MEng Chemical Engineering
Focus on the design of processes to create products we all depend on in this professionally accredited, integrated Master’s course.
Key information
Award
MEng
Duration
4 years
full-time
Applications : admissions ratio
6 : 1
Based on 2021 entry data
- UCAS course code: H801
- ECTS: 240
- Start date: October 2023
- Department: Department of Chemical Engineering
- Campus: South Kensington
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.
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.
Throughout your programme of study, you will develop a strong foundation in the fundamental principles of science, mathematics and engineering and use this to build sound practical expertise and engineering judgement.
You will study core chemical engineering subjects and will be able to demonstrate your competency in these subjects through the use of the ‘mastery’ concept. There is a particular emphasis on mathematics throughout the programme, and we are working on processes to enhance student engagement and response in this topic through the use of gaming apps.
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.
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. 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.
Projects are completed in pairs and sometimes larger groups, and ensure collaboration with academic teaching staff (who assess progress) and the development of vital transferable skills, such as teamwork and communication.
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. As with all projects, the work is finally reported fully in writing for assessment of the technical merit and effective communication, which is a replicate of reporting structures used in industry.
Transfer between courses
All students must apply to this course in the first instance.
Students interested in our Chemical with Nuclear Engineering course can normally transfer onto the course until the end of the second year.
We also offer this degree with a Year Abroad. Normally only students achieving marks of 60% and above will be eligible.
You can normally transfer onto this course until the end of the Autumn term in your second year.
If you are an international student, transferring to a different course could have an impact on your student visa. Please visit our International Student Support webpage for further information.
Structure
Find out more about the limited circumstances in which we may need to make changes to or in relation to our courses, the type of changes we may make and how we will tell you about them.
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
- Applied Spectroscopy
- Biochemical Engineering
- Carbon Capture and Clean Fossil Fuels
- Membrane Science and Membrane Separation Processes
- Nuclear Chemical Engineering
- Process Heat Transfer
- Sustainable Energy Technologies
These optional modules are indicative of the choices you can expect. Your options may differ from those listed.
Year 4
Core module
- Chemical Engineering Practice IV
The Chemical Engineering Practice IV module is formed of two parts:
Research Project
You complete an advanced research project at Master's level over one or two terms.
Final Year Design
You undertake a major project covering all aspects of the design of a chemical plant:
- the synthesis of a process
- detailed design of key units
- plant control (including start-up and shut-down procedures)
- plant safety and layout (including environmental impacts of the plant);
- development of a sound business plan
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
- Applied Spectroscopy
- 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
- Sustainable Energy Technologies
These optional modules are indicative of the choices you can expect. Your options may differ from those listed.
Some Year 3 modules are required for accreditation. If you take your third year abroad, where an equivalent module is not offered, you may be required to take the module(s) in Year 4.
Download the programme specification [PDF] – this is the most up-to-date version available for this course. It may change for your year of entry. If/when changes to this course are approved by the College, we will update this document and the information on this course page.
I-Explore
Through I-Explore, you'll have the chance to deepen your knowledge in a brand new subject area, chosen from a huge range of for-credit modules.
All of our undergraduate courses include one module from I-Explore's wide selection. The module you choose will be fully integrated into your course's curriculum and count as credit towards your degree.
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 UK-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.
The department went through a successful accreditation process during the 2019-20 academic year and was successful in renewing its accredited status for a further five years. The accreditation panel highlighted particular areas of good practice: exposure to real-life engineering through our pilot plant, experiential and scaffolded learning through labs, and a gaming app to support conceptual learning.
Associateship
As well as your main Imperial degree, you will also receive the award of the Associateship of the City and Guilds of London Institute (ACGI) on completion of this course.
The City and Guilds of London Institute is one of three historic Colleges that came together to form Imperial College London in 1907.
Find out more about our Associateships.
Teaching and assessment
Teaching
You will be taught using a combination of lectures, tutorials, guest lectures and presentations. Throughout your programme, you will also build your practical expertise through lab-based modules and project work.
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.
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.
There is a continuous design element running through all four years, with projects that increase in complexity each year.
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.
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 2023 entry is A*A*A overall, to include:
- A* in Chemistry
- A* in Mathematics
- A in Biology, Business Studies, Economics, Further Mathematics or Physics
If you’re studying four A-levels, we prefer the fourth to be in Physics, Biology, Further Mathematics, Business Studies or Economics at grade A.
General Studies and Critical Thinking are not accepted.
Students taking English exam board science A-levels will be required to pass the practical endorsement.
Typical offer range
As a guide, here are the typical offers made to at least 80% of A-level applicants for 2021 entry:
- Three A-level offer: A*A*A–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 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 2023 entry is 40 points overall, to include:
- 7 in Mathematics at higher level
- 7 in Chemistry at higher level
- 6 in Biology, Business Management, Economics or Physics at higher level
Typical offer range
As a guide, the typical offer made to at least 80% of IB applicants for 2021 entry was 41-42 points.
Mathematics Higher Level
The Mathematics Analysis and Approaches or the Applications and Interpretation syllabi will be accepted at higher level with no preference.
Additional Mathematics support
Our A-level Mathematics online course 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 Imperial.
If you are studying a High School Diploma that is accepted by Imperial 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
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.
Selection process
Assessing your application
Admissions Tutors consider all the evidence available during our rigorous selection process and the College flags key information providing assessors with a more complete picture of the educational and social circumstances relevant to the applicant. Some applicants may be set lower offers and some more challenging ones.
Interview days
The Department plans to hold interview days as part of the selection process. Check back soon for more information.
Foundation programmes
Currently, Chemical Engineering courses do not accept UCL UPCSE or Warwick IFP Science and Engineering applications.
Contextual admissions
We want to make sure that the Imperial learning community is as diverse as the society we serve. So to make our admissions process as fair as possible, we have introduced admissions schemes for Home students that allow us to consider your application in the full context of any additional barriers you may face.
Find out if you meet the eligibility criteria for our contextual admissions schemes.
If your predicted grades meet the minimum College entry standard of AAA at A-level or an equivalent level qualification in the relevant subjects, this department will guarantee you an interview.
Read more about the contextual admissions scheme in this department and others.
ATAS certificate (overseas candidates)
An ATAS certificate is required for all visa-nationals, with the exception of EEA/Swiss nationals and nationals of the following countries: Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and the USA.
To apply for an ATAS certificate online, you will need your programme’s Common Aggregation Hierarchy (CAH) code and ‘descriptor’, as well as your university supervisor name. For this course, these are:
| CAH code | Descriptor | Supervisor name |
|---|---|---|
| CAH10-01-09 | chemical, process and energy engineering | Professor Omar Matar |
Your student visa application, or extension of stay, will automatically be refused if you need an ATAS certificate and cannot provide one.
For further guidance on obtaining an ATAS certificate please see the information on our International Student Support website.
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.
Competence standards
Our competence standards highlight the core skills students should be able to demonstrate when applying to this programme and throughout their studies.
View the Department of Chemical Engineering's competence standards [PDF]
We believe in providing the widest practicable access to all of our degree programmes and will make reasonable adjustments wherever possible to support your study. For more information, please contact the Department using the contact details below.
Department of Chemical Engineering
T: +44 (0)20 7594 5569
E: ce-admissions@imperial.ac.uk
Tuition fees and funding
We charge tuition fees for every year that your course lasts. The fee you will be charged is based on your fee status, which is determined by government regulations.
Home rate of tuition
2023 entry
£9,250 per year.
Please note, this fee is set by the UK government and is subject to change until it has passed into legislation. We will update this page when this happens.
For each subsequent year, you should expect and budget for your tuition fee to increase by an amount in line with inflation. The measure of inflation used will be the Retail Price Index (RPIX) value, taken from April in the calendar year in which the academic session starts.
For example, the RPIX value in April 2023 will apply to fees for the academic year 2023–2024.
Fee status
Whether you pay the Home fee or not depends on your fee status.
Your fee status is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status.
Find out more about how we assess your fee status.
Home fee eligibility
You can find the conditions you need to meet to pay the Home rate of tuition fees from the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA). These apply to higher education courses in England and reflect the regulations as they currently stand, noting that these are subject to amendment.
Because of the UK’s exit from the European Union, some frameworks of eligibility have been amended. Individuals affected by the amended frameworks should refer to the UKCISA publication, Who pays ‘home’ fees for higher education in England [PDF].
Government funding
If you're a Home student, you can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan from the UK government to cover the entire cost of tuition for every year of your course.
You can also apply for a means-tested Maintenance Loan to help towards your living costs.
Overseas rate of tuition
2023 entry
The fee for Overseas students has not been confirmed for the 2023-24 academic year. The fee is controlled by the College and we will update this page when it is announced.
As a guide, the Overseas fee for 2022-23 was £35,100.
For each subsequent year, you should expect and budget for your tuition fee to increase by an amount in line with inflation. The measure of inflation used will be the Retail Price Index (RPIX) value, taken from April in the calendar year in which the academic session starts. For example, the RPIX value in April 2023 will apply to fees for the academic year 2023–2024.
Fee status
Whether you pay the Overseas fee or not depends on your fee status.
Your fee status is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status.
Find out more about how we assess your fee status.
Home fee eligibility
You can find the conditions you need to meet to pay the Home rate of tuition fees from the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA). These apply to higher education courses in England and reflect the regulations as they currently stand, noting that these are subject to amendment.
Because of the UK’s exit from the European Union, some frameworks of eligibility have been amended. Individuals affected by the amended frameworks should refer to the UKCISA publication, Who pays ‘home’ fees for higher education in England [PDF].
Additional course costs
This section outlines additional costs relevant to this course. These are not included in your tuition fees. It's possible that all, or only some, of these will be relevant to you.
Figures are approximated, usually based on costs in the most recent academic year. They are likely to change each year but it's useful for you to be aware of the things you may have to pay for. This can help you budget for life at Imperial.
Mandatory costs are those that you will need to pay to fully participate in and complete your studies. Optional costs are not essential to your studies so you can opt-out of these.
| Description | Mandatory/optional | Guide to cost |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment (laptop computer) | Mandatory | £100 (refundable) |
| Please review the information below for more information on the costs listed in the table. | ||
Laptop computer
You will need a laptop for some classes and coursework. The laptop must meet a minimum specification. For the 2018–19 academic year this was:
- Windows 10 capable
- Intel i5/i7 6th/7th generation processor
- 8GB RAM
- 256 GB SSD HDD
The Department has a number of laptops available for loan for the duration of your course. A deposit of £100 is required, refundable when you return the laptop at the end of your course.
You will have the chance to indicate whether you wish to take part in the laptop loan scheme when contacted by the Department in September before you start your course.
If you choose to borrow a laptop, you will be sent an invoice for the deposit amount which is payable online before the start of term. A variety of payment methods are available.
Accommodation and living costs
Living costs, including accommodation, are not included in your tuition fees.
Most Imperial undergraduates choose to live in our halls of residence in their first year. You can compare costs across different accommodation options.
Bursaries and scholarships
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:
- Graduate Scientist, National Nuclear Laboratory
- Investment Banking Analyst, Deutsche Bank
- Supply Chain Coordinator, International oil and gas company
- Software Engineer Analyst, JPMorgan Chase
- Chemical Engineer, BP
How to apply
UCAS key information
- UCAS course code: H801
- UCAS institution code: I50
Apply on UCAS
You can start and track your application on UCAS Hub. There you can add this course as one of your choices.
Application deadlines
25 January 2023 at 18.00 (UK time).
If your application includes a medicine course, the deadline is 15 October 2022 at 18.00 (UK time).
Any questions?
Explore our step by step guide on how to apply. You can also find answers to your questions about admissions.
Related departments
You may also be interested in the following related departments and the courses they offer:
Connect with us
Got a question?
T: +44 (0)20 7594 5569
E: ce-admissions@imperial.ac.uk
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