Program Overview

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Program Overview

The University of Strathclyde offers a BEng Chemical Engineering program, which is designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in chemical engineering. The program is accredited by the Institution of Chemical Engineers and is ranked 5th in the UK and 1st in Scotland for Chemical Engineering.

Key Facts

• UCAS Code: H800
• Accreditation: Institution of Chemical Engineers
• Ranking: 5th in the UK (1st in Scotland) for Chemical Engineering

Why This Course?

Chemical engineers play a vital role in finding solutions to 21st-century challenges, such as providing people with clean water, medicines, food, and fuel. Our graduates design and operate industrial processes that turn raw materials into valuable products, minimizing their environmental impact.

What You’ll Study

The first year of study focuses on the basic principles and fundamentals of chemical engineering. In the second year, you'll study core chemical engineering areas such as process analysis and statistics, fluid flow and heat transfer, and safety. The third year of study includes areas such as reactors, biochemical engineering, and materials and processes. For BEng students, the final year of study includes particle technology, multiphase systems, and process control.

Course Content

• Year 1 - Fundamentals: The first-year of study focuses on basic principles and fundamentals of chemical engineering, including tools and techniques, mathematics for engineers, chemistry for chemical engineers, and practical chemistry.
• Year 2 - Core Chemical Engineering: In the second year, you'll study areas such as process analysis and statistics, fluid flow and heat transfer, safety, chemical engineering laboratory, thermodynamics and chemical principles, and advanced mathematics.
• Year 3 - Core Chemical Engineering: The third year of study includes reactors, biochemical engineering, materials and processes, chemical engineering design, advanced IT, mass transfer and separation processes, ethics, sustainability and economics, and chemical engineering laboratory.
• Year 4 - Chemical Engineering Design: The fourth year of study includes particle technology, multiphase systems, process control, environmental technology, advanced separations, and problem-solving.

Learning & Teaching

The emphasis throughout the course is to help students develop their confidence and ability to take responsibility for their own work and learning. The transition from being taught to working and learning is an important feature of the degree program. Our teaching methods include lectures, tutorials, workshops, laboratory and practical work.

Guest Lectures

Many of our classes involve guest lecturers from industry, covering subjects from environment and safety to the latest energy-efficient chemical plant design and the promise of the ‘digital oilfield’. We also welcome a number of industry-based visiting professors from sectors including oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, and nuclear energy.

Assessment

Our assessment methods include formal exams, mid-term class tests, online tests and quizzes, written coursework and research projects, and design and project reports.

Entry Requirements

• Highers: Standard entry requirements: AAAB (Maths A and Chemistry B), Minimum entry requirements: BBBB (Maths and Chemistry)
• A Levels: Year 1 entry: ABB-BBB, Year 2 entry: AAA-ABB (Maths & Chemistry or Physics)
• International Baccalaureate: Year 1 entry: 34-32 (Maths HL5, Chemistry HL5), Year 2 entry: 36-34 (Maths HL6, Chemistry HL6)
• HNC/HND: HNC/HND in Chemical Engineering or a degree in a related discipline plus relevant work experience
• International students: View the entry requirements for your country
• English language requirements: If English is not your first language, please visit our English language requirements page for full details of the requirements in place before making your application

Fees & Funding

• Scotland: £1,820
• England, Wales & Northern Ireland: £9,535
• Republic of Ireland: If you are an Irish citizen and have been ordinary resident in the Republic of Ireland for the three years prior to the relevant date, and will be coming to Scotland for Educational purposes only, you will meet the criteria of England, Wales & Northern Ireland fee status
• International: £29,350
• University preparation programme fees: International students can find out more about the costs and payments of studying a university preparation programme at the University of Strathclyde International Study Centre
• Available scholarships: Take a look at our scholarships search for funding opportunities

Careers

Chemical engineers are among the best-rewarded engineers globally, and work across all sectors of industry from energy and foods to pharmaceuticals and medicine, as well as branching out into other areas such as finance and management. The department works closely with the University Careers Service through every year of our course, to support students in building excellent employability skills and portfolios of experience.

Facilities

Our department has extensive teaching, research, and computer laboratories, including newly-refurbished labs and new offices and computer rooms dedicated to chemical engineering. You'll be able to use the latest equipment, from microscopes and laser-scattering spectroscopy to adsorption analyzers, continuous reactors, and supercomputers.

Postgraduate Study

Graduates have many options for further postgraduate study, including MSc taught degrees and PhD and MRes research degrees. The department regularly recruits the top graduates as PhD research students, giving you the opportunity to take your experience, interests, and qualifications further.

Course Awards

Staff in the department regularly receive nominations in the annual University-wide Teaching Excellence Awards, voted for by Strathclyde’s students. Staff have also been in receipt of external awards from organizations such as the IChemE and the Royal Academy of Engineering.

Student Competitions

There are many student prizes up for grabs, including industry scholarships and industry-sponsored awards and prizes for the top graduates and best projects. We encourage students to apply for competitive internship places with top employers and to enter business and innovation competitions.

Chemical Engineering by Distance Learning

The part-time Distance Learning BEng/MEng curricula are closely aligned with the full-time courses. The course features access to the same resources and materials alongside virtual webinars, video lectures, electronic forums, and more. The Distance Learning courses are particularly popular with students from across the world currently working in industry, who wish to enhance their education to degree level with a fully-accredited institution.