After completing Part 1A of the one of the triposes mentioned above, students go on in their second year to study Part I of the Chemical Engineering course, which introduces the discipline and covers the fundamental principles of the subject. In the third year of the course, students study Part IIA Chemical Engineering. It completes the study of "core" chemical engineering and is a preparation for immediate professional practice. Students who pass this course are entitled to leave the University with the BA degree. Most students will stay on to complete a fourth year, called Part IIB. This is an advanced course in chemical engineering that is intended as preparation for a long-term career in the discipline. The course provides the opportunity to study the subject in greater depth, to consider recent advances, and to undertake some original research work. Students who pass this course are entitled to both the BA and MEng degrees. The MEng degree satisfies the academic requirements for full membership of the IChemE leading to Chartered Engineer status.
The course features a mixture of lectures, exercises, laboratory work and project work, and it is designed to teach students the transferable skills that are sought by employers. The Department itself is relatively small with 35-40 undergraduates each year and about 100 research students (on MPhil and PhD programmes).
For a more detailed course description, please see the Department's web site.
Academic requirements:
Chemical Engineering via Engineering: Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry at A Level (or equivalent qualifications) are essential. It is also desirable to have Biology at AS or A2 or Further Mathematics at AS or A2.
Chemical Engineering via Natural Sciences: Mathematics and Chemistry are essential. It is highly desirable for applicants to have a third science/mathematics subject to at least AS Level or equivalent (it is useful to have covered mechanics in Physics or a Mathematics subject at AS or A2). Biology at AS or A2 or Further Mathematics at AS or A2 are also seen as helpful.
Chemical Engineering students via the Natural Sciences route are advised to study at least one of Chemistry, Physics or Biology of Cells in the first year of their degree. They must also study Mathematics or Quantitative Biology in the first year.
Chemical Engineering via Computer Science: Entry requirements are the same as via the Natural Sciences route. Chemical Engineering students via this route are required to take first-year Chemistry as an option.
We can certainly consider equivalent qualifications such as the International Baccalaureate. If you are following an A Level curriculum, the usual conditions of the offer will be that you obtain specified grades at A Level: typically A*AA or A*AAA or A*AAB (without specifying which should be A*).
