MEng Hons Chemical Engineering

At Nottingham, you won’t just be learning theories from textbooks — you’ll be putting them into practice from the very start. The course is designed so you get hands-on experience with industry-level equipment, work on real design problems in teams, and use the same digital tools that professional engineers rely on. By the time you graduate, you’ll feel comfortable moving between the lab, the computer, and the workplace.

Here’s what that looks like in action:

• Pilot-scale rigs in the L3 Laboratory – You’ll get to operate pumping systems, heat exchangers, fluidised beds, and even full distillation units. It’s where you really see how the processes you study on paper work in real life.

• Chemistry and analytical labs – From titrations to spectrophotometry, you’ll sharpen your practical lab skills and learn how to measure and analyse complex chemical systems safely and accurately.

• Process simulation software – In modules like Process Simulation, you’ll use professional modelling packages to test designs and predict how processes behave, just like engineers in industry do.

• Group design projects – You’ll work with classmates to solve genuine engineering problems, balancing technical, safety, and economic factors. These projects mirror the collaborative, fast-paced environment of engineering teams.

• Final-year MEng project – This is your chance to dive deep into a topic that excites you, often linked to real industrial or research challenges, with access to advanced labs and equipment.

• Work experience opportunities – Through the Nottingham Internship Scheme and faculty research placements, you can gain paid industry experience or contribute to active research before you even graduate.

• Study spaces and support – You’ll have the George Green Library right on campus, specialist computer labs, and online tools like Moodle to back up your learning whenever you need it.

Graduating from Nottingham’s Chemical Engineering MEng opens up a world of possibilities. Many of our alumni move into exciting roles like Process Engineer, R&D Scientist, Energy Analyst, or Environmental Consultant, applying the skills they’ve honed in labs, simulations, and projects. Around 89% of graduates secure professional-level jobs or further study within 15 months, with average starting salaries around £30,400 — giving you a strong start in your career.

Here’s how Nottingham helps you get there:

• Careers and Employability Service – Offers tailored support, from CV guidance and interview prep to employer events and networking, so you’re ready for real-world opportunities.

• Industry partnerships – Work alongside leading companies through placements, projects, and visits; past collaborations include firms like Severn Trent Water and other multinational engineering organisations.

• Professional accreditation – IChemE and IOM3 recognition puts you on the path to chartered engineer status, boosting long-term career prospects both in the UK and internationally.

• Employment outcomes – Graduates go into a range of sectors including energy, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, food and drink, sustainability consultancy, and supply chain management.

Further Academic Progression:
If you’re curious to go further, Nottingham provides pathways to postgraduate study, like MSc or PhD programmes in areas such as Biochemical Engineering, Renewable Energy, or Environmental Process Engineering. This is ideal if you want to specialise, conduct research, or move into academic and leadership roles.