Chemical Engineering MEng

Ranked no.3 in London by the Complete University Guide 2024. 

Our Chemical Engineering MEng degree is an innovative course that has been developed to equip you with a broad range of knowledge and skills to meet the needs of the chemical and biochemical industry.

The course has been developed according to the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) accreditation guidelines. This innovative approach means modern subjects are taught and delivered through flipped classrooms, problem-based learning and virtual reality.

Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to a new, modern laboratory with equipment and rigs for your experimental work. The latest industry standard engineering software packages are available for you to use in the purpose-built computer laboratories.

Our MEng chemical engineering course can be studied full-time over four years, or five years with a placement year.

We encourage the placement year option. This time in industry helps you to further prepare for the world of work and you’ll have a year’s worth of invaluable professional experience when you graduate. If you opt for the placement year, you could find yourself making a difference in the real world working in energy, pharmaceutical or consumer goods.

Brunel Engineers is an annual exhibition that showcases our engineering talent at its finest. It’s a great way for you to network with key engineering professionals and show them the innovative, creative and enterprising work you have produced during your time at Brunel.

National salary surveys consistently place chemical engineers at the top of the engineering pay scales, meaning you will be studying for a lucrative and successful career with our degree.

Course delivery is a well-balanced mix of theory and practical sessions. In your first two years, you will gain solid knowledge and understanding of key areas in chemical engineering. You’ll also be introduced to process plant operation, control and safety through the Chemical Engineer’s Toolbox module. In later years, you move on to modern topics such as big data analytics, industrial internet of things and cybersecurity. You will work on your major design project in your third year and your research project in your MEng final year.

This course can be studied 4 years full-time or 5 years full-time with placement, starting in September.

Brunel’s pioneering chemical engineering courses have been designed in close collaboration with the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) accreditation body to prepare you for an exciting and rewarding career in one of the fastest growing engineering disciplines.

• GCE A-level AAA-AAB including grade A in Maths and grade B in one of the following subjects; Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geography, Geology, Environmental Science, Environment Studies, Computer Science, Electronics, or Design and Technology (Use of Maths, Critical Thinking, and General Studies not accepted).
• BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (QCF) DDD in Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, with Distinctions in Further Mathematics for Technicians and Further Mechanical or Further Electronic/Electrical Principles modules and grade A in A Level Maths (Use of Maths not accepted).
• BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (RQF) DDD in Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, with Distinctions Engineering Principles and Calculus to Solve Engineering Problems, AND grade A in A Level Maths (Use of Maths not accepted).
• BTEC Level 3 Diploma (QCF)/BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (RQF) DD in Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, with Distinction in Further Mechanical or Further Electrical Principles (QCF), Engineering Principles & Calculus to Solve Engineering Problems (RQF), AND A Level Maths at grade A (Use of Maths not accepted).
• BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma (QCF)/BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (RQF) D in Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, with A Levels grades AB to include grade A in Maths and grade B in one of the following subjects; Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geography, Geology, Environmental Science, Environment Studies, Computer Science, Electronics, or Design and Technology (Use of Maths, Critical Thinking, and General Studies not accepted).
• International Baccalaureate Diploma 33 points, including 6 in Higher Level Maths and Higher Level 5 in one of the following subjects; Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Computer Science, Geography or Design Technology. GCSE English equivalent SL 5 or HL 4 and Mathematics SL 4 or HL 4.
• Access to Higher Education Diploma Applicants should apply for the BEng and those who achieve the progression requirement can then transfer to the MEng at the end of Level two.
• T levels : Not accepted.

• Applicants who will need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) Certificate. To find out if you will need an ATAS certificate, please visit this webpage: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/find-out-if-you-require-an-atas-certificate#when-you-need-an-atas-certificate.

  The deadline for Admissions to make offers to applicants who will require an ATAS certificate is 2nd August 2024. This is to ensure any offer holders who need an ATAS certificate have plenty of time to obtain the certificate before their course starts.

  This course is now closed to new applications for September 2023 from visa requiring applicants who will need an ATAS certificate to study the course. This is because there will not be enough time to obtain the ATAS certificate and apply for a student visa before the start of the course

For Engineering with Integrated Foundation Year progression requirements, see the course page.

A minimum of five GCSEs are required, including GCSE Mathematics grade C or grade 4 and GCSE English Language grade C or grade 4 or GCSE English Literature grade B or grade 5.

Brunel University London is committed to raising the aspirations of our applicants and students. We will fully review your UCAS application and, where we’re able to offer a place, this will be personalised to you based on your application and education journey.

Please check our Admissions pages for more information on other factors we use to assess applicants as well as our full GCSE requirements and accepted equivalencies in place of GCSEs.

• IELTS: 6 (min 5.5 in all areas)
• Pearson: 59 (59 in all sub scores)
• BrunELT: 58% (min 55% in all areas)
• TOEFL: 77 (min R18, L17, S20, W17) 

Our chemical engineering degrees are delivered by staff with recent industrial experience. This means you’ll be learning from an enthusiastic teaching team with deep knowledge of the chemical process industry. There will also be guest lectures from our industrial collaborators, and site visits to process plants are arranged.

Study will combine lectures, tutorials, laboratory work, computer simulation, debates, self-study, and project work.

Should you need any non-academic support during your time at Brunel, the Student Support and Welfare Team are here to help.

Your progress will be assessed via assignments, coursework, presentations, laboratory reports and the design and research projects.

In your first two years, assessment is through a combination of exams and assignments. In your third and fourth years, assessment is assignment-based only. This gives you the opportunity to put into practice your soft skills (such as communication and teamwork) as well as your technical abilities, so better preparing you for the work environment.