MSc Petroleum Engineering

The MSc Petroleum Engineering at Heriot-Watt University is a course that prepares you to work in the international oil and gas industry. It is designed for students who have studied science, engineering, or another subject with strong maths skills and who want to learn more about energy production.

You will study important topics such as reservoir engineering, drilling, petroleum geology, production methods, well testing, and petroleum economics. You will also learn to use the same computer tools that professionals use in the industry and practise how to solve real problems related to oilfields.

By studying MSc Petroleum Engineering at Heriot-Watt University, you will build strong technical and practical skills. When you finish the course, you will be ready to work in oil and gas teams or apply your skills in areas such as carbon storage and underground energy.

Heriot-Watt University is a well-known and respected university in Scotland. It was started in 1821 and was first called the School of Arts of Edinburgh. It became a full university in 1966. The university is named after two important Scottish people – James Watt, who was an engineer and inventor, and George Heriot, who was a goldsmith and gave money to help others in the 1500s.

Heriot-Watt is known for teaching useful subjects such as Science, Engineering, Design, and Business. It also has one of the biggest business schools in Scotland, called Edinburgh Business School.

One great thing about Heriot-Watt is that students can choose how they want to study. You can go to the university’s campus or learn from your own country using their online learning system. This makes it easier for many students to get a good education.

Relevant work or project experience in a related field will be considered. Please include your CV with your application.

Grade Requirements:

• A minimum of a 2:2 honours degree (or equivalent from outside the UK) in an engineering subject or a physical or earth science discipline (such as physics, chemistry, maths, geology, or computing). 

English Proficiency: 

• For international students whose first language is not English, a level of proficiency in English is required. To show this, applicants must have an IELTS overall score of 6.0 (or equivalent) with no component below 5.5. 

For the 2025/26 intake, the tuition fee to study an MSc in Petroleum Engineering at Heriot-Watt University is £29,960. Note that fees are subject to change.

Heriot-Watt University welcomes talented and motivated students by offering different scholarships and financial support. One of these is the International Merit Scholarship, which provides a total of £500,000 in scholarships for international students who pay fees and start their studies in January or September 2025. This scholarship is usually given as a discount on your tuition fees for the first year. The amount of money you receive depends on your home country. It is available for both undergraduate and postgraduate students.

There is also the Postgrad Solutions Bursary, which is for students starting a postgraduate course in 2025. This bursary is worth £2,000 and is open to all postgraduate students, no matter what subject they are studying or how they choose to study. You can also use this bursary along with other scholarships or funding.

Graduates of an MSc in Petroleum Engineering from Heriot-Watt University are eligible for employment in roles such as the following: 

• Petroleum Engineer
• Petroleum Geologist 
• Reservoir Engineer
• Drilling Engineer
• Environmental Engineer
• Production Engineer

You can apply directly through the online application platform provided by the university. If you have any questions, please feel free to consult any of our experienced counsellors at AHZ.