Undergraduate study
     

Engineering

MEng (Hons) Chemical Engineering

  • UCAS code: H810 MEng/CE
  • Length: 4 years full-time study or 5 years with work placement

2012 entry

 

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 how they 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.

Years 1, 2 and 3 include many of the same core modules as the BEng (Hons) Chemical Engineering. In the final year of the MEng you study highly specialist modules at master’s level, with options such as analytical chemistry, petroleum technology or biotechnology.

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 will study

In Year 1, you study the basics of engineering mathematics and science which form the basis for the rest of the course. Year 2 deals with the principles of chemical and process engineering operations. Year 3 draws together the skills acquired to produce an over plant design and expand the knowledge into an advanced area of processing. In your final year, you build on the understanding of core chemical engineering, but are also allowed to choose options which broaden and deepen your knowledge. In this year a high level of autonomy is expected, in particular for the project work.

In addition, the course has been designed to develop skills and attributes which 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 throughout 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 five-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

Engineering Council accredited degree 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 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

To enter Year 1, you're expected to have GCSE English (grade C or above) and good grades in maths and chemistry at Level 3 (for example A level, BTEC ND, ACCESS, IB). We consider advanced entry directly into Year 2 if you have good grades in a Level 4 or 5 qualification (for example HNC, HND) in a related subject.

You're normally invited for an interview, when you can also see our excellent facilities and meet staff and students. You then receive an individual offer. If you can't come for an interview, a typical offer might be 300 tariff points including at least grade C or Merit in Level 3 mathematics and chemistry.

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Modules

Chemical Engineering

Year 1 core modules

Year 2 core modules

Year 3 core modules

and one optional module

Final-year core modules

and two optional modules

Non-credit bearing optional modules

  • A foreign language: German, French, Spanish, Chinese (Mandarin)
  • In-sessional Academic English (for international students)
  • Professional Mentoring

You may select one or more of these modules.

Modules offered may vary.