MEng Chemical Engineering

Year 1

Engineers 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 as part of 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*.

*(Revised 3 June 2020 to update Year 1 information.)

Year 2

In Year 2 you will specialise in core chemical engineering topics including:

• separation processes
• fluid mechanics
• chemistry and materials
• thermodynamics
• bioprocess engineering
• 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*.

*(Revised 3 June 2020 to update Year 2 information.)

Year 3

In Year 3 you will deepen your understanding of chemical engineering with classes including:

• Thermodynamics and Unit Operations
• Heat, Mass and Momentum Transfer
• Process Dynamics and Control
• Process Safety and Environmental Issues

You will also put your knowledge into practice in the laboratory.

Progression routes

At the end of Year 3, you will have the option of completing one more year (Year 4) to exit with a BEng (Hons) award.

Alternatively, you can study for a further two years (Years 4 and 5) to exit with an MEng (Hons) award. Progression to Year 5 is subject to you meeting the MEng progression requirements.

Year 4

In Year 4 there is a strong emphasis on design, with both individual and group projects.

This is complemented by courses on:

• Engineering Project Management
• Fluid Mechanics
• Reaction Engineering

Specialist study and innovative coursework will prepare you for your professional career.

Year 5

In your MEng year you will concentrate on your final project either in industry or in academia, in the UK or abroad.

You will also have the opportunity to deepen your knowledge in specialist subjects that you can choose as options from a range of advanced courses.

Programme structure

Find out more about the compulsory and optional courses in this degree programme.

To give you an idea of what you will study on this programme, we publish the latest available information. However, please note this may not be for your year of entry, but for a different academic year.

Programme structure (2020/21)

Our facilities

Lectures take place in the George Square area during Year 1 and for all other years at the University's King's Buildings campus.

You will have access to the University's libraries and engineering and computing laboratories. Study materials are available online.

Placements

You have the opportunity to undertake a six-month placement in Year 4.

During this placement, you complete your major individual project in either industry or at an overseas Research Institution/University. In the 2019 cohort, 72% of Year 4 students undertook a placement.

The School provides support to students seeking a placement, and all placements advertised by the School will be paid opportunities.

Study abroad

You will have opportunities to study abroad in Year 3 through the University's international exchange programmes.

You can also spend your Year 4 placement abroad either in industry or in a research institution.

What are my options for going abroad?

How will I learn?

You will be taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials, laboratory sessions, projects and group work.

In your final years you will dedicate more time to private study and will receive individual supervision with projects.

How will I be assessed?

You will be assessed through a combination of coursework and exams.

Programme details

Find out more about this programme's aims, what you will learn, how you will be assessed and what skills and knowledge you will develop.

To give you an idea of what to expect from this programme, we publish the latest available information. However, please note this may not be for your year of entry, but for a different academic year.

Programme details (2020/21)

A chemical engineering degree opens the door to a fulfilling and varied career, with many exciting opportunities for employment in technical and management roles in a wide array of industries.

Many of our students gain valuable experience spending six months in industry, in the UK and worldwide, as part of their programme.

Standard entry requirement

The standard entry requirement is:

• SQA Highers: AAAA - AABB by end of S5. BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6.
• A Levels: AAA - ABB.
• IB: 34 points with 555 at HL - 32 points with 555 at HL.

Minimum entry requirement

The minimum entry requirement for widening access applicants is:

• SQA Highers: AABB by end of S6. BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6.
• A Levels: ABB.
• IB: 32 points with 555 at HL.

More information for widening access applicants

Required subjects

The grades used to meet our entry requirements must include:

• SQA: Highers: Mathematics at A and Chemistry at B. National 5s: Physics and English at C.
• A Levels: Mathematics and Chemistry at B. GCSEs: English at C or 4 and Physics or Double Award Science at C or 4.
• IB: HL: Mathematics (from 2021, Mathematics: Analysis and approaches only) and Chemistry at 5. SL: English and Physics at 5.

Find out more about entry requirements

International applicants

We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.

Entry requirements by country

Mature applicants

We welcome applications from mature students and accept a range of qualifications.

Mature applicant qualifications

Academic Technology Approval Scheme

If you are not an EU, EEA or Swiss national, you may need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme clearance certificate in order to study this programme.

Academic Technology Approval Scheme

For direct entry to second year the standard requirements must be exceeded, including the following:

• SQA Advanced Highers: AA to include Mathematics and Chemistry plus Highers at AB in two further 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 with 666 at HL to include Chemistry and Mathematics (from 2021, Mathematics: Analysis and approaches only) at 6.

Other entry pathways

Entry to many degrees in Science & Engineering is possible via other qualifications (eg HNC/D, Access, SWAP).

• Science & Engineering applications

You must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies, regardless of your nationality or country of residence.

SQA, GCSE and IB

For SQA, GCSE and IB students, unless a higher level is specified in the stated entry requirements, a pass is required in English at the following grades or higher:

• SQA National 5 at C
• SQA Standard Grade at 3
• SQA Intermediate 1 at A
• SQA Intermediate 2 at C
• GCSE at C or 4
• Level 2 Certificate at C
• IB Standard Level at 5 (English ab initio is not accepted for entry)

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified*:

• IELTS Academic module overall 6.5 with 5.5 in each component
• TOEFL-iBT (including Special Home Edition) 92 or above with 20 in each section. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• Cambridge English: Advanced or Proficiency overall 176 with 162 in each component
• Trinity ISE: ISE II with a distinction in all four components

We also accept a wider range of international qualifications and tests.

English language qualifications must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the degree you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL or Trinity ISE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

English language requirements

*(Revised 27 April 2020 to include TOEFL-iBT Special Home Edition.)

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It is one of many sources of information which will enable you to make an informed decision on what and where to study.

Please note that some programmes do not have Discover Uni data available.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees for MEng Chemical Engineering

Additional costs

In Year 1, you will require Personal Protective Equipment for practical work. Prices start at £36.

Funding

For more information on how much it will cost to study with us and the financial support available see our fees and funding information.

Fees and funding

• Enquiry Management Team
• Email: futurestudents@ed.ac.uk
• International enquiries