MSci Applied Chemistry & Chemical Engineering

You normally have the same Personal Development Adviser (PDA) throughout your degree. PDP is an important part of learning and personal development. It's not only associated with your university course, it allows you to plan for the future.

These lectures and tutorials cover all the broad areas of chemistry including: Analytical Chemistry, Structure & Bonding, Physical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry and Spectroscopy.

You will be introduced to the basic aspects of the chemical laboratory.

This class will reinforce and extend your knowledge and understanding of the basic algebra, trigonometry, calculus and complex number theory required by engineering students.

This class will provide you with an understanding of further calculus, geometry, vectors, matrices, systems of linear equations and numerical methods.

In this module you will gain an understanding of:

• chemical engineering terminology and how to construct and interpret simple process flow diagrams
• how to convert units for given quantities, and interconvert mass flow-rates, molar flow-rates and volumetric flow-rates
• how to perform mas balances across simple unit operations, including non-reactive and reactive systems using component balances, element balances and total mass balances
• how to perform energy balances across simple unit operations, including the determination of heats of reaction at standard conditions and elevated temperatures
• transferable skills in researching literature and report preparation following a themed laboratory session on renewable energies

In this module you will be provided with an understanding of scientific concepts underlying chemical engineering and processes. The first semester covers engineering principles including process flow diagrams, mass and energy balances, pressure and fluid flow, and phase behaviour. The second semester covers energy concepts, including renewable energies, thermodynamics, radiative heat transfer and electronic material properties relevant to chemical engineering. The computing labs demonstrate how to use computers to analyse data and solve equations. This module also embeds transferable skills into the course work, including research skills, presentations, written reports, teamwork, and time management.

In this module you will develop the means of solving certain differential equations; to consider applications of Taylor and Maclaurin series; to generalize earlier ideas in calculus to deal with functions of several variables; to discuss in more detail matrices; determinants and functions of a complex variable; and to introduce vector calculus and eigenvalues/eigenvectors.

This module covers the fundamental principles of infra-red, ultra-violet, nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectroscopy; develops competence in the interpretation of spectra and your awareness of the role of spectroscopic techniques. It will also develop your knowledge of reactions, understanding of mechanisms and appreciation of the role of reactivity in organic chemistry.

This module provides a broad knowledge of the important concepts in Thermodynamics, investigating the major features as applied to chemical systems. Topics include:

• the importance of reaction rates in chemical systems
• concepts of the electrode/solution interface
• equilibrium and electron transfer kinetics
• mass transport
• the composition and utilisation of fossil fuels with their environmental pollutants
• nuclear and renewable energy sources

You'll receive a practical demonstration of topics contained in the lectures. You'll develop basic laboratory skills in preparative chemistry and analysis, and gain experience in the applications of spectroscopy and common instrumental techniques. You’ll also develop skills in the demonstration of physical chemical principles, observation, the use of statistical methods, interpretation of data and the writing of laboratory reports.

In this module you will be introduced to the properties and behaviour of fluids and the principles of heat transfer and the application of these concepts to practical engineering problems.

In this module you will gain knowledge in material and energy balances, the behaviour of gases, vapour pressure, vapour liquid equilibrium and thermochemistry/physics. This knowledge forms the foundation of Chemical Engineering. You will also gain a fundamental understanding of the basic statistical techniques (probability distributions, method comparisons and regression analysis), that are routinely used in the chemical industries.

You can select elective modules freely from the University timetable subject to your possessing appropriate entrance qualifications, there being places available, and the times do not clash with compulsory chemistry classes.

Subjects are available in:

• Science
• Engineering
• Business
• Arts & Humanities

Chemistry students are provided with a list of classes where the timetable is suitable, although other options are also available. Students often choose a language class as an elective.

You have the option to spend your third year studying abroad in a sister University in the European Union or the European Free Trade Area. We're leading practitioners of the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS), designed to simplify and facilitate the planning and recognition of periods of study in other universities. Additional EU funding under the ERASMUS programme may be available to some students each year to supplement their SAAS grants. There will also be opportunities to spend third year at one of the premier universities in the USA or in Canada, but you will have to find some money towards the costs.

In this module you'll receive a practical demonstration of topics contained in the lectures. You'll develop basic laboratory skills in preparative chemistry and analysis, and gain experience in the applications of spectroscopy and common instrumental techniques. You’ll also develop skills in the demonstration of physical chemical principles, observation, the use of statistical methods, interpretation of data and the writing of laboratory reports.

This module teaches you modern NMR spectroscopy as it is applied to chemistry. It covers:

• skills for handling and interpreting NMR data for the purposes of chemical structure elucidation
• theoretical basis of the NMR experiment using the vector formalism
• reactivities of organic molecules
• organic syntheses using the disconnection approach
• synthesis and reactivities of electron-poor and electron-rich heterocyclic molecules

It provides an insight into the role of computational chemistry in chemical research and training in the use of modern computational chemistry software.

This module provides you with a more advanced view of main group and transition metal coordination and organometallic chemistry. Themes to be covered include ligands and their influence on complexes, trends in structure and bonding, stereochemistry, reactivity, and the application of spectroscopic and other methods of identification. Also, modern spectroscopy as it is applied in chemistry.

In this module, you will gain a thorough understanding of mass transfer and industrial separation processes.

In this module you will be introduced to the principles of chemical reactors and reactor design across a range of chemical engineering contexts, as a first and fundamental course in reactors. From fundamentals of energy and mass balance the course proceeds in increasing complexity of reactor design and performance. The module also aims to bring about an appreciation and judgement of how to optimise for single and multiple reactions as well as the effect of multiple reactors for increased capacity and performance.

In this module you will be provided with core knowledge and skill in physical chemistry, as an essential basis for a competent graduate in chemistry. This will include: the electronic structure of atoms and molecules; the principles of bonding in molecules as described by valence bond and molecular orbital theories; group theory, the symmetry of molecules and their properties; statistical mechanics; and, intermolecular forces.

In this module you will gain a more advanced view of main group and transition metal coordination and organometallic chemistry. Themes to be covered include ligands and their influence on complexes, trends in structure and bonding, stereochemistry, reactivity, and the application of spectroscopic and other methods of identification.

This module aims to meet the requirements of the IChemE model syllabus for basic chemical engineering control knowledge and to teach application of chemical principles, biochemical engineering and reaction engineering to solve pollution control issues including design of water treatment plants.

In this module you will have the opportunity to apply chemical engineering knowledge in the context of applications and industry-focused chemical engineering in a design project. The project allows students to work in a team-based process design project as is expected and experienced in an industrial situation.

This module covers more advanced topics in chemistry, and you can choose from:

• Key reactions in organic chemistry
• Cage & cluster molecules
• Environmental chemistry
• Chemistry in the Excited State
• Molecular Catalysis
• Solid State Chemistry
• Interpretative Spectroscopy
• Nanochemistry Applications in Medicinal Chemistry
• Polymers: Synthesis and Chemical Properties
• Surface Analysis And X-ray Techniques
• Atomic And Nuclear Spectroscopy
• Multivariate Analysis
• Process Analysis

In this module, you'll have the opportunity to specialise in a number of areas within chemical engineering, such as:

• Safety Management Practices 
• Molecular Simulation in Chemical Engineering
• Petroleum Engineering
• Clean Combustion Technologies
• Electrochemical Energy Devices
• Advanced Process Analysis & Simulation
• Project Planning, Management & Methods

Over the course of the year, you'll complete a practical research project relating to your chosen area of chemistry under the supervision of one of our experienced academics, leading to the production of a dissertation.