Program Overview

MSc Sustainable Engineering: Chemical Processing

The MSc Sustainable Engineering: Chemical Processing is a postgraduate program designed to equip students with advanced knowledge and skills in sustainable engineering, focusing on chemical processing. The program aims to develop students' understanding of sustainable approaches and practices in the chemical industry, enabling them to contribute to the development of more sustainable and environmentally friendly processes.

Key Facts

• Start date: September and January
• Accreditation: Institute of Chemical Engineers
• Study mode and duration: MSc: 12 months full-time

Course Content

The program consists of a range of classes from subject areas in chemical and process engineering, sustainability/environmental engineering, and multidisciplinary skills. Students will take four classes in chemical and process engineering, two in sustainability/environmental engineering, and two in multidisciplinary skills.

Group Project

Students will work with a group of students from different pathways of the Sustainable Engineering program to produce sustainable solutions to real-life industry problems. This project will include site visits, field trips, and progress reports to industry partners.

Individual Project

An individual research project is offered where students will work with the university's highly talented team of leading researchers on chemical engineering issues of the future. MSc students will study a selected topic in depth and submit a thesis.

Compulsory Classes

• Sustainability: This module aims to provide students with an understanding of the concepts of sustainability and sustainable development.
• Sustainability Individual Project: Students will undertake supervised, individual project work, with the award of MSc being made on the basis of an acceptable report/dissertation submission.
• MSc Sustainability Group Project: Teams of students will be formed, and each team will tackle a problem of practical relevance in close co-operation with industrial personnel.

Optional Classes

Students must choose at least one class from the following list:

• Process Design Principles: The focus of this module is on the principles of conceptual design and flowsheet development.
• Advanced Process Design: The focus of this module is on the wider implications of process design.
• Petroleum Engineering: This module aims to provide students with an understanding of hydrocarbon production processes from the reservoir through to a well.
• Molecular Simulation in Chemical Engineering: This module aims to provide students with an appreciation of how chemical engineering processes operate at a molecular scale.
• Clean Combustion Technologies: This module aims to introduce the fundamentals of combustion engineering and the concepts and applications of clean combustion technologies.
• Electrochemical Energy Devices: This module provides an overview of electrochemical energy conversion devices, including batteries, fuel cells, and electrolysers.
• Safety Management Practices: This module aims to provide an advanced level of exposure to the role of management and management systems in Safety and Loss Prevention.
• Programming & Optimisation: This module aims to provide students with a fundamental understanding of scientific programming and its application to optimisation in engineering applications.
• Environmental Engineering for Solving Industrial Challenges: This module aims to develop students' understanding of environmental engineering for solving industrial challenges.

Additional Optional Classes

Students must choose at least two classes from the following list:

• Project Management: This module aims to provide students with the skills and knowledge to undertake project management practices and practical skills to manage project scope.
• Design Management: The aim of this module is to provide a structured introduction to the Design Management process, issues, and tools.
• Risk Management: This module aims to introduce the fundamental techniques of risk management and risk-informed decision making.
• Financial Engineering: This module explores financial options and strategies for ensuring the solvency and financial sustainability of business ventures.
• Environmental Impact Assessment: Environmental impact assessment relates to the process of identifying, evaluating, and mitigating the biophysical, social, economic, cultural, and other relevant effects of development proposals.

Learning and Teaching

Teaching methods include lectures, discussions, group work, debating, and computer-aided learning. All classes are delivered over a twelve-week period.

Assessment

Assessment is through a balanced workload of class-based assessment, individual and group-based projects, and exams.

Facilities

Students will be based in the Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, which has state-of-the-art research laboratories featuring a comprehensive suite of experimental facilities.

Accreditation

The program meets accreditation requirements for the Institute of Chemical Engineers, allowing graduates to apply for chartered engineer status.

Entry Requirements

• Academic requirements/experience: Normally a first-class or second-class honors degree (or international equivalent) in chemical engineering or a related subject.
• English language requirements: If English is not the first language, please visit the English language requirements page for full details of the requirements in place before making an application.

Fees and Funding

• Scotland: £10,800 (2024/25), £11,900 (2025/26)
• England, Wales & Northern Ireland: £10,800 (2024/25), £11,900 (2025/26)
• International: £28,250 (2024/25), £31,100 (2025/26)

Careers

There is a growing demand for high-caliber graduates who can develop and apply advanced process technologies in chemical and process industries. Some students may be eligible to apply for PhD places in the department and across the Engineering faculty. The median salary for a non-chartered graduate engineer is £30,000, for a non-chartered chemical engineer is £47,000, and for a chartered chemical engineer is £85,000.