Chemical Process Engineering MSc

1 Year On Campus Masters Program

University College London

Program Overview

The MSc in Sustainable Chemical Process Engineering at UCL equips you to design and optimise industrial chemical processes that are safer, cleaner, and more sustainable. Over one year, you’ll combine core engineering knowledge with sustainability principles—getting ready to tackle everything from energy systems to environmental remediation.

Curriculum Structure

Routes & Core Structure:
There are two routes in this MSc — the Advanced Chemical Engineering route and the Research route. Both start with core courses in Energy Systems & Sustainability, Process Engineering Modelling & Design, and Research Skills, giving you a strong foundation in process design, systems thinking, and the sustainability challenges of modern chemical engineering.
Elective Modules:
You’ll choose from a broad range of optional modules depending on your route and interests. This could include “depth” modules like Chemical Reaction Engineering II, Advanced Process Optimisation, or Advanced Safety & Loss Prevention, or “breadth” modules such as Sustainable Waste Management, Nature‑Inspired Chemical Engineering, or Electrochemical Engineering & Power Sources.
Non-chemical engineering electives are also possible, like Advanced Bioreactor Engineering, Project Management for Engineers, or Entrepreneurship.
Project / Research:
A big part of the MSc is a major project (60 credits) — whether it’s a design-led industrial problem (for the advanced route) or a more research‑oriented project (for the research route). This gives you hands‑on experience solving real, open-ended engineering challenges.

Focus Areas

Process design, optimisation, sustainability, energy systems, environmental contamination, safe chemical processes, and interdisciplinary engineering.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this MSc, you will be able to create and analyse efficient, sustainable process systems, use advanced modelling and optimisation tools, evaluate environmental and safety risks, and carry out a substantial research or design project independently.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The Advanced Chemical Engineering route is accredited by the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) at F‑standard — giving you a pathway toward becoming a Chartered Chemical Engineer.

Reputation (Employability)

Graduates from this program go into a wide range of roles — process engineering, energy, safety, environmental consulting, operations, and research. At UCL, chemical engineering alumni have joined companies like Shell, BP, National Grid, Deloitte, and more.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

This master’s isn’t just theoretical — you’ll be deeply involved in designing and improving chemical processes with a strong focus on sustainability. Through coursework, modelling, and a major research project, your learning will closely mirror the challenges that companies face today when balancing efficiency, safety, and environmental impact. UCL gives you room to be creative, tackle open-ended problems, and collaborate across disciplines.

Here’s how the hands-on learning works:

Major Research Project: A key part of the programme is the “Chemical Process Engineering Research Project.” Over the year, you’ll work on a real and often open-ended engineering problem — applying everything you learn in lectures to design, analyse, or optimise chemical processes.
Modelling & Design Module: You’ll take a module called Process Engineering Modelling and Design, where you learn to build models, simulate processes, and assess different engineering strategies based on sustainability, safety, and efficiency.
Energy & Sustainability Systems: Through the Energy Systems and Sustainability module, you’ll dive into how to design processes that are both energy-efficient and environmentally conscious — something that’s increasingly important in chemical engineering.
Research Skills Development: There’s a “Research Skills” component built into the programme that helps you build the analytical, decision-making, and problem-solving skills you need for your project and future career.
Flexible Module Choices: Depending on your interests, you can pick from a range of advanced modules — such as Advanced Process Optimisation, Molecular Thermodynamics, or Sustainable Water Resource Management — which let you tailor how “sustainable” your chemical engineering focus is. Sustainability & Environmental Focus: Some optional modules include Prevention and Remediation of Environmental Contamination, Sustainable Waste Management, and Sustainable Water Resource Management, giving you direct exposure to real ecological challenges.
Real‑World Context & Industry Insight: Because sustainability is at the heart of this MSc, many of your projects and assignments will require you to think about regulation, environmental risk, and process safety just like you would in a real company.
Field Trip Option: For the Prevention and Remediation of Environmental Contamination module, there is an optional field trip (estimated cost ~£800) which offers on‑site learning of environmental and remediation challenges.
Professional Accreditation: The “Advanced Chemical Engineering” route of this MSc is accredited by IChemE (Institution of Chemical Engineers), meaning that you gain recognition for professional engineering competence.
Personal & Academic Support: As with other UCL masters, you’ll have structured contact hours (lectures, tutorials, workshops) and support for self‑directed learning.

Progression & Future Opportunities

This MSc is perfect if you want to use chemical engineering to make a real difference — designing processes that are efficient, safe, and environmentally sustainable. Graduates often go into roles like:

Process Engineer – optimising chemical or energy processes for sustainability
Energy or Environmental Engineer – working on low-carbon or clean energy systems
Consultant – advising companies on sustainable process design, risk, or compliance
Operations / Safety Engineer – focusing on health, safety, and environmental management
Researcher – moving into industrial or academic R&D on green technologies

UCL supports you every step of the way:

Career Support & Networking: UCL Careers helps with CVs, interviews, and building professional connections. You’ll also attend seminars, workshops, and meet industry speakers.
Hands-On Experience: Your research project lets you tackle real-world problems, while gaining skills in process modelling, optimisation, and sustainability.
Industry Links: Graduates have gone on to work with companies like Shell, BP, Unilever, National Grid, and Deloitte, giving you access to excellent career opportunities.
Accreditation & Professional Growth: The MSc is IChemE-accredited, helping you on the path to becoming a Chartered Chemical Engineer (CEng) — a globally respected professional credential.
Graduation Outcomes: You’ll leave with a mix of technical expertise, research experience, and transferable skills like problem-solving, data analysis, and decision-making — all highly valued in industry or academia.

Further Academic Progression:

You could continue with a PhD in chemical engineering, energy systems, or environmental process engineering.
You might take on industrial R&D roles to develop new sustainable processes or technologies.
Alternatively, you can move into consultancy or leadership roles, using your expertise to help companies transition to greener, safer processes.