BEng Chemical Engineering
ApplyKey facts
- UCAS Code: H800
- Accreditation: Institution of Chemical Engineers
5th in the UK (1st in Scotland) for Chemical Engineering (The Times/ Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024)
Study with us
- industry-sponsored scholarship opportunities
- study abroad in Europe, the USA, Australia, Canada and South East Asia
- opportunity to undertake your final-year project in industry
- participate in student competitions
- professional accreditation by the Institution of Chemical Engineers
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, minimising their environmental impact.
What you’ll study
The first year of study focuses on the basic principles and fundamentals of chemical engineering.
In 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 include 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. The second semester is entirely devoted to the chemical engineering design project.
Course overview
Our students tell us why they love studying Chemical Engineering.
We have a lot of very good lecturers who know a lot about their topics and are good at explaining the concepts from their point of view.
Samira Anker
I would recommend Strathclyde to other people. It is a community who cares about their students and wants to create the best environment for growing and learning through the constant support and help offered.
Major projects
Project work is core to your chemical engineering education, developing your ability to apply technical know-how, manage your time, communicate and negotiate within a team, make decisions and judgements and write and present reports.
The BEng degree incorporates a range of major design projects enabling you to bring to the fore all your growing skills in chemical engineering, whether technical or related skills such as teamwork and management.
Year 3 of the degree features a mini design project, where you work in student teams on aspects of plant and process design. In Year 4 the detailed and conceptual design projects cover a full semester. It involves independent work in teams, demanding skills ranging from technical calculation, decision making, communicating and reporting to research and innovation.
Other projects include a team-based Frontiers of Chemical Engineering project in Year 1 and various research projects throughout other classes.
Work placement
Our degree courses prepare you for the international scope of careers in chemical engineering and related areas such as research & development, finance and consultancy. You'll have many opportunities to gain work experience and international placements.
You'll have opportunities to work on projects in research groups across Europe, via the Turing scheme, and for exchanges to other countries such as the USA, Australia and Canada. We encourage and support students to compete for summer internships with top companies such as BP and to enter national and international student business and innovation competitions.
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 analysers, continuous reactors and supercomputers.
As well as department facilities, there are many shared suites of equipment such as advanced atomic force and electron microscopes, large University computer laboratories and meeting spaces bookable by student teams.
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 organisations 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.
Every year, chemical engineering students from across the UK enter the Frank Morton sports day, with Strathclyde’s students winning top prize in 2014.
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.
This unique opportunity to study the BEng course by distance is very useful for people like myself who wish to build the industry experience while studying. It was not an easy task but I have gained a lot of theoretical knowledge which underpins my engineering decisions in my day to day work.
Zohrab Bagirov, Process Engineer at BP Azerbaijan
Chemical Engineering distance learning graduate
Year 1 - Fundamentals
- tools and techniques
- mathematics for engineers
- chemistry for chemical engineers
- practical chemistry
You'll also study elective classes selected from across the University.
Year 2 - Core Chemical Engineering
In 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
- 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
- chemical engineering laboratory
Year 4 - Chemical Engineering Design
The fourth year of study includes:
- particle technology
- multiphase systems
- process control
- environmental technology
- advanced separations
- problem solving
The second semester is entirely devoted to the chemical engineering design project.
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 programme. 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
- design and project reports
Providing feedback and guidance to students is key to our work. Ways we do this include video-recording student presentations and following up exams with feedback sessions.
BEng Chemical Engineering entry requirements
Entry requirements for our BEng Chemical Engineering degree are as follows.
Required subjects are shown in brackets.
| Highers |
AAAB (Maths A and Chemistry B) BBBB (Maths and Chemistry) |
|---|---|
| A Levels | Year 1 entry: ABB-BBB (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; other qualifications may be considered; applicants with prior industry experience can enter the course at the equivalent to Year 3 |
| 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. |
| Additional information |
|
*Standard entry requirements
Offers are made in accordance with specified entry requirements although admission to undergraduate programmes is considered on a competitive basis and entry requirements stated are normally the minimum level required for entry.
Whilst offers are made primarily on the basis of an applicant meeting or exceeding the stated entry criteria, admission to the University is granted on the basis of merit, and the potential to succeed. As such, a range of information is considered in determining suitability.
In exceptional cases, where an applicant does not meet the competitive entry standard, evidence may be sought in the personal statement or reference to account for performance which was affected by exceptional circumstances, and which in the view of the judgement of the selector would give confidence that the applicant is capable of completing the programme of study successfully.
**Minimum entry requirements
Contextual Admissions for Widening Access
We want to increase opportunities for people from every background.
Strathclyde selects our students based on merit, potential, and the ability to benefit from the education we offer. We look for more than just your grades. We consider the circumstances of your education and will make lower offers to certain applicants as a result.
University preparation programme for international students
We offer international students (non-UK/Ireland) who do not meet the academic entry requirements for an undergraduate degree at Strathclyde the option of completing an Undergraduate Foundation Programme in Business and Social Sciences at the University of Strathclyde International Study Centre.
Upon successful completion, you can progress to your chosen degree at the University of Strathclyde.
International students
We've a thriving international community with students coming here to study from over 140 countries across the world. Find out all you need to know about studying in Glasgow at Strathclyde and hear from students about their experiences.
Fees & funding
All fees quoted are for full-time courses and per academic year unless stated otherwise.
Fees may be subject to updates to maintain accuracy. Tuition fees will be notified in your offer letter.
All fees are in £ sterling, unless otherwise stated, and may be subject to revision.
Annual revision of fees
Students on programmes of study of more than one year (or studying standalone modules) should be aware that the majority of fees will increase annually. The University will take a range of factors into account, including, but not limited to, UK inflation, changes in delivery costs and changes in Scottish and/or UK Government funding. Changes in fees will be published on the University website in October each year for the following year of study and any annual increase will be capped at a maximum of 10% per year.
| Scotland | To be confirmed. Fees for students who meet the relevant residence requirements in Scotland are subject to confirmation by the Scottish Funding Council. Scottish undergraduate students undertaking an exchange for a semester/year will continue to pay their normal tuition fees at Strathclyde and will not be charged fees by the overseas institution. |
|---|---|
| England, Wales & Northern Ireland | To be confirmed subject to confirmation by the UK government. |
| 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. For more information and advice on tuition fee status, you can visit the UKCISA - International student advice and guidance - Scotland: fee status webpage. Find out more about the University of Strathclyde's fee assessments process. |
| 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. |
| Additional costs | Course materials & costs:
We do not charge students for course notes, all course notes are uploaded to myplace and students have the facility to print if required (costs would be incurred by the student). Recommended texts are communicated to the library - students may wish to purchase their own copies. Placements & field trips: two during the third year of undergraduate programme, students are asked to contribute to cost of transport Study abroad
Other costs: locker deposit (£10 refunded when locker no longer required) Students are not required to purchase any specific software licenses – all software used is available on campus machines, either locally or remotely. All undergraduates are provided, for the duration of their course, with student-membership of IChemE (Professional Body) paid for by an industrial sponsor (currently BP). Students contribute to the ChemEng Soc, a Union affiliated group, paying yearly subs. The department helps subsidise some events. A key social activity for students is the Annual Sports Day (Frank Morton) held at a different UK location each year - students can apply for bursaries from the union to help cover costs (£70/student/yr). International students: International students may have associated visa and immigration costs. Please see student visa guidance for more information. |
Please note: All fees shown are annual and may be subject to an increase each year. Find out more about fees.
How can I fund my studies?
Students from Scotland
Fees for students who meet the relevant residence requirements in Scotland, you may be able to apply to the Student Award Agency Scotland (SAAS) to have your tuition fees paid by the Scottish government. Scottish students may also be eligible for a bursary and loan to help cover living costs while at University.
For more information on funding your studies have a look at our University Funding page.
Students from England, Wales & Northern Ireland
We have a generous package of bursaries on offer for students from England, Northern Ireland and Wales:
You don’t need to make a separate application for these. When your place is confirmed at Strathclyde, we’ll assess your eligibility. Take a look at our scholarships search for funding opportunities.
International Students
We have a number of scholarships available to international students. Take a look at our scholarship search to find out more.
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.
Glasgow is Scotland's biggest & most cosmopolitan city
Our campus is based right in the very heart of Glasgow. We're in the city centre, next to the Merchant City, both of which are great locations for sightseeing, shopping and socialising alongside your studies.
Apply
Start date:
Chemical Engineering (1 year entry)
Start date:
Chemical Engineering (1 year entry)
Start date: Sep 2025
Chemical Engineering (1 year entry)
Start date:
Chemical Engineering (1 year entry)
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