Chemical Engineering BEng Honours

Course overview

Chemical engineers play a crucial role in many aspects of our everyday lives. This degree will equip you with the knowledge and practical skills you need to contribute to future scientific and technological breakthroughs within this diverse sector.

Practical learning and industry placements are integrated throughout the degree, giving you the opportunity to put your learning into practice, develop your professional expertise, and gain invaluable real-life experience in the sector.

You'll gain expertise across a broad range of chemical engineering topics, including thermodynamics, plant design, and process control.

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Your course and study experience - disclaimers and terms and conditions  
Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.

View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2023-24.

See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.

Additional information

Flexible degree structure

All of our chemical engineering degrees share the same first three years – with the exception of our Chemical Engineering with Industry degree. We allow you to explore the subject and find out where your interests lie.

You can transfer between any of our chemical engineering degrees if you want to.

You must achieve the appropriate academic standard to transfer from a BEng to an MEng degree. 

Quality and ranking

Professional accreditation and recognition

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body.

Modules and learning

Modules

The information below is intended to provide an example of what you will study.

Most degrees are divided into stages. Each stage lasts for one academic year, and you'll complete modules totalling 120 credits by the end of each stage. 

Our teaching is informed by research. Course content may change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.

Optional module availability
Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.

Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.

To find out more please see our terms and conditions.

During Stage 1, you'll be introduced to core engineering, mathematics, and science principles. These include chemistry, thermodynamics, the principles of chemical engineering and engineering mathematics.

Modules

Compulsory Modules	Credits
Chemistry	25
Thermodynamics	10
Transfer Processes	25
Principles of Chemical Engineering	25
Computing and Numerical Methods	10
Data Analysis in Process Industries	5
Engineering Mathematics I	20

The areas covered in Stage 1 will be expanded on in Stage 2, introducing disciplines such as reactor engineering, separation processes, and process measurement, dynamics and control. 

Modules

Compulsory Modules	Credits
Separation Processes 1	20
Transfer Processes 2	20
Reactor Engineering	10
Process Development Science and Analysis	10
Thermodynamics 2	10
Process Measurement, Dynamics & Control	10
Chemical Engineering Laboratory I	10
Safety, Risk and Engineering Practice	20
Engineering Mathematics II	10

In your final year, you'll work in a team to design a process plant, which will then be presented to experts from the sector. If you've decided to specialise on a specific area of chemical engineering, your project can be tailored to fit in with your chosen specialism. 

Modules

Compulsory Modules	Credits
Process Control	10
Process Design & Economics	15
Separation Processes 2	15
Design for Process Safety	10
Reactor Systems Engineering	15
Process and Product Engineering	10
Plant Design	40
Chemical Engineering Laboratory II	5

Information about these graphs

We base these figures and graphs on the most up-to-date information available to us. They are based on the modules chosen by our students in 2022-23.

Teaching time is made up of:

• scheduled learning and teaching activities. These are timetabled activities with a member of staff present.
• structured guided learning. These are activities developed by staff to support engagement with module learning. Students or groups of students undertake these activities without direct staff participation or supervision

Teaching and assessment

Teaching methods

Your teaching is case study-led, and gives a real-world relevance to your degree education. 

You're taught through:

• lectures
• tutorials
• seminars
• computer practice sessions
• practical laboratory work
• group work on case studies and design projects

Assessment methods

You'll be assessed through a combination of:

• 

  Examinations – practical or online

• 

  Interviews

• 

  Presentations

• 

  Reports

Skills and experience

Practical skills

You'll reinforce your learning and gain hands-on experience through:

• practical sessions carried out in our well-stocked Pilot Plant and Millennium Lab, where you'll be able to carry out chemistry experiments and use real-life equipment
• work on real-world engineering projects informed by industry-leading companies
• experience with industry-standard chemical engineering software in our dedicated computer suites
• access to small-scale unit operations and the latest equipment in our state-of-the-art BioLab

Research skills

During your final year, you'll have the opportunity to carry out a research project at one of our partner universities worldwide. 

Opportunities

Study abroad

In your final year, you complete an individual design project and a substantial research project. 

With the agreement of the Degree Programme Director, you can carry out a research project at one of our partner universities in Europe or worldwide. Locations include Australia and Singapore.

Work placement

Get career ready with a work placement and leave as a confident professional in your field. You can apply to spend 9 to 12 months working in any organisation in the world, and receive University support from our dedicated team to secure your dream placement. Work placements take place between stages 2 and 3.

You'll gain first-hand experience of working in the sector, putting your learning into practice and developing your professional expertise.

If you choose to take a work placement, it will extend your degree by a year, and your degree title will show you have achieved the placement year. A work placement is not available if you're spending a year studying abroad. Placements are subject to availability.

Find out more about work placements

Facilities and environment

Facilities

You'll have access to a great range of facilities and equipment during your time at Newcastle, including:

• a state-of-the-art BioLab, providing access to a range of small-scale unit operations and the latest equipment
• a recently upgraded pilot plant laboratory
• modern bench-top experimental equipment
• an interactive video teaching system
• high-specification fume cupboards for handling volatile chemicals
• two dedicated computing suites, running specialised industry-standard computer software

Support

To support you in your studies, all new students entering year 1 or year 2 will receive:

• a tablet so you can download the online learning resources you'll need for your course (helping us to make our campus more sustainable)
• a start-up pack containing essential personal protective equipment

You'll be supported by a personal tutor (an academic member of staff) throughout your degree. They can help you with academic and personal issues.

You'll also have access to a peer mentor (a fellow student) in your first year. They can help you settle in and answer any questions you have.

Your future

89% of our Chemical Engineer BEng Honours graduates progressed to employment or further study within six months of graduating.

Our graduates took up a range of roles, such as:

• Applications Engineer
• Environmental and Chemistry Officer
• Graduate Plant Manager
• Laboratory Chemist and Process Engineer
• Research and Development Technician

Prepare for diverse career paths

Our graduates are targeted by high-profile employers like SUEZ, Reckitt Benckiser Group, Patheon, and Kendal Nutricare across a range of sectors such as:

• pharmaceuticals
• chemicals
• energy
• oil and gas
• water
• environment
• biotechnology

Industry links

We're proud of our strong industry links, which will create a wealth of opportunities for networking, placements, and development during your studies. Consultants from industry deliver classes on current industrial practice, providing the latest insight into issues such as safety and sustainability.

Engineers from the British Chemical Engineering Contractors Association (BCECA) deliver sessions on chemical plant design that reflect current industrial practice. These engineers are from:

• ABB
• Air Products
• Aker Solutions
• Bechtel
• Costain
• Fluor
• Honeywell UOP
• Johnson Matthey
• KBR
• McDermott
• SABIC
• Wood Group
• Worley Parsons

Make a difference

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Careers support

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.

Visit our Careers Service website

Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK

From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Tuition fees and scholarships

Tuition fees for 2024 entry (per year)

Qualification: BEng Honours
Home students full time 3 years	Tuition fees (per year) 9250
International students full time 3 years	Tuition fees (per year) 26400

Home Fee Students

The maximum fee that we are permitted to charge for home fee-paying students is set by the UK government.

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

Read more about fees and funding

International Fee Students

Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.

EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support.

If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

Read more about fees and funding

Scholarships

We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our undergraduate scholarship page for more information.

Year abroad and additional costs

For programmes where you can spend a year on a work placement or studying abroad, you will receive a significant fee reduction for that year. 

Some of our degrees involve additional costs which are not covered by your tuition fees.

Scholarships

Find out more about:

• scholarships for UK, EU and international students
• Student Loans and Government financial support for UK and EU students

How to apply

Apply through UCAS

To apply for undergraduate study at Newcastle University, you must use the online application system managed by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). All UK schools and colleges, and a small number of EU and international establishments, are registered with UCAS. You will need:

• the UCAS name and institution codes for Newcastle University (NEWC/N21)
• the UCAS code for the course you want to apply for
• the UCAS 'buzzword' for your school or college

If you are applying independently, or are applying from a school or college which is not registered to manage applications, you will still use the Apply system. You will not need a buzzword.

Apply through UCAS

Apply through an agent

International students often apply to us through an agent. Have a look at our recommended agents and get in touch with them.

Visit our International pages