Chemical Engineering BEng Hons | University of Chester

Accreditations

IChemE Internationally Accredited Degree

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Course Summary

Chemical engineers develop innovative processes to turn raw materials into useful products, such as fuels, plastics, foods and medicines. On this course, you will learn the key set of chemical engineering principles and understand how to use them for a huge range of applications, such as eliminating harmful emissions of greenhouse gases.

Our BEng and MEng degrees are fully accredited by the IChemE, and have been designed in consultation with major recruiters of chemical engineering graduates. We have a strong, supportive culture underpinned by interactive, problem-based learning and a research-active team. In addition, every student has a personal academic tutor, who will support you in both the academic and practical aspects of university life.

Preparing you for professional success is a key part of our mission. At Chester, all Chemical Engineering students complete work placements as an integral part of their degree. Opportunities to develop professional skills are embedded throughout the course and good staff-to-student ratios help students build confidence, for example, in giving presentations and participating in class.

Why you'll Love it

Fully accredited and industrially relevant

Opportunities for work placements

A Woman wearing gloves looking at chemical solutions in beakers

A high-quality learning experience

Staff member helping two students at a desk

What You'll Study

The Physical and Natural Sciences Foundation Year route is an ideal place to begin your journey in academic sciences.

The Foundation Year is designed to give you a strong knowledge and skills base aligned with your chosen four-year degree. Following a solid grounding in scientific principles or behavioural sciences in your first block of teaching, you will study bespoke modules aligned with your discipline. This could involve studying the human body in health and disease and how to encourage healthy and sustainable behaviours, or the biology of terrestrial and marine animals and the impacts of their interactions with humans, or you might focus on the physical sciences and how they can help change the world for the better. Whatever you aspire to, we can offer you a supportive and incremental introduction to your science degree.

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the course that will take the form of either core or option modules and should be used as a guide. We review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects. If, during a review process, course content is significantly changed, we will contact you to notify you of these changes if you receive an offer from us.

The BEng Chemical Engineering course contains core modules at each level of study.

At Level 4, you are introduced to basic underlying principles of mathematics and science, together with introductory engineering topics, such as fluid mechanics, heat transfer and thermodynamics. You are also introduced to some of the core chemical engineering topics, such as mass and energy balances and reactor design. Professional skills are also taught at this level.

Level 5 builds upon this foundation with more complex learning that deepens knowledge of core chemical engineering subjects and integrates technical, environmental and social considerations. Modelling and system analysis is introduced at this level.

At Level 6, you focus on advanced core chemical engineering, with an emphasis on the design of both individual unit operations and entire plants. A major design project is undertaken.

This course is delivered in three terms of ten weeks each. In each term, you study 40 credits comprised of either one or two modules. Scheduled contact hours range between approximately six and ten hours per week, depending upon the level of study and the complexity of the material being taught. This course is delivered through a mix of in-person and online learning. You can expect to take part in lectures, laboratories, workshops and peer-led seminars.

You should expect to spend an average of 30-34 hours per week on independent study, which might include following asynchronous learning material on the University’s VLE, tutorial time with staff, using the University’s library, working with peers and preparing work for assessment.

Teaching will be delivered by experienced academics and practitioners in the subject. This will be supplemented by occasional guest lecturers and speakers. Practical teaching will be included where appropriate (laboratories and other experimental work).

There will be a broad range of assessment methods so you are exposed to the different types of task you might encounter in the workplace. These will include closed-book in-person exams, open-book online exams, coursework in the form of question sheets, laboratory reports, longer project reports, essays and presentations. In some modules, you will encounter class tests and practical assessments.

We continuously review the assessment methods used to ensure they adequately prepare you for graduate level employment.

All teaching is delivered by experienced academics and practitioners, with the fundamental principles of the Chester Future Skills Curriculum at its core - building your subject competence, confidence and key transferable skills to shape you into a world ready Chester graduate.

Entry Requirements

112/120UCAS Points

UCAS Tariff	112 points (BEng) 120 (MEng)
GCE A Level	Typical offer – BBC (BEng) BBB (MEng) including grade B in Maths and grade B in Chemistry
BTEC	BTEC Extended Diploma (Engineering) will be considered alongside A Level Chemistry grade B.
International Baccalaureate	26 points (BEng) 30 (MEng), including 5 in HL Maths and Chemistry
Irish / Scottish Highers	Irish Highers: H3 H3 H3 H3 H4, including H3 in Maths and Chemistry Scottish Highers: BBBB, including Maths and Chemistry
Access requirements	Access to HE Diploma (Science and Engineering), to include 45 credits at level 3, of which 30 must be at Merit or above in Maths and Chemistry
T Level	T Level will be considered alongside A Level Maths and Chemistry
OCR Cambridge Technicals	OCR Extended Diploma will be considered alongside A Level Maths and Chemistry
Extra Information	Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced and A Level General Studies will be recognised in our offer. We will also consider a combination of A Levels and BTECs/OCRs.

Students from countries outside the UK are expected to have entry qualifications roughly equivalent to UK A Level for undergraduate study and British Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) for postgraduate study. To help you to interpret these equivalents, please click on your country of residence to see the corresponding entry qualifications, along with information about your local representatives, events, information and contacts.

We accept a wide range of qualifications and consider all applications individually on merit. We may also consider appropriate work experience.

English Language Requirements

IELTS Academic: Undergraduate: 6.0 (minimum 5.5 in each band)
Postgraduate: 6.5 (minimum 5.5 in each band)

For more information on our entry requirements, please visit International Entry Requirements.

72UCAS Points

UCAS Tariff	72 points
GCE A level	72 points, including grade D in A Level Maths and Chemistry
BTEC	BTEC Extended Diploma (Engineering) will be considered alongside A Level Chemistry. BTEC Extended Diploma (Applied Science) will be considered alongside A Level Maths.
International Baccalaureate	24 points, including 4 in HL Maths and Chemistry
Irish / Scottish Highers	Irish Highers: H4 H4 H4 H4 H4, including Maths and Chemistry Scottish Highers: CCDD, including Maths and Chemistry
Access requirements	Access to HE Diploma (Science and Engineering) – Pass overall
T Level	T Level will be considered alongside A Level Maths and Chemistry
OCR Cambridge Technicals	OCR Extended Diploma will be considered alongside A Level Maths and Chemistry
Extra Information	Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced and A Level General Studies will be recognised in our offer. We will also consider a combination of A Levels and BTECs/OCRs. If you are a mature student (21 or over) and have been out of education for a while or do not have experience or qualifications at Level 3 (equivalent to A Levels), then our Foundation Year courses will help you to develop the skills and knowledge you will need to succeed in your chosen degree.

Fees and Funding

£9,535per year for a full-time course (2025/26)

Our full-time undergraduate tuition fees for Home students entering University in 2025/26 are £9,535 a year, or £1,590 per 20-credit module for part-time study.

You can find more information about undergraduate fees on our Fees and Finance pages.

Students from the UK, Isle of Man, Guernsey, Jersey and the Republic of Ireland are treated as Home students for tuition fee purposes.

Students from countries in the European Economic Area and the EU will pay International Tuition Fees.

Students who have been granted Settled Status may be eligible for Home Fee Status and if eligible will be able to apply for Tuition Fee Loans and Maintenance Loans.

Students who have been granted Pre-settled Status may be eligible for Home Fee Status and if eligible will be able to apply for Tuition Fee Loans.

£14,450per year (2025/26)

The tuition fees for international students studying Undergraduate programmes in 2025/26 are £14,450.

This fee is set for each year of study. All undergraduate students are eligible for international and merit-based scholarships which are applicable to each year of study.

For more information, go to our International Fees, Scholarship and Finance section.

Irish Nationals living in the UK or ROI are treated as Home students for tuition fee purposes.

Your course will involve additional costs not covered by your tuition fees. This may include books, printing, photocopying, educational stationery and related materials, specialist clothing, travel to placements, optional field trips and software. Compulsory field trips are covered by your tuition fees.

If you are living away from home during your time at university, you will need to cover costs such as accommodation, food, travel and bills.

Personal protective equipment such as lab coats, safety glasses, hard hats, steel toecap boots and ear defenders will be provided as required at no additional cost.

Who you'll Learn from

Dr Yousef Faraj

Deputy Head of Natural Sciences; Senior Lecturer in Chemical Engineering

Dr Maria Sotenko

Senior Lecturer in Chemical Engineering

Dr David Ward

Programme Leader for Chemical Engineering BEng (Hons)

Professor John Brammer

Professor

Dr Andrew Fogg

Senior Lecturer

Dr Graham Spink

Senior Lecturer

Where you'll study Exton Park, Chester

The location

Modern learning resources and library

Seaborne library, seating and reception area.

Student Services

Fitness facilities

A male student wearing goggles is swimming in the training pool between the red rope lane marker lines.

Chapel, chaplaincy and multi-faith spaces

Accommodation

Catering

Your Future Career

Job Prospects

Chemical engineering graduates are in high demand in sectors such as oil and gas, food, pharmaceuticals, energy, water and waste management. The technical and business expertise developed on the BEng and MEng degrees in Chemical Engineering provides excellent preparation for a wide range of rewarding roles in these, and other, industries.

Progression Options

Programme and Project Management MSc

Careers Service

The University has an award-winning Careers and Employability service, which provides a variety of employability-enhancing experiences; through the curriculum, through employer contact, tailored group sessions, individual information, advice and guidance.

Careers and Employability aims to deliver a service which is inclusive, impartial, welcoming, informed and tailored to your personal goals and aspirations, to enable you to develop as an individual and contribute to the business and community in which you will live and work.

We are here to help you plan your future, make the most of your time at University and to enhance your employability. We provide access to part-time jobs, extra-curricular employability-enhancing workshops and offer practical one-to-one help with career planning, including help with CVs, applications and mock interviews. We also deliver group sessions on career planning within each course, and we have a wide range of extensive information covering graduate jobs and postgraduate study.

Related Courses

Chemistry BSc (Hons)

Chemical Engineering BEng/MEng (Hons)

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