Program Overview

Chemical and Petroleum Engineering

The Chemical and Petroleum Engineering program at the University of Calgary is a thesis-based Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree. This program is designed for ambitious students looking to make their mark in the field by producing a significant original contribution to fundamental engineering knowledge.

Program Overview

The program is generally a requirement for a career in academia or government/industrial research. A PhD can also be a first step toward a chief scientific officer (CSO) position. Students are expected to grow their skills as they produce a significant original contribution to fundamental engineering knowledge.

Completing this Program

To complete this program, students must:

• Take courses (excluding Petroleum Engineering) on topics such as mass transfer, chemical reactor design, heat transfer, fluid mechanics, and more.
• Complete two professional development courses on communication styles, presentation skills, and more.
• Complete both oral and written candidacy exams.
• Take core courses in Petroleum Engineering, including Reservoir Simulation, Secondary and Tertiary Recovering, Thermal Recovery Methods, and more.
• Complete doctoral courses, such as Experimental Design and Error Analysis and Advanced Mathematical Methods in Engineering, prior to candidacy.
• Submit and defend an original research thesis.

Specializations

The program offers several specializations, including:

• Chemical Engineering
• Petroleum Engineering
• Biomedical Engineering
• Engineering, Energy and Environment (Interdisciplinary)
• Environmental Engineering (Interdisciplinary)
• Energy and Environmental Systems (Interdisciplinary)

Outcomes

Graduates of this program can pursue careers in various fields, including:

• Oil and gas
• Medicine
• Education
• Government sector
• Research and consulting
• Process engineer
• Petroleum reservoir engineer
• Petroleum production engineer
• Environmental engineer
• Software development
• Documentation for chemical process/petroleum reservoir simulation software
• Sales

Thesis-based Program

Students are required to prepare a thesis and successfully defend it in an open oral defense.

Courses

The program requires three to six courses, depending on the specialization.

Time Commitment

The program is designed to be completed in four years full-time, with a maximum of six years.

Supervisor

A supervisor is required, and must agree to oversee the student's research before admission will be granted.

Fees and Funding

Information on fees and funding can be found in the Graduate Calendar.

Admission Requirements

To be admitted to the program, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• A minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 point system, over the past two years of full-time study.
• An MSc degree or equivalent from a recognized institution.
• Two official copies of final official transcripts and degree certificates.
• A statement of interest (not mandatory).
• A CV (not mandatory).
• Two reference letters.
• English language proficiency (ELP) requirements, which can be fulfilled through various tests, such as TOEFL, IELTS, or Cambridge C1 Advanced.

Deadlines

The application deadlines are:

• For admission on September 1: July 15 for Canadians and permanent residents, and March 15 for international students.
• For admission on January 1: November 15 for Canadians and permanent residents, and July 15 for international students.
• For admission on May 1: March 15 for Canadians and permanent residents, and November 15 for international students.

Supervisors

The program has several supervisors available, including:

1. Roberto Aguilera
2. Jalel Azaiez
3. Anne Benneker
4. Matthew Clarke
5. Hector De la Hoz Siegler
6. Chima Justin Ezekiel
7. Josephine Hill
8. Ayodeji Jeje
9. Michael Kallos
10. Md Kibria

Each supervisor has their own research interests and areas of expertise.

Related Programs

The University of Calgary offers several related programs, including:

• Chemical and Petroleum Engineering (Thesis-based MEng, Course-based MEng, Course-based MEng in Petroleum only, Course-based MSc)
• Biomedical Engineering (Thesis-based MEng, Thesis-based MSc, Thesis-based PhD)
• Chemistry (Thesis-based MSc, PhD)
• Geoscience (Thesis-based MSc, Course-based MSc, PhD)
• Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering (Course-based MEng, Thesis-based MEng, Thesis-based MSc, PhD)
• Sustainable Energy Development (Course-based MSc)