MSc in Petroleum Engineering

Petroleum engineering is the field of engineering that deals with the exploration, extraction, and production of oil and natural gas. Petroleum engineers are responsible for producing hydrocarbon resources from oil and gas reservoirs.

A petroleum engineer chooses the best method for drilling and extracting oil and natural gas from a certain well. They keep an eye on drilling operations and fix any operational issues. They also decide how to stimulate an underperforming well and devise new strategies for recovering any leftover oil and gas from existing wells.

As part of the NU family, I had the chance to grow not only as an engineer but also as a person. Having access to the faculty, facilities, and resources was an incredible opportunity that enriched my journey abroad. The curriculum was rigorous, and the faculty served as exceptional mentors, providing a comprehensive understanding of the Oil & Gas industry. Their passion for teaching and their willingness to challenge us to think critically made a lasting impact on me.

One of the highlights of my experience was spending time with my classmates, especially during coffee breaks at Daily Cup. Kazakh hospitality will always hold a special place in my heart. I am also grateful to the professors, who were experts in their fields and fostered an environment where diverse perspectives were welcomed—a beautiful multicultural approach.

Nazarbayev University also offered incredible opportunities for practical application through internships, research projects, and study abroad programs. I spent one summer in Japan, collaborating with Akita University, then spent over two months with a company focused on consulting for the Oil and Gas industry. I also had the honor of representing the university at the SPE paper contest for the Russia and Caspian region, as well as the international student paper contest at ATCE 2024, where I had three papers published. My time at Nazarbayev University allowed me to grow significantly as an engineer.

My time at Nazarbayev University not only prepared me for the challenges of a globalized world but also gave me lifelong friends—people I can now call family.

Hello, my name is Aida. I graduated from SMG at NU in 2022 with a major in Petroleum Engineering. The story of how I applied here is quite interesting. I was a teacher at an educational center, helping students prepare for the ENT and IELTS exams. In 2019, we decided to bring the students to NU’s Open Day. When I visited, I fell in love with the campus, especially the library. I thought to myself, ‘OK, I want to study here and be part of NU.’ The following year, I became a student at SMG, pursuing a master’s degree in Petroleum Engineering.

Unfortunately, my studies took place during the quarantine, but despite that, I made great friends, had the best professors, and we had access to the laboratories, which helped us complete our theses and Research Assistant jobs. One of the best things was that we still had an offline graduation ceremony, and I’m very thankful to SMG and NU.

After graduating from NU, I became part of SLB (formerly known as Schlumberger) as a Performance Live Engineer in the Wireline section. I’ve been working at SLB for two years now, and during this time, I’ve had the opportunity to work in different countries, including the UAE in Abu Dhabi, Kazakhstan in Aksai and Atyrau, and India in two locations—Kakinada and Nazira. Thank you! Bye.