Key information
Heriot-Watt University has taught chemical engineering for over 50 years. The 2024 National Student Survey ranked us 1st in the UK for chemical engineering.
- UCAS code
- H801
- Level
- Undergraduate
- Delivery type
- Full Time
- Degree qualification
- MEng
- Mode of delivery
- On-Campus
- Duration
- 5 years
- Location
- Edinburgh
- Start date
- September
Our MEng programme explores the fundamentals of chemical and process engineering. This grounding in science, maths and engineering will provide you with both the theoretical and practical abilities highly sought after by industry. After graduation, you can build upon these skills to become a professional engineer.
Heriot-Watt was ranked 1st in the UK for Chemical Engineering, based on overall student satisfaction, by the 2024 National Student Survey, and 1st in Scotland and 2nd in the UK for quality of teaching and learning opportunities.
The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025 ranked Heriot-Watt 2nd in Scotland and 10th in UK for Chemical Engineering.
The MEng programme is a five-year degree which shares the same first four years with the BEng programme. You choose which route to follow at the end of your 4th year, giving you the flexibility to decide which degree best suits your career ambitions.
The final year of the MEng programme offers a range of advanced courses to broaden and deepen students’ understanding of chemical and process engineering. Students study optional courses from a range of specialist engineering subjects along with an extensive research project. Final year MEng students also undertake a commercial tender-based exercise taking on the role of an engineering design house pitching for business to our industrial advisory board.
As part of the programme, you will receive a student membership for the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE), paid for by the department.
Your student experience
Our Chemical Engineering programmes have recently been ranked 1st in the UK overall by the National Student Survey 2024.
Your learning will be informed by the expertise of our research-active chemical engineers and academics. The research relevance of this undergraduate programme ensures your studies remain cutting-edge and industry focused.
96% of Heriot-Watt University’s engineering research was classed as world-leading in the REF 2021 review, which ranked us 1st in Scotland and 3rd in the UK for engineering research through a joint submission with the University of Edinburgh.
Our MEng Chemical Engineering is directly informed by the world class research carried out by Heriot-Watt’s Mechanical, Process and Energy Engineering (IMPEE) and the Research Institute for Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering.
Research Institute for Biological, Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering focuses on four main themes:
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Biological Chemistry
-
Bioengineering
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Brewing and Distilling
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Health Research
IMPEE research institute focuses on promoting excellence across four main research themes:
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Biomedical Engineering
-
Digital Engineering
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Energy Harvesting and Conversion
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Multiphase Flow
Heriot-Watt University is the leader amongst UK universities in promoting energy activities through its Energy Academy, a virtual centre which connects all energy-related research across the University.
Go Global
With Go Global, Heriot-Watt's global student programme, you can carry your studies to new places and experience new cultures, expanding your horizons on the way. You'll discover what it means to be a true global citizen and emerge prepared for wherever your career journey will take you.
European Exchange
Worldwide Exchange
Course content
September Intake - Edinburgh
Year 1
Provides a general introduction to the subject, emphasising the role of basic mathematics and science. Courses introduce basic techniques and principles of chemical engineering including: Mass Balances; Basic Thermodynamics and Energy Balances. An awareness of professional and personal development forms a critical part of the teaching in this year.
Mandatory September
- Principles of Chemistry
- Engineering Professionalism and Technical Communication
- Mathematics for Engineers and Scientists 1
Mandatory January
- Chemical Reactivity
- Introduction to Mechanical Engineering
- Mathematics for Engineers and Scientists 2
Mandatory AY
- Introduction to Process Engineering
Year 2
Important themes focus on an understanding of the movement of fluids, heat transfer and how materials behave. Principal components include Fluid Mechanics; Heat Transfer; Mass Transfer and Thermodynamics. A mini design project is also included.
Mandatory September
- Chemical Thermodynamics & Introductory Chemical Kinetics for Chemical Engineers
- Fluid Mechanics
- Industrial Chemical Processes
- Mathematics for Engineers and Scientists 3
Mandatory January
- Thermodynamics
- Heat Transfer
- Process Design A
- Mathematical Modelling for Chemical Engineers
Year 3
Provides opportunities to analyse key operations in the industry, particularly the processing and separation of gases and liquids. In parallel, there are courses looking at chemical reactor theory, how processes are controlled and the prediction of physical behaviour. Material on Safety, Sustainability and Economics is consolidated in a group-based project.
Mandatory September
- Process Control
- Sustainable Development and Engineering Management
- Separation Processes A
- Chemical Reaction Engineering
Mandatory January
- Separation Processes B
- Process Health and Safety
- Bioprocessing
- Multiphase Thermodynamics
Year 4
A central theme is the advanced analysis of key processing operations and their control. Specialist topics include Energy Efficiency, Safety and Sustainability. A group-based design project is also undertaken.
Mandatory September
- Separation Processes C
- Sustainability Management and Process Economics
- Process Integration, Optimisation and Analysis
Mandatory January
- Particle Technology
- Applied Transport Phenomena
- Reaction Engineering
Mandatory AY
- Process Engineering Design Project
Year 5
Specialist engineering elective courses from subjects such as carbon solutions, renewable energy technologies, oil and gas technology, bioprocessing, brewing and distilling are studied in this year. Two major projects are also taken in this year: an in-depth individual research project; and an enhanced group-based design project, where students have the opportunity to demonstrate their skills in process design and commercial awareness, culminating in a board-style presentation to senior industry leaders.
Mandatory September
- Professional and Industrial Studies
Optional September
- Advanced Unit Operations
- Fluid Transportation and Storage
- Cereals, Malting and Mashing
- Wort Boiling and Fermentation
Mandatory January
- Environmental Impact Assessment
Optional January
- Distilling and Whisky Maturation
- Nanomaterials and Catalysis
- Filtration and Packaging
- Sustainable Processing
Mandatory AY
- MEng Design Project
- MEng Research Project
Programme Video
Chemical Engineering UG video
Fees and funding
| Status | Fee |
|---|---|
| Scotland | Paid by SAAS |
| England / Wales / N Ireland / Rep of Ireland | £9,535 |
| International | £25,008 |
- Status: Your residency status is usually defined as the country where you have been ordinarily resident for the three years before the start of your course.
- International: 'International' includes applicants from European Union countries who do not hold Pre-Settled or Settled status in UK. (This does not include students from the Republic of Ireland - see above).
Scholarships and bursaries
Bursaries for students from England, Northern Ireland or Wales
In addition to government loans and grants towards the costs of fees and living costs, we are offering generous financial support to attract and support eligible undergraduate students from England, Northern Ireland or Wales:
- Heriot-Watt University Bursary (up to £3,100 per year)
Entry requirements
We have standard entry requirements for all of our courses that you will have to meet.
Year 1
Standard entry requirements
- Highers AAAB (over two sittings). Must include Chemistry and Maths with one at A.
- A-Levels BBB- AAB. Must include Chemistry and Maths, with one at B.
- International Baccalaureate 30 points. Must include Chemistry and Maths, both at Higher Level 5.
- BTEC Extended Diploma DDM. Must be relevant science subject including sufficient Chemistry and Maths.
- HNC A in graded unit. Must be relevant science subject including sufficient Chemistry and Maths.
- HND BB in graded unit. Must be relevant science subject including sufficient Chemistry and Maths.
- Please check that you meet our University-wide National 5/GCSE (or equivalent) English and Maths requirements.
Minimum entry requirements *
- Highers BBBC (over two sittings). Must include Chemistry and Maths at B.
- A-Levels BCC. Must include Chemistry and Maths, with one at B.
- International Baccalaureate 28 points. Must include Chemistry and Maths, both at Higher Level 5.
- BTEC Extended Diploma DMM. Must be relevant science subject including sufficient Chemistry and Maths.
- HNC B in graded unit. Must be relevant science subject including sufficient Chemistry and Maths.
- HND BB. Must be relevant science subject including sufficient Chemistry and Maths.
* Minimum: under our Fair Access Policy, we will relax our standard entry requirements for some Scottish and Rest of UK status students depending on their circumstances. Our minimum requirements will apply if you:
- live in an area within the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation lowest 20% (SIMD20) or POLAR4 Quintile 1 regions (RUK)
- or are care experienced.
We can also make exceptions for some Scottish students with grades above minimum but below standard. Read more about our Minimum and standard entry requirements.
Year 2
- Advanced Highers AB. Must include Advanced Higher Chemistry and Maths, and meet Year 1 Higher AAAB requirements.
- A-Levels AAB. Must include Chemistry and Maths with one at A.
- International Baccalaureate 34 points. Must include Chemistry and Maths at HL 6.
- BTEC Extended Diploma: Not available.
- HNC A in graded unit with 120 SCQF credit points and must include sufficient Chemistry and Maths. (Available for Access Threshold eligible only).
- HND AB / BA (standard) or BB (Access Threshold Eligible only). Must include sufficient Chemistry and Maths.
- Global College Successful completion of our Engineering with Accelerator Programme.
Year 3
Entry to Year 3 is only available via our associate student partnership college route.
Additional information
- For all years, applications are welcomed from holders of non-school qualifications, mature candidates and overseas students.
- If you do not see your qualifications here please contact us at studywithus@hw.ac.uk
- For applicants studying HNC, HND or BTEC qualifications, when submitting your application please ensure you list in full all the units you are currently studying, as specific units (e.g. in Maths) may be required.
English language requirements
If your first language is not English, we'll need to see evidence of your English language ability.
The minimum English language requirement for entry to this programme is IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) with no score lower than 5.5.
If you do not have IELTS 6.0, we offer a range of English language courses to help you meet the English language requirement for this programme prior to commencing your studies.
Please see our detailed English language requirements.
Why Heriot-Watt
We're the top university in Scotland for graduate outcomes which means that more of our graduates are employed or in postgraduate education than any other institution in the country and we ranked 5th in the UK.
We're also rated number one in the UK for CEO or MD roles, meaning more of our graduates go on to become CEOs or MDs than any other university in the whole of the UK. On top of that, we have beautiful campuses, across the globe, so you'll get a truly international education. Our Edinburgh Campus is home to Oriam, Scotland's National Sports Performance Centre combined with plenty of wellbeing resources, prioritising fitness and mental health for all students. Our Global Research Institutes look at solving real world issues such as climate change and saving our oceans as well as working on the next medical technological breakthrough and the future of AI and robots.
Employability
Work and study
Salary
Potential career paths
- Engineering professionals
- Business and public service associate professionals
Student life
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