BEng Chemical Engineering

One of the things students love most about Chemical Engineering at UCL is how quickly you move from theory into practice. You won’t just be studying equations on a page—you’ll be in the lab, using specialist equipment, learning industry software, and working in teams on projects that feel like the real job. And if you want to take things further, you can even spend a whole year working in industry, coming back with professional experience that makes you stand out.

Here’s what that looks like in action:

• Specialist labs you’ll actually use – from nanoscale 3D printers and crystallisation labs to fluidisation rigs, advanced imaging facilities, and bio-energy reactors. These aren’t demo spaces—they’re the same labs UCL researchers use to push the boundaries of chemical engineering.

• Scenario weeks in the Integrated Engineering Programme (IEP) – six times during your degree, you’ll step away from regular classes and join a cross-disciplinary team to solve a real engineering problem. It could be designing cleaner energy systems, developing sustainable manufacturing, or tackling a pharmaceutical challenge.

• Industry-standard software – you’ll train with tools like Aspen and gPROMS, simulating entire chemical processes and testing “what if” scenarios before they ever go near a plant.

• Year in Industry option – a chance to spend 12 months inside a company, applying what you’ve learned, building your CV, and making professional contacts before you even graduate.

• Networking and career events – UCL brings top employers onto campus through fairs, guest talks, and society events (like those run by the Ramsay ChemEng Society), so you’re constantly connecting your studies with your future career.

By the time you graduate, you won’t just understand chemical engineering—you’ll have lived it, in labs, projects, and industry settings that mirror what professionals do every day.

A degree in Chemical Engineering from UCL doesn’t just give you knowledge—it gives you options. Within just six months of graduating, almost 9 in 10 students (87.5%) are already in full-time work or self-employment. Our graduates step into careers as Process Engineers, Management Consultants, Data Analysts, or even Software Developers, and because chemical engineers are some of the best-paid engineers, you’ll be starting from a strong position financially too.

Here’s how UCL helps you get there:

• UCL Careers support – personalised advice, CV and interview workshops, and networking events with employers, available while you study and for three years after you graduate.

• Employment stats & salary figures – 87.5% employed or self-employed within six months; typical salaries sit around £37,000 just 15 months after graduation, rising to nearly £47,000 after five years.

• Industry partnerships – strong links with companies like BP, Johnson Matthey, Deloitte, ExxonMobil, and Deutsche Bank, meaning real opportunities for placements, projects, and graduate jobs.

• Professional recognition – the course is IChemE-accredited, which means you’re on the pathway to Chartered Engineer (CEng) status—a badge of professional quality recognised worldwide.

• Graduate outcomes – UCL is consistently ranked among the world’s top 20 universities for graduate employability, with 90% of graduates in work or further study within 15 months.