Chemical Engineering

Chemical engineering is the discipline concerned with transforming raw materials and chemicals into useful products on an industrial scale, through the design and operation of processes that involve chemical reactions, heat transfer, fluid flow, separation, and purification. It is one of the most technically demanding and economically important engineering disciplines, underpinning the production of pharmaceuticals, fuels, plastics, food, agrochemicals, materials, and the chemical building blocks of virtually every manufactured product. Chemical engineers work at the frontier of sustainability and innovation, designing processes that are safer, more efficient, and less environmentally damaging than their predecessors.

At the University of Exeter, this three-year, full-time degree includes a foundation year for students who benefit from additional mathematical and scientific preparation before the main programme, providing an accessible route into a rigorous engineering curriculum. You will develop your knowledge of thermodynamics, reaction engineering, fluid mechanics, mass and heat transfer, and process design, alongside the computational and analytical skills that chemical engineering practice requires. A typical entry tariff of 152 points reflects the strong scientific and mathematical preparation expected of students entering the degree proper after the foundation year.

Chemical engineering graduates are among the most employable and highest-earning of any discipline. Careers span the oil and gas sector, pharmaceuticals, fine chemicals, food and drink, water treatment, energy, materials, biotechnology, and environmental engineering. Many graduates pursue chartered engineer status through professional body membership.

Postgraduate study in chemical engineering, process engineering, or a specialist field such as biochemical engineering or sustainable process design is a further option for those seeking advanced technical expertise or research roles.