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Chemical Engineering with International and Industrial Study MEng

Start date
September
Duration
5 years (4 + 1 in industry)
UCAS code
HW10
Course Type
Undergraduate, Single Honours
Fees

We charge an annual tuition fee. Fees for 2025/26:
£9,535 (UK)
£31,050 (International)
Further fee information

On our MEng Chemical Engineering with International and Industrial Study shape and transform the future of chemicals, fuel and products, processes and services. Challenge yourself as you gain the theoretical knowledge and learn the practical skills needed for a successful career in chemical engineering.

 At Birmingham we have one of the largest concentrations of chemical engineering excellence in the UK and offer unrivalled opportunities to learn core technical and transferrable skills. Close links to leading multinationals offer you exciting industrial collaborations, while academic staff are some of the world's best in their field. This collaborative blend of theory and practice allow you to rise to real-world challenges...finding answers to problems that don't even exist yet.

You will spend a year in industry giving you the opportunity to apply your theoretical knowledge in a real-world environment. We have strong links with a large number of key companies to assist you, including Procter & Gamble, Unilever, BP, EDF, ConocoPhilips, PepsiCo, Jaguar/Land Rover, ExxonMobil, Cadbury, AstraZeneca, Johnson Matthey and GlaxoSmithKline as well as with smaller to medium enterprises. Typically you will have to pass the interview process run by the company with which you are seeking a placement. Students often return from an industrial placement with a new found confidence in their knowledge and skills. The year will help you understand what you would like to do in the future, as well as building on your professional network.

Your will also spend a year studying at an international university in Europe, Australia, Canada or Singapore, giving you a fantastic opportunity to take your studies global, building your skills and networks before embarking on your chosen career. If you don't have a foreign language, you can choose an English-speaking country, while students taking one of our European languages options can select a country of their choice.

Project work – highly valued by employers – is a thread that runs throughout our degree programmes in order to create well-rounded chemical engineers. Problems are posed in a ‘real-world’ environment where decisions need to be made when data and information are scarce. There is significant industry input on the third-year design project, which will see you designing a specific and realistic chemical process, championed by an industrial partner.

Why study Chemical Engineering with
International and Industrial Study MEng at Birmingham?

  • Study at a world-class Chemical Engineering department
    We are a top 100 global university for chemical engineering - QS 2024 World University Rankings
  • Access the Collaborative Teaching Laboratory
    Our multi-million pound investment in new state-of-the-art facilities with purpose built laboratories offer you the opportunity to learn and work in a dedicated space, designed to promote and encourage collaborative and interdisciplinary working.
  • Discover a world of employment opportunities
    Thanks to our strong links with industry leaders, you'll have the competitive edge for employment, as we open up connections with GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca, Shell, BP and ExxonMobil.
  • Industry-focused design project
    You will undertake a design project in your third year to design a particular chemical process, championed by an industrial partner
  • Benefit from our unique facilities
    The School of Chemical Engineering is the first in the UK to have a research facility for energy storage using cryogenic liquids, comprising new laboratories, state-of-the-art equipment, and a major demonstration plant - The Birmingham Centre for Cryogenic Energy Storage.

Meet our Student Bloggers

The best way to find out what life is really like as a student in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences at the University of Birmingham is to hear from our students. Our students study a range of programmes from across our college – from Mathematics to Mechanical Engineering. Get some great tips and a real insight into what life is really like if you choose to study with us.

Read our blogs >> 

 

I spent my third year in Malaysia. It was a year full of new, exciting experiences - from attending a Multicomponent Separations lecture to swimming with bioluminescent plankton in Cambodia. I was initially anxious about travelling halfway across the world but I had nothing to worry about. I made a group of lifelong friends that didn't allow me to feel homesick. Now that I have returned to Birmingham, I am much more confident in everything I do, from group projects to job interviews.

Payal Thadani Merani, MEng Chemical Engineering with International Study student

Modules

Year 1

Here you are introduced to the fundamentals of chemical and energy engineering and the chance to learn about other engineering disciplines.  Here, also, you will begin to develop the transferable skills that will carry you through your course, and beyond, into your life as a professional engineer. All modules compulsory.

Year 2

Themes begun in the first year are developed to the standard you need as a professional engineer. You study advanced heat and mass transfer, reactors and catalysis and unit operations. Emphasis is placed on teamwork and the use of our research laboratories is exploited.

Core modules

Year 3 - Industrial Placement

You have the option to spend a year in industry at the end of your second year. We have strong links with a large number of key companies to assist you, including Procter & Gamble, Unilever, BP, EDF, ConocoPhilips, PepsiCo, Jaguar/Land Rover, ExxonMobil, Cadbury, AstraZeneca, Johnson Matthey and GlaxoSmithKline as well as with smaller to medium enterprises. Typically you will have to pass the interview process run by the company with which you are seeking a placement.

Learn more about Chemical Engineering with Industrial Study

Year 4

You spend this academic year studying at a prestigious university either in English at an English-speaking university (eg, Melbourne, Ontario, McGill Montreal, Singapore or one of the Universitas 21 group) or at a non-English speaking, European, university (eg, Madrid, Rome or Nancy).

Modules will depend upon the University of your choice. Learn more about the Chemical Engineering Year Abroad

Tuition fees for placement years (where applicable)

There is a reduced tuition fee for the academic year spent in industry or whilst studying abroad (where available). Fee information and further clarification is available on the University fees and funding page.

Year 5

In your final year you will develop the chemical engineering fundamentals further, to graduate level. You will undertake an industry-linked design project which enables them to put into practice all of the skills they have gained.

Core modules

Optional modules

If a student was not able to undertake a suitable Reactors module whilst abroad: Advanced Reactors & Thermodynamics must be taken. Choose 20 credits of optional modules from semester 2 (10 credits if taking Advanced Reactors and Thermodynamics). Examples of optional modules listed below:

Please note: The modules listed on the website for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods. Unless indicated otherwise, the modules listed for this programme are for students starting in 2025. On rare occasions, we may need to make unexpected changes to core modules; in this event we will contact offer holders as soon as possible to inform or consult them as appropriate.

Fees

Annual tuition fees 2025/26

The University will charge the maximum approved tuition fee per year. If your offer is for 2025 year of entry, we expect that the tuition fee for your first year of study will be £9,535. If Parliament agrees on an increase in tuition fees, the University will increase fees for each year of study normally in line with these changes and will communicate any change in the fees to you without delay. If you are applying for 2026 year of entry, you will be advised of the annual tuition fee closer to the time.

  • £9,535
  • £31,050 - International

Visit our tuition fees page for more information.

Scholarships

At Birmingham we ensure that fears about finance do not constrain prospective students from considering university and that excellence is rewarded.

 

Tuition fees for placement years (where applicable)

There is a reduced tuition fee for the academic year spent in industry or whilst studying abroad (where available). Fee information and further clarification is available on the University fees and funding page.

How To Apply

Apply through the UCAS website using code HW10.

UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) is a UK organisation responsible for managing applications to university and college.

View advice on how to apply for undergraduate courses.

 

International students applying for this programme will need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office before the University can issue you with a Certificate of Acceptance of Studies (CAS). We recommend that you apply for your ATAS certificate as soon as you receive an offer from us.

Standard offer

International Requirements



Number of A levels required:
3
Typical offer:
A*AA / AAAA
Required subjects and grades:
A level Mathematics and Chemistry or Physics.

General Studies, Critical Thinking and Use of Maths A Levels are not accepted.

International Baccalaureate Diploma:

7,6,6 at Higher Level including Mathematics and Chemistry or Physics at Higher Level grade 6 with a minimum of 32 points. We will consider Standard Level Mathematics grade 7.

BTEC 

only considered when combined with other qualifications.

Other qualifications are considered – learn more about entry requirements.

Foundation Year

Would you like to study for one of our degrees but lack the entry qualifications we require? Consider a Foundation Year programme which can lead to entry onto one of our courses.

Alternative offers through our Pathways to Birmingham programmes and our Contextual Offer scheme

Students who are eligible and successfully complete a Pathways to Birmingham programme will receive special consideration from admissions tutors and an alternative offer (typically two grades below the standard offer). In addition, our Contextual Offer Scheme recognises the potential of students whose personal circumstances may have restricted achievement in school or college. If you are eligible to benefit from the contextual offer scheme, you will receive an offer which is one grade lower than the standard offer.

International Students

We accept a range of international qualifications, please contact the admissions tutor for more information.

 

Standard English language requirements apply, learn more about international entry requirements.

 

International students applying for this programme will need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office before the University can issue you with a Certificate of Acceptance of Studies (CAS). We recommend that you apply for your ATAS certificate as soon as you receive an offer from us.

Depending on your chosen course of study, you may also be interested in one of our foundation pathways, which offer specially structured programmes for international students whose qualifications are not accepted for direct entry to UK universities. Further details can be found on Birmingham International Academy web pages.

The benefits of studying at our world-renowned School are many: You will be taught by academic staff, who are global leaders in their field; we attract an average of £10 million-plus in research income each year; we have excellent industrial links with companies from BP and GSK to Unilever and Procter and Gamble, and we boast world-class teaching and laboratory facilities.

How you will learn

Throughout your degree, we'll encourage you to develop your core technical and transferable skills, your stepping stone into employment or further study. As well as honing your individual skills, teamworking is a key part of the course, and you'll take part in team-based project work each year. Industry experts will share their insights via a series of guest lectures, while our transferable and teamworking skills weekend in the Lake District takes you off campus to learn new ways of working collaboratively.

Your studies will be a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials and project work, while your final year sees you working closely with industry figures, as you develop your design project. All modules are linked to Canvas - a virtual learning environment for lecture notes, additional learning units, self-tests and supplementary interactive information.

Support

You will have access to a comprehensive support system to help you make the transition to higher education when you start at Birmingham. During your first year, we want you to have a smooth transition into university. You will be able to talk to your tutors about this and discuss if there are any particular areas where you need support.

Personal Tutors

You will be assigned your own personal tutor who will support your academic progress, help you develop transferable skills and handle any welfare concerns. In your first two years you will have a weekly meeting with your personal tutor in small groups of around 6-7 students. You will also meet once a term on an individual basis. In your third year you will meet with your tutor once a term although they will still be available for you to meet with more regularly if you require.

Wellbeing Officers

Alongside your personal tutor, you will also have access to dedicated wellbeing officers who provide professional support, advice and guidance to students across a range of issues. They can meet with you to discuss extensions, disabilities, reasonable adjustments, extenuating circumstances, or talk through any problems you might be experiencing, and help you access wider support on campus and beyond if you need it.

Our Academic Skills Centre helps you to become a more effective and independent learner through a range of high-quality support services. The Centre offers workshops on a range of topics, such as note-taking, reading, academic writing and presentation skills.

The Academic Writing Advisory Service (AWAS) will provide guidance on writing essays and dissertations if you need it. You can receive individual support from an academic writing advisor and meet with postgraduate tutors who specialise in particular subjects too.

How will you be assessed 

Your learning with us is diverse, and the way you'll be assessed is equally so. Each module will be assessed in a number ow ways, such as via exams, written assignments and laboratory and project reports. The balance between exams and coursework varies across each module. As you move towards employment or further study, you'll find your final year has a strong emphasis on project work.

Our Collaborative Teaching Laboratory

Contact Hours

Contact hours vary from module to module, but in general you can expect about 14 hours a week. These usually comprise of nine hours of lectures, four hours of tutorials and one hour of lab-based activity.

You'll graduate with the technical, analytical and professional skills you need to lead future change in a variety of sectors, such as oil and gas, pharmaceutical, energy and finance. Along with these subject-specific skills, your degree will enhance your confidence in leadership, evaluation and teamwork, all key strengths to bring to prospective employers. Meanwhile, your dedicated Industrial Tutor is on hand to help with sourcing placement, CV writing and interview preparation.

Chemical Engineering prepared me for my career by teaching me the core principles of engineering so I could then apply them to technical problems within the workplace. I applied these when I worked in my placement year at Dow Corning.

Will Davies, MEng Chemical Engineering graduate

Graduates who have studied our courses:

Example employers

  • BP
  • ExxonMobil
  • Unilever
  • GlaxoSmithKline
  • Tata Steel
  • Imerys
  • AstraZeneca
  • Cadbury

Example careers

  • Process engineer
  • Design engineer
  • Analytical scientist
  • Formulation engineer
  • Production engineer
  • Patent attorney
  • Project manager
  • Investment banker

Developing your career

At Careers Network, our unique careers guidance service is tailored to your academic subject area. Our team source exclusive work experience opportunities to help you stand out amongst the competition, with mentoring, global internships and placements available to you. Once you have a career in your sights, one-to-one support with CVs and job applications will help give you the edge. In addition, our employer-endorsed award-winning Personal Skills Award (PSA) recognises your extra-curricular activities, and provides an accredited employability programme designed to improve your career prospects.

An internship can complement your studies perfectly, giving you practical, real-world insights into the world of work in your chosen field. You can apply for the Work Experience Bursary Scheme, the Birmingham Undergraduate Internship Programme or one of our successful mentoring schemes.

Visit the Careers Network website for more details

Professional Accreditation