BSc Petroleum Engineering (Fee Paying Programme)

Petroleum engineering focuses on finding and extracting oil and gas below the earth's surface. It is a practical engineering field that blends geology, physics, and chemistry with hands-on drilling and production work. If you enjoy science and want a career in the energy sector, this degree is worth considering.

What petroleum engineering covers

Programmes like this typically teach you how to locate underground oil and gas deposits, drill wells, and manage extraction safely and efficiently. You will study reservoir behaviour, drilling fluids, well design, and production technology, and also learn about economics and environmental protection. The skills you build include analytical thinking, project planning, and teamwork, all of which are valued across the engineering industry.

How hard it is to get a place

This is a fee-paying programme and entry is less competitive than similar degrees elsewhere. For example, the same subject at KNUST is highly competitive, but at UMaT you are competing for a place in a programme that accepts a wider range of SHS backgrounds. You need credits in any three of Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, or Geography, so you do not have to be a pure science student. This makes it a realistic option if your grades are average but you still want to study petroleum engineering.

Where this degree can take you

Graduates of petroleum engineering usually start work in the oil and gas industry, in roles such as drilling engineer, reservoir engineer, or production engineer. Employers include oil companies, service firms, and government agencies in Ghana and across West Africa. The degree also opens doors for further study and certification in energy engineering or project management.