Become a professional petroleum data manager, studying online in your spare time.
You can also study this degree full-time on campus.
If you’re a data manager working in the petroleum industry or want to make the move into this sector, MSc Petroleum Data Management is designed for you.
Study the vital data management skills demanded of petroleum data managers. Gain the job-ready expertise you need to move into advanced data management roles around the world.
You’ll learn to manage the physical and digital data used across the oil and gas industry, to understand and evaluate the subsurface and petroleum reserves located there. Areas you’ll cover include:
- data governance
- data quality management
- information security management
- legal aspects related to data entitlements and obligations
- service and project management.
Industry collaboration
This online degree was designed in partnership with:
- Shell
- Total
- Chevron
- Common Data Access (CDA), a not-for-profit subsidiary of Oil & Gas UK.
This collaboration ensures your MSc delivers sought-after skills and prepares you to make a real difference in industry.
What will I study?
You can choose to study for a:
- Masters (180 credits)
- or start with one of the short courses that make up this degree (typically 15 credits).
How will I study?
MSc Petroleum Data Management is delivered part-time, 100% online.
Your teaching is delivered through MyAberdeen, our online Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). It holds all the materials, tools and support you’ll need in your studies. Take a look around MyAberdeen.
You can access your learning materials on computer, smartphone and laptop, 24 hours a day. You’ll find a range of resources at your fingertips, including online access to our award-winning Sir Duncan Rice Library.
Your tutors
You’ll learn from internationally experienced academics from our departments of Law, Engineering, Business, Geography, Geology, and Computing Science.
Assessments
This degree is assessed entirely online.
Your support team
Our friendly team are here to answer any queries you have before, during and after your studies.

Dr Colin North
Colin is the degree coordinator. He’ll be on hand to answer any questions about degree content before you start and to help you throughout your studies.

Daniela van Heerden
Daniela is part of the School’s support team. She’ll be there throughout your studies to answer any of your non-academic queries.

Nicola Brand
Nicola heads our Online Learning support team. If you have any questions right now about this degree or studying online, get in touch with Nicola.
Ask Nicola a questionWhere will this take me?
Careers
You’ll graduate from this Masters degree prepared for advanced data management roles within the oil industry.
The content of your degree has been designed in collaboration with major industry organisations to answer the specific skills shortages they face in this area.

George Rorie, Operational Lead for Technical Data Management, ShellWe are delighted to support the development of the Petroleum Data Management MSc from Aberdeen University. Shell recognises technical information and data as a discipline within our company, and we play an active role in promoting the professionalisation of these skills across the industry. Courses such as this provide a strong academic foundation for the data management professionals that we need today and in the future.
Fees and funding
The fee quoted above is based on you starting your studies with us in the 2020/21 academic year.
We have confirmed that our fees will rise by 5% per year for the next two academic years (2021/22, and 2022/23). The indicative fee above includes these 5% fee rises.

Pay as you go
Don’t worry, you do not have to pay the full degree fee upfront.
You can pay for your degree one term at a time. This gives you a flexible way to spread the cost.
Entry requirements
MSc
- A 2:1 (upper-second) UK honours degree (or equivalent) in a science discipline.
You can also apply if you have:
- a 2:2 UK honours degree (or equivalent) in a science discipline and at least two years’ relevant professional experience. Please include an employer reference letter in this case.
- other qualifications and can demonstrate at least three years’ experience within data management in the petroleum industry. Please include an employer reference letter in this case.
These are our minimum entry requirements. They are given as a guide and do not guarantee entry.
Master of Science - 180 Credits
You’ll work through eight 15-credit courses and a 60-credit project to gain your MSc.
Our online degrees are flexible, so you can progress at a pace that suits you.
Duration
It takes a minimum of 27 months to complete the MSc. You can take a maximum of 30 credits per term. You can take one or two courses at a time, and take study breaks between courses, as long as you complete your studies within six years.
We will endeavour to make all these courses available, but they are subject to change. Read our policy on changes to degree programmes and courses.
Master of Science
180 Credits
Indicative cost
£12,900
This indicative cost is calculated on the basis of 180 credits of study over 3 years.
Apply for this programme
- Start month
- September
- INDICATIVE COST
- £12,900
This indicative cost is calculated on the basis of 180 credits of study over 3 years.
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