MSc Advanced Chemical Engineering

1 Year On Campus Masters Program

University of Southampton

Program Overview

The MSc Advanced Chemical Engineering at the University of Southampton is designed for students who want to push beyond traditional chemical engineering and work at the forefront of sustainability, clean energy, and advanced process design. It’s ideal if you’re ready for a master’s that blends industry-focused learning with research-led teaching from one of the UK’s top engineering universities.

Curriculum Structure

Year of Study (Taught Modules + Project)

Throughout the year, you’ll build a strong foundation in advanced engineering methods while exploring the technologies driving modern chemical industries. In Process Optimisation and Control, you’ll learn how engineers use modelling and simulation tools to improve the efficiency and safety of complex systems. Reactor Design for Sustainable Processing then challenges you to think creatively about how reactors can be designed for a cleaner, more sustainable future. Alongside these, Professional Aspects of Chemical Engineering helps you understand the real expectations of industry—ethics, risk, regulation, and professional practice.

Dissertation / Research Project

In your final months, you’ll take on an independent research project that lets you specialise in an area that motivates you most—anything from clean-energy processing to advanced materials or biochemical systems. Many students choose topics linked to industry needs, giving your dissertation strong relevance when you step into the job market.

Focus Areas

Sustainable processing, reactor and system design, process optimisation, biochemical and electrochemical engineering, water and waste treatment, safety and risk management.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates finish the programme confident in designing and optimising chemical processes, controlling and analysing advanced systems, communicating engineering decisions clearly, and carrying out meaningful research within sustainability-driven fields.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

While the course page does not list a specific accrediting engineering body, the curriculum is structured around the core professional competencies expected in advanced chemical engineering roles and aligns with industry-relevant skills and practices.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

Southampton is consistently recognised for strong graduate outcomes, with the university ranking top-20 in the UK for graduate employability. The School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering combines modern facilities and active research environments, giving students practical skills that translate directly into roles across energy, pharmaceuticals, water treatment, manufacturing, and environmental engineering

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

When you join the MSc Advanced Chemical Engineering at Southampton, you won’t just be learning theory you’ll be rolling up your sleeves and gaining real-world skills from day one. The programme is designed so you can experiment, design, and problem-solve just like professional chemical engineers do. You’ll work in brand-new labs and engineering studios, use industry-standard software, and get hands-on experience with equipment that mirrors what you’d find in a real plant. Your projects, whether in teams or individually, give you a taste of what working in industry is really like.

Here’s what that looks like in practice:

Team Design Projects: You’ll work with classmates on a real industrial challenge planning, budgeting, designing, and even prototyping solutions. Your work will be showcased at the University’s annual Engineering Design Show, so it’s your chance to shine.
Independent Research Project: You get to choose a topic you’re passionate about and carry out your own research. There’s even an option to do this in partnership with industry.
Specialist Laboratories: The labs are fully equipped with everything from distillation columns to fermentation systems the kind of gear you’d see in a real chemical plant.
Process Simulation & Control: Learn to model and run chemical processes using industry-standard computer software. There’s even a virtual control room to practice operating complex systems safely.
Sustainability Options: Choose modules focused on sustainable energy, wastewater treatment, or biochemical engineering to tailor your learning to the challenges of tomorrow.
Research Facilities: Access high-end analytical tools like mass spectrometers, NMR, and X-ray diffraction equipment, helping you dive deep into experiments.
Industry Engagement: Your projects are shaped in collaboration with real companies, so you’re tackling problems that matter in the workplace.

Every step of the way, you’ll be building skills, confidence, and connections that prepare you for a successful career in chemical engineering.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates from Southampton’s MSc in Advanced Chemical Engineering leave equipped to take on exciting roles in the chemical and process industries. Many move into positions such as process engineers, safety and risk consultants, or R&D specialists, working in sectors from pharmaceuticals to sustainable energy.

Future Progression & Opportunities:
Here’s why this program sets you up for success:

Support from the University:
- Southampton’s Careers, Employability & Student Enterprise team offers one-to-one career guidance, workshops on CVs and interviews, and regular careers fairs.
- Through the Excel Southampton Internship Programme, you can secure paid internships with companies ranging from SMEs to global corporations.
- Even after graduation, the Careers Service continues to provide support for up to a year, helping you make your next career move confidently.
Employment & Earnings:
- Almost all graduates (98%) find full-time employment or continue into further study within 15 months.
- Typical starting salaries for chemical engineering graduates are around £26,000, with many seeing this rise significantly as their career progresses.
Industry Connections:
- The program has strong links with industry through the Centre of Excellence in Continuous Digital Chemical Engineering Science (CDCES), partnering with companies like GlaxoSmithKline, Syngenta, and AkzoNobel.
- Students also benefit from access to advanced labs, software, and industrial projects, including collaborations with AstraZeneca, EDF, and TotalEnergies.
Long-Term Value:
- The MSc teaches advanced skills like reactor design, process safety, and process control using industry-standard tools.
- These skills not only make you highly employable but also align with professional engineering standards, paving the way for future chartered status with IChemE.
Typical Roles Graduates Take On:
1. Process Engineer – designing and optimising industrial chemical processes
2. Safety / Risk Engineer – ensuring safe operations in chemical plants
3. R&D Engineer – developing sustainable or innovative chemical processes
4. Controls & Automation Engineer – specialising in process control and instrumentation

Further Academic Progression:
After this MSc, you could continue your studies with a PhD in areas like sustainable processing, digital chemical engineering, or continuous flow synthesis, often working alongside Southampton’s industry-linked research centres. Alternatively, you could pursue professional engineering qualifications, such as Chartered Engineer status, especially when combined with relevant work experience, or join research fellowships and industry-sponsored projects.