Engineering

• Tuesdays, 9.00am - 9.00pm
• minimum 4 years part time study when entering at year 2 level
• Enrolment date: September
• Admission enquiries: 01642 738800
• E: sse-admissions@tees.ac.uk

Chemical engineers take science out of the laboratory and into the real world. They turn raw materials into useful products through changing their properties or changing how their properties interact with each other.

Chemical engineers can be involved in a hugely diverse range of work, from oil and gas extraction to designing and building cleaner nuclear power plants. They are well rewarded with highly skilled professional chemical engineers reaching six-figure salaries. According to the Institution of Chemical Engineers in 2010 the average salary for chemical engineers working in the oil and gas industry was £62,500 per year. The average graduate starting salary is £27,500.

Our courses provide you with the opportunity to develop your knowledge and skills in a region well known for its links with the chemical and engineering industries. Following a BEng or MEng degree course at Teesside University, you have the opportunity to benefit from a placement or mentorship with one of the companies in the region, or further afield. This is a real bonus, giving you experience of finding practical solutions to real industrial problems, and enhancing your employability prospects.

What you study

In the first year, you study engineering mathematics and science which form the basis for the rest of the course. The second year deals with the principles of chemical and process engineering operations. The final year draws together the skills acquired to produce an overall plant design and expand the knowledge into an advanced area of processing.

In addition, the course has been designed to develop skills and attributes that prepare you for the world of work. For example you undertake a series of intensive projects which mimic real life situations and help you become an effective team member.

How you learn

You are expected to attend a range of lectures, small-group tutorials and hands-on laboratory sessions. Some of your first-year learning is based around case studies, following visits to local industries. A theme of process design through group work runs through all stages of the course.

The course has been designed to provide a number of contact teaching and assessment hours (such as lectures, tutorials, laboratory work, projects, examinations), but you are also expected to spend time on your own, called ‘self-study’ time, to review lecture notes, prepare coursework assignments, work on projects and revise for assessments. Each year of full-time study consists of modules totalling 120 credits and each unit of credit corresponds to ten hours of learning and assessment (contact hours plus self-study hours). So, during one year of full-time study you can expect to have 1,200 hours of learning and assessment.

How you are assessed

Your course involves a range of types of assessment, including coursework, problem solving assignments, report writing, presentations and examinations.

Professional placements

The four-year sandwich course is recommended as the work placement provides a realistic introduction to industrial practice. It is usually taken after Year 2 and could be paid. Recent companies involved include Rhom and Haas, Avecia, ConocoPhillips, Croda, Corus, Air Products and Teesside Power Station.

Professional accreditation

This degree has been accredited by the Institution of Chemical Engineers under licence from the UK regulator, the Engineering Council. Accreditation is a mark of assurance that the degree meets the standards set by the Engineering Council in the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC). This accredited degree will provide you with the BEng-level underpinning knowledge, understanding and skills for eventual registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng). Some employers recruit preferentially from accredited degrees, and an accredited degree is likely to be recognised by other countries that are signatories to international accords.

Career opportunities

Chemical engineers are employed worldwide in activities including research and development, design and plant operation. They are involved in a wide range of sectors, from the utilities, construction and defence, chemicals to oil and pharmaceuticals. Alternative careers include marketing and finance.

Entry requirements

If you are considering applying to study this course on a part time basis then please contact the school (email: sse-admissions@tees.ac.uk) to check that the timetable of module delivery suits your personal circumstances. Part time study on this course is best suited to students who are suitably qualified to join this course with advanced standing, entering directly into the second year of the course.

The module delivery structure from year 2 onwards of most Engineering BEng/MEng courses allows students to attend on a day-release basis and should suit most students who are in employment or have other commitments. If however you are seeking to join from the first year of this course then for the first year you may be required to attend at certain times on all days of the week. Hence some students might find joining a HNC course in the first instance better suited to their personal circumstances.

Normally you can join the second year of the course if you have good grades in a Level 4 or 5 qualification such as a HNC, HND of Fd in a closely related subject. Alternative qualifications and relevant experience can also be considered.
If you lack the required qualifications to join the second year of this course then you should consider initially joining a HNC course in this subject. Please refer to our part time course list for available HNC courses.

If you wish to join the first year of this course on a part time study basis then you must meet the minimum year 1 entry requirements of the course. We accept a wide range of qualifications including A Levels, BTEC National Diploma, ACCESS and International Baccalaureate to name just a few. Typically you will be expected to have achieved or expect to achieve at least 280 tariff points including good grades such as a grade C/B or Merit/Distinction in the essential Level 3 subjects for this course. The essential Level 3 subjects for this course are mathematics and chemistry, but other closely related subjects can also be considered.
All students will be expected to have achieved at least a grade C in English at GCSE level, or other equivalent qualification.

For additional information please see the undergraduate and postgraduate entry requirements in our admissions section

More information

• Engineering
  More information and courses in Engineering