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Chemical Engineering Science MRes

Start date
September
Duration
1 year full-time, 2 years part-time
Course Type
Postgraduate, Combined research and taught
Fees

We charge an annual tuition fee. Fees for 2024/25:
£4,778 (UK)
£27,360 (International Students)
Further fee information is available.

Selected modules from our taught programmes can be combined with an extended research project to obtain an Master of Research (MRes) degree. This is a strongly research-orientated qualification and provides excellent training for further research in industry or academia.

Chemical Engineering is dynamic and evolving. It provides many solutions to problems facing industries in the pharmaceutical, biotechnological, oil, energy and food and drink sectors.  It is vital to many issues affecting our quality of life; such as better and more economical processes to reduce the environmental burden, and more delicious and longer lasting food due to the right combination of chemistry, ingredients and processing.  

Birmingham is a friendly, self-confident, School which has one of the largest concentrations of chemical engineering expertise in the UK. The School is consistently in the top five chemical engineering schools for research in the country. It also has a first-class reputation in learning and teaching, and regularly ranks highly in league tables.

Modules

This is a one year, full-time programme comprising a major research project and six taught modules which are taken intermittently throughout the year.

Taught modules

These support the development of both research and transferable skills. All students take a set of compulsory modules and a selection of optional modules of their choice (subject to timetabling).

Compulsory taught modules

  • Process engineering fundamentals - 10 credits*
  • Measurement techniques - 10 credits
  • Effective Project Management - 10 credits
  • Presentation and communication skills/team skills development - 10 credits

* This module is compulsory for students without an appropriate engineering degree. Students with relevant prior experience will take an additional 10 credits from the optional modules.

Optional taught modules

Select 20 or 30 (see * above) credits of options. Example optional modules listed below:

  • Bioscience for graduates from other scientific disciplines 10
  • Cell factories 10
  • Bioseparations 20
  • Bioreaction engineering 10
  • Molecular delivery 10
  • Characterisation of structured fluids 10
  • Interfacial physics and chemistry 10
  • Mathematical modelling of time-dependent processes 10
  • From bench to market: the development of pharmaceutical drug products 10
  • Design and development of drug delivery systems 10
  • Powder technology 10
  • Developing food structure through thermal processing 10
  • Hygienic food processing 10
  • Food flavour 10
  • Modern genome based bioscience 10
  • Nanochemistry 10
  • Materials Characterisation 10

Research

  • Research project - 120 credits

Please note: The modules listed on the website for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Fees

Annual Tuition Fees 2024/25 academic year

  • £4,778 UK students, full-time
  • £27,360 International students, full-time

Learn more about fees and funding.

 

Postgraduate Loans (PGL) for Masters students

UK and EU students (with settled or pre-settled status) looking to pursue a Masters programme in the UK can apply for a non-means-tested loan from the British government via the Student Loans Company (SLC).

The loan will be paid directly to you, into a UK bank account. It is intended to provide a contribution towards the costs of Masters study and whether the loan is used towards fees, maintenance or other costs is at your own discretion.

Learn more about applying for PGL 

 

Scholarships

We offer a range of postgraduate scholarships for taught programmes and research opportunities to ensure the very best talent is nurtured and supported at postgraduate level.

 

How To Apply

Learn more about applying. 

International students applying for this programme will need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office before the University can issue you with a Certificate of Acceptance of Studies (CAS). We recommend that you apply for your ATAS certificate as soon as you receive an offer from us.

When clicking on the Apply Now button you will be directed to an application specifically designed for the programme you wish to apply for where you will create an account with the University application system and submit your application and supporting documents online. Further information regarding how to apply online can be found on the How to apply pages

Apply now

Our Standard Requirements

The normal entrance qualification for MRes study is 2:1 Honours degree in a relevant subject, or a lower degree plus an MSc or substantial relevant industrial experience. Learn more about entry requirements. 

International Requirements



International Students

English language

For students whose first language is not English, one of the following English language qualifications is required:

 
  • IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band
  • TOEFL: 80 overall with no less than 19 in Reading, 19 in Listening, 21 in Speaking and 19 in Writing
  • Pearson Test of English (PTE) including online: Academic 64 with no less than 59 in all four skills
  • Cambridge English (exams taken from 2015): Advanced – minimum overall score of 169, with no less than 162 in any component
 

International students applying for this programme will need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office before the University can issue you with a Certificate of Acceptance of Studies (CAS). We recommend that you apply for your ATAS certificate as soon as you receive an offer from us.

Our mission is to carry out research of the highest academic quality, which is novel, challenging and relevant to users. 

The School of Chemical Engineering at Birmingham is one of the three largest centres for the postgraduate education of chemical engineers in the UK. We have pioneered development and research in rapidly expanding new areas such as pharmaceuticals and bioproducts, food processing, hydrogen fuel cells and energy research, as well as having leading-edge groups in healthcare technologies

Research Themes

  • Formulation Engineering
    We are developing solutions to problems facing industries in the food, pharmaceutical, biotechnological, fast moving consumer goods and speciality products.
  • Energy
    Improving quality of life demands the supply of increasing amounts of energy and consumer chemicals, whilst at the same time global warming has become a major cause for concern. The Energy research theme addresses the challenges of introducing the hydrogen economy to replace the current reliance on carbon-based fuels.
  • Healthcare Technologies
    Our experts are working together to advance new technologies and treatments that enable people to live longer, healthier and happier lives.

This is a one year, full-time programme comprising a major research project and six taught modules which are taken intermittently throughout the year. 

University Careers Network

Preparation for your career should be one of the first things you think about as you start university. Whether you have a clear idea of where your future aspirations lie or want to consider the broad range of opportunities available once you have a Birmingham degree, our Careers Network can help you achieve your goal.

Our unique careers guidance service is tailored to your academic subject area, offering a specialised team (in each of the five academic colleges) who can give you expert advice. Our team source exclusive work experience opportunities to help you stand out amongst the competition, with mentoring, global internships and placements available to you. Once you have a career in your sights, one-to-one support with CVs and job applications will help give you the edge.

If you make the most of the wide range of services you will be able to develop your career from the moment you arrive.