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ScienceEngineering & Technology

Petroleum Engineer

Petroleum engineers design and oversee the extraction of crude oil and natural gas from reservoirs beneath the earth. In India, they work with organisations like ONGC, Oil India, and multinational E&P companies on onshore and offshore projects. The field combines geology, thermodynamics, and drilling technology to optimise production while managing environmental and safety risks.

Salary range
₹7–45 LPA
Job growth
medium
Work type
Field
Paths to entry
4 routes

Actions for your grade

  • Score well in board exams, prioritising PCM (Physics, Chemistry, Maths).
  • Research IIT (ISM) Dhanbad and RGIPT Rae Bareli to understand the best Indian programmes.
  • Start following ONGC and Oil India news to understand the industry landscape.

Your complete path from Grade 10 to Petroleum Engineer

Every step you need — from now to your first job.

IIT / NIT via JEE
Science

IIT (ISM) Dhanbad has India's most established Petroleum Engineering department.

  1. Now
    Science Stream
  2. Exams
    JEE Main or JEE Advanced
  3. Degree
    B.Tech in Petroleum Engineering (4 years)
  4. Colleges
    IIT Dhanbad Ism · IIT Madras · IIT Bombay
  5. Career
    Petroleum Engineer
BITS Pilani via BITSAT
Science

No dedicated Petroleum programme; Chemical Engineering with relevant electives is the closest route.

  1. Now
    Science Stream
  2. Exams
    BITSAT
  3. Degree
    B.E. in Chemical Engineering + minor in Petroleum (4 years)
  4. Colleges
    BITS Pilani · BITS Goa · BITS Hyderabad
  5. Career
    Petroleum Engineer
State universities via MHT-CET / CUET
Science

RGIPT Rae Bareli is a premier central government institute specialising in petroleum studies.

  1. Now
    Science Stream
  2. Exams
    MHT CET or CUET UG
  3. Degree
    B.Tech in Petroleum / Chemical Engineering (4 years)
  4. Colleges
    Upes Dehradun · Mumbai University · Rajiv Gandhi Institute Petroleum Technology Rae Bareli
  5. Career
    Petroleum Engineer
Postgraduate specialisation via GATE
Science

GATE Petroleum Engineering (PE) paper gives direct admission to M.Tech programmes with MHRD stipend.

  1. Now
    Science Stream
  2. Exams
  3. Degree
    M.Tech in Petroleum Engineering (2 years) after any engineering UG
  4. Colleges
    IIT Dhanbad Ism · IIT Madras · Rgipt Rae Bareli
  5. Career
    Petroleum Engineer

Entrance exams

ExamEligibilityDifficultyWindow
JEE Main
NTA
Class 12 PCMVery HardJan & Apr
JEE Advanced
IIT (rotating)
JEE Main top 2.5LVery HardMay
BITSAT
BITS Pilani
Class 12 PCM, 75%+HardMay-Jun
MHT CET
Maharashtra State CET Cell
Class 12 PCM (Maharashtra domicile preferred)MediumApr-May
CUET UG
NTA
Class 12 (any stream)MediumMay-Jun

Where to Study

Institutes known to offer this career pathway in India.

IIT Dhanbad Ism
IIT Madras
IIT Madras
Central GovtChennai, Tamil Nadu
JEE Advanced + JoSAAIISER Aptitude Test
IIT Bombay
IIT Bombay
Central GovtMumbai, Maharashtra
JEE Advanced + JoSAA
NIT Trichy
NIT Tiruchirappalli
Central GovtTiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu
JEE Main + JoSAA
NIT Surathkal
BITS Pilani
BITS Pilani
Deemed UniversityPilani, Rajasthan
BITSAT
BITS Goa
BITS Hyderabad
BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus
Deemed UniversityHyderabad, Telangana
BITSAT
Upes Dehradun
Mumbai University
Rajiv Gandhi Institute Petroleum Technology Rae Bareli
Rgipt Rae Bareli
Recommendations only — verify eligibility, seat availability, and admission rules from official portals before applying.