Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)(Petroleum)

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.

What will you do?

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.

Where could it take you?

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
This degree gives you the opportunity to be part of our new The Academy by Deloitte You’ll be part of a supportive student cohort that learns from one another and industry leaders. Formal and informal experiences will allow you to build relationships within the Deloitte network.


  • 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

Entry Requirements

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Look out for any prerequisites or assumed knowledge subjects. Some degrees also have additional entry requirements like interviews and auditions.

Domestic applicants

Admissions information

SATAC Code 334871
2023 CSP ATAR 87.95
2023 CSP IB 33.5
Guaranteed Entry Score - ATAR 80
Guaranteed Entry Score - IB 29.5
Deferment Yes - 2 year
Intake February and July*
*Students commencing in July may have a slightly limited selection of courses.
Prerequisites SACE Stage 2: Mathematical Methods , Specialist Mathematics and Physics. IB: Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches (HL) and Physics (SL grade 4/ HL grade 3) MathTrackX is an online bridging program available as a recognised alternative to Mathematical Methods. Unsure if you will meet prerequisites or ATAR? Check out our Engineering Pathway.
Selection Criteria
Recent Secondary Education Applicants with recent secondary education are those whose admission is primarily based on the completion of Year 12 within the last two years, however if you completed your secondary education more than two years ago, you may still be able to be considered on the basis of your secondary schooling. You must not have completed more than 2 years full time equivalent university study (48 units). You compete for a place with your Selection Rank (ATAR plus any applicable adjustment factors). Applicants who have not achieved a competitive Selection Rank (ATAR plus any applicable adjustment factors) required for selection may be selected based on the grades in selected year 12 subjects. Applicants do not need to apply to be considered for subject-based entry, as this will automatically be done. For more information, please see: https://www.adelaide.edu.au/study/undergraduate/entry-pathways/recent-secondary-education/ Indigenous applicants may be eligible for entry through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Access Pathway. See Wirltu Yarlu for further information.
Higher Education Study You must have completed at least six months full time equivalent higher education study (the number of courses and units will vary depending on your prior institution however at the University of Adelaide, this equates to 4 courses / 12 units). A Grade Point Average (GPA) is calculated for each separate program you have undertaken (apart from some double degree programs where the GPA is combined). You compete on the basis of your best GPA. Indigenous applicants may be eligible for entry through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Access Pathway. See Wirltu Yarlu for further information.
Vocational Education and Training (VET) study You must have completed an AQF Certificate IV or above from a Registered Training Organisation. Your application will be ranked according to the level of the award. Indigenous applicants may be eligible for entry through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Access Pathway. See Wirltu Yarlu for further information.
Work and life experience To be eligible to sit the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) as as pathway for entry, you must be 18 years or over before 1 February 2024. If you have studied at higher education level in the last two years (for 2024 entry this means you were enrolled in either 2023 or 2022), you must not have accumulated more than a TOTAL of 2 years full-time (or part-time equivalent) higher education study (ie. including any study prior to 2022). If you meet this criteria, you will be ranked according to your result in the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT). Your STAT result is not weighted between verbal and quantitative components. Indigenous applicants may be eligible for entry through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Access Pathway. See Wirltu Yarlu for further information.
Other Entry Pathways

2023 Admissions Data for school leavers
ATAR
(raw ATAR, excluding any applicable adjustment factors)
Lowest ATAR to receive an offer <5
Median ATAR to receive an offer <5
Highest ATAR to receive an offer <5
Selection Rank
(ATAR plus any adjustment factors)
Lowest Selection Rank to receive an offer <5
Median Selection Rank to receive an offer <5
Highest Selection Rank to receive an offer <5
Minimum eligibility score 80
Additional criteria considered Selection rank only
  • Admissions Transparency Data
    Student Profile
    Applicant background Semester one/Full year intake 2023
    Number of students Percentage of all students
    (A) Higher Education study
    (includes a bridging or enabling course)
    <5 N/A
    (B) Vocational education and training (VET) study N/A N/A
    (C) Work and life experience
    (admitted on the basis of previous achievement not in the other three categories)
    N/A N/A
    (D) Recent secondary education:
    • Admitted solely on the basis of ATAR
      (regardless of whether this includes the consideration of adjustment factors)
    <5 N/A
    • Admitted where both ATAR and additional criteria were considered
      (e.g. portfolio, audition, extra test, early offer conditional on minimum ATAR)
    N/A N/A
    • Admitted on the basis of other criteria only and ATAR was not a factor
      (e.g. special consideration, audition alone, schools recommendation scheme with no minimum ATAR requirement)
    N/A N/A
    International students <5 N/A
    All students 5 100.0%

Ready to Apply?

Find out more about the application process and start your studies at the University of Adelaide.

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Fees and Scholarships

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Domestic applicants

Indicative annual tuition fees
Commonwealth-supported place: $8,415

Where the standard duration of the program is less than one year the full cost of the program is displayed.

More information on Student Contribution Amounts.

Scholarships

These scholarships, as well as many others funded by industry and non-profit organisations, are available to potential and currently enrolled students.

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Careers

Career Readiness

Direct access to industry leaders and paid internship opportunities: The Academy by Deloitte
Students who as part of their studies take part in The Academy by Deloitte experience will have the benefit of undertaking a paid internship with Deloitte. This internship is designed to shape their business readiness through significant real-world client exposure, access to multiple networking opportunities and relevant professional training.


The Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Petroleum) is delivered by experts with strong regional, national, and international industry links. This enables graduates to develop networks with potential employers throughout their degree, providing a valuable professional head start when embarking on highly-paid, exciting careers all over the world. From working in the field to the office, graduates can expect careers with oil, gas and energy companies, and government agencies in a diverse range of occupations. This includes roles such as: geoscientists; reservoir drilling and production engineers; managers; commercial analysts; and in business development roles. Graduates may also find employment in other industries requiring strong analytical, business, and communication skills.

The University of Adelaide Careers Service prepares, inspires and empowers students to achieve successful career transitions and connect with industry.

Industry Placement

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

Professional Accreditation

Graduates qualify for professional membership of Engineers Australia.

Potential careers

Graduates of this program have gone on to roles such as:

Natural Resource Manager;  Natural Resource Planner;  Oil and Gas Analyst;  Petrochemical Engineer;  Petroleum Engineer;  Petroleum Exploration;  Petroleum Manager;  Consultant;  Consultant Engineer;  Power Generation Engineer ...

Degree 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.

Academic Program Rules

The Calendar is a comprehensive handbook of the University's academic program rules.

Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Petroleum)

Example Study Plan

Core Courses
Students must complete all of the following:

Research Project
Students must complete all of the following:

Assessment

Assessment can vary from course to course and can include a combination of class work, tutorials, assignments, laboratory work, quizzes, project work and exams.

Testimonial

Working onsite you get to see what you have planned and designed in the office and how it works in the field.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.

Last updated: Friday, 23 Feb 2024