Chemical Engineering

Undergraduate opportunities 2020

www.eng.ed.ac.uk

What is chemical engineering?Chemical engineering encompasses the development, design and operation of the processes that produce the materials and products we all depend on. These range from the fresh water and gas supplied to our homes, to performance products such as cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Essentially chemical engineering is all about adding value to materials by changing their chemical compositions, structures or physical state.

Chemical engineering is not a subject that is covered at school level. Its broad spectrum of activities – from detailed modelling of catalytic reactions to estimating wind loading on tall distillation columns – attracts students with a good science background and strong mathematics skills, who are interested in applying scientific principles to the real world.

Degree choicesChemical Engineering (BEng)UCAS Code: H800 Duration: four years, full-time

Chemical Engineering (MEng)UCAS Code: H804Duration: five years, full-time

Years 1, 2, 3 and 4 are the same as Chemical Engineering (BEng) H800

Why study chemical engineering at Edinburgh?Chemical engineering forms a part of the School of Engineering, which encompasses chemical, mechanical, civil and electrical engineering. Both our chemical engineering programmes are accredited by the Institution of Chemical Engineers. In 2014, 94 per cent of our overall research activity was rated as world-leading or internationally excellent (Times Higher Education, Overall Ranking of Institutions). This, combined with the number of academic staff involved, makes Edinburgh the UK powerhouse in engineering.

The teaching team integrate the knowledge gained through world-class research activities into the degree, both in lecture material and in undergraduate research projects. We have extensive industrial contacts, through the optional six month placements that students undertake in their fifth year of study and through participation in our design projects. Our classes have around 100 students per year. An active Chemical Engineering Society, organising regular social events, guest speakers and an annual dinner, helps to strengthen a strong group identity amongst the chemical engineering students. Group work throughout the programme also helps students get to know each other.

What does the degree involve?We offer BEng and MEng degrees in chemical engineering that provide graduates with the skills and knowledge to make a real contribution to the chemical and process industries, and beyond.

The MEng degree is accredited by the Engineering Council as meeting the educational base required to become a Chartered Engineer. Students taking the BEng degree may also apply for Chartered status if they complete suitable further study.

What sort of teaching and assessment methods are used?Your degree is structured to develop a critical, creative, and inquiring approach to engineering design and problem solving. We cover techniques used in industry today, but we also prepare our graduates to use the design tools of tomorrow. We combine a variety of teaching methods, using a hybrid blend of digital resources, face-to-face teaching, lectures, group work, tutorials and laboratory classes. Group design exercises are also used throughout the degree programmes.

Assessment is through a combination of continuously assessed material, projects, coursework and by examination. We use group and individual project work to develop conceptual and detailed design skills, as well as professional skills including project management.

Course structureFor more details on the chemical engineering courses and their structure, please visit the degree programme tables at: www.drps.ed.ac.uk/20-21/dpt/drps_eng.htm

Year 1Engineers are creative problem solvers, adept at working in professional, interdisciplinary teams to tackle society’s ever-more complex challenges. In Engineering Principles you will experience a wide range of such challenges, developing essential engineering skills, and gaining an understanding of the subject’s breadth and the role your chosen discipline plays. In Engineering Design you will work in a team on an interdisciplinary engineering task – getting involved in design, and using your engineering judgement to evaluate your solution to a task.

These introductory courses will help you to develop the confidence, advanced thinking, team-working and problem-solving skills that you will later rely on as a professional engineer. You will also study mathematics and chemistry topics that provide essential groundwork for more advanced engineering studies.

Year 2In year 2 you will specialise in core chemical engineering topics including separation processes, fluid mechanics, chemistry and materials, thermodynamics, bioprocess engineering and chemical engineering technology. These courses prepare you for further specialisation at honours level, covering technical concepts and where possible, giving you the opportunity to apply these in a practical situation. You will study programming to develop your skills in computer control and simulation – essentials in the engineer’s toolkit. Engineering

mathematics is also studied. You will continue your professional development with a course on essential professional skills for engineers.

Year 3You will study heat, mass and momentum transfer, kinetics and catalysis, solids processing, environmental and safety aspects of chemical engineering, computing, design and control, as well as undertaking laboratory work.

Year 4The final year of the BEng programme and the first of the two honours years for MEng students. You will study modules in design, management, fluid mechanics, reaction engineering, and a further two modules chosen from a range of options offered within the School of Engineering. You will also carry out a study project and a design project.

Year 5The final year of the MEng programme emphasises individual research either through an in-house research project or through a six-month industrial placement. Industrial Placement Projects run from June to December and account for half of the fifth year assessment. Previous chemical engineering industrial project host companies include BP, Diageo, Fujifilm, Petrofac, Rolls-Royce, Shell, Wood Group and Xodus. In addition students doing in-house projects complete an interdisciplinary design project with other engineers and six optional taught modules.

Links with industryThe majority of fifth year students undertake six month projects in industries ranging from upstream oil and gas, chocolate and whisky manufacture, process safety consultancy to pharmaceuticals. This is made possible by a good network of contacts between ourselves and a wide range of industries, and also through a network of alumni who support us. Our students have completed placements with companies such as Chevron, Jacobs, Maersk, P&G, Total and the University of Adelaide.

Students visit local chemical plants as part of their programme and we have industrial participation in our honours design projects whenever possible. We are advised in our programme planning by an industrial liaison board made up of around ten practicing chemical engineers from different sectors of industry.

Year abroadNormally several of our students take part in the University’s International Exchange scheme, spending a year at a university overseas. Recently students have spent a year at universities in the USA and Canada, for example. We also have visiting students from all over the world spending time with us.

AccreditationThe BEng degree is accredited as fully satisfying the educational base for an Incorporated Engineer (IEng) and partially satisfying the educational base for a Chartered Engineer (CEng). An accredited programme is needed to complete the educational base for CEng. The MEng programme is accredited as fully satisfying the educational base for a Chartered Engineer (CEng).

Entry requirementsStandard entry requirementThe standard entry requirement is:

• SQA Highers: AAAA - AABB by end of S5. If not achieved by the end of S5 we may consider your application based on a good performance in S6. A minimum of BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6.

• A Levels: AAA - ABB in one set of exams.

• IB: 37 points with 666 at HL - 32 points with 555 at HL.

Minimum entry requirementThe minimum entry requirement for widening access applicants is:

• SQA Highers: AABB by end of S6, with a minimum of BBB achieved in one year of S4-S6.

• A Levels: ABB.• IB: 32 points with 555 at HL.

Required subjectsThe grades to meet our entry requirements must include:

• SQA: Higher: mathematics at grade A and chemistry. National 5: physics at grade C.

• A Levels: mathematics and chemistry. GCSE: physics or Double Award Science at grade C or 4.

• IB: HL: Chemistry and Mathematics (from 2021, Mathematics: Analysis and approaches only) . Diploma must include Physics at either HL or SL.

Second year entryFor direct entry to second year the minimum requirements must be exceeded, including the following:

• SQA Advanced Highers: AA to include Mathematics and Chemistry plus Highers at AB in two other subjects.

• A Levels: A*AA in one set of exams, to include Mathematics and Chemistry, or AAA in one set of exams, to include Mathematics, Further Mathematics and Chemistry.

• IB: 38 points overall and award of IB Diploma with 666 at HL to include Chemistry and Mathematics (from 2021, Mathematics: Analysis and approaches only). Diploma must include Physics.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your spoken and written English:

• IELTS Academic module overall 6.5 with 5.5 in each component

• TOEFL-iBT 92 or above with 20 in each section

• Cambridge English: Advanced or Proficiency overall 176 with 162 in each component

• Pearson Test of English (Academic): Total 61 with at least 51 in each “Communicative Skills” section

• Trinity ISE: ISE II with a distinction in all four components

Career prospectsWhile many chemical engineering graduates still begin their careers working in the chemical or oil industries, or for the engineering contractors who design and build process plants, there is also an increasing demand from less traditional employers. There are growing opportunities in food and drink production, the water industry, electronics manufacture, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, personal products and many other areas.

The breadth and depth of training required to become a practising chemical engineer, with its emphasis on numerate problem-solving and communication skills, is an excellent basis for other careers, such as informatics, finance, accountancy, marketing or general management.

This wide range of potential employers means that our graduates are exceptionally well placed to find rewarding and lucrative careers.

© The University of Edinburgh. All information correct at time of going to print (November 2019). No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission of the University.

The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, with registration number SC005336.

FeesFees for the 2020-21* session are as follows:

Home - Scotland/EU: £1,820Home - RUK: £9,250Overseas/international: £27,550

*Fees changed annually

ScholarshipsThe School of Engineering offers several scholarships and bursaries alongside those offered by the University. For more information please visit: www.ed.ac.uk/student-funding/search-scholarships

Contact usE ugenquiries@eng.ed.ac.ukT +44 (0)131 650 7352

www.eng.ed.ac.uk

School of EngineeringThe University of EdinburghFaraday BuildingThe King’s BuildingsEdinburgh EH9 3JL