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University of Adelaide

  • 28% international / 72% domestic

Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)(Petroleum)

  • Bachelor (Honours)

Want to travel the world and face new challenges every day?Petroleum engineering is one of the highest paid engineering fields internationally, with exciting opportunities for qualified graduates.Petroleum engineers help sustain society's way of life by ensuring we can meet our energy demands.

Key details

Degree Type
Bachelor (Honours)
Duration
4 years full-time
Course Code
334871, 082117G
Intake Months
Jul, Feb
International Fees
$51,000 per year / $204,000 total
ATAR
80

About this course

Be in global demand

Want to travel the world and face new challenges every day?

Petroleum engineering is one of the highest paid engineering fields internationally, with exciting opportunities for qualified graduates.

Petroleum engineers help sustain society's way of life by ensuring we can meet our energy demands. They provide oil and gas in efficient, safe, and environmentally responsible ways.

Study locations

North Terrace

North Terrace Campus

What you will learn

Our Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Petroleum) is developed and taught by industry-trained academics through the Australian School of Petroleum and Energy Resources. This is Australia and Southeast Asia's academic centre for petroleum research and education, and the only school of its kind in Australia. You will:

  • learn about petroleum engineering, petroleum geoscience and the oil industry
  • take courses in business and project management
  • develop technical knowledge and network with potential employers
  • undertake interactive projects and field trips
  • complete an eight-week practical experience.

In your final year you'll also carry out a major research project.

Career pathways

You'll graduate as an accredited engineer. You could work for a range of oil, gas and energy companies, or find a role in a government agency. You might take up reservoir drilling and production. Perhaps you'll be a geoscientist or take on managerial roles within the business.

This program is accredited by Engineers Australia.


Direct access to industry leaders and paid internship opportunities: The Academy by Deloitte
The Academy by Deloitte


  • Ranked #10 in the world for petroleum engineering^
  • Graduates qualify for professional membership with Engineers Australia
  • Showcase your work and network with future employers at Ingenuity

^QS World University Rankings, by subject, 2022






Course structure

The Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Petroleum) builds a strong foundation of mathematics, physics, geology, geophysics, computer applications and engineering principles. Over the course of the program, the subjects studied change from more general engineering topics to very specific petroleum-related topics. There is also a focus on management and business-related aspects. This integrated structure makes the petroleum engineering teaching curriculum unique.

In the first year, students study a range of engineering, mathematics and physics courses that are common to many branches of engineering. Students are also introduced to the petroleum industry and to the key geological, physical and chemical principles that govern recovery from petroleum reservoirs.

In the second and third year, these areas of study are developed with the addition of a broader range of petroleum engineering and geosciences topics. In fourth year, students expand their technical knowledge and develop business skills such as economic evaluation and project management as well as undertake a final year project.

Students are required to complete eight weeks of approved practical experience.

Program Learning Outcomes

The learning outcomes for this program were informed by the University of Adelaide Graduate Attributes, Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competencies and the characteristics of the Adelaide Engineering graduate.

Graduates of a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Petroleum) will be able to:

  1. Contribute to the design of creative, sustainable, economic and safe solutions, which satisfy the objectives of clients and stakeholders.
  2. Demonstrate a broad, theory-based understanding of the mathematical, natural and physical sciences underpinning engineering practice, and evaluate the differences between theoretical and applied system behaviour.
  3. Demonstrate a conceptual understanding of the computer and information sciences that underpin engineering practice.
  4. Demonstrate a substantial and contemporary body-of-knowledge of engineering methods, tools and processes for a specific discipline, complemented by relevant knowledge from related disciplines.
  5. Professionally and ethically conduct themselves and their work, respecting the communities and cultural norms within which that work is carried out.
  6. Communicate objectively and effectively, in written and oral forms, to lay and expert audiences.
  7. Apply critical and independent thinking to make sound judgements, based on evidence, theory and logical reasoning.
  8. Maintain and develop knowledge of advancements in engineering practice and research in the specific discipline, and apply this knowledge innovatively when devising solutions
  9. Be an effective, emotionally and culturally intelligent team member, with leadership potential.
  10. Apply a systems approach to managing and developing solutions to complex problems.

Graduate outcomes

Graduate satisfaction and employment outcomes for Engineering courses at University of Adelaide.
80.2%
Overall satisfaction
88.3%
Skill scale
73.9%
Teaching scale