Postgraduate Courses in Chemical Engineering
Postgraduate courses in chemical engineering can open up a world of opportunity in career options and employment prospects. If you are an able and enthusiastic graduate from a chemical or engineering background then a postgraduate course in chemical engineering may be for you. Chemical engineering offers a solid professional basis with the opportunity to diversify into a multitude of commercial and industrial sectors, and the opportunities are growing. If you’re interested in taking your learning further and becoming top of your game in this challenging and dynamic field then read on to find out more about postgraduate courses in chemical engineering.
The chemical engineering profession is traditionally viewed as the domain of the stalwart petrochemical, oil and gas and pharmaceutical industries, but these days chemical engineering superheroes can be found in such diverse fields as food technology, water, mining and environmental protection. With the rise in media focus on processed foods, the lack of clean drinking water in poor areas and the need for more environmentally friendly fuels, chemical engineers developing solutions to these problems have been revered as the harbingers of change. The expansion of these industries has also ensured a growth in the need for chemical engineers worldwide.
Chemical engineers work out the best way to produce, extract, mix, separate and manipulate and that is why they can be found in such a diverse selection of industries. They design the best way or 'process' by which a raw material is transformed into a product, whether that product is cheese, the fuel in a car engine or paracetamol. But the skills involved don't limit the chemical engineer to manufacturing. Chemical engineers are involved in the current development of nanotechnology, alternatives to fossil fuels and refrigerants that don't damage the ozone layer.
An MSc in chemical engineering is a your stepping stone to a challenging, varied and exciting career. You will normally need a minimum of a second class honours degree in a science or engineering subject but some universities may ask for a BSc or BEng in chemical engineering so be sure to check the admissions requirements. Assessment will usually take the form of final examinations, coursework and a research project/report. If you want to study a postgraduate course in advanced chemical engineering then think about the kind of areas you would like to go in to as universities will differ in focus. For example, at the University of Birmingham, the MSc in advanced chemical engineering is more orientated towards the design and development of formulated products i.e. food and pharmaceuticals, whereas at the University of Bath, the Master’s course covers areas such as clean technologies, energy conservation and environmental management.
Chemical and Process engineering postgraduate courses in the UK are formulated to ensure that postgraduates are fully equipped for industry with all the skills they will need from design, problem solving, numeracy and analysis skills, to 'transferable skills', such as communication and teamwork. Providers of this type of course include the University of Manchester and UCL. A postgraduate course in chemical engineering will enhance your employability whatever your choice of industry or profession, that's why you will also find chemical engineering postgraduates in accounting, marketing and teaching.
A postgraduate course in chemical engineering gives you the opportunity to embark on a number of varied careers. From research to business and finance, pollution control to education, safety analysis to product design and marketing management to economic analysis, the employment prospects for postgraduates are very good indeed. The most popular destinations for postgraduates are: the oil industry, chemical and allied products, contracting and pharmaceuticals and toiletries.
You may not, however, want to stray far from the chemical engineering career path as these professionals are amongst the highest paid in the engineering field! In the most recent IChemE (the Institution of Chemical Engineers) salary survey the average UK graduate wage was £24,988, rising to £31,564 between the ages of 25 and 29, with some engineers earning up to £136,000 later on!
To ensure that chemical engineers are taking their responsibility seriously and keeping themselves and the public safe, they are independently assessed by the external body governing the ethics of the profession, IChemE. 'Chartered Chemical Engineer' status is the internationally recognised, professional benchmark that demonstrates to peers, prospective employers and family that you are serious about chemical engineering and the related responsibilities. In fact being a Chartered Chemical Engineer is so well respected it is the badge of professional competence. And while your experience may be hard to translate, becoming chartered is a universal qualification that will be recognised wherever you are in the world. Due to the diversity of chemical engineering jobs and the specialisation of many professionals chemical engineering could take you all over the world, from the oil fields of Saudi Arabia, to the pharmaceutical companies in the Republic of Ireland.
When choosing a postgraduate course in chemical engineering, look out for the accreditation status. IChemE accredits degrees at 20 UK universities, checking that the quality of the course, teaching and resources matches our strict requirements. An IChemE accredited postgraduate course ensures you get the best opportunities from an excellent course and its independent standard demonstrates the quality of your postgraduate course wherever you are in the world. Visit our website at www.icheme.org or contact memberdev@icheme.org.uk for information on which courses we accredit and how best to embark on your postgraduate course in chemical engineering.
