Key information
This alternative route to the MEng Chemical Engineering is delivered in partnership with Forth Valley College. Students complete an HND Chemical Process Technology, which enables direct entry to Year 3 at Heriot-Watt University.
- Level
- Undergraduate
- Delivery type
- Full Time
- Degree qualification
- Non Graduating
- Mode of delivery
- On-Campus
- Duration
- 4 years
- Location
- Edinburgh
- Start date
- September
Overview of Programme
Our BEng programme explores the fundamentals of chemical and process engineering. This grounding in science, maths and engineering will provide you with the practical abilities highly sought after by industry. After graduation, you can build upon these skills to become professional engineers.
Heriot-Watt was ranked 1st in Scotland for Chemical Engineering, based on overall student satisfaction, by the 2023 National Student Survey, and 1st in Scotland and 2nd in the UK for quality of teaching and learning opportunities (NSS, 2023).
The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 ranked Heriot-Watt 2nd in Scotland and 8th in UK for Chemical Engineering.
The BEng in Chemical Engineering is a four-year degree. At the end of fourth year, you can choose whether to swap to the five-year, more advanced MEng degree. The career-focused degree has specialist pathways in pharmaceutical chemistry, computational chemistry, biology or materials and nanoscience. This offers the flexibility to decide which degree and pathway best suits your career ambitions.
In the final year of the BEng, you will undertake a group project, drawing upon the knowledge gained through your studies.
As part of the programme, you will receive a student membership for the Institute of Chemical Engineers (IChemE), paid for by the department.
Your student experience
Our Expertise
Our Chemical Engineering programmes have recently been ranked 1st in Scotland overall by the National Student Survey 2023, and 1st in Scotland and 2nd in the UK for quality of teaching and learning opportunities (NSS, 2023).
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 BEng Chemical Engineering is directly informed by the world class research carried out by Heriot-Watt’s Mechanical, Process and Energy Engineering (IMPEE) research institute which focuses on promoting excellence across four main research themes:
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Biomedical Engineering
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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
There are currently no Go Global opportunities for this particular programme. However, other Go Global opportunities may be available. Please contact studywithus@hw.ac.uk for more information.
Course content
September Intake - Edinburgh
Students on this partnership route enter at Year 3 having first completed their HND Chemical Process Technology programmes at Forth Valley College.
Programme Video
Chemical Engineering UG video
Entry requirements
We have standard entry requirements for all of our courses that you will have to meet.
For this special partnership programme, Years 1 and 2 are taken at Forth Valley College. See Forth Valley College for more information.
One of the following:
- Two Highers at grade B and one at grade C or equivalent (to include Chemistry and Mathematics)
- Foundation Apprenticeship in Engineering or Foundation Apprenticeship in Scientific Technologies plus two further Highers at BB or BC to include Chemistry and Maths.
Additional Requirements:
- Please note that selection will be made via a successful interview and group task.
- The selection session will also include a tour of the College and an opportunity to ask questions about the course.
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.
Student life
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