Chemical Engineering with Foundation Year

Start date
September
Duration
4/5 years
UCAS code
H892
Course Type
Undergraduate, Foundation, Single Honours
Fees

We charge an annual tuition fee. Fees for 2024/25 are £9,250
Further fee information

Our Chemical Engineering Foundation Year is an integrated foundation degree, giving you access to our highly ranked chemical engineering undergraduate courses. If you don’t have the qualifications necessary to apply directly for first-year entry, this could be the way to go.

Why study Chemical Engineering with Foundation Year at Birmingham?

  • Study at a world-class Chemical Engineering department
    We are a top 100 global university for chemical engineering - QS 2023 World University Rankings
  • Access the Collaborative Teaching Laboratory
    Our multi-million pound investment in new state-of-the-art facilities with purpose built laboratories offer you the opportunity to learn and work in a dedicated space, designed to promote and encourage collaborative and interdisciplinary working.
  • Discover a world of employment opportunities
    Thanks to our strong links with industry leaders, you'll have the competitive edge for employment, as we open up connections with GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca, Shell, BP and ExxonMobil.
  • Industry-focused design project
    You will undertake a design project in your third year to design a particular chemical process, championed by an industrial partner
  • Benefit from our unique facilities
    The School of Chemical Engineering is the first in the UK to have a research facility for energy storage using cryogenic liquids, comprising new laboratories, state-of-the-art equipment, and a major demonstration plant - The Birmingham Centre for Cryogenic Energy Storage.
  • Extra-curricular activities
    University life is about much more than simply learning. Our student society  Birmingham University Chemical Engineering Society (BUCES) is an award-winning society, run by students for students, to help you squeeze every last drop from your time with us. Here, you'll enjoy an array of socials, networking events and sports tournaments, plus there's careers advice and support for you from day one.

Meet our Student Bloggers

The best way to find out what life is really like as a student in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences at the University of Birmingham is to hear from our students. Our students study a range of programmes from across our college – from Mathematics to Mechanical Engineering. Get some great tips and a real insight into what life is really like if you choose to study with us.

Read our blogs >> 

Why study this course?

Modules

Core modules:

Optional modules:

Choose 60 credits. Example modules:

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. Unless indicated otherwise, the modules listed for this programme are for students starting in 2024. On rare occasions, we may need to make unexpected changes to core modules; in this event we will contact offer holders as soon as possible to inform or consult them as appropriate.

Fees

Annual tuition fees 2024/25

UK students - £9,250

Visit our tuition fees page for more information.

Scholarships

The University offers a range of additional financial support for students studying at Birmingham in the form of other bursaries, grants and scholarships.

How To Apply

Apply through the UCAS website using code H892.

UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) is a UK organisation responsible for managing applications to university and college.

View advice on how to apply for undergraduate courses.


A Levels

BBB. Students taking Mathematics are not considered, General Studies not considered

T Levels

Merit overall, with core grade B from one of the following T Level courses:

  • Maintenance, Installation and Repair for Engineering & Manufacturing
  • Engineering, Manufacturing, Processing and Control
  • Design and Development for Engineering & manufacturing

Other T Levels are not considered

GCSE 

Minimum 6/B in GCSE Mathematics

International Baccalaureate

32 overall with 555 at Higher Level, Mathematics not considered.

BTEC

DDD Extended Diploma in Engineering, Applied Science or Computing with entry test.
Others accepted alongside A Levels as above.

Access to Higher Education

In Engineering, Combined Sciences (with at least 12 credits in either Chemistry or Physics), Chemical Sciences or Physical Sciences with 60 credits overall with at least 45 at Level 3 out of which 30 are at Distinction.

Other qualifications considered, please contact the Admissions Tutor for clarification.

Birmingham International Academy

Alternative offers through our Pathways to Birmingham programmes and our Contextual Offer scheme

Students who are eligible and successfully complete a Pathways to Birmingham programme will receive special consideration from admissions tutors and an alternative offer (typically two grades below the standard offer). In addition, our Contextual Offer Scheme recognises the potential of students whose personal circumstances may have restricted achievement in school or college. If you are eligible to benefit from the contextual offer scheme, you will receive an offer which is one grade lower than the standard offer.

International Students

Please note this course is only open to UK students. International students may apply to one of our foundation pathways, which offer specially structured programmes for international students whose qualifications are not accepted for direct entry to UK universities. Further details can be found on Birmingham International Academy web pages

The benefits of studying at our world-renowned School are many: You will be taught by academic staff, who are global leaders in their field; we attract an average of £10 million-plus in research income each year; we have excellent industrial links with companies from BP and GSK to Unilever and Procter and Gamble, and we boast world-class teaching and laboratory facilities.

How you will learn

Throughout your degree, we'll encourage you to develop your core technical and transferable skills, your stepping stone into employment or further study. As well as honing your individual skills, teamworking is a key part of the course, and you'll take part in team-based project work each year. Industry experts will share their insights via a series of guest lectures, while our transferable and teamworking skills weekend in the Lake District takes you off campus to learn new ways of working collaboratively.

Your studies will be a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials and project work, while your final year sees you working closely with industry figures, as you develop your design project. All modules are linked to Canvas - a virtual learning environment for lecture notes, additional learning units, self-tests and supplementary interactive information.

Support

You will have access to a comprehensive support system to help you make the transition to higher education when you start at Birmingham. During your first year, we want you to have a smooth transition into university. You will be able to talk to your tutors about this and discuss if there are any particular areas where you need support.

Personal Tutors

You will be assigned your own personal tutor who will support your academic progress, help you develop transferable skills and handle any welfare concerns. In your first two years you will have a weekly meeting with your personal tutor in small groups of around 6-7 students. You will also meet once a term on an individual basis. In your third year you will meet with your tutor once a term although they will still be available for you to meet with more regularly if you require.

Wellbeing Officers

Alongside your personal tutor, you will also have access to dedicated wellbeing officers who provide professional support, advice and guidance to students across a range of issues. They can meet with you to discuss extensions, disabilities, reasonable adjustments, extenuating circumstances, or talk through any problems you might be experiencing, and help you access wider support on campus and beyond if you need it.

Our Academic Skills Centre helps you to become a more effective and independent learner through a range of high-quality support services. The Centre offers workshops on a range of topics, such as note-taking, reading, academic writing and presentation skills.

The Academic Writing Advisory Service (AWAS) will provide guidance on writing essays and dissertations if you need it. You can receive individual support from an academic writing advisor and meet with postgraduate tutors who specialise in particular subjects too.

How will you be assessed 

Your learning with us is diverse, and the way you'll be assessed is equally so. Each module will be assessed in a number ow ways, such as via exams, written assignments and laboratory and project reports. The balance between exams and coursework varies across each module. As you move towards employment or further study, you'll find your final year has a strong emphasis on project work.

Our Collaborative Teaching Laboratory

Contact Hours

Depending on the modules you select, each week you will have 16-18 hours of lectures and  classes/labs per week, plus possible timetabled extra support classes for some students.

Assessment Methods

You will be assessed in a variety of ways, and these may be different with each module you take. You will be assessed through coursework, which may take the form of essays, group or individual presentations and formal examinations. Each module is assessed independently.

The information below relates to graduates from our Beng/Meng courses:

You'll graduate with the technical, analytical and professional skills you need to lead future change in a variety of sectors, such as oil and gas, pharmaceutical, energy and finance. Along with these subject-specific skills, your degree will enhance your confidence in leadership, evaluation and teamwork, all key strengths to bring to prospective employers. Meanwhile, your dedicated Industrial Tutor is on hand to help with sourcing placement, CV writing and interview preparation.

Chemical Engineering prepared me for my career by teaching me the core principles of engineering so I could then apply them to technical problems within the workplace. I applied these when I worked in my placement year at Dow Corning.

Will Davies, MEng Chemical Engineering graduate

Graduates who have studied our courses:

Example employers

  • BP
  • ExxonMobil
  • Unilever
  • GlaxoSmithKline
  • Tata Steel
  • Imerys
  • AstraZeneca
  • Cadbury

Example careers

  • Process engineer
  • Design engineer
  • Analytical scientist
  • Formulation engineer
  • Production engineer
  • Patent attorney
  • Project manager
  • Investment banker

Developing your career

At Careers Network, our unique careers guidance service is tailored to your academic subject area. 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. In addition, our employer-endorsed award-winning Personal Skills Award (PSA) recognises your extra-curricular activities, and provides an accredited employability programme designed to improve your career prospects.

An internship can complement your studies perfectly, giving you practical, real-world insights into the world of work in your chosen field. You can apply for the Work Experience Bursary Scheme, the Birmingham Undergraduate Internship Programme or one of our successful mentoring schemes.

Visit the Careers Network website for more details

The video below talks to students, staff and employers about their internship experience: