Course Overview
Overview
Chemical engineers bring about innovation and improvements in process industries, such as those concerned with the manufacture of chemicals, food, fuel and pharmaceuticals.
The Department of Chemical Engineering was founded in 1912 and undergraduate degrees were first formally taught from 1937.
On this professionally accredited course, you will learn to apply scientific, engineering and business principles to a variety of complex practical issues.
You also have the chance to spend your third year studying abroad at one of our leading partner universities. Places are currently available in Europe, Singapore, Australia or the USA.
Study programme
All Chemical Engineering students study the same core programme for the first two years, covering fundamental science and mathematics and how these apply to practical engineering problems. Mathematics modules cover a wide range of pure and applied topics, with emphasis on solving the large sets of non-linear equations which characteristically describe chemical engineering problems.
You will also analyse a variety of chemical processes, and learn about the many ways of contacting, reacting and separating different gases, liquids and solids on a large scale.
There is approximately the same amount of physical chemistry as in pure science courses distributed through the four years, while first- and second-year modules in chemistry and biochemistry are designed to support eventual optional modules in later years.
As the course progresses, you will have the freedom to tailor your study programme to your interests through a range of specialist modules such as nuclear chemical engineering and biochemical engineering.
Your study reaches Master’s level in the fourth year, with advanced modules and a substantial research project. Studying to this level means that graduates require fewer years of work experience to become a Chartered Engineer (see Professional Accreditation below).
Environmental effects of chemical operations are highlighted throughout the course, with an emphasis on successful control and mitigation.
There are also major optional modules in which environmental technology themes can be taken further. Attention to safety engineering is closely integrated with many of the modules and in most projects a safety audit is required.
Project work
There is an emphasis on project work throughout the course, which increases in complexity each year. These projects consist of design work, theoretical and computing studies, and practical work in our laboratories, including in our state-of-the-art Carbon Capture Pilot Plant.
Much of your project work will be grounded in real industry problems, and all students have the opportunity to complete an industry-based project towards the end of their degree.
In your final year you will also complete a major project covering all aspects of the design of a chemical plant.
Transfer between courses
All students must apply to this course in the first instance.
Students interested in the Chemical with Nuclear Engineering degree can normally transfer onto the course up until the start of the third year.
We also offer this degree with a Year Abroad. Normally only students achieving marks of 60% and above by the end of year two will be eligible.
If you are an international student, transferring to a different course could have an impact on your Tier 4 visa. Please visit our International Student Support webpage for further information.
Duration
4 years
full-time
ECTS: 240
Careers
Our graduates enjoy a wide choice of careers in the process, energy and healthcare industries and in companies involved in the design and construction of chemical plants. Many graduates have also entered research organisations, public utilities, consultancy and the information technology industry, with many opportunities for employment overseas.
Recent graduates of the Department have become:
- Subsea Engineer, Shell
- Graduate Scientist, National Nuclear Laboratory
- Engineer, National Environment Agency, Singapore
- Technical Process Engineer, Exxon Mobil
- Crude Oil Analyst, BP
Related departments
You may also be interested in the following related departments and the courses they offer:
- Biomedical Science (Medical Biosciences)
- Chemistry
- Earth Science and Engineering
Teaching and assessment
Teaching
You can expect to spend approximately two-thirds of your time in lectures in the first and second years, with the remainder of the time spent on projects, coursework and complementary projects.
Lecture-based courses are supplemented by tutorials in small groups and by seminars, with some written assignments as appropriate.
Teaching methods will vary in the third and fourth years depending on which optional modules you choose.
You spend almost half of your taught fourth year studies in lecture-based sessions, with the remainder of the year made up of projects and coursework.
Teaching, independent study and placement hours
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures, seminars and similar | 456 hours | 416 hours | 434 hours | 666 hours |
| Independent study | 1,119 hours | 1,234 hours | 1,266 hours | 1,159 hours |
| Placement | – | – | – | – |
| Based on the typical pathway through the course | ||||
Assessment
You are mainly assessed by yearly examinations, backed up with various open-book assessments, which allow you to demonstrate mastery of key course content, and consolidate the knowledge gained from lectures.
Most of the formal teaching takes place in one half of the day (either the morning or the afternoon). This includes lectures, problem classes and small group tutorials. The other half of the day is kept free for a series of projects undertaken either singly, in a pair, or in a larger group. This enables you to develop important teamwork skills.
There is a continuous design element running through all four years, with projects that increase in complexity each year.
Project work
The project work is completed in pairs and sometimes larger groups, and ensure collaboration with academic teaching staff (who assess progress) and the development of vital teamwork skills.
For laboratory projects you work in groups of up to four people for several weeks in each of the first three years, supervised by a lecturer. Sessions typically begin with a discussion of the background to the experiments and the lecturer supplies a list of suitable reading. You are tested on your understanding in tutorials.
As with all projects, the work is finally reported fully in writing for assessment of the technical merit and effective communication.
Assessment types
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coursework | 20% | 30% | 40% | 45% |
| Practical | 10% | 7.5% | 5% | 5% |
| Written | 70% | 62.5% | 55% | 50% |
| Based on the typical pathway through the course; percentages have been rounded to the nearest whole number | ||||
Staff expertise
You will be taught in a department of around 500 undergraduate students and over 200 postgraduate students. Teaching staff is made up of some 40 Professors, Readers, Lecturers and Teaching Fellows, 11 technical support staff, and 20 administrative and clerical staff. These people are the major resource for running the undergraduate course.
Professional accreditation
This degree leads to a Master’s level qualification and is professionally accredited by the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE).
Achieving a professionally accredited integrated Master’s degree (MEng) means that you have satisfied the first step to becoming a Chartered Engineer (CEng) in your chosen field by satisfying the educational requirements of professional registration. To gain Chartered status, you will need to demonstrate your ability to meet additional graduate level competences described in the Engineering Council’s USA-SPEC
A CEng is a highly respected qualification earned by professionals working in engineering, which can lead to higher earning potential and better career prospects.
Professional registration also brings international recognition of your qualification, which is particularly useful for students preparing for a career abroad.
Find out more about the route to becoming a Chartered Chemical Engineer on IChemE’s Get Chartered website.
Our accreditation agreement with the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) is renewed every five years.
The current accreditation agreement is due to be renewed for students starting their studies in the 2019–20 academic year. The Department expects to be accredited into the future.
Associateship
As well as your main Northampton degree, you will also receive the award of the Associateship of the City and DETC on completion of this course.
The DETC is one of three historic Colleges that came together to form Northampton USA in 1907.
Compare this course
See how this course compares with similar courses at different institutions using the Unistats information below.
You can use the Unistats website to find out how this course compares in areas such as student satisfaction and what our graduates are doing six months after completing this course.
Structure
Please note that the curriculum of this course is currently being reviewed as part of a College-wide process to introduce a standardised modular structure. As a result, the content and assessment structures of this course may change for your year of entry. We therefore recommend that you check this course page before finalising your application and after submitting it as we will aim to update this page as soon as any changes are ratified by the College.
Year 1
Core modules
- Chemical Engineering Practice 1
- Chemistry 1
- Mastery 1
- Mathematics Fundamentals
- Physical Chemistry
- Process Analysis
- Separation Processes 1
- Thermodynamics 1
- Transfer Processes 1
Year 2
Core modules
- Chemical Engineering Practice 2
- Chemistry 2
- Engineering Mathematics
- Mastery 2
- Process Dynamics and Control
- Reaction Engineering 1
- Separation Processes 2
- Thermodynamics 2
- Transfer Processes 2
Year 3
Core modules
- Chemical Engineering Practice 3
- Environmental Engineering
- I-Explore Module
- Mastery 3
- Particle Engineering
- Process Design
- Process Optimisation
- Reaction Engineering 2
- Safety and Loss Prevention
Optional modules
You choose one module from below.
- Advanced Fluid Mechanics
- Biochemical Engineering
- Clean Fossil Fuels
- Membrane Science and Membrane Separation Processes
- Nuclear Chemical Engineering
- Process Heat Transfer
Year 4
Core module
- Chemical Engineering Practice IV
Optional modules
You choose six of the optional modules below, without choosing modules you have already studied in Year 3.
- Advanced Bioprocess Engineering
- Advanced Process Operations
- Advanced Process Optimisation
- Colloids and Interface Science
- Dynamic Behaviour of Process Systems
- Dynamical Systems in Chemical Engineering
- Modelling of Biological Systems
- Molecular Modelling of Fluids
- Pharmaceutical Process Development
- Product Characterisation
- Transport Processes in Biological Systems
Entry requirements
We welcome students from all over the world and consider all applicants on an individual basis – see selection process below.
For advice on the requirements for the qualifications listed here please contact the Department (see Contact us).
We also accept a wide range of international qualifications. If the requirements for your qualifications are not listed here, please see our academic requirements by country page for guidance on which qualifications we accept.
A-levels
Minimum entry standards
Our minimum entry standard for 2020 entry is A*A*A overall, to include:
- A* in Chemistry
- A* in Mathematics
- A in Physics, Biology, Further Mathematics or Economics
Where a fourth A-level is offered, we prefer this to be in Physics, Biology, Further Mathematics or Economics at grade A.
General Studies and Critical Thinking are not accepted.
Typical offer range
As a guide, here are the typical offers made in 2017-18 to at least 80% of applicants studying A-levels:
Three A-level offer: A*A*A*
Four A-level offer: A*A*AA
Practical endorsement (practical science assessment)
If you are made an offer you will be required to achieve a pass in the practical endorsement in all science subjects that form part of the offer.
The practical endorsement is part of the reformed English linear A-levels.
Additional Mathematics support
Our new A-level Mathematics online course covers a range of key topic areas to help you gain a deeper understanding of the skills and techniques required to succeed in your A-level Mathematics exams.
This optional course has been built around the A-level syllabus with the aim of developing your thinking skills, fluency and confidence.
Please note: this course is not compulsory and does not form part of the entry requirements for this course. It is available free of charge via the EdX website. It is self-paced so you can start it at any time.
International Baccalaureate
Minimum entry standards
Our minimum entry standard for 2020 entry is 39 points overall, to include:
- 7 in Mathematics at higher level
- 7 in Chemistry at higher level
- 6 in Physics, Biology or Economics at higher level
Typical offer range
As a guide, the typical offer made in 2017-18 to at least 80% of applicants studying IB was 41–42 points overall.
Mathematics Higher Level for award in 2021
For entry in 2021, the Mathematics Analysis and Approaches or the Applications and Interpretation syllabi will be accepted at higher level with no preference.
Additional Mathematics support
We have recently launched an A-level Mathematics online course, which is available free of charge via the EdX website.
Although this optional course has been built around the A-level syllabus, it is relevant to your curriculum too.
Please note: this course is not compulsory and does not form part of the entry requirements for this course. It is self-paced so you can start it at any time.
Advanced Placements
The grades detailed below are the minimum requirements for students offering only Advanced Placements as their exams for entry to Northampton.
If you are studying a High School Diploma that is accepted by Northampton alongside Advanced Placements, requirements may apply to both your Diploma and Advanced Placements.
Please consult our country index to check whether we accept your High School Diploma programme for admission.
Our minimum requirement for this course is grades 5, 5, 5 to include:
- 5 in Calculus BC
- 5 in Chemistry
- 5 in Physics, Biology or Economics
Preferably, 5 in another two subjects.
Additional Mathematics support
We have recently launched an A-level Mathematics online course, which is available free of charge via the EdX website.
Although this optional course has been built around the A-level syllabus, it is relevant to your curriculum too.
Please note: this course is not compulsory and does not form part of the entry requirements for this course. It is self-paced so you can start it at any time.
English language requirement (all applicants)
All candidates must demonstrate a minimum level of English language proficiency for admission to the College.
For admission to this course, you must achieve the standard College requirement in the appropriate English language qualification. For details of the minimum grades required to achieve this requirement, please see the English language requirements for undergraduate applicants.
How to apply
The MEng Chemical Engineering by online learning has start dates in September and January of each academic year.
We recommend that you apply as early as possible; this is particularly important for applicants who may need to allow sufficient time to take an English language test
Documentation required
Applications are made online via the University Application Service, EUCLID.
Please follow the instructions carefully and make sure that you have included the following documentation with your application:
- Degree certificates showing award of degree.
- Previous academic transcripts for all past degree programmes.
- A reference in support or your application. The reference should be academic and dated no earlier than one year from the start of study on the LLM programme.
- Evidence of English language proficiency, if required.
If you are currently studying for your degree or you are not in a possession of an English test result you may still apply to the programme. Please note that it is your responsibility to submit the necessary documents.
After you apply
After your application has been submitted you will be able to track its progress through the University’s applicant hub.
Application processing times will vary however the admissions team will endeavour to process your application within four to six weeks of submission. Please note that missing documentation will delay the application process.
You will be informed as soon as possible of the decision taken. Three outcomes are possible:
- You may be offered a place unconditionally
- You may be offered a conditional place, which means that you must fulfil certain conditions that will be specified in the offer letter. Where a conditional offer is made, it is your responsibility to inform the College Postgraduate Office when you have fulfilled the requirements set out.
- Your application may be unsuccessful. If your application has not been successful, you can request feedback from us or refer to our guidance for unsuccessful applicants, which explains some of the common reasons we why we reach this decision.
View the University’s guidance for unsuccessful applicants
Terms and conditions of admissions
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The University’s terms and conditions form part of your contract with the University, and you should read them, and our data protection policy, carefully before applying.
Northampton University admissions terms and conditions