Introduction
A flexible, industry-focused programme, delivering advanced skills in chemical and process engineering for multiple industry sectors, including oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, food and environmental science.
This programme has January and September start dates. Apply Now.
Eligible self-funded international Masters students will receive the Aberdeen Global Scholarship. Visit our Funding Database to find out more and see our full range of scholarships.
Study Information
Study Options
- Learning Mode
- On Campus Learning
- Degree Qualification
- MSc
- Duration
- 12 months
- Study Mode
- Full Time
- Start Month
- September or January
- Location of Study
- Aberdeen
Chemical engineering involves changing the chemical state of substances to create many of the products we use today in everyday life, including, for example, petroleum, plastics, and synthetic fibres. Chemical engineers, therefore, work in a wide variety of industry sectors, including oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, food and drink, renewable energy and environmental protection.
The MSc in Advanced Chemical Engineering is designed for chemical engineering graduates, or graduates of related disciplines, who are looking to advance their specialist knowledge and skills and gain a higher qualification in the field of chemical and process engineering.
You will study the essential areas of chemical engineering in detail, including topics such as separation and product purification and air and water pollution control. You will also learn about catalyst and reactor design, as well as process design, layout and materials. In addition, you will choose further optional courses based on your career interests in subjects such as clean energy, process safety, management and human factors engineering.
The programme also includes an individual research project, which will further hone your independent research skills and develop your expertise in a topic related to your career aspirations.
The School of Engineering is known as a centre of excellence in chemical engineering research, in areas including oil and gas, carbon capture, biofuel, energy storage and pharmaceutical manufacturing. We also have excellent industry links, with national and international chemical, pharmaceuticals and oil & gas companies such as Scottish Water, GSK, Halliburton and Shell giving you the opportunity to benefit from industry-informed teaching and research.
This programme is accredited by IChemE, providing graduates with a pathway to qualification as a Chartered Chemical Engineer (MIChemE) and registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng) or Incorporated Engineer (IEng) with the Engineering Council.
Available Programmes of Study
- MSc
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Advanced Chemical Engineering
Qualification Duration Learning Mode Study Mode Start Month LocationMSc 12 months On Campus Learning Full Time September MoreProgramme Fees
Fee information Fee category Cost EU / International students £27,000 Tuition Fees for 2024/25 Academic Year UK £11,100 Tuition Fees for 2024/25 Academic Year Semester 1
Compulsory Courses
- Getting Started at the University of Aberdeen (PD5006)
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This course, which is prescribed for all taught postgraduate students, is studied entirely online, takes approximately 5-6 hours to complete and can be taken in one sitting, or spread across a number of weeks.
Topics include orientation overview, equality and diversity, health, safety and cyber security and how to make the most of your time at university in relation to careers and employability.
Successful completion of this course will be recorded on your Enhanced Transcript as ‘Achieved’.
- Separation and Product Purification (EG502Y)
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15 Credit Points
The MSc in Advanced Chemical Engineering is developed for undergraduate degree holders in chemical or related engineering to equip them with advanced technical skills and knowledge. Separation and Product Purification is a core course of the program. It aims to provide the knowledge and skills related to the existing and emerging separation and product purification technologies in the context of design, optimization, and operation.
The aim of this course is to provide the students with sufficient breadth and depth of prevalent and conventional and emerging separation techniques used in chemical process industries; a significant emphasis will be given to bio-separations used in biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and biomolecules. Other emerging separations in, for example, carbon capture and utilization, environmental protection, etc will be covered.
- Air and Water Pollution Control (EX501U)
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15 Credit Points
This course introduces the water cycle and the need for wastewater treatment. Biological wastewater treatment is covered in detail with focus on: activated sludge process for carbon and nitrogen removal and anaerobic digestion. Air pollution control is also covered in detail. The course focuses on process design based on mass balance, heat balances and kinetics.
Optional Courses
Plus, select TWO from the following:
- Computational Fluid Dynamics (EG501V)
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15 Credit Points
The course aims to provide understanding of main principles and techniques underpinning computational fluid dynamics (CFD) combining numerical methods with practical experience using appropriate software. The course develops a foundation for understanding, developing and analysing successful simulations of fluid flows applicable to a broad range of applications.
- Offshore Process Engineering (EG503J)
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15 Credit Points
Offshore process plants, such as subsea installations, oil rigs, FPSOs, pipelines, and captured CO2 injection sites are some of the most technically challenging environments to operate in. This course uses this context to introduce and explain the advanced engineering and innovative designs used to overcome these challenges. The focus is on developing safe, energy-efficient designs using first-principle reasoning and awareness of modern approaches.
- Safety & Risk Management (EG50S2)
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15 Credit Points
The course serves as the entrance to the field of safety and reliability engineering with the introduction of the basic concepts and tools of safety and risk management. Legal frames related to engineering safety are also introduced.
Contents include: Fundamentals of safety engineering; natural and man-made hazards; safety measures; accident and failure statistics; fundamentals of risk management; risk assessment techniques; classical reliability theory; modelling of engineering systems as series and parallel systems; redundancy; fault trees and event trees; availability and maintainability; UK safety legislation, including the Health and Safety at Work Act and its historical, offshore and other regulations.
- Loss of Containment (EG50T5)
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15 Credit Points
The course aims to give students an in-depth treatment of the critical technical aspects of loss of containment including factors leading to loss of containment and consequence modelling.
Semester 2
Compulsory Courses
- Catalyst and Reactor Design (EG552Q)
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15 Credit Points
The MSc in Advanced Chemical Engineering is developed for undergraduate degree holders in chemical or related engineering to equip them with advanced technical skills and knowledge in chemical engineering. Catalyst and Reactor Design is a core course of the program. It aims to provide the students with sufficient breadth and depth of catalysis and its application for catalyst design and theory and practice of reactor engineering.
- Process Design, Layout & Materials (EG55P8)
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15 Credit Points
Candidates will develop PIDs for major systems applying LOPA and including instrumentation. Inherently safe equipment layout principles for both onshore and offshore applications are addressed. Layouts will be developed for example applications.
The safety critical systems are reviewed and discussed.
Corrosion mechanisms are addressed together with materials for construction properties. Basic corrosion models are presented for a wide range of fluids. The operational modes which present most demand on materials are reviewed. Corrosion in erosive environments is addressed. Effects of temperature deviations in fire & blowdown are illustrated and analysed. Case studies are used to illustrate common issues.
Optional Courses
Plus, select TWO from the following:
- Process Plant Equipment and Operations (EG55P7)
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15 Credit Points
The course aims to give students knowledge and understanding of how larger process systems behave and are operated and controlled. Focus is being placed on the stability of feedback control loops and on advanced control strategies aiming at enhancing safety and operability. Specific cases across the safety hierarchy (basic and advanced process control, alarm systems, emergency shutdown and interlocks, etc) are addressed.
- Mathematical Optimisation (EG551T)
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15 Credit Points
Ever wondered how Excel is able to draw an optimal line through a set of points? This course looks at how typical engineering problems that cannot be described mathematically (or are difficult to do so) can be solved so that the optimal solution is found. The course contains a range of examples to show how the techniques are applied to real world problems in different engineering disciplines. The course will show how to develop computational algorithms from scratch, with a fundamental understanding of how the algorithms function, both mathematically and then in real time on a computer.
- Applied Risk Analysis and Management (EG5558)
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15 Credit Points
Risk assessment, the common tools used for (and the legal requirement associated with) risk assessment are covered. Students will have a thorough understanding on the components of good assessment and management of risks, and be familiar with the basic requirement for HAZID, HAZOP, SIL, QRA and the Safety Case.
- Human Factors Engineering (EG55P9)
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15 Credit Points
Human Factors Engineering (HFE) relates to how people interact with engineering systems. Failures in these areas are involved in all major incidents. Candidates explore them as part of this course. First, a review of major accidents will be undertaken to identify how equipment design, individual behaviours, and organisational behaviours contributed. Equipment/system design and the effect it has on individuals' behaviours is explored. Human Error is addressed. Finally, organisational behaviours will be examined. Leading and Lagging indicators are explored and their strengths/weaknesses considered. Candidates have the opportunity to complete practical assessments led by industry practitioners with specialist expertise in HFE.
Semester 3
Compulsory Courses
- MSc Individual Project (EG59F1)
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60 Credit Points
The MSc Individual Project is an independent piece of research based on a topic related to a student’s degree programme. Students are encouraged to focus on a problem confronting industry or a related area. The individual project provides students with an opportunity to demonstrate how the in-depth skills and knowledge they have gained during the taught courses can be used to provide solutions to practical problems. The individual project should contain a degree of original research.
MSc 12 months On Campus Learning Full Time January Aberdeen More
We will endeavour to make all course options available; however, these may be subject to timetabling and other constraints. Please see our InfoHub pages for further information.
Fee Information
Additional Fee Information
- Fees for individual programmes can be viewed in the Programmes section above.
- In exceptional circumstances there may be additional fees associated with specialist courses, for example field trips. Any additional fees for a course can be found in our Catalogue of Courses.
- For more information about tuition fees for this programme, including payment plans and our refund policy, please visit our InfoHub Tuition Fees page.
International Applicants
Further Information about tuition fees and the cost of living in Aberdeen
Funding Opportunities
- Shell U.K. Limited is offering three £20,000 scholarships for students starting a Masters programme aligned with the Centre for Energy Transition (CET) commencing in September 2024. Find out more
- OPITO, the skills organisation for oil and gas, is offering one scholarship of £12,500 towards the student's maintenance costs. The scholarship will be awarded to students starting in September 2024. Find out more.
- NEO Energy, an independent full-cycle energy business in the UKCS, are offering two postgraduate scholarships in a variety of taught degree programmes at the University of Aberdeen. Each scholarship is valued at £20,000. Find out more
Scholarships
Self-funded international students enrolling on postgraduate taught (PGT) programmes will receive one of our Aberdeen Global Scholarships, ranging from £3000 to £8,500, depending on your domicile country. Learn more about the Aberdeen Global Scholarships here.
To see our full range of scholarships, visit our Funding Database.
How You'll Study
Learning Methods
- Group Projects
- Individual Projects
- Lab Work
- Lectures
- Research
- Tutorials
Why Study Advanced Chemical Engineering?
- Chemical engineers are highly sought after across a wide range of industry sectors, including oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, food and drink renewable energy and environmental protection.
- Students of this programme will also get the opportunity to visit companies and view their facilities. Recent visits have included GSK, Syngenta, Gaskfarm, SSE and Fred Olsen Renewables.
- The MSc in Advanced Chemical Engineering is designed specifically for chemical engineering graduates, or graduates of related disciplines, including polymer engineering, material engineering, petroleum/ oil & gas engineering, food engineering, bioengineering, materials engineering, etc., who aspire to gain a further qualification, advanced technical skills and knowledge in the field of chemical and process engineering
- You will study the essential areas of chemical engineering in great detail, with options to specialise through courses Clean Energy, Process Safety, Management and Human Factors Engineering.
- The most recent survey by the IChemE revealed that the median salary for chemical engineers in 2018 in the UK and Ireland was £54,000. The highest median salary for Chemical Engineers was found in the finance, insurance and risk sector at £90,000 per year.
- The School of Engineering has excellent industry links, with national and international chemical, pharmaceuticals and oil & gas companies such as Scottish Water, GSK, Halliburton and Shell.
Entry Requirements
Qualifications
The information below is provided as a guide only and does not guarantee entry to the University of Aberdeen.
- 2:1 (upper second class) UK Honours degree, or an Honours degree from a non-UK institution which is judged by the University to be of equivalent worth in Chemical Engineering or other related engineering discipline.
- Those with a High 2:2 Honours degree in Engineering may also be considered if they can demonstrate 2+ years of relevant experience.
Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate
The CAH3 code for this degree is CAH10-01-09. Students who need a visa to live or study in the UK must to apply for ATAS clearance. The ATAS clearance certificate must be valid when you apply for a visa to enter the UK. To find out if you need to apply for ATAS clearance, please visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/academic-technology-approval-scheme
Please enter your country to view country-specific entry requirements.
English Language Requirements
To study for a Postgraduate Taught degree at the University of Aberdeen it is essential that you can speak, understand, read, and write English fluently. The minimum requirements for this degree are as follows:
IELTS Academic:
OVERALL - 6.5 with: Listening - 5.5; Reading - 5.5; Speaking - 5.5; Writing - 6.0
TOEFL iBT:
OVERALL - 90 with: Listening - 17; Reading - 18; Speaking - 20; Writing - 21
PTE Academic:
OVERALL - 62 with: Listening - 59; Reading - 59; Speaking - 59; Writing - 59
Cambridge English B2 First, C1 Advanced, C2 Proficiency:
OVERALL - 176 with: Listening - 162; Reading - 162; Speaking - 162; Writing - 169
Read more about specific English Language requirements here.
Document Requirements
You will be required to supply the following documentation with your application as proof you meet the entry requirements of this degree programme. If you have not yet completed your current programme of study, then you can still apply and you can provide your Degree Certificate at a later date.
- CV
- an up-to-date CV/Resumé
- Degree Certificate
- a degree certificate showing your qualifications
- Degree Transcript
- a full transcript showing all the subjects you studied and the marks you have achieved in your degree(s) (original & official English translation)
- Personal Statement
- a detailed personal statement explaining your motivation for this particular programme
International Applicants
Aberdeen Global Scholarship
Eligible self-funded post graduate taught (PGT) students will receive the Aberdeen Global Scholarship. Explore our Global Scholarships, including eligibility details, on our dedicated page.
Aberdeen Global ScholarshipsCareers
Graduates of this programme will find employment opportunities in research and development as well as in industrial fields including oil and gas processing, petrochemicals, fine chemicals and beverages, clean energy, environmental waste management, materials, agrochemicals, process safety, consultancy, and many technical areas.
Accreditation
This degree holds accreditation from
- IChemE Accredited Degree
Our Experts
- Other Experts
- Prof Jos Derksen
- Dr Euan Bain
- Thomas Baxter
- Dr Marcus Campbell Bannerman
- Dr Davide Dionisi
- Dr Jeff Gomes
- Dr Panagiotis Kechagiopoulos
- Dr Claudia Fernandez Martin
- Dr Alfonso Martinez-Felipe
- Programme Coordinator
- Dr Waheed Afzal
Information About Staff Changes
You will be taught by a range of experts including professors, lecturers, teaching fellows and postgraduate tutors. Staff changes will occur from time to time; please see our InfoHub pages for further information.
Get in Touch
Contact Details
- Address
-
Student Recruitment & Admissions
University of Aberdeen
University Office
Regent Walk
Aberdeen
AB24 3FX