1.2 Researching the Right Chemical Engineering Degree for You
There are an array of options when studying Chemical Engineering, these will vary depending on your university of interest, as well as whether a university’s research interests within the Chemical Engineering department align with a certain field.
Chemical Engineering Degree Types
A Chemical Engineering degree can take many forms, whether that is a Bachelors or Masters, with a placement in industry or year abroad, or even a joint honoursA split undergraduate degree where a student can study two different subjects, possibly unrelated, equally.; this section will explore the options available to you.
Chemical Engineering courses involve a mixture of lectures from experts in their field, seminars and tutorial classes to tackle engineering problems and apply the knowledge taught in lectures, and laboratory work where the principles studied can be seen in action.
The assessment for Chemical Engineering degrees involves both coursework and exams. Coursework tends to involve writing up laboratory experiment findings and researching beyond the content taught in lectures, or working on projects with a defined goal to be assessed on. The exams Chemical Engineering students face will be related to the content taught via the lecture material, but may also have more challenging problems that allow you to demonstrate your expanded knowledge of the subject.
| Course | Description |
|---|---|
| BEng Chemical Engineering | A bachelors in Chemical Engineering is a 3-Year course which will teach you the essential knowledge to be a chemical engineer, with all the core concepts covered. |
| MEng Chemical Engineering | A master’s in Chemical Engineering is a 4-Year Integrated Masters course which will cover all of the BEng concepts but also incorporate a master’s level Research Project and some further advanced module options. |
| Chemical Engineering with Industrial Study | Chemical Engineering with Industrial Study can often be taken with either a BEng or MEng, where you can incorporate a 12-month industrial placement after your 2nd or 3rd year, allowing you to gain experience in your chosen industry. |
| Chemical Engineering with International Study | International study as part of your Chemical Engineering degree can also be done with a BEng or MEng, and sometimes combined with the industrial placement, where you can study in a university outside of the UK for 1 academic year of your degree, typically in the 2nd or 3rd year of study. |
| Chemical Engineering with Energy & the Environment | A Chemical Engineering degree with a focus on the energy industry and environmental engineering - two areas critical to the future of Chemical Engineering. This integrated masters degree would allow you to focus your modules on advanced areas in energy and environmental-related topics. |
A deviation to the options listed in Table 1 is a joint honours degree. This is where two (or more) subjects can be studied within the same timeframe as a single degree. Some students choose this option to expand their knowledge of multiple subjects, which open up more career options and allow an interdisciplinary approach to study.
These undergraduate degree courses can be subject to change at the universities’ discretion. To stay up to date, visit your university of choice on an open day or use their intranet page to stay informed about any changes to your course of interest.Note