Best Petroleum Engineering Universities in the World
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Best Petroleum Engineering Universities in the World

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Raj Vimal
Assistant Manager Editorial
Updated on Sep 17, 2025 11:11 IST
Exploration, extraction, production, and refinement of oil and gas resources are the focus of Petroleum Engineering. A career in 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, petroleum industry may grow by 8%. A growth in any sector of the econo
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 organisations.
Best Petroleum Engineering Universities in the World

Choosing the right university is important for Indian students who aspire to build a strong career in Petroleum Engineering. The demand for global energy is increasing day by day. Due to this, the demand for skilled engineers related to oil, gas, renewables, and emerging energy transitions is also increasing.

University of Texas at Austin, the University of Alberta and Texas A&M University are some of the best petroleum engineering universities in the world. These institutes not only offer quality education but also an internationally accepted degree. This article will be helpful for those Indian students who want to know about the top universities in the world for petroleum engineering. We have covered information like updated university rankings, admission requirements, salary insights, and career prospects tailored for Indian students.

Table of contents
  • Why Study Petroleum Engineering Abroad?
  • Best Petroleum Engineering Universities in the World
  • Best Petroleum Engineering Universities: Eligibility
  • Petroleum Engineering Jobs

Why Study Petroleum Engineering Abroad?

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 Labour Statistics, in May 2021, the median annual wage of a petroleum engineer stood at $130,850. Moreover, 1,700 new job openings 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):

University QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025: Engineering - Petroleum
University of Texas - Austin 1
University of Alberta 2
Texas A&M University 3
University of Adelaide 4
KFUPM, Saudi Arabia 5
Imperial College of London, UK 6
Khalifa University, UAE 7
Middle East Technical University, Turkiye 8
Universidade of Sao Paulo, Brazil 9
The University of Manchester, UK 10

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: Eligibility

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 on 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:

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  • 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 making 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.

Q:   How to prepare for UK 10th board exam 2026?
A:
  • Know the exam pattern.
  • Make a proper time table as per the syllabus.
  • Solve previous year question papers.
  • Make short notes of important formulas and theorems.
  • Revise regularly.
  • Figure out weaker areas and learn them well. 

With proper planning and hard work, students can easily clear the UK 10th board exam.

Q:   How can I get into the University of Lancashire from India?
A:

University of Lancashire accepts country-specific qualifications from overseas applicants. Indian candidates who wish to pursue their higher studies from the university, must meet the University of Lancashire admission requirements for Indian students listed below:

Undergraduate Requirements:

  • Higher secondary school certificate
  • Overall score of 60%  (80% for excellence scholarship)
  • 60% - 70% in Standard XII English (IELTS 6.0 equivalent)

Graduate Requirements:

  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in relevant field;
  • Overall score of 58% in bachelor's degree  (80% for excellence scholarship) or 55% in master's degree
  • 65% - 75% in Standard XII English (IELTS 6.5 equivalent)
Q:   What rank is Cardiff University in the UK?
A:

In the UK ranking, Cardiff University ranking is #27 according to The Complete University Guide 2025 and #46 as per The Guardian Rankings 2025. In other words, Cardiff University is one of the Top 50 Universities in the UK in 2025

Ranking Body

The Guardian

The Complete University Guide

2025

46

27

2024

29

21

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About the Author
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Written by
Raj Vimal
Assistant Manager Editorial
Hi, I am Raj. I help Indian students figure out study abroad without the confusion. For 8+ years, mostly in Ed-Tech, I have written about the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. I cover what peo Read Full Bio
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