Professionally accredited, and with paid placement opportunities, the BEng Chemical Engineering course offers excellent job prospects and the potential to help create a sustainable planet.
The course combines academic study, hands-on experience and group projects to ensure you develop the essential practical and communication abilities required by employers in 21st century process 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.
Ranked top in Scotland in the Guardian University Guide 2019.
This course is accredited by the the Institution of Chemical Engineers under license from the UK regulator, the Engineering Council. The curriculum is designed to satisfy internationally recognised high accreditation requirements.
You 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.
Broaden your horizons, learn a new language and prepare for the best international opportunities available with study abroad at UWS.
UWS has over 100 years’ experience in training engineers. 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.
Learn more about the School of Engineering & Computing at UWS.
Student satisfaction for BEng Chemical Engineering - National Student Survey 2019
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.
International (non-EEA) applicants 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.
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)
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 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:
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.
Over the course of the 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.
Industry experts will share their expertise through guest lectures. NEL (engineering consultancy) representatives recently presented to students on the importance of correct measurement.
The BEng is accredited by the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) and the curriculum is designed to satisfy the high accreditation requirements which are internationally recognised.
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, process control and project management 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.
This course also gives you the option of taking a language module, which can count towards your degree. These modules cover ten languages and range from absolute beginner to near-native speaker level. View the language modules on offer.
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 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.
Find out more about the structure, learning outcomes, compulsory and optional modules in this course.
Graduates have gained employment with companies including GlaxoSmithKline; Amec Foster Wheeler; Texaco; BNFL Sellafield; Seal Chemicals; Doosan Babcock; Nestlé; Joint European Torus Project; and Procter & Gamble.
Some graduates choose further study, leading to an MSc, PhD or teaching qualification.
£1,820 cost per year of study (paid by the Scottish Government via SAAS*)
£9,250 Cost per year of study for four years but not more than £27,750
£9,250 Cost per year of study for four years but not more than £27,750
£14,000 per year of study
£305 per module (20 credits)
£1,550 per module (20 credits)
£1,550 per module (20 credits)
£2,350 per module (20 credits)
£1,820 cost per year of study (paid by the Scottish Government via SAAS*)
£9,250 Cost per year of study for four years but not more than £27,750
£9,250 Cost per year of study for four years but not more than £27,750
£16,000 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, 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.
Please contact the course leader for details of the additional costs associated with this course.
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.
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 2020/21 entry is 15 January 2020, 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 2020, 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 for domestic & EU/EEA 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!
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DiscoverWe 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.