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Program Overview
At UCL, the Chemical Engineering BEng gives you the chance to learn how raw materials are turned into everyday products—whether it’s clean energy, safe food, or advanced materials. If you’re curious about solving global challenges like sustainability and innovation, this degree combines solid theory with plenty of hands-on projects to prepare you for a wide range of careers.
Curriculum structure
Year 1
Your first year is all about building a strong foundation. You’ll explore the basics of chemical engineering through modules like Introduction to Chemical Engineering, Thermodynamics, and Transport Phenomena. Alongside this, you’ll work on real engineering challenges in teams, applying what you learn straight away to practical problems.
Year 2
In second year, things step up a level. You’ll cover important areas like Process Heat Transfer, Separation Processes, and Chemical Reaction Engineering. You’ll also get to choose an IEP Minor—perhaps sustainability or programming—so you can shape your studies to match your interests, while developing practical skills in lab experiments and team-based projects.
Year 3
Your final year is when it all comes together. Core modules such as Process Plant Design, Process Control, and Advanced Safety prepare you for the workplace, and you’ll work on a major group design project where you plan an entire chemical process plant. Some students even choose to swap this year for a year in industry, gaining valuable real-world experience before graduation.
Focus areas: Sustainable process design, reaction engineering, thermodynamics, safety & risk, process control, computational modelling, interdisciplinary teamwork.
Learning outcomes: You’ll graduate with a strong grasp of core chemical engineering, the confidence to apply your knowledge to real-world challenges, and the teamwork, problem-solving, and project management skills employers look for.
Professional alignment: This BEng is accredited by the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE), meaning it’s recognised worldwide and puts you on track towards Chartered Engineer (CEng) status with further training.
Reputation: UCL is ranked among the world’s top universities, and Chemical Engineering graduates go on to exciting careers in sectors like energy, finance, consultancy, and manufacturing. Within six months of finishing, nearly 9 out of 10 students are working in top organisations such as BP, Deloitte, and ExxonMobil.
One of the things that makes Chemical Engineering at UCL stand out is how much you get to learn by doing. From your very first year, you’ll be working in labs, tackling real-world scenarios, and using the same tools that professional engineers rely on. The degree is designed so you don’t just learn theory—you put it into practice, gaining the kind of skills employers really value.
Here’s what that looks like in practice:
Real-world projects: Through the Integrated Engineering Programme (IEP), you’ll work in teams to solve authentic engineering challenges. By your final year, this includes a full-scale process plant design project—giving you the chance to experience exactly what chemical engineers do in industry.
Specialist laboratories: You’ll get hands-on training in some of the department’s most advanced facilities, from the NICE Labs with 3D printers and material analysers, to solar materials labs, crystallisation labs, and even bioenergy technology spaces.
Industry-standard software: Tools like Aspen and gPROMS are built into the course, so you graduate already confident in the digital platforms chemical engineers use every day.
London advantage: Being based in the heart of London, you’ll have access to guest speakers, networking events, and employer visits, plus the chance to take a Year in Industry for direct professional experience.
Student societies and trips: Through the Ramsay Society, you’ll connect with other chemical engineers, attend career panels, and take part in industry visits that give you a clearer picture of your future career.
A degree in Chemical Engineering from UCL opens the door to a wide range of careers. Our graduates step into roles such as Process Engineer, Production Engineer, Management Consultant, or Data Analyst, with many working at world-leading companies. Within just six months of finishing the degree, nearly 9 out of 10 graduates are in full-time employment or self-employment—proof of the strong reputation UCL engineers hold in the job market.
Here’s why UCL students are so successful after graduation:
Tailored career support: UCL Careers helps you at every stage—from CV workshops and mock interviews to networking events with employers. Many Chemical Engineering students have gone on to work with organisations like BP, Johnson Matthey, ExxonMobil, Deloitte, and Deutsche Bank.
Excellent outcomes and salaries: According to the HESA Graduate Outcomes survey, 87.5% of graduates are working or self-employed within six months in well-paid, skilled positions across consulting, manufacturing, finance, and engineering.
Industry links that matter: Through UCL’s enterprise and collaboration projects, you’ll work on challenges directly connected to industry, gaining practical experience and contacts that give you an edge.
Accredited degree: The BEng is accredited by the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE). That means your qualification is professionally recognised worldwide and puts you on the path towards Chartered Engineer (CEng) status.
London advantage: Studying in the heart of London also means being close to countless networking events, employer visits, and professional opportunities right on your doorstep.
IELTS - Overall score of 6.5 and a minimum of 6.0 in each componentTOEFL - Overall Score: 92 (Reading & Writing: 24/30, Speaking & Listening: 20/30)In British Curriculum,Mathematics and Chemistry required. Biology, Economics, Further Mathematics, Geography, Physics and Psychology preferred.In GCSE, English Language and Mathematics at grade C or 4.In IB - To apply, you’ll need 18 points from three Higher Level subjects. This must include at least a grade 6 in both Mathematics and Chemistry, with no Higher Level grade lower than 5. Another science at Higher Level is preferred, but not essential. We accept either Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches or Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation at Higher Level.The Higher Secondary Certificate / Standard XII awarded with five subjects at 90, 90, 90, 90, 90 to include three core subjects.One of the following will be considered: Four AP scores of 5 in distinct subjects, taken in the final three years of high school OR Two AP scores of 5 in distinct subjects, plus a 1440 SAT or 32 ACT, and a completed High School Diploma OR One year of study at a recognized US institution (university, community, or junior college) with a 3.3/4.0 GPA (approx. 2.1 UK equivalent) and ~30 semester credits.Data AnalystMarketing SpecialistSoftware DeveloperHealthcare ProfessionalFinancial AnalystEducation & Training ConsultantSustainability Consultant
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University College London
