Chemical and Petroleum Engineering

Chemical and petroleum engineering applies the principles of chemistry, physics, mathematics and biology to the design, operation and optimisation of processes that transform raw materials into useful products. Chemical engineering covers a vast range of industries, from pharmaceuticals and food processing to polymers, electronics and renewable energy. Petroleum engineering focuses specifically on the exploration, extraction and processing of oil and gas, and on the engineering of subsurface reservoirs and production systems.

Combining both gives you a qualification that is relevant to the energy sector while providing the broader chemical engineering foundation needed to work across other sectors as the energy transition unfolds.

At the University of Surrey, this three-year full-time programme is taught in a department with strong research and industrial links. Surrey's engineering programmes emphasise the development of both technical competence and professional practice, and the programme prepares you for careers in the energy sector while equipping you with transferable engineering skills applicable to chemical processing, renewable energy and sustainability-focused industries. The typical entry tariff is around 120 UCAS points.

You will study thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, heat and mass transfer, reaction engineering, process design, materials science, and reservoir and production engineering. The programme develops your ability to use engineering principles to design, analyse and optimise process systems, and you will work with simulation software and data analysis tools alongside the theoretical content. Both chemical engineering fundamentals and petroleum-specific technical content are developed across the programme.

Graduates of chemical and petroleum engineering programmes work in oil and gas companies, refining and petrochemicals, chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing, energy transition technologies including hydrogen and carbon capture, process consulting, environmental engineering and regulatory bodies. Many graduates work towards Chartered Engineer status with the Institution of Chemical Engineers. As the energy sector undergoes significant structural change, graduates with both conventional petroleum knowledge and broader chemical engineering competence are particularly well placed to contribute to the transition to lower-carbon energy systems.

Postgraduate study in chemical engineering, petroleum engineering or energy systems is available for those wishing to develop specialist expertise.