UK Postgraduate Studies in Chemical Engineering


Most students with an MEng or good BEng (honours, 1st class or upper second) in chemical engineering can find a job with this qualification alone.  However, some take further study, either immediately after graduating, or after some time in industry.
This can be a Taught Course (Certificate, Diploma or MSc)
or Research Degree (MPhil, PhD)
The status of Chartered Engineer is not purely an academic one, and is not awarded by universities.
 

Taught Courses:

Certificate

Typically represents 5 modules gained in one semester or part-time.

Diploma

Typically represents 10 or 12 modules gained in two semesters or part-time.  A one-year qualification in a specialist area.  Sometimes used to prepare for an MSc or for a  graduate in one discipline to qualify for another.  For example, someone with a degree in chemistry can take a diploma in Chemical Engineering at Leeds,  Newcastle, University College London

MSc (Master of Science)

Typically a specialist course for someone wishing to make a career in a particular area.  In future likely to be used as additional education for someone with a BEng qualification wishing to become a Chartered Engineer (the 'matching section' equivalent to the extra year of an MEng degree).  Normally, to enter an MSc course graduates would require an appropriate degree of at least second class honours.  Lesser or not appropriate qualifications might the student to take a Diploma course first.

Here are MSc courses offered by UK chemical engineering departments (or very closely related ones)..
Advanced Chemical Engineering (Imperial College, London)
Advanced Chemical Engineering (South Bank University, London) [not a direct link due to excessively complex webpage structure: see Postgraduate Courses: Science {not Engineering}]
Advanced Process Engineering (Loughborough)
Applied Process Control (Newcastle)
Biochemical Engineering (Birmingham)
Biochemical Engineering (Swansea)
Bioreactor Systems (UMIST, Manchester)
Biotechnology (UMIST, Manchester)
Chemical Engineering (Bradford)
Chemical Engineering (Swansea)
Chemical Engineering (Teesside)
Chemical Process Engineering (University College London)
Chemical Technology and Management (Strathclyde)
Clean Technology (Newcastle)
Environmental and Energy Engineering (Sheffield)
Environmental Engineering (Nottingham)
Environmental Management and Technology (UMIST, Manchester)
Environmental Technology (UMIST, Manchester)
Integrated Design of Chemical Plant (Leeds)
Polymer Engineering and Science (Aston)
Process Automation (Sheffield)
Process Integration (UMIST, Manchester)
Process Safety and Loss Prevention (Sheffield)
Process Systems Engineering (Imperial College, London)
Process Technology and Management (Strathclyde)
Sustainable Engineering (Newcastle)
Sustainable Engineering (Teesside)
Sustainable Process Management (Heriot-Watt)
 

Research Degrees

MPhil (Master of Philosophy)

A degree by dissertation following at least one year of full-time research.  Often used for part-time research of several years but equivalent to this.  Examined in a similar way to the PhD, but with lesser requirements.

MRes (Master of Research)

A research training degree of one year usually integrated into a PhD programme.  The student begins research but undergoes a formal training in research techniques over about a year.

PhD (Doctor of Philosophy)

A degree by dissertation following at least three years of full-time research, or (rarely) part-time equivalent to this.  To start, students normally require an MEng or BEng Honours of 1st class or upper second, or a Master's degree.  To fnish, the student prepares a thesis which is read by two senior academics, one from the institution and another from elsewhere (usually another university, sometimes from industry).  These two examiners also interview the student in what is known as a 'viva voce' examination.  They may recommend the award of a PhD, they may require the thesis to be revised, they may require more research, or they may recommend the award of MPhil instead of PhD.  They may also reject the thesis.

This qualification is nowadays essential for someone to become a university academic.
It is also expected for a senior chemist in industry, but not necessary for the career progression of a chemical engineer in industry.

All University Departments teaching chemical engineering also provide research opportunities for students to gain a PhD.

This page by Martin Pitt, email m.j.pitt@sheffield.ac.uk  December 2000