The MSc in Sustainable Chemical Engineering at Newcastle University is designed for students who want to make a real impact on the world. You’ll learn how to develop cleaner, greener, and more efficient processes that tackle challenges like climate change, resource scarcity, and environmental pollution, giving you the skills to shape the chemical industries of the future.
Curriculum Structure
Taught Modules and Projects
Throughout the course, you’ll explore sustainability from every angle. In Sustainable Industry I: Assessment, Assurance and Strategy, you’ll learn how to assess industrial processes and develop strategies to make them more environmentally friendly. Green Chemistry and Complementary Chemistry / Chemical Engineering Skills will teach you how to design greener chemical processes while building professional skills that matter in industry.
In Sustainable Industry II: Business and Environmental Management, you’ll see how sustainability links with business strategy and regulation, preparing you to make decisions that are both practical and eco-conscious. Meanwhile, the Advanced Design Project gives you hands-on experience in designing real-world processes that balance efficiency, safety, cost, and environmental impact.
Dissertation / Research Project
Finally, you’ll complete a Chemical Engineering Dissertation, where you can focus on topics that excite you — whether it’s carbon capture, bio-renewables, hydrogen technologies, or process intensification. This independent project allows you to apply everything you’ve learned to a substantial, research-led challenge.
Focus Areas
Net-zero technologies, carbon capture, circular economy, catalysis, bio-renewable chemicals, sustainable materials, hydrogen & fuel cells, process intensification.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the programme, you’ll be able to design sustainable chemical processes, apply green chemistry principles, critically assess environmental impacts, communicate engineering solutions clearly, and carry out independent research on advanced sustainability topics.
Professional Alignment (Accreditation)
While the programme is not formally accredited by a professional engineering body, it is closely aligned with the skills and knowledge that modern chemical engineers need to succeed in sustainability-focused industries.
Reputation / Employability
Taught by research-active faculty working on cutting-edge areas like advanced materials, electrochemical engineering, and process intensification.
Graduates go on to roles such as Process Engineer, Sustainability / Energy Manager, Green Chemist, or Environmental Consultant, or continue into PhD research.
Newcastle University’s School of Engineering offers excellent industrial links and state-of-the-art labs, including pilot-scale setups, giving you practical, hands-on experience
If you choose the MSc Sustainable Chemical Engineering at Newcastle, you won’t just be sitting in lectures you’ll be actively designing sustainable processes, running experiments, and tackling real-world challenges like carbon capture, bio-renewables, and hydrogen technologies. The programme is designed so that every step builds your practical skills, confidence, and readiness for industry.
Here’s what that looks like day-to-day:
Team Design Projects – You’ll work in small groups on realistic engineering briefs, focusing on sustainability and efficiency. It’s your chance to experience what working in a real engineering team is like.
Independent Research Project (Dissertation) – Over the summer, you pick a topic that excites you whether it’s hydrogen, catalysis, or circular economy and carry out a full research project with guidance from expert supervisors.
Hands-On Lab Work – Newcastle has amazing labs where you can experiment with pilot-scale equipment, control systems, and real chemical processes. You’ll learn by doing, just like professional engineers.
Advanced Analytical Facilities – From gas chromatography to X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy, you’ll have access to cutting-edge tools to really understand your experiments.
Software & Simulation – You’ll get to use industry-standard software like Aspen, MATLAB, and CAD to model, simulate, and optimise chemical processes.
Modern Campus Facilities – Much of your learning happens in the Stephenson Building, a £110 million facility packed with collaborative spaces, maker labs, and high-tech teaching labs.
Industry Exposure – You’ll meet industry professionals, go on site visits, and sometimes work on projects linked to real companies, so you get a taste of the engineering world outside the classroom.
Professional Skills Development – Alongside technical skills, you’ll build teamwork, project management, and communication skills everything you need to succeed in your career.
With Newcastle, it’s not just about graduating with a degree it’s about leaving with real, hands-on experience, confidence, and a portfolio of projects that show you’re ready to make an impact in sustainable chemical engineering.
Finishing Newcastle’s MSc in Sustainable Chemical Engineering prepares you to make a real impact in the world of green and sustainable technologies. Graduates often move into roles like process engineers, sustainability managers, or researchers, working on everything from carbon capture to renewable energy systems.
Future Progression & Opportunities:
Here’s why this degree can really boost your career:
Support from the University:
Newcastle’s Careers Service is there to guide you every step of the way, from one-on-one advice to CV reviews, interview practice, and access to job portals.
The department works closely with students to help secure internships, projects, and graduate roles.
You’ll also benefit from tutor and supervisor support throughout your dissertation and projects, plus access to wider student services.
Employment & Earning Potential:
While exact salaries aren’t listed for this MSc, chemical engineering graduates from Newcastle go into sectors where sustainability expertise is in high demand meaning strong career prospects.
The skills you gain in sustainable processing, carbon reduction, and green technologies set you up for long-term growth.
Industry Connections & Experience:
You’ll get hands-on experience through industrial projects and your dissertation, tackling real-world engineering challenges.
Guest lectures, site visits, and collaborations with industry keep your learning closely linked to the latest technologies and practices.
The program is connected to research in areas like process intensification, catalysis, bio-renewables, and carbon capture keeping you at the forefront of sustainable engineering.
Long-Term Value / Accreditation:
The MSc aligns with professional engineering standards and supports your path to Chartered Engineer (CEng) status.
Accreditation from IChemE and InstMC gives your degree strong recognition both in the UK and internationally.
With a focus on sustainability, ethics, and lifecycle thinking, you’ll be ready for roles where environmental impact matters.
Typical Roles Graduates Take On:
Sustainable Process Engineer – designing greener chemical processes
Energy / Carbon Capture Engineer – working on hydrogen, fuel cells, or carbon capture technologies
Sustainability / Environmental Manager – overseeing eco-friendly projects or circular economy initiatives
Researcher / R&D Engineer – working in labs or with industrial teams on advanced green technologies
Further Academic Progression:
After finishing the MSc, you could:
Continue with a PhD in areas like sustainable chemical processes, process intensification, or new materials.
Pursue professional accreditation, such as becoming a Chartered Engineer with IChemE, especially once you gain relevant work experience.
Take on industry research roles, working on green-tech or net-zero projects with companies and research teams.



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