Admissions Open • Year 2026/2027
PhD: Petroleum Engineering
PETRONAS built a university because it needed leaders who can challenge the standard. UTP is Malaysia’s top-ranked private university — discover hands-on engineering, science and computing programs tailored for industry 4.0.
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Level | Postgraduate (PhD) |
| Faculty | Petroleum Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering |
| Duration | 36–96 months FT / 48–120 PT |
| Intakes | January, May, September. |
| Accreditation (EAC/BEM, MQA ref) | R3/524/8/0017 (12/29); MQA Ref: A8317. EAC/BEM not listed |
| Tuition (Total, Malaysian) | RM12,200/yr Eng & Geoscience · RM8,600 Mgmt · RM8,000 IS (Jan 2020 figures, UPDATE) |
Who is this programme for?
For candidates with a Master's degree (or equivalent) in petroleum or a related engineering field who want to pursue advanced research in areas such as enhanced oil recovery, flow assurance, drilling optimisation, unconventional hydrocarbons, or carbon capture and storage.
What will I learn, year by year?
Semester 1 — Research Methodology and prerequisite programmes if needed (e.g. Fundamentals of Petroleum Exploration, Reservoir Engineering I).
Semester 2 — Research Proposal Defence. Semesters 3–4+ — research progress reviews and a completion seminar in your specialisation.
Final stage — thesis submission and Viva Voce.
Full-time: 3–8 years; part-time: 4–10 years.
Where do graduates work? Name employers and roles
Postdoctoral Researcher, Lecturer, Research Scientist, Consultant, Product Development Specialist, Innovation Specialist.
One thing that makes it different at UTP
Twelve specialisation areas spanning enhanced oil recovery, flow assurance, drilling optimisation, unconventional hydrocarbons, and carbon capture & storage, with Graduate Assistantship/Research Assistantship funding tied to supervisors' research grants.
The Research Behind It: Which area, centre and academics?
Twelve specialisation areas highlighted, incl. Enhanced Oil Recovery, Flow Assurance, Drilling Optimisation, Unconventional Hydrocarbon, Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS).
Cost & Funding: Which scholarships and aid apply to this programme?
UTP Graduate Assistantship (GA): for eligible full-time PhD research students; covers tuition and first-attempt Research Methodology and provides RM3,000/month stipend. GRA: for eligible full-time research students, with funding based on research grants. EPF withdrawal may also be available to eligible Malaysian research students.
Student life: What should an applicant to this programme know?
This is a research-intensive doctorate, not a taught programme. Students work independently with supervisors, undertake research, present progress, complete a research seminar and defend their thesis. English requirement for Engineering programmes is IELTS 5.0 or TOEFL 500, subject to stated exemptions.
Next Intake + Application Deadline
Intakes confirmed as Jan/May/Sept; no specific deadline date published — needs confirmation from Postgraduate Admissions. Application fee: RM50.
Placement or internship route for this programme
Not mentioned on the page (research degree, not internship-based). GA/GRA positions function as the main "attachment" route via supervisor research projects — confirm with Faculty if this should be framed as a placement route.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if my Master's isn't in petroleum engineering?
You may need prerequisite programmes such as Fundamentals of Petroleum Exploration and Reservoir Engineering.
What funding is available?
Graduate Assistantship and Graduate Research Assistantship, tied to supervisors’ research grants.
How is the programme structured?
Research Methodology → Proposal Defence → research progress/completion seminar → Viva Voce, across a minimum of 4 semesters.