester 3

          Practical Training in Petroleum Engineering (PET695)

          Study points: 10

    • Exchange 3rd semester

Student exchange

Study abroad

Schedule for the exchange

The 3rd semester of the master's programme in petroleum engineering is prepared for students exchanges by offering 30 ECTS of electives. The courses taken abroad must however be relevant to the master's programme, and must be approved by the department. It is also important that the courses from abroad do not overlap with courses already taken.

More opportunities

In addition to the recommended universities listed below, The University of Stavanger has several agreements with universities outside Europe that are applicable to all students at The University of Stavanger, provided that they find a relevant course offering. Within the Nordic region and the Baltics, all students can use the Nordlys and Nordtek networks.

Find out more.

Contact person

Supervision and pre-approval of courses:

Karina Sanni

General questions about exchange:

Go to the exchange guide in the Digital Service Desk

Student exchange

  • All countries

    Colorado School of Mines

    Colorado School of Mines (CSM) er et offentlig universitet kjent verden over for sin gode ingeniørutdannelse.

    Politecnico di Milano University

    Politecnico di Milano er Italias største tekniske universitet med om lag 40.000 studenter og er høyt rangert på en rekke internasjonale rankinglister.

    Technical University of Clausthal

    Clausthal University of Technology (CUT) er et internasjonalt universitet med sterke tradisjoner for kvalitetsutdanning og tette bånd til næringslivet. Det ligger i fjellområdet Harz, et typisk turiststed for friluftsliv og vintersport.

    The University of Adelaide

    Universitetet ligger i Adelaide, Australias femte største by. Med sine 1.2 millioner innbyggere er Adelaide en trygg, kosmopolitisk by som er betraktelig rimeligere å bo i enn flere sammenlignbare byer i landet. Universitetet er medlem av Group of Eight, en koalisjon av de åtte ledende universitetene i Australia.

    The University of Western Australia

    University of Western Australia (UWA) er et av de ledende universitetene i Australia som medlem av den såkalte Group of Eight, og rangert blant de 100 beste universitetene i verden. Et opphold ved dette universitetet vil sikre deg et godt faglig utbytte.

    University of Houston

    Houston ligger i den amerikanske delstaten Texas, og er kjent som verdens energihovedstad. Byen er også et finans- og oljesentrum i USA.

    University of Leoben

    I Leoben er det gode muligheter for å kombinerer studier, fjellturer og kultur!

    University of North Dakota

    University of North Dakota er et offentlig forskningsuniversitet med historie tilbake til 1883. Universitetet er kjent for sin forskning innen luftfart, helsefag, ernæring, energi og miljø og ingeniørfag. I tillegg får du ekte nordamerikansk campus-stemning.

  • Australia

    The University of Adelaide

    Universitetet ligger i Adelaide, Australias femte største by. Med sine 1.2 millioner innbyggere er Adelaide en trygg, kosmopolitisk by som er betraktelig rimeligere å bo i enn flere sammenlignbare byer i landet. Universitetet er medlem av Group of Eight, en koalisjon av de åtte ledende universitetene i Australia.

    The University of Western Australia

    University of Western Australia (UWA) er et av de ledende universitetene i Australia som medlem av den såkalte Group of Eight, og rangert blant de 100 beste universitetene i verden. Et opphold ved dette universitetet vil sikre deg et godt faglig utbytte.

  • Italia

    Politecnico di Milano University

    Politecnico di Milano er Italias største tekniske universitet med om lag 40.000 studenter og er høyt rangert på en rekke internasjonale rankinglister.

  • Tyskland

    Technical University of Clausthal

    Clausthal University of Technology (CUT) er et internasjonalt universitet med sterke tradisjoner for kvalitetsutdanning og tette bånd til næringslivet. Det ligger i fjellområdet Harz, et typisk turiststed for friluftsliv og vintersport.

  • USA

    Colorado School of Mines

    Colorado School of Mines (CSM) er et offentlig universitet kjent verden over for sin gode ingeniørutdannelse.

    University of Houston

    Houston ligger i den amerikanske delstaten Texas, og er kjent som verdens energihovedstad. Byen er også et finans- og oljesentrum i USA.

    University of North Dakota

    University of North Dakota er et offentlig forskningsuniversitet med historie tilbake til 1883. Universitetet er kjent for sin forskning innen luftfart, helsefag, ernæring, energi og miljø og ingeniørfag. I tillegg får du ekte nordamerikansk campus-stemning.

  • Østerrike

    University of Leoben

    I Leoben er det gode muligheter for å kombinerer studier, fjellturer og kultur!

Admission requirements

A bachelor's degree within the following disciplines is required:
- Energy- and Petroleum Engineering
- Geosciences with at least 20 ECTS credits in energy- and petroleum engineering courses

Applicants with a bachelor’s degree in other engineering disciplines may also be considered if they document at least 20 ECTS credits in energy- and petroleum engineering courses

Applicants must have the equivalent of 25 ECTS credits in mathematics, 5 ECTS credits in statistics and 7,5 ECTS credits in Physics.

Admission to this master's programme requires a minimum grade average comparable to a Norwegian C (according to ECTS Standards) in your bachelor's degree. Applicants with a result Second-class lower Division or lower are not qualified for admission.

Contact information

Contact us:

Faculty of Science and Technology, tel: +47 51 83 17 00, Email: post-tn@uis.no

Study Adviser: Karina Sanni