Graduate Program

Graduate student and advisor mull experiment results

Be an Energy Leader. Be a Longhorn.

The University of Texas at Austin’s top-ranked petroleum engineering graduate program is a strong and influential community that is dedicated to changing the world — 150+ students, $20 million secured in research funding this year alone, and 1,500+ alumni with graduate degrees.

UT PGE graduate students tackle the earth’s complex resource challenges and are leading the way to a sustainable and equitable energy future through cutting-edge research in subsurface engineering fields, from traditional oil and gas to geothermal energy, carbon capture and storage, hydrogen storage, AI/data analytics, rare earth minerals recovery, methane emissions mitigation, and more.

UT PGE’s education and research enables students to make an impact on society by finding solutions to our greatest energy challenges. Our internationally recognized tradition of excellence stems from:

  • Robust curriculum
  • Exceptional faculty
  • Unmatched, innovative research

UT PGE offers the following graduate programs: 

  • MS Program
  • PhD Program

Both the MS and PhD programs are housed on the UT Austin campus.

In the classroom, students will receive a robust education from world-class professors who have literally written the books on petroleum engineering. Graduate students conduct research in state-of-the-art facilities that provide unique capabilities in a variety of areas including big data, production logging, vertical and inclined flow in wells, artificial lift, core flooding for enhanced oil recovery, subsurface environmental remediation, drilling, rock mechanics, well log digitizing and interpretation, PVT analysis, and more.

Since many energy companies conduct worldwide operations, petroleum engineers may have the opportunity to work on assignments around the globe. Petroleum engineers must solve a variety of technological, political and economic problems encountered in these assignments. Together, these exciting challenges offer a petroleum engineer a most rewarding career.

We invite you to become part of our diverse community recognized internationally for its bold, innovative spirit. Define your future as you pursue your professional passions, explore new interests and re-evaluate long-held industry ideas — all while redefining what's possible.

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