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The MSc Advanced Chemical Engineering at Leeds is designed to give you the knowledge, practical skills, and confidence to tackle modern chemical engineering challenges across industries like pharmaceuticals, energy, materials, and sustainable processes. Whether you want to specialise in process design, product development, or energy systems, this course combines cutting-edge theory with hands-on experience to prepare you for a rewarding career in industry or research.
Curriculum Structure
Taught Modules (Autumn & Spring Terms)
The course begins with core modules to build your understanding of advanced chemical engineering principles, including Advanced Chemical Engineering and Research Skills for Chemical Engineers. These modules teach you how to model, analyse, and optimise chemical processes, while also introducing key experimental and analytical techniques. Alongside this, you can choose optional modules to tailor your studies to your interests — for example, Energy Systems, Biopharmaceutical Processing, or Formulation Science — giving you the flexibility to focus on the areas most relevant to your career goals.
Dissertation / Research Project (Summer Term)
Your summer is dedicated to a major research project, supervised by experienced academics. This hands-on project allows you to apply your skills to a real-world chemical engineering problem, whether in the lab, through computational modelling, or a combination of both. You’ll complete a dissertation that demonstrates your ability to work independently, solve complex problems, and communicate your results professionally.
Focus Areas
Process design and optimisation, energy systems, sustainable chemical processes, biopharmaceutical production, formulation engineering, and modelling & simulation.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the MSc, you’ll be able to:
Analyse, design, and optimise complex chemical processes.
Apply advanced experimental, modelling, and simulation techniques.
Lead independent research projects or product development initiatives.
Solve real-world challenges in sustainability, energy, and process engineering.
Communicate complex technical findings effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences.
Professional Alignment (Accreditation)
The programme is accredited by the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE), ensuring it meets high professional and academic standards. This accreditation supports your career progression and is recognised internationally.
Reputation (Employability / Rankings)
The University of Leeds is ranked among the top UK universities for Chemical Engineering.
Graduates go on to work in leading global companies in pharmaceuticals, energy, chemicals, and manufacturing.
The course combines academic excellence with real-world industry relevance, giving students strong employability prospects.
The MSc Advanced Chemical Engineering at Leeds is built for students who want to learn by doing. Instead of just studying processes on paper, you’ll actually work with the same equipment, software, and analytical tools used in industry and research. From running experiments on real process units to simulating entire chemical plants, the course gives you the kind of hands-on confidence employers expect. And because Leeds is home to some of the UK’s top engineering facilities, you’ll be learning in an environment built for real innovation.
Here’s how that practical experience takes shape:
Major Research Project – You’ll carry out an in-depth project where you investigate an advanced engineering challenge, whether that’s modelling, optimisation, or experimental process design.
Process Engineering Laboratories – In practical lab sessions, you’ll work directly with real unit-operation equipment: distillation columns, packed absorption columns, heat exchangers, dryers, continuous and batch reactors, and more.
Industry-Standard Simulation Tools – You’ll use advanced dynamic process-control simulation software to design and analyse chemical plants the way professional engineers do.
Virtual Reality Plant Training – Leeds offers a VR environment that lets you explore a full-scale chemical plant safely, helping you understand process layout, operations, and safety systems in a highly interactive way.
Advanced Research Facilities including:
Specialist labs for particle science, materials testing, soft matter, and nanotechnology.
Leeds Electron Microscopy & Spectroscopy Centre for high-resolution material characterisation.
Leeds Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Facility for nanoscale analysis.
Dedicated X-ray diffraction labs to investigate crystal structures.
The Energy Building, home to pilot-scale rigs for fuel cells, gas turbines, and low-carbon technologies.
High-Performance Computing Access – The School supports large computational tasks such as molecular modelling and CFD through specialised computing clusters.
Learning That Connects to Real Research – Since the School is active in areas like carbon capture, sustainable processes, and energy systems, your lab work and project options are closely linked to ongoing research.
Professional Digital Skills – Throughout your design and simulation work, you’ll train on digital tools used every day in modern chemical engineering roles.
Finishing the MSc Advanced Chemical Engineering at Leeds puts you in a great position to step into careers where you’ll help shape the future of energy, sustainability, materials, and advanced manufacturing. Graduates typically move into roles such as:
Process / Chemical Engineer
R&D Engineer or Research Scientist
Technical Consultant in sustainability or engineering
Project or Engineering Manager
Here’s how Leeds supports your next steps and helps you stand out:
Career Support & Employability
You’ll have access to one of the UK’s best university careers services, offering tailored guidance, CV reviews, interview prep, and networking events.
Leeds also provides industry experience opportunities for on-campus master’s students, helping you gain confidence and make real industry connections.
Employment & Salary
A high proportion of Leeds chemical engineering postgraduates are in work or further study within 15 months of graduating.
Most move straight into highly skilled roles, and salaries for graduates in similar advanced engineering programmes typically fall in the £30,000+ range, with strong progression as you gain experience.
Industry & Research Connections
Leeds has strong partnerships across energy, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and materials — meaning your learning is shaped by real industry needs.
Your individual research project gives you hands-on experience and a substantial technical piece for your CV.
Many students move on to roles with globally recognised companies linked to Leeds’s research and teaching expertise.
Accreditation & Long-Term Value
The course is IChemE-accredited, which is a huge advantage if you want to work toward Chartered Engineer (CEng) status.
Because the school is research-active and industry-connected, the knowledge you gain stays relevant for years to come.
Graduate Outcomes
Leeds graduates frequently enter roles in energy, sustainability, product design, and process optimisation.
The combination of technical training and project experience means you’ll leave with both the expertise and confidence employers look for.
Further Academic Progression:
If you’d like to continue your studies after this MSc, you could explore:
PhD research in chemical engineering, sustainable systems, materials, reaction engineering, or related fields.
Working toward Chartered Engineer (CEng) status using your accredited degree.
Additional specialist study in areas like advanced materials, nanotechnology, or energy systems.
A bachelor degree with a 2:1 (hons) in chemical engineering or similarApplicants with a 2:2 (hons) will be considered on a case-by-case basis where they can demonstrate competence in specific core chemical engineering modules and/or with relevant professional qualifications or experience.Alternative subjects which may be considered include, but are not limited to, petroleum engineering, energy engineering, energy and power engineering, civil engineering or polymer engineeringIELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component.TOEFL iBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Test): 88 overall with no less than 19 in listening, 20 in reading, 22 in speaking and 21 in writingPTE (Pearson Test of English) Academic or PTE Academic UKVI: 64 overall with no less than 60 in each component. From 3 - 4 year Bachelor degree. If we ask for 2.1, you need: First class (60%). If we ask for 2.2, you need: Upper second class (55%)From 4 year Bachelor degree. If we ask for 2.1, you need: GPA 3.0. If we ask for 2.2, you need: GPA 2.5EngineeringProcess designEducationPRJournalismRetailMarketingCostume designSales and Recruitment
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