About the course

Reasons to study

1. This course is accredited by the Institution of Chemical Engineers and could help you to achieve Chartered Chemical Engineer status after graduation.
2. Your learning will take place in new £18.2 million facilities such as our dedicated chemical engineering labs which include pilot-scale rigs.
3. Pick up invaluable skills for your future career and boost your employability with a work placement in the UK or overseas.

Isaac Asimov observed “Science can amuse and fascinate us all, but it is engineering that changes the world!” In the past chemical engineering has quietly (or sometimes noisily!) served the material and energy needs of society. But in the 21st century, in the face of global challenges of climate change and fossil fuel depletion, the need is for chemical engineers to change the world by changing the ways in which we meet our needs for food, water, energy and materials. In particular, we need to do this in more joined up ways that produce the right products more cleverly and effectively, understanding the full environmental implications of processing choices, and exploiting interactions for efficiency to give minimum impact and maximum benefit.

• 90.91% of responders to the National Student Survey 2022 agreed that staff are good at explaining things.
• Our Chemical Engineering BEng(Hons) course, accredited by the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) provides in-depth coverage of modern, industry-relevant chemical engineering material from the fundamentals through to process design.
• Chemical engineering can be viewed as the most applied of the applied sciences, and with opportunities to make a difference in the world.
• Chemical engineers transform the visions of chemists and biochemists into industrial-scale reality, to make the benefits of new products and processes available to the world.
• Our course is strong on chemistry in the context of chemical engineering, on systems thinking and on practical skills, as well as an emphasis on nurturing transferable and employability skills.
• We offer you the opportunity to gain strong, in-depth and industry-relevant chemical engineering knowledge to help you play a valuable and rewarding role in this industry and beyond.

Our teaching staff are educated to doctoral level in their respective subject areas and have expertise in specialist areas of chemical engineering, as well as recognised higher education teaching qualifications and awards for excellent teaching. You'll have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience using scientific instrumentation in our modern chemical sciences labs and pilot-scale rigs in our dedicated chemical engineering labs. In the third year of your course, you'll also have the chance to benefit from a work placement to see your subject in action and gain relevant real-world experience to enhance your future employment prospects. So if you’re looking for a career in oil, fine chemicals, materials, food, pharmaceutical and many other industries, this could be just the course for you.

Course detail

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3 - optional placement year

Final year

Teaching and assessment

Teaching excellence

Global Professional Award

The first year of the course covers the key concepts in chemical engineering and the underlying chemistry with lectures supported by tutorial and workshop classes along with practical laboratory sessions. Year 2 builds on the first year and covers industry-relevant areas of chemical engineering, process and plant design. The final year incorporates a major chemical engineering design project that provides the opportunity to gain experience for those entering the chemicals industry sector. As with all our courses, you also have the option of incorporating a Supervised Work Experience placement in the third year of the course.

Entry requirements

BBBat A Level including Maths and either Chemistry or Physics. The endorsement for practical work is an essential part of Science A Level study, and is a requirement for entry to our degree course.

Meritat T Level including grade B in A Level Maths.

Access to HE Diploma with 45 Level 3 credits at Merit or above.

If you do not have the appropriate qualifications for direct entry to this degree you may be able to apply to our Science Extended Degree (BCF0).

If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.0 overall with no element lower than 5.5, or equivalent. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our Where are you from information pages.

Other suitable experience or qualifications will be considered. For further information please see the University's minimum entry requirements.