Overview
Learn all aspects of the upstream petroleum industry, including exploration and economic analysis, to prepare for a career in areas like gas process engineering and facilities design.
The Bachelor of Applied Technology Petroleum Engineering program is designed for students who have completed technical degrees or diplomas and wish to receive training for a career in the petroleum industry.
Our courses provide detailed training in specialized fields such as oil and gas exploration, drilling, reservoir and production engineering, oil and gas facilities design and operation, upgrading and refining operations, and economic analysis.
Students can choose which courses best suit their interests and needs in order to personalize their training.
Accreditation
This degree does not currently provide graduates with the requirements to register as a professional engineer. The program is designed to provide in-depth applicable training allowing graduates to function as highly skilled members of an engineering team working in one of the areas outlined above.
Credential
After successfully completing the program, graduates will receive a SAIT Bachelor of Applied Technology Engineering degree.
Learn more about our energy and environmental programs
Career opportunities
Graduates can pursue job opportunities in:
- oil and gas exploration
- drilling
- reservoir and production engineering
- gas process engineering
- upgrading and refining operations
Related careers include:
- oil and gas facilities design and operation
- economic analyst
Tuition and fees
Estimated cost per year:
Domestic total 2023/24
- Year 3: $8,725
- Year 4: $3,156.92
International total 2023/24
- Year 3: $25,173.67
- Year 4: $7,860.74
Final costs are dependent on the number of courses a student takes per semester.
Requirements
You will be offered admission to this program through direct entry if you meet the admission requirements and space is available.
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Admission requirements
Program requirements
- A two-year SAIT diploma with a grade point average of 2.5 or better in,
- Petroleum Engineering Technology,
- Chemical Engineering Technology,
- Mechanical Engineering Technology,
- Instrumentation Engineering Technology,
- Civil Engineering Technology,
- Electrical Engineering Technology,
- or similar engineering technology program
- University graduates holding relevant science (mathematics, physics, chemistry, geology, or geophysics) or engineering degrees are accepted. Additional courses may be required before starting the program. Applicants with other qualifications may be considered upon submission of certified background information.
- A transcript of marks for all post-secondary courses or programs is required for all applicants and must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar at the time of application. Foreign documents need to be assessed by either World Education Services (WES) or international document assessment. Registration in a Canadian Professional Engineering or a Certified Technologist organization can be substituted for the WES or SAIT assessments, subject to academic chair approval.
All applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency prior to admission, including students educated in Canada.
SAIT accepts high school course equivalents for admission. If you don't meet the requirements, consider Academic Upgrading.
SAIT evaluates international documents for admissions. After you've applied, consider our international document assessment service if your education is from outside of Canada. SAIT may also accept courses completed at certain international post-secondary institutions.
When should you apply?
Visit our Apply page to see when applications open and close for upcoming semesters.
To see which semesters this program has intakes for, look at the Available Intakes information at the top of this page.
Direct entry: four-step process
Step 1: Read the program information to see the qualities needed for student success.
Step 2: Ensure that you meet all of the admission requirements listed above.
Step 3: Apply to the program and submit your transcripts.
Admission will be extended on a first-qualified, first-offered basis until the program is full.
Step 4: Continue to monitor your application status through mySAIT.ca.
You must submit final transcripts/grades to show you have completed the courses and met the minimum admission requirements by the transcript deadline or your seat will be rescinded.
Program completion
- Students in applied degree programs have seven years to complete the credential requirements.
- The time limitation begins on the date the student starts the first course in the credential.
- For more information, refer to AC 3.1.1 - Grading and Progression Procedure.
This program meets the eligibility criteria for the Post-Graduation Work Permit program for international students as long as the student is enrolled in the on-campus delivery mode or completes more than 50% of the courses on campus (for the blended option). International students attending all classes online will NOT be eligible for a Post-Graduate Work Permit. International students are responsible for maintaining their eligibility throughout their studies.
Communication during admission
Email is the primary source of communication during the selection process. Ensure your personal email account is managed appropriately to receive our emails, files and communications. We recommend you add the macphail.students@sait.ca domain to your safe senders' list or you risk missing critical email messages.
When do classes start?
Classes for this program adhere to the following year start and end dates based on the semester the student begins their program.
| Classes begin | Year start date | Year-end date |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 2022 | Sept. 6, 2022 | April 28, 2023 |
| Winter 2023 | Jan. 9, 2023 | April 28, 2023 |
| Fall 2023 | Sept. 5, 2023 | April 26, 2024 |
Courses
Program update
This program is currently under review and is subject to change for the upcoming academic year. Please check back for updated information.
Program outline
Looking for course descriptions and requisites? Visit the course catalogue
Open Studies courses available
Some courses in this program are available through Open Studies.
Open Studies is a great way to explore a certain subject before diving into the full program. See what courses are offered by finding this program on the Open Studies courses tab.
General requirements
Required core courses (select all)
| Course code | Course name | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| CHEN-402 | Fluid Phase Behaviour | 1.5 |
| COMM-405 | Industrial Communications | 3.0 |
| DRLG-412 | Drilling | 1.5 |
| ECON-404 | Petroleum Economics | 1.5 |
| GEOL-410 | Petroleum Geology | 1.5 |
| PTPR-412 | Production Operations Engineering | 1.5 |
| RESR-412 | Reservoir | 1.5 |
| Total credits | 12 |
| Course code | Course name | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| MATH-403 | Intermediate Engineering Mathematics | 1.5 |
| THRM-405 | Fundamentals of Engineering | 1.5 |
| Total credits | 3.0 |
Core elective courses (select three to six credits)
| Course code | Course name | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| ADMN-411 | Team Skills | 1.5 |
| BFIN-430 | Financial Control, Budgets, and Planning | 1.5 |
| PROJ-421 | Project Management | 1.5 |
| SAFE-412 | Safety in the Petroleum Industry | 1.5 |
| Total credits | 6.0 |
Additional courses (select remaining courses, 9 credit minimum to reach 27 credits total)
All courses except for ENVS 470, EVAL 464, PETR 409, PTPR 465, PROP 425, RESR 424, and RESR 473 are offered in the fall and winter semesters, although seat availability for some can be limited by demand.
The courses ENVS 470, EVAL 464, PETR 409, PTPR 465, PROP 425, RESR 424, and RESR 473 are only offered in the winter semester.
| Course code | Course name | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| CHEN-405 | Process Engineering | 3.0 |
| CNTR-405 | Instrumentation and Process Control | 1.5 |
| ENVS-402 | Environmental Considerations | 1.5 |
| PETR-409 | Refining and Petrochemical Technology | 1.5 |
| PTPR-470 | Well Completions, Stimulations, and Workovers | 3.0 |
| CHEN-465 | Process Design Using Computers | 3.0 |
| DRLG-451 | Drilling Technology - Advanced | 3.0 |
| ENVS-470 | Advanced Environmental Considerations | 1.5 |
| EVAL-402 | Well Logging | 1.5 |
| EVAL-464 | Evaluation of Oil and Gas Projects | 1.5 |
| PETR-461 | Advanced Exploration Technology | 3.0 |
| PTPR-465 | Advanced Production Engineering | 1.5 |
| PROP-425 | Gas Process Engineering - Advanced | 3.0 |
| RESR-425 | Reservoir Simulation | 3.0 |
| RESR-424 | Advanced Reservoir Engineering | 1.5 |
| RESR-464 | Heavy Oil Recovery | 1.5 |
| RESR-473 | Oilsands Mining and Processing | 1.5 |
Required work experience
At least 750 hours of work experience in a paid position in the petroleum industry. Students are responsible for finding this position, but a SAIT Advisor will facilitate this as much as possible.
| Course code | Course name | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| PRAC-400 | Practicum I for BAPT | 15.0 |
| PRAC-410 | Practicum Project for BAPT | 15.0 |
| Total credits | 30.0 |
Progression
Students must attain a PGPA and/or a CGPA of 2.0 or better in each semester and pass the necessary prerequisite courses to progress through the program. To qualify for graduation, students must pass all courses, attain a CGPA of 2.0 or better and complete course requirements within the prescribed timelines.
Review our grading and progression procedure >
Transfer options
The opportunity to advance your education by transferring in, within or on from SAIT is available.
Learn more about program and institution partnership agreements.
Costs 2022/23
Domestic tuition and fees
Cost per credit: $251
| Year | Number of semesters | Tuition fees | SAIT fees | Saitsa fees* | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | $6,777 | $916 | $553 | $8,246 |
| 4 | 2 | $1,806.18 | $916 | $553 | $2,955.18 |
International tuition and fees
Cost per credit: $840.59
| Year | Number of semesters | Tuition fees | SAIT fees | Saitsa fees* | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | $22,695.93 | $916 | $553 | $24,164.93 |
| 4 | 2 | $6,048.82 | $916 | $553 | $7,517.82 |
*Maximum fee. Actual fees may be less and are based on the number of credits a student takes per semester and whether they opt-out of health and dental benefits.
SAIT fees
- Campus athletic and recreation fee: $196
- Universal transit pass (Upass): $320
- Student support fee: $200
- Student technology fee: $200
Saitsa fees
Student Association fee
- Maximum: $291
This is the maximum amount the student will pay. Actual fees may be less and are based on the number of credits the students take per semester.
Health and dental fees
- Health plan: $127
- Dental plan: $135
Students with existing health and/or dental plans can opt-out. Please refer to Saitsa's website for information.
For more information on health and dental benefits for international students, please contact the International Centre.
Books and supplies*
Books and supplies are approximately $1,000 per full-time year.
For an estimate of the costs associated with purchasing a computer that meets the program's hardware and software requirements, see our computers and laptops page.
Learn more about tuition and financial aid.
*Tuition, fees, books and supply costs are subject to change.
Costs 2023/24
Tuition and fees
The following costs are effective as of July 1, 2023. They are an estimate of tuition and fees based on the recommended course load per year. *
Domestic students
| Year | Number of semesters | Tuition fees | SAIT fees | Saitsa fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | $7,155 | $948 | $622 | $8,725 |
| 4 | 2 | $1,906.92 | $628 | $622 | $3,156.92 |
International students
| Year | Number of semesters | Tuition fees | SAIT fees | Saitsa fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | $23,603.67 | $948 | $622 | $25,173.67 |
| 4 | 2 | $6,290.74 | $948 | $622 | $7,860.74 |
*For a detailed breakdown of tuition costs per course, visit the domestic and international fee tables.
Fees
Your fees are calculated based on the number of course credits you take per semester (approximately 16 weeks of study). In most cases, your fee is determined based on whether you're taking more or less than nine (9) course credits (more than nine credits in a semester are considered full-time studies.)
Fees are adjusted for programs with start dates outside of the typical 15-week program.
Learn more about what your fees are for
Fees are subject to change without notice.
| Fees | < 9 credits per semester | > 9 credits per semester |
| SAIT fees | ||
| Campus athletic and recreation | $51.50 | $103 |
| Student support fee | $52.75 | $105.50 |
| Student technology fee | $52.75 | $105.50 |
| UPass* | N/A | $160 |
| Total | $157 | $474 |
| Saitsa fees | ||
| Student association fee** | $16.22/credit | $146 |
| Health plan*** | N/A | $86 ($172 annually) |
| Dental plan*** | N/A | $79 ($158 annually) |
| Total | $311 maximum | $476 |
*Additional eligibility requirements apply for students to obtain a UPass. To check your eligibility, visit our Upass page.
**Saitsa fees are paid per credit to a maximum amount of $146 per semester.
***Health and dental fees are charged per semester to an annual maximum amount of $172 for health and $158 for dental. In most cases, program fees quoted are based on students paying for a full year of health and dental coverage. International students are charged these fees regardless of course load. Domestic students with existing health and/or dental plans can opt-out. Learn more at saitsa.com/benefits.
Books and supplies*
Books and supplies are approximately $1,000 per full-time year.
For an estimate of the costs associated with purchasing a computer that meets the program's hardware and software requirements, see our computers and laptops page.
Learn more about your tuition and financial aid options
*Tuition, fees, books and supply costs are subject to change.
Next steps for incoming students
Have you been accepted to this program? Here's what you'll need for your first day of classes.
Orientation
Program orientation for students beginning in Winter 2023 will take place on SAIT campus on Friday, Jan. 6. Look for ORNT 118 in your schedule in mySAIT for the time and exact location.*
You can also prepare by attending Big SAIT Welcome, online information sessions, international or Indigenous orientation, and completing the preparation courses below.
*If your orientation takes place on the first day of classes, you will not see a separate ORNT 118 in your schedule. Students registering in classes via open registration will need to enroll themselves in ORNT 118.
How to register for classes
Course registration opens on March 1 through March 15 for Spring 2023.
You’ll receive an email from us indicating what registration process you’ll use to enroll in your classes.
Learn more about how to register and the different registration methods used at SAIT.
Computers and laptops
This is a bring your own device program with a standard hardware and software requirement. See the specific requirements on our computers and laptops page.
Required personal protective equipment (PPE)
The industry-approved PPE you'll need will be discussed during your first few days of classes.
Preparation courses
To support your success, short courses are available to you to help prepare you for the academic year:
PERS 050: Student Rights and Responsibilities
This course is designed to introduce you to student rights and responsibilities at SAIT. You will learn about SAIT's rich and diverse community, become familiar with guidelines and procedures that create a safe, respectful learning experience for you, and gain practical tips for how you can engage in the SAIT community in a positive and responsible way. PRES-050 must be completed within 30 days from the start of the semester.
PREP 100: The SAIT Experience
Get tips and insider information on time management, exam preparation, effective notetaking and more through this free, online short course for new students. Plus, learn about discussion boards, online communication and submitting assignments online. Course completion is recommended by the end of your first semester.
Both courses can be accessed through Brightspace (D2L) before the first day of classes.
Students taking a full-time course load, or more than nine (9) credits per semester, will be automatically enrolled in these courses.
They are optional for students taking a part-time course load (9 or fewer credits per semester). Part-time students can register by emailing academic.coaching@sait.ca.
Required textbooks
Find your booklist on the SAIT Bookstore's website. The booklist will be available closer to the program start date.
Can’t find your program or course? The bookstore didn't receive a textbook list. Contact your program directly to determine if they’re still refining course details or if you're in luck, no textbook purchase required this term.
Contact
Phone: 403.284.8451
Email: macphail.students@sait.ca
Academic chair
Uwe Brandt, Academic Chair
Email: Uwe.Brandt@sait.ca
Next steps for all students
Here's what else you'll need to do to get ready!
Next steps for accepted students
Important dates and deadlines
Find important dates applicable to all students, including your transcript and tuition payment deadlines on our Important Dates page.
