Chemical Engineering

Chemical engineers are key players in improving the quality of our lives, by designing the production of the things we all use every day. You will be in an enviable position, trained to ensure the safe, clean and profitable production of the chemicals and materials required to create products such as clothing, food, medicine, energy, transport and home entertainment systems.

As a chemical engineer you will combine a detailed knowledge of chemistry with an understanding of engineering principles in order to design, construct and operate chemical process plants. It is a challenging and fascinating profession with extensive career opportunities.

Subject guide

You have the option to spend an additional year on placement in industry after your second academic year. Many students take advantage of this option, and find the experience of great benefit both in their development as an engineer and in their final year performance.

Learning, teaching & assessment

Our courses incorporate lectures, tutorials, plant visits and lab work. You will also be involved in project work; developing essential problem solving skills with specialist supervision from staff and industrial consultants. This hands-on experience will involve learning a wide range of techniques.

Assessment is by a combination of exams, project, lab and coursework. Your final degree classification is determined by your performance in all years after the first year.

Placement year

Our excellent links with the chemical industry allow you to test and expand your knowledge, skills and understanding with a paid twelve month professional placement. It will provide integrated industrial and professional training, often in a position of responsibility, in areas such as the design, development, commissioning or operation of a chemical plant.

We will help arrange your placement for you or in conjunction with your sponsoring company. We will also provide opportunities for you to visit companies, undertake commercial project work and compete for sponsorships and prizes.

Our current and recent placement employers include: BP, BNFL, ConocoPhillips, GSK, Kraft, Alfa Laval, Thames Water, AMEC and 3M.

Professional accreditation

Our courses are accredited by the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE). Following time spent in employment after graduation you will be eligible for Corporate Membership of the Institution (your integrated placement year counts towards this), and the status of Chartered Engineer.

Career prospects

In addition to the traditional oil and chemical-based industries you will be well equipped to go into a wide range of careers including food production, pollution control, environmental protection, energy conservation, waste recovery and recycling, medical science, health and safety, alternative energy sources, resource conservation, research, management and consultancy.

Our graduates have a strong record of finding suitable positions, reflecting the fact that the UK is a major contributor to the global chemical industry. Our recent graduates found lucrative graduate engineering/consultancy positions with companies including: Procter and Gamble, Stone and Webster, BP, ExxonMobil, Kodak, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Unilever, AMEC, British Energy, Kappa, Mowlem, BT, Corus and Pfizer.

Personal development

During your studies you will be involved in individual and group project work. This is designed to develop individual skills as an engineer as well as communication, both written and verbal, organisational and leadership skills needed to work effectively after graduation. The course emphasises the commercial as well as industrial aspects of chemical engineering and you will take a number of management-related modules.