The article states the analysis of the curriculum that regulates the main purposes, essence and directions for petroleum training. The importance and necessity of positive usage of Austrian, English and Norwegian experience at the time of petroleum engineers training in the petroleum industry has been stressed on. The structure and content of curricula in the process of the petroleum engineers training at the universities of pointed out countries have been analyzed. It has been designated that the terms "curriculum" and "programme" are connected with such outstanding British and American scholars as A. Bosanquet, D. Clark, S. Fraser, F. Hunkins, L. Lattuca, M. Linn, G. O'Neill, A. Ornstein, J. Stark et al. Based on their views it has been found out that these papers define the basic goals, meanings and essential rules for training. It has been outlined that an educational program plays a principal part in the organization of higher technical education, both as the way of interplay and as the foundation for judgment and student appraisal. Three beds of curriculum, e.g. national curriculum, internal, or municipal curriculum, university curriculum and annual plan are considered. All these are designed in an accessible, broad and collective methods, thus, educational program is more a series of actions to achieve results than a commodity. In essence, curriculum is a key paper and it considers the comprehension of humankind, community and training; it also combines the work of any university to regional and nationwide tactics. Moreover, lecturers develop their own provincial curricula established on their national certificates. Close attention has been paid to key contextual filters that influence the curriculum planning process. It has been emphasized that a curriculum is formed on future direction and competence-based pertaining to thought; it is integrated and condensed, it joins all fields of training and university activity. The article discloses special aspects of petroleum specialists' cycle education. The requirements of employers towards HEI graduates' competences are presented.