I have graduated from University College London in Chemical engineering (BEng). I am set on doing petroleum engineering as my MSc even though the current oil slump is not great for new grads but I am hoping by the time I graduate in 2018, things will improve. I am confused what would be the best place to do my masters degree (considering I am a British national) in terms of securing a job after graduation and pay (i.e. standard of life).
Option 1: UK (Imperial, Herriot watt or Aberdeen) – Home student/ petroleum engineering roles are not as well paid as in North America, Australia or the middle east/ only opportunity is the upstream sector in the north sea, Aberdeen
Option 2: Canada (University of Calgary, University of Alberta) – International student/ very reasonable tuition fees/ higher standard of life than UK/ potential of getting dual UK and Canadian citizenship as I have family in Canada
Option 3: USA (University of Texas, Texas A&M, Colorado School of Mines, University of Southern California, University of Houston, University of Tulsa, University of Oklahoma, Pennsylvania State University) - International student/ high tuition fees/ higher standard of life than UK/ from what I hear it is quite difficult for international students to secure a job in US as the companies prefer US students due to less paperwork
Option 4: Australia (University of New South Wales, University of Adelaide, Curtin University): International student/ high tuition fees/ higher standard of life than UK/ not sure about job prospect for international student after graduation
Option 5: UAE (Petroleum Institute, Abu Dhabi) - International student/ high tuition fees/ higher standard of life than UK/ apparently most of the graduates get a job with ADNOC (not guaranteed but very likely)/ social life could be compromised
Option 6: Norway (University of Stavanger) / Holland (Delft) – Home student / very reasonable tuition fees/ apparently the pay and standard of living in Norway is very high
Any comments on the pros or cons on the above options would be much appreciated, particularly if you have studied in any of these university or work in the oil and gas industry