Can I study the Master of Advanced Drilling Systems Engineering online or by distance learning?

The Master of Advanced Drilling Systems Engineering runs on-campus in central London, online and by distance learning; all three modes follow the same weekly seminar structure with named programme-tutor support.

Is the Master of Advanced Drilling Systems Engineering UK-recognised?

The Master of Advanced Drilling Systems Engineering sits at UK Level 7 postgraduate qualification level and is designed against UK sector practice. Content on the Master of Advanced Drilling Systems Engineering draws on Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) frameworks and Energy Institute (EI) guidance for advanced drilling systems engineering.

What are the entry requirements for the Master of Advanced Drilling Systems Engineering?

Applicants to the Master of Advanced Drilling Systems Engineering submit evidence of the required prior study, IELTS if applicable, references and a short statement of intent covering advanced drilling systems engineering. Full detail on the Master of Advanced Drilling Systems Engineering sits in the Entry Requirements section.

Master of Advanced Drilling Systems Engineering | LSOGM | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The Master of Advanced Drilling Systems Engineering is an UK Level 7 postgraduate qualification at the London School of Oil and Gas Management, delivered across on-campus, online and distance learning routes over 1 to 2 years. The programme develops research-informed senior practice capability in advanced drilling systems engineering, with syllabus content aligned to Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) and Energy Institute (EI) frameworks and grounded in deepwater and HPHT drilling campaigns operated by IADC contractors.

By the point of award, you will be closing with a dissertation, capstone or sponsor consulting project and stepping into senior technical, commercial or leadership roles. Every module builds toward evidenced competence in managed pressure drilling, automation of drilling systems and well control, with practice-based assessment rather than examination-heavy coursework.

Key Features

Syllabus benchmarked against Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) and Energy Institute (EI) standards for advanced drilling systems engineering.
Weekly seminar-led teaching with named programme-tutor support across all three study modes.
Focus on managed pressure drilling and automation of drilling systems, delivered through applied case work rather than passive lecture.
Assessment centred on real deliverables: drilling programmes, torque and drag models and MPD envelopes.
Guest sessions with practising engineers, HSE specialists and energy economists drawn from Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE).
Formal alignment with UK sector practice, including American Association of Drilling Engineers (AADE) frameworks where relevant to advanced drilling systems engineering.
Careers-service support with CV, portfolio and interview preparation targeted at Petroleum Engineering & Upstream Operations employers.

What You Will Learn

Interpret core concepts and terminology in advanced drilling systems engineering at research-informed senior practice level.
Produce drilling programmes that reflect UK sector practice for Petroleum Engineering & Upstream Operations.
Apply managed pressure drilling and automation of drilling systems to structured problems drawn from deepwater and HPHT drilling campaigns operated by IADC contractors.
Build torque and drag models and defend the underlying assumptions in a technical review.
Assess risk, safety and commercial implications of decisions in advanced drilling systems engineering.
Communicate technical findings clearly to non-specialist stakeholders and executive sponsors.
Interpret well control and HPHT wells within a live operating or commercial context.
Draft MPD envelopes and well-control contingency plans to a standard suitable for sign-off by a chartered supervisor.

Who This Course Is For

Graduates and senior professionals entering the oil, gas and energy sector for the first time.
Career changers from adjacent technical, engineering or commercial disciplines seeking a structured route into advanced drilling systems engineering.
Working professionals in the energy sector who need a UK-recognised Master in advanced drilling systems engineering to progress internally.
International applicants planning to work in UK or European oil, gas and energy operations.
Applicants using the Master of Advanced Drilling Systems Engineering as a stepping stone into further LSOGM study at the next level.

Career Pathways

Directional Drilling Specialist within petroleum engineering & upstream operations functions.
Reservoir Simulation Engineer within petroleum engineering & upstream operations functions.
Deepwater Well Engineer within petroleum engineering & upstream operations functions.
Enhanced Oil Recovery Specialist within petroleum engineering & upstream operations functions.
Petroleum Engineer within petroleum engineering & upstream operations functions.
Reservoir Engineer within petroleum engineering & upstream operations functions.

The LSOGM careers service supports graduates with sector-specific CV clinics, mock interviews and introductions to recruiting employers across the UK oil, gas and energy sector. Support continues after graduation for alumni working in advanced drilling systems engineering roles.

Entry Requirements

A UK Bachelor degree at 2:2 or above (or international equivalent) in a relevant discipline.
Relevant work experience considered in place of formal academic qualifications for senior applicants.
IELTS 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0) for non-native English speakers.
Two references, normally one academic and one personal or employer.
Personal statement covering your research or professional interests.

Why Study at LSOGM

The London School of Oil and Gas Management is a specialist division of Harold International College of London teaching in small, tutor-visible cohorts. LSOGM sits within reach of the City's energy trading floors, the offshore expertise of Aberdeen and the North Sea, and one of the world's densest concentrations of oil, gas and energy sector employers, professional bodies and standards organisations.

Every intake, on-campus, online or by distance learning, joins the same weekly seminar structure with named programme-tutor support. Three parallel study modes make LSOGM programmes accessible around work, family or shift patterns in the energy sector. Curricula are reviewed annually against live employer demand, faculty are practising engineers, HSE specialists and energy economists, and students leave with evidenced capability, from process safety audits to reservoir models to trading briefs. Learners on the Master of Advanced Drilling Systems Engineering benefit specifically from LSOGM positioning close to the City energy trading floors, the North Sea supply chain, and UK regulators and professional bodies working on advanced drilling systems engineering.

Apply for Master of Advanced Drilling Systems Engineering

Take the senior postgraduate track with LSOGM on the Master of Advanced Drilling Systems Engineering. Click Enrol Now. Admissions responds within one working day. Submit your application through the online portal with a short statement of intent covering your interest in advanced drilling systems engineering. Enrol Now.