MEng Hons Chemical Engineering

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Queen Mary University of London

Program Overview

Chemical Engineering at Queen Mary University of London is all about turning science into real solutions for the world’s biggest challenges—clean energy, sustainable resources, safe water, and greener materials. If you’re curious about how things work, enjoy maths, chemistry, and physics, and want a career where your ideas make an impact, this degree gives you both the theory and the hands-on skills to get there.

Curriculum Structure

Foundation Year (optional)
If you need a stepping stone before diving into the degree, Queen Mary offers a foundation year. You’ll build confidence in areas like Mathematics, Physical and Chemical Sciences, and Engineering Basics, while also developing your communication and teamwork skills. It’s designed to get you fully ready for Year 1.

Year 1
Your first year sets the stage with core principles. Modules like Engineering Design, Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics, and Materials Chemistry give you a solid grounding, while Computational and Mathematical Modelling sharpens your problem-solving. You’ll also step into the lab for Experimental Design and Practice, learning how to test ideas and think like an engineer.

Year 2
This is where you start thinking more like a professional chemical engineer. You’ll study Heat and Mass Transfer, Separation Processes, and Chemical Reaction Engineering—all vital for designing real-world processes. With Process Control and Process Design and Simulation, you’ll learn how to model and optimise systems, applying creativity as well as technical skill.

Year 3
Now you put knowledge into action. A major Design Project challenges you to solve complex engineering problems, often working as part of a team. Modules like Fuels and Sustainability, Catalysis and Reaction Design, and Process Safety and Loss Prevention get you thinking about efficiency, sustainability, and safety—the pillars of modern chemical engineering.

Year 4 (MEng option)
If you choose the MEng pathway, your final year is all about advanced expertise and specialisation. Alongside a substantial Research Project, you’ll explore areas like Advanced Process Safety, Water Treatment, Renewable Fuels, and even AI and Machine Learning for Engineering. It’s the year that really sets you apart, giving you leadership skills and specialist knowledge.

Focus Areas

Sustainability & Green Technologies; Process Design & Simulation; Energy & Water Treatment; Safety & Ethics; Industrial and Research Experience

Learning Outcomes

You’ll graduate able to design safe and sustainable chemical processes, use advanced lab and simulation tools, and apply your knowledge to complex real-world challenges. Just as importantly, you’ll be equipped to work confidently in teams, communicate your ideas clearly, and make decisions that balance innovation with environmental and social responsibility.

Professional Alignment

This degree is accredited by the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE), which means it ticks all the boxes for professional recognition. It puts you on the pathway to becoming a Chartered Engineer (CEng), a credential respected worldwide and highly valued by employers.

Reputation

Queen Mary has an excellent reputation for employability, ranking 11th in the UK for graduate outcomes in 2026. Chemical Engineering graduates here go into industries ranging from energy and pharmaceuticals to environmental consultancy and advanced materials, helped by strong industry links and a careers team that supports you from day one.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At Queen Mary, you won’t just be sitting in lecture theatres learning theory—you’ll be applying it in real situations. From your very first year, you’ll run experiments in specialist labs, work on design challenges in teams, and use the same digital tools and simulation software that engineers use in industry. Alongside this, you’ll have the chance to take part in internships, insight weeks, and research projects that give you a taste of professional life before you graduate.

Here’s how Queen Mary helps you learn by doing:

Specialist laboratories – You’ll work with advanced facilities in the School of Engineering and Materials Science, such as the Advanced Water Purification System, Electrochemistry and Thermal Analysis Labs, and high-tech Materials Characterisation and Spectroscopy equipment.
Powerful digital tools – You’ll have access to QMUL’s computing clusters and national supercomputing resources for modelling and simulation work.
Design and group projects – A highlight of the degree is the Design Project, where you and your team tackle a large-scale engineering challenge, applying everything you’ve learned about process design, sustainability, and safety.
Hands-on teaching labs – Modules like Experimental Design and Practice and Heat and Mass Transfer are taught through practical experiments, so you see the science in action rather than just on paper.
Internships and work experience – Through QMUL’s Careers & Enterprise service, you can join internships and short “insight weeks” that connect you directly with employers and give you real-world industry exposure.
Creative design spaces – The SEMS Design Studio is a dedicated area for collaboration, tutorials, and individual project work.
Wider resources – You’ll also benefit from Queen Mary’s libraries, online databases, and professional links to support both your studies and research projects.

Progression & Future Opportunities

A Chemical Engineering degree from Queen Mary opens doors to exciting careers in industries that shape the future—from clean energy and sustainable manufacturing to pharmaceuticals and technology. Many graduates step into roles like Process Engineer, Data Engineer, Research Engineer, or Consultant, with strong starting salaries and real scope to grow quickly in their careers.

Here’s what that looks like in practice:

Tailored career support – Queen Mary’s Careers & Enterprise team helps you every step of the way, from shaping your CV and preparing for interviews to finding internships, placements, and graduate roles.
Year in industry option – You can choose to spend a year working with a major employer, gaining invaluable real-world experience. Students have previously secured placements at companies like GSK, with opportunities in pharmaceuticals, energy, and technology.
Employment stats & salaries – Around 90% of QMUL graduates in Chemical, Process and Energy Engineering are in work or further study just 15 months after graduation, with average salaries around £32,000.
Industry links – Queen Mary’s School of Engineering and Materials Science works closely with leading organisations such as Procter & Gamble, BP, and GSK, helping students build connections that can lead to graduate jobs.
Professional recognition – The course is fully accredited by the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE), giving you a globally recognised qualification and a clear path to becoming a Chartered Engineer (CEng).

Further Academic Progression:
If you’d like to keep studying after your degree, you’ll have plenty of options. Some students continue with a master’s in areas like Process Engineering, Renewable Energy, or Environmental Engineering, while others move into research through an MRes or PhD at Queen Mary. If you take the MEng route, you’ll already graduate with a master’s-level qualification, giving you a strong platform for advanced roles or doctoral study.