Professional Groups
Chemical Engineering
The Chemical Engineering Professional Group is one of four professional groups within the School of Engineering. The group is responsible for; the development and delivery of the School’s new undergraduate degree programme in Chemical Engineering; providing links to industry, in particular the local Oil and Gas industry; undertaking leading chemical engineering research; promoting professional activities relating to chemical engineering within the School of Engineering.
What is Chemical Engineering?
Chemical Engineering is all about the design, operation and optimisation of safe, environmentally-friendly, energy-efficient processes which convert raw materials to the useful products which we rely on in our everyday lives.
What do Chemical Engineers do?
Chemical Engineers can be found practicing in a wide variety of industries such as oil & gas, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, energy, water, food & drink and fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) to name a few.
More detailed information regarding the types of roles which chemical engineers fill can be found here.
What skills are required & What skills will I gain?
If you enjoy problem solving and have an aptitude for science and maths you have what is required to undertake a degree in chemical engineering.
A degree in chemical engineering will give you the specialist knowledge you require to undertake a role as a professional chemical engineer. In addition, your chemical engineering degree will develop a wide range of transferable skills such as project management, resource management, health and safety, leadership and communication skills, I.T. skills as well as business & legal knowledge.
Why become a Chemical Engineer?
The skills possessed by chemical engineers make them desirable to a wide variety of employers; as a result, the graduate chemical engineer has excellent job prospects. Graduate chemical engineers are given responsibility from the outset and often find themselves in a senior management position at a relatively young age.
According to the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE), a typical starting salary for a graduate chemical engineer in 2008 was £26,000. A Chartered Chemical Engineer may command a salary comparable to that of a doctor, lawyer or accountant.
The role of a chemical engineer provides opportunities for travel, a variety of challenges and real responsibility from the day you begin work as a graduate.
Chemical Engineering Course and Degree Programmes
The school launched the new degree programme in Chemical Engineering in 2006 as part of a vision to create a world class centre of chemical engineering teaching and research in the energy capital of Europe. The course gives students a solid background in chemical engineering fundamentals together with unique access to current industrial problems in the energy industry.
What courses can I study?
The School of Engineering currently offers two degree programmes in chemical engineering, the Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) programme or the Master of Engineering (MEng) programme. The BEng is a 4-year, honours degree programme whilst the MEng is a 5-year, extended honours degree programme allowing students to study more advanced topics in the 5th year of study.
Most Undergraduate students undertake a project in their final year to meet the challenges of real-world engineering problems. These projects are linked to the research activities of staff in the school and can be undertaken with industry sponsorship, direct placement with local industry or a research centre in another country.
An overview of the course content is available here.
Leading Research in Chemical Engineering
Research within the school is organised into research institutes that span the traditional boundaries between the engineering professions. Specialisations of the chemical engineering staff include energy production; advanced materials; sediment transport; erosion; fuel cell technologies; energy storage; CO2 sequestration and environmental remediation.
Links to Industry
The Chemical Professional Group works with local industry, with a special focus on the Oil and Gas sector. It provides innovative ideas and designs to industry, and collaborates in joint research into problems and new technology.
Chemical Engineering Professional Institutions
The school is working towards the accreditation of the undergraduate degree programmes in 2011. This is the earliest date we can seek accreditation with the Institution of Chemical Engineers and represents the moment when our first students will graduate. All students are encouraged to join the IChemE, which offer a range of opportunities for members and others interested in advancing their careers or finding employment.