Professionally accredited, and with paid placement opportunities, the MEng (Hons) / BEng (Hons) Chemical Engineering offers excellent job prospects and the potential to help create a sustainable planet.
This course combines academic study, hands-on experience and group projects to ensure you develop the essential practical and communication abilities required by employers in the chemical engineering and processing industries.
Chemical engineering is at the forefront of the quest to produce clean energy and satisfy human needs across a number of areas in an environmentally friendly and sustainable way. These areas include pharmaceuticals, health, food, drink, oil, gas, petrochemicals, agriculture, fine chemicals and materials.
The BEng (Hons) course is accredited by the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) under license from the UK regulator, the Engineering Council. Accreditation is a mark of assurance that the degree meets the high standards set by the Engineering Council in the UK for Professional Engineering Competence (UKSPEC). Accreditation for MEng (Hons) Chemical Engineering from IChemE will be sought in due course. The curriculum is designed to satisfy internationally recognised accreditation requirements.
Professor Carl Schaschke, Dean of the School of Computing, Engineering and Physical Sciences, recently took part in an IChemE video series, sharing his career experiences and passion for chemical engineering. Watch the IChemE video here.
This scholarship scheme will see £2,000 being awarded annually to one student to support the student experience in the Honours year of undergraduate study.
Applications are open from Monday 10 January to Friday 24 June 2022. Find out more about the scholarship here.
This scholarship scheme will see £4,250 being awarded in the 2022/23 academic session to three students undertaking MEng (Hons) Chemical Engineering to support the student experience in the final year (Year 5) of study. Applications are open from Monday 10 January to Friday 13 May 2022. Find out more about the scholarship here.
Our Programme Leaders have recorded Zoom sessions to help you discover all there is to know about our courses. From professional accreditation to programme modules and career opportunities, our Programme Leaders will help answer all your questions. You can find them on our YouTube Channel or by clicking the link below.
Chemical Engineering Programme LeaderYou will undergo a period of pilot plant-based training as part of the course and you can opt to take a one-year paid industrial placement between year 3 and year 4 as a supervised, junior chemical engineer.
Placements are obtained competitively and can be in any branch of the chemical/process industry in the UK or abroad. Previous placements have included GlaxoSmithKline, British Nuclear Fuels, Doosan Babcock, Diageo and Sellafield Ltd.
UWS has over 100 years’ experience in training engineers. Many of our courses are professionally accredited and designed to anticipate industry demand. Their delivery is supported by excellent on-campus facilities. Our students graduate with the knowledge, skills and practical experience to succeed in engineering.
in Scotland for teaching in Chemical, Process & Energy Engineering - National Student Survey 2020
of BEng Chemical Engineering students in professional employment or further study 6 months after graduating - DLHE survey 2016/17
We welcome Scottish, UK and international students and consider all applicants on an individual basis.
Don’t worry if your qualifications are not listed here, we take a range of factors into account when assessing your application and are happy to consider other alternative combinations of qualifications and experience.
If you are applying with an EU or non-EU qualification, please check our Undergraduate Entry Requirements page which gives more information about country-specific entry requirements.
Advanced entry is only possible to BEng (Hons) Years 2 and 3 of this course for suitably qualified applicants (see below). There are no advanced entry opportunities on the MEng (Hons) course.
If you are initially registered and enrolled on the BEng (Hons) course, and meet the performance requirements in years 1, 2 and 3 you may be eligible to transfer onto the MEng (Hons) in Year 4.
Many international applicants (see exempt nationalites*) are advised that they will need to obtain an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate before they can be considered for an unconditional offer of study on this undergraduate integrated masters course.
Entry Clearance Officers (ECO) will ask to see your ATAS certificate as part of your visa application process.
UK immigration law does not allow universities to permit international students to study for an ATAS applicable course until the student has supplied the university with all the relevant ATAS certificate details for their application.
Students who are nationals of EU countries, the European Economic Area (EEA), Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland or the United States of America do not need an ATAS certificate to study on ths course.
* may also be considered for Year 2 entry
** for more information on standard and minimum entry requirements, see the drop-down section below
* may also allow entry to Year 3
For applicants whose first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level. The qualifications below must have been gained within two years of the start of your course.
General English language requirements at UWS: International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training)
Exceptions to this level of IELTS scoring exist for some accredited or professionally-recognised courses (see section below for more details).
All stated English tests are acceptable for admission for both home/EU and international students for this programme:
For our research degrees (MRes, MPhil, PhD, DBA, DProf) applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:
For Health, Nursing & Midwifery courses that lead to professional registration with the Nursing & Midwifery Council, applicants are required to have an IELTS or Occupational English Test (OET)*.
For such courses, the IELTS score is as follows:
* Note that the Occupational English Test (OET) will now be accepted in addition to IELTS as proof of a Nurse's English Language Competence (Nursing & Midwifery Council, 2019).
For our BSc (Hons) Applied Biomedical Science, BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science and MSc Advanced Biomedical Science programmes, applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:
For our Certificate of Higher Education courses, applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:
TOEFL IBT*: 78; no sub-test less than:
* Please note that TOEFL is still acceptable for admission to this programme for both home/EU and international students.
For international students, the Home Office has confirmed that the University can choose to use TOEFL to make its own assessment of English language ability for visa applications to degree level courses. We therefore still accept TOEFL tests taken in the last two years for admission to this programme.
West African Senior School Certificate of Education (WASSCE) including acceptance of WAEC Scratchcard*
*UWS will accept a WAEC scratchcard confirming that an applicant has achieved C6 or above as evidence of meeting English language requirement from Nigeria if the student graduated within the last 5 years. After 5 years applicants would be required to provide the WAEC Certificate.
Applicants who do not meet the minimum English language requirements have the option to study one of our preparatory and pre-sessional English courses. The UWS courses available are:
On our course pages, you will find details of our entry criteria listed as Standard Entry Requirements and Minimum Entry Requirements. These are the academic qualifications that, depending on your personal circumstances, you will be required to meet to allow your application to be considered for a place at UWS.
Competition for places on many of our courses can be very high and even if you meet the standard or minimum qualifications stated, there is no guarantee that your application will progress to the next stage of the admissions process. We review individual applications very closely and place great importance on your personal statement and academic reference as well as your academic qualifications before making selection decisions.
Our Standard Entry Requirements are the grades that you will need to achieve to allow you to be considered for entry to a specific programme of study.
Our Minimum Entry Requirements are applicable to those applicants who have not had an equal opportunity to demonstrate their academic ability at school or college and are known as ‘widening access’ applicants. We also sometimes refer to this type of applicant as receiving a ‘contextual’ offer. We may be able to provide you with a contextual offer if you fall into one of the categories below:
If you fall into any of the first four categories above, please mention this on your UCAS application. We will automatically apply category 5 if it applies to you.
If you have already achieved the required grades for either our standard or minimum entry criteria, we may be able to offer you an unconditional offer for some course areas. If you have not yet achieved these grades, we may be able to make you a conditional offer, which will rely on you achieving further qualifications before you can be accepted on to a programme of study.
Further details of our Admissions processes can be found as follows:
Over the course of the MEng/BEng Chemical Engineering, you will study engineering, mathematics and chemistry principles; gain practical experience through laboratory work; and use world-class process simulation tools such as Aspen Suite and Ansys Fluent.
Combining theoretical study, practical experience and group projects, you’ll develop the essential skills demanded by employers in the chemical engineering and processing industries.
Throughout the course, there will be several industry experts who will lecture to you and who will share their expertise through special guest lectures. For example, staff from NEL (Engineering Consultancy) recently presented to students on the critical importance of correct measurements in science and engineering.
It is always possible to augment your studies and broaden your horizons by learning a new language and prepare for the best international opportunities. You can find out more on learning a language and studying abroad through on our study abroad at UWS webpage.
Studies include engineering fundamentals, mathematics and chemistry.
Studies focus on core chemical engineering topics in addition to mathematics and chemistry.
Core chemical engineering subjects including process design, transport processes, engineering thermodynamics, separation processes, process safety and process control are covered.
Optional Industry Placement
One year can be spent on paid placement as a supervised, junior chemical engineer in industry. Placements are obtained competitively and can be in any branch of the chemical/process industry in the UK or abroad. Previous placements have included GlaxoSmithKline, British Nuclear Fuels, Doosan Babcock, Diageo and Sellafield Ltd.
Study includes core and advanced topics in separation processes, chemical reactor design, thermal systems design and integration, process safety, process control and some economic aspects of the process industry. You will also undertake a chemical engineering design study.
Advanced studies into the sustainability and the integration of chemical plants and processes, plus the advanced understanding of heat transfer and fluid mechanics and their computational simulation.
You will also undertake a major research project.
You will engage with a range of complimentary and creative learning and teaching approaches throughout the BEng Chemical Engineering, including:
These are designed to help develop knowledge and understanding of key specialisms within Chemical Engineering in a changing global environment. But, they also to provide opportunities for you to reflect on your personal development in terms of confidence, employability skills and aim to help prepare you for a successful career in chemical/process industries.
The MEng/BEng Chemical Engineering degrees use a variety of assessment methods including both formative and summative assessment modes. This include formative assessment during tutorials, practical laboratory exercises and process simulation sessions as well as written exams, written reports, design exercises, oral presentations and essays.
This course also gives you the option of taking a language module, which can count towards your degree. These modules cover multiple language.
Find out more about the structure, learning outcomes, compulsory and optional modules in this course.
Chemical engineers are involved in the design, operation and management of plants and processes resulting in products that influence our wellbeing and quality of life. The MEng/BEng Chemical Engineering prepare you for a long and rewarding career in the chemical and processing industries.
Graduates fom Chemical Engineering have gained employment with a number of high-profile and sector-leading companies including:
Our graduates have secured roles in research, design, development, manufacturing and production.
The BEng (Hons) course partially satisfying the educational base for a Chartered Engineer (CEng) with the IChemE. This course prepares you for further study on an accredited master's degree which will allow you to apply for Chartered Engineer status.
Successful completion of BEng (Hons) would allow progression to postgraduate study on one of the University’s Postgraduate Diploma or MSc programmes, for example MSc in Chemical Engineering.
It is anticipated that when accredited, the MEng (Hons) will fully satisfy the educational base for a Chartered Engineer (CEng) with the IChemE.
If you successful complete MEng (Hons) you could progress to PhD study.
Graduate study at other universities is possible and some of our graduates have even progressed to undertake a teaching qualification.
£1,820 Cost of study per year (paid by the Scottish Government via SAAS*)
£9,250 Cost of study per year (for four years but you will not pay more than £27,750)
£9,250 Cost of study per year (for four years but you will not pay more than £27,750)
£17,250 Cost per year of study
£305 Cost per 20-credit module of study
£1,550 Cost per 20-credit module of study
£1,550 Cost per 20-credit module of study
£2,880 Cost per 20-credit module of study
£1,820 Cost per year of study (usually paid by the Scottish Government via SAAS*)
£9,250 Cost per year of study (for four years but you will not pay more than £27,750)
£9,250 Cost per year of study (for four years but you will not pay more than £27,750)
£16,400 Cost per year of study
The cost of attending university is an investment in your future career.
In addition to tuition fees and living expenses, some courses involve extra costs like study materials, field trips, equipment and uniforms.
Fortunately, there is a great deal of financial support available to help students meet the cost of their study. This ranges from:
The sections below provide details of additional costs that your course may involve along with any financial support that may be available.
You can also find additional information in our Undergraduate Money, Fees & Funding section.
Students on certain degrees will incur some additional costs not covered by their tuition fees. These could be for things like specialist equipment, study materials and textbooks, work placements, graduation, membership of relevant organisations or costs related to carrying out fieldwork.
For students on course with an element of fieldwork, there may also be extra costs for travel and accommodation.
Note: The library will hold some copies of the textbooks but not enough for every student. Students can purchase second hand copies when possible or use older versions if advised by the module coordinator. Students can also sell their copies after the course. This helps manage the cost.
Laboratory equipment (Mandatory)
You will be required to purchase a Howie laboratory coat and other PPE which is estimated at c.£25.
Technology & equipment (Optional)
Although not essential, it is recommended that you have access to your own mid- high-end tablet or laptop / desktop computer to help with learning and assessments. Costs are variable depending upon specifications, but may cost around £200 upwards. This should last for the duration of your studies.
Institute Membership (Optional)
You are encouraged to join the Institution of Chemical Engineers during your studies. This is c.£25 per annum for students.
Books & printed material (Optional)
You are encouraged to use the library for all reading materials (some will be available digitally also). However, you may choose to purchase some or all of the recommended textbooks. Given the availability of library and online resources and individual preferences, costs will be variable.
Photocopying (Optional)
All modules are available on our VLE (Moodle) and therefore notes are available digitally. Some assessments require hardcopy submission and may incur small printing costs. It is estimated that over the course of the year, you may spend c.£20 on photocopying. This is not essential and you may choose to spend more, or less according to your needs.
Stationary costs (Optional)
Small costs associated with stationary requirements may be incurred throughout the year but these depend on personal needs and preferences. As a guide, it is estimated that you may spend c.£20 per session on stationary.
Laboratory equipment (Mandatory)
You will be required to purchase a Howie laboratory coat and other PPE which is estimated at c.£25 if you have not already done so.
Technology & equipment (Optional)
Although not essential, it is recommended that you have access to your own mid- high-end tablet or laptop / desktop computer to help with learning and assessments. Costs are variable depending upon specifications, but may cost around £200 upwards. This should last for the duration of your studies.
Institute Membership (Optional)
You are encouraged to join the Institution of Chemical Engineers during your studies. This is c.£25 per annum for students.
Books & printed material (Optional)
You are encouraged to use the library for all reading materials (some will be available digitally also). However, you may choose to purchase some or all of the recommended textbooks. Given the availability of library and online resources and individual preferences, costs will be variable.
Photocopying (Optional)
All modules are available on our VLE (Moodle) and therefore notes are available digitally. Some assessments require hardcopy submission and may incur small printing costs. It is estimated that over the course of the year, you may spend c.£20 on photocopying. This is not essential and you may choose to spend more, or less according to your needs.
Stationary costs (Optional)
Small costs associated with stationary requirements may be incurred throughout the year but these depend on personal needs and preferences. As a guide, it is estimated that you may spend c.£20 per session on stationary.
Laboratory equipment (Mandatory)
You will be required to purchase a Howie laboratory coat and other PPE which is estimated at c.£25 if you have not already done so.
Technology & equipment (Optional)
Although not essential, it is recommended that you have access to your own mid- high-end tablet or laptop / desktop computer to help with learning and assessments. Costs are variable depending upon specifications, but may cost around £200 upwards. This should last for the duration of your studies.
Institute Membership (Optional)
You are encouraged to join the Institution of Chemical Engineers during your studies. This is c.£25 per annum for students.
Books & printed material (Optional)
You are encouraged to use the library for all reading materials (some will be available digitally also). However, you may choose to purchase some or all of the recommended textbooks. Given the availability of library and online resources and individual preferences, costs will be variable.
Photocopying (Optional)
All modules are available on our VLE (Moodle) and therefore notes are available digitally. Some assessments require hardcopy submission and may incur small printing costs. It is estimated that over the course of the year, you may spend c.£20 on photocopying. This is not essential and you may choose to spend more, or less according to your needs.
Stationary costs (Optional)
Small costs associated with stationary requirements may be incurred throughout the year but these depend on personal needs and preferences. As a guide, it is estimated that you may spend c.£20 per session on stationary.
Graduation fees (Optional for those exiting with BEng award)
These fees are set annually by the University and are subject to review. For session 19/20 these were set at £10 Registration Fee. Academic dress and official photography (optional) for graduation ceremonies is hired and arranged respectively from external suppliers.
Laboratory equipment (Mandatory)
You will be required to purchase a Howie laboratory coat and other PPE which is estimated at c.£25 if you have not already done so.
Technology & equipment (Optional)
Although not essential, it is recommended that you have access to your own mid- high-end tablet or laptop / desktop computer to help with learning and assessments. Costs are variable depending upon specifications, but may cost around £200 upwards. This should last for the duration of your studies.
Institute Membership (Optional)
You are encouraged to join the Institution of Chemical Engineers during your studies. This is c.£25 per annum for students.
Books & printed material (Optional)
You are encouraged to use the library for all reading materials (some will be available digitally also). However, you may choose to purchase some or all of the recommended textbooks. Given the availability of library and online resources and individual preferences, costs will be variable.
Photocopying (Optional)
All modules are available on our VLE (Moodle) and therefore notes are available digitally. Some assessments require hardcopy submission and may incur small printing costs. It is estimated that over the course of the year, you may spend c.£20 on photocopying. This is not essential and you may choose to spend more, or less according to your needs.
Stationary costs (Optional)
Small costs associated with stationary requirements may be incurred throughout the year but these depend on personal needs and preferences. As a guide, it is estimated that you may spend c.£20 per session on stationary.
Dissertation (Mandatory)
Your final year dissertation is a core and mandatory piece of research undertaken in your final year of studies. Printing your dissertation (bound copies) will incur a cost. Depending upon the size of the dissertation and the content it can cost anything between £15-40.
Graduation fees (Optional for those exiting with BEng (Hons) award)
These fees are set annually by the University and are subject to review. For session 19/20 these were set at £10 Registration Fee. Academic dress and official photography (optional) for graduation ceremonies is hired and arranged respectively from external suppliers.
Laboratory equipment (Mandatory)
You will be required to purchase a Howie laboratory coat and other PPE which is estimated at c.£25 if you have not already done so.
Technology & equipment (Optional)
Although not essential, it is recommended that you have access to your own mid- high-end tablet or laptop / desktop computer to help with learning and assessments. Costs are variable depending upon specifications, but may cost around £200 upwards. This should last for the duration of your studies.
Institute Membership (Optional)
You are encouraged to join the Institution of Chemical Engineers during your studies. This is c.£25 per annum for students.
Books & printed material (Optional)
You are encouraged to use the library for all reading materials (some will be available digitally also). However, you may choose to purchase some or all of the recommended textbooks. Given the availability of library and online resources and individual preferences, costs will be variable.
Photocopying (Optional)
All modules are available on our VLE (Moodle) and therefore notes are available digitally. Some assessments require hardcopy submission and may incur small printing costs. It is estimated that over the course of the year, you may spend c.£20 on photocopying. This is not essential and you may choose to spend more, or less according to your needs.
Stationary costs (Optional)
Small costs associated with stationary requirements may be incurred throughout the year but these depend on personal needs and preferences. As a guide, it is estimated that you may spend c.£20 per session on stationary.
Dissertation (Mandatory)
Your final year dissertation is a core and mandatory piece of research undertaken in your final year of studies. Printing your dissertation (bound copies) will incur a cost. Depending upon the size of the dissertation and the content it can cost anything between £15-40.
Graduation fees (Mandatory)
These fees are set annually by the University and are subject to review. For session 19/20 these were set at £10 Registration Fee. Academic dress and official photography (optional) for graduation ceremonies is hired and arranged respectively from external suppliers.
Tuition fees are calculated based on where you are from and what you are studying. Some courses also involve additional costs, such as mandatory field trips, equipment or studying abroad.
Find out how much it will cost you to study at UWS as an undergraduate student.
Scottish students studying at undergraduate level at UWS are entitled to various funds and support towards tuition fees and living costs.
English, Welsh and Northern Irish students studying at undergraduate level at UWS are entitled to various funds and support towards tuition fees and living costs.
EU students studying at undergraduate level of UWS may be eligible for SAAS funding, as well as support to meet the costs of childcare and various sources of additional funding.
There are several scholarship and incentive schemes available to international students studying at undergraduate level at UWS, as well as support to meet the costs of childcare and various sources of additional funding.
UWS administer a range of discretionary and childcare funds. These are designed to support students who are experiencing financial difficulty or struggling to meet the costs of childcare.
Becoming a student can have an impact on your entitlement to certain benefits. It may mean you are no longer eligible to claim a benefit you have been receiving, or your new income from student funding may affect the amount you are able to receive.
If there isn’t a statutory source of funding for you or your course, or you are in need of additional financial support, you may wish to consider more alternative sources of funding such as trust funds and scholarships.
Choosing to become a student can have a big impact on your budget and you may need to reassess your spending to account for a reduced income. We’ve put together some guidance to help you manage your money and make the right financial choices for you and your family.
This scholarship scheme will see £2,000 being awarded annually to one student to support the student experience in the Honours year of undergraduate study.
Applications are open from Monday 10 January to Friday 24 June 2022. Find out more about the scholarship here.
This scholarship scheme will see £4,250 being awarded in the 2022/23 academic session to three students undertaking MEng (Hons) Chemical Engineering to support the student experience in the final year (Year 5) of study. Applications are open from Monday 10 January to Friday 13 May 2022.
All UK and EU applicants for undergraduate study, not applying through an agent or partner, should apply through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service)
The on-time application deadline for 2022/23 entry is 26 January 2022, 18:00 (UK time). For some courses it may still be possible to apply beyond this period, subject to suitable vacancies remaining. The final deadline for late applications via UCAS is 30 June 2022, 18:00 (UK time). Beyond this deadline, you may be able to apply via ‘UCAS Clearing’ if the course you are interested in has remaining places.
Please refer to our Undergraduate Application Guide to find more information on when and how to apply to study at UWS.
Students from non-EU/non-EEA countries can apply directly to UWS via our dedicated online application system. The latest we can process your application is 6 weeks before the course start date to allow for visa processing times. For more information on when and how to apply to study at UWS please refer to our International Undergraduate Application Guide.
For part-time & online study, you should apply directly to the University through our online application system, not through UCAS. Please select the part-time mode of study when submitting your application. Before you begin your application, it is important to read the part-time application step-by-step guide for a smooth process.
To come to UWS as a visiting student on a study abroad or exchange programme, you must apply entirely through our online system.
An ATAS certificate is not required for overseas students applying for this course.
Do you have a question about applying for this course? Get in touch. We are here to help!
Going to university is about much more than getting a qualification, it’s also the chance to enjoy an exciting social life, gain some independence and make the most of the new opportunities available.
Discover More About UWSWe will always try to make sure that we publish accurate course information but we do not accept responsibility for any mistakes or omissions. We will also try to make sure that we deliver our courses in line with our published information. However, we may not always be able to do so and you can find further information about this in our enrolment terms and conditions.