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Chemical Process Engineering MSc

Process engineering often involves close collaboration between engineers and scientists from a variety of disciplines. The MSc in Chemical Process Engineering at UCL is specifically designed to facilitate this collaboration and provides graduates from a variety of engineering and science disciplines with the advanced training required to enter the chemical or biochemical industries.

Covid-19 programme updates

Due to COVID-19, there may have been updates to this programme for the 2020 academic year. Where there has been an update, these are indicated with a red alert and a link which will provide further information.

Key information

Programme starts

September 2020

Modes and duration

Full time: 1 year

Application dates

All applicants
Open: 1 November 2019
Close: 11 August 2020
Notification
Due to the large number of applications received, this programme is no longer accepting applications for 2020/21 entry. We apologise for any inconvenience caused. Applications for 2021/22 entry will open later in the year.

Tuition fees (2020/21)

UK/EU:
£13,640 (FT)
Overseas:
£29,260 (FT)


Note on fees: The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website.

Fee deposit: All full time students are required to pay a fee deposit of £2,000 for this programme. All part-time students are required to pay a fee deposit of £1,000.

Accreditation:

The programme offers three routes with different compulsory and optional modules. The routes are 1) Advanced Chemical Engineering Route, 2) Design Route and 3) Research Route. Routes 1 and 2 are accredited by the IChemE.

Location: London, Bloomsbury

Entry requirements

A minimum of an upper second-class Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering or a cognate discipline (such as Mechanical or Environmental Engineering, Chemistry and Physics) from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard.

English language requirements

If your education has not been conducted in the English language, you will be expected to demonstrate evidence of an adequate level of English proficiency.

The English language level for this programme is: Standard

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

International students

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below.

Select your country:

About this degree

Students will develop knowledge of core chemical engineering principles and applications as well as teamworking and communication skills. Moreover, they will learn how to 1) be creative and innovative in solving problems and in designing processes, 2) use appropriate mathematical methods and scientific principles as a tool for solving complex problems, 3) analyse and interpret data and, when necessary, designing experiments to gain new data, and 4) retrieve, analyse and use information from a wide range of sources.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.

The programme offers three routes with different compulsory and optional modules:

•    Advanced Chemical Engineering Route (accredited by the IChemE at F-Standard)
•    Design Route (accredited by the IChemE at B-Standard)
•    Research Route

Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded a MSc in Chemical Process Engineering.

Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change.

Compulsory modules

  • Advanced Chemical Engineering Route: Three compulsory taught modules (45 credits) and a dissertation (60 credits).
  • Design Route: Seven compulsory taught modules (105 credits) and a dissertation (60 credits).
  • Research Route: Two compulsory taught modules (30 credits) and a dissertation (60 credits).

For each route, the list of modules can be found at: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/chemical-engineering/study/postgraduate-taught/chemical-process-engineering-msc

Optional modules

  • Advanced Chemical Engineering Route: Five optional taught modules (75 credits).
  • Design Route: One optional taught module (15 credits).
  • Research Route: Six optional taught modules (90 credits).

For each route, the list of modules can be found at: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/chemical-engineering/study/postgraduate-taught/chemical-process-engineering-msc

Covid-19 module updates
Due to COVID-19, there may be updates to the modules for your chosen programme of study this year. Some modules may not be available or may need to be moved to a later term or year of study. These updates are relevant for 2020-21 academic year only.  The full list of modules will be available in the module catalogue from late August.  From the first week of September, you will be invited to complete module selection from Portico, our student record system. There may need to be additional updates or changes to modules during the academic year to allow for new guidance from the UK Government and Public Health England. Your department shall keep you updated of these changes as they become available.

Dissertation/report

All students undertake either a research project or a design project, which culminates in a project report and an oral examination.

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through a combination of lecture-based courses, individual and group activities, assessed coursework and tutorial sessions. Advanced design or research projects are provided to extend knowledge and understanding of the topics studied and to encourage critical thinking. Creativity and innovation is encouraged on the demonstration of sound judgement and assumptions. Assessment is mainly through examinations, coursework and reports.

Covid-19 contact hours on campus
In Term One, while campus will be open, all the learning activity for the core content of your modules will take place online – including lectures, tutorials, seminars and assessments. By “core content” we mean everything you need to learn to complete the module successfully. In addition to these online contact hours, we will be offering some face-to-face educational activities for students on campus, and we will provide alternative online activities for those students unable to join us on campus. These activities, which will include contact with academic staff, will be relevant to your programme of study may include seminars, academic and employability skills workshops, small-group or individual tutorials, lab and practice-based teaching. UK Government safety guidelines will limit the amount of ‘in person’ activity we can offer and while it will vary from programme to programme, is likely to be no more than 1-2 hours per week. This will vary across departments, particularly if your programme includes laboratory/practical/studio/workshop sessions. You will be updated with more specific details as they are available and your timetable will indicate which sessions will be on campus and which will be available online.
Covid-19 assessment updates
There may be changes to the format of assessments for modules in this programme due to COVID-19. These will be summarised for each module on the module catalogue from 17 August 2020.   If any changes to assessments need to be made during the academic year due to updates in government guidance, these will be communicated to you as soon as possible from your department.    
Communicating further Covid-19 mitigation plans
We are continuing to follow UK Government guidance, as well as the expertise of our researchers, including specialists in health, education, human behaviour and infection prevention, to make sure UCL is as safe as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic. If it becomes necessary to make further changes to your programme as a result of new guidance/regulations, UCL and your department will communicate these as soon as this becomes clear. We will keep you up-to-date with our plans throughout term one, so you have the information you need to be able to take decisions that are right for your circumstances. Please ensure that you keep in touch with your department by regularly checking your UCL emails, Moodle courses, the Coronavirus FAQs for Students page and any UCL online groups or social media you follow.

Additional costs

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support & Wellbeing team.

Funding

Scholarships relevant to this department are displayed below.

Brown Family Bursary

Note:
This scheme is now closed for 2020/21
Value:
£15,000 (1 year)
Eligibility:
UK
Criteria:
Based on both academic merit and financial need

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

Careers

Upon completion, our graduates can expect to play a major role in developing the technologies that make available most of the things that we use in everyday life and provide the expertise and technology to enhance our health and standard of living. These activities may involve the development of new materials, food processing, water treatment, pharmaceuticals, transport and energy resources as well as being at the frontline, addressing present environmental issues such as climate change.


Typical destinations of recent graduates include: Amec Process and Energy, British Petroleum, Royal Dutch Shell, National Grid, Health & Safety Executive. Career profiles of some of our recent MSc graduates are available on our website.

Employability

Students gain in-depth knowledge of core chemical engineering subjects and of the advanced use of computers in process design, operation and management. They receive thorough training in hazard identification, quantification and mitigation, as well as in risk management and loss prevention, and also learn how to design advanced energy systems, with emphasis on sustainability, energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources. Students learn how to make decisions under uncertain scenarios and with limited available data and receive training on how to plan, conduct and manage a complex (design or research) project.

Why study this degree at UCL?

UCL Chemical Engineering, situated in the heart of London, is one of the top-rated departments in the UK, being internationally renowned for its outstanding research.

The programme is the first of its kind in the UK and is accredited by the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) as meeting the IChemE's requirements for Further Learning to Master's Level. This recognition fulfils an important academic qualification for MSc graduates with suitable first degrees in eventually becoming Chartered Chemical Engineer or Incorporated Chemical Engineer (see further information on the IChemE website).

Accreditation:

The programme offers three routes with different compulsory and optional modules. The routes are 1) Advanced Chemical Engineering Route, 2) Design Route and 3) Research Route. Routes 1 and 2 are accredited by the IChemE.

Department: Chemical Engineering

What our students and staff say

Staff view

"At UCL students can expect independence, attractive laboratory spaces and academic freedom with a long-term perspective. "

Stefan Guldin

Chemical Process Engineering MSc
UCL Chemical Engineering
Alumni view

"I wanted to continue my study and enhance my chemical knowledge with a postgraduate programme in Chemical Engineering in a top-class university."

Xuyang Zhang

Chemical Process Engineering MSc (2014)
UCL Chemical Engineering

Application and next steps

Applications

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

There is an application processing fee for this programme of £80 for online applications and £105 for paper applications. Further information can be found at: www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate/taught/application.

Who can apply?

The programme is suitable for graduates in disciplines such as chemical engineering, material science and chemistry and its allied fields. The multidisciplinary nature of the programme coupled with extensive industrial input and the emphasis on safety and environmental issues has attracted outstanding students from many countries across the globe.

Application deadlines

All applicants
11 August 2020

For more information see our Applications page.

Apply now

What are we looking for?

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

  • why you want to study Chemical Process Engineering at graduate level
  • why you want to study Chemical Process Engineering at UCL
  • what particularly attracts you to this programme
  • how your academic, professional and personal background meets the demands of this programme
  • where you would like to go professionally with your degree

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this programme match what the programme will deliver.

UCL is regulated by the Office for Students.

Page last modified on 13 August 2020