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Heriot-Watt University · Undergraduate
BEng (Hons) Chemical Engineering Bachelor's degree at Heriot-Watt University
BEng (Hons) Chemical Engineering at Heriot-Watt University covers core theory, research and methods, applied practice, specialist options, an independent project, and professional skills development.
BEng (Hons)
Award
4
Years
Full-time
Study mode
95%
in work/study (15m)
About this course
Study BEng Chemical Engineering at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh. Advanced lab facilities, placement options and strong industry links. Learn more. From the provider’s course page.
BEng (Hons) Chemical Engineering is a Bachelor's degree (BEng (Hons)) at Heriot-Watt University, based in EdinburghCampus. It runs 4 years, studied full-time.
For Engineering and technology graduates from this provider, 95% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 95% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £32,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Engineering, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
8.9
/ 10
Excellent
3 of 3 official measures
Student satisfaction
What students say in the National Student Survey
Excellent86
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Graduate outcomes
In work or further study 15 months after graduating
Exceptional95
Stronger evidence Published sample: 135. Cohort 2022-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 95% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Continuation
Students who continue past their first year
Excellent85
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 85% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year 1 7 modules
- Principles of Chemistry
- Engineering Professionalism and Technical Communication
- Mathematics for Engineers and Scientists 1
- Chemical Reactivity
- Introduction to Mechanical Engineering
- Mathematics for Engineers and Scientists 2
- Introduction to Process Engineering
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
You'll study chemical engineering with access to advanced laboratory facilities and strong industry connections. A course like this normally progresses from engineering foundations, mathematics, mechanics and materials, and design skills, through core discipline work in thermodynamics, fluids and systems, and engineering computing. Year 2 typically includes a group design project assessed like an industrial build. In Year 3, you move to specialist options such as mechanical, electrical and electronic, civil and structural, robotics and mechatronics, energy and sustainability, or a Chartered (CEng) pathway, alongside professional engineering practice and an individual design or research project that forms the capstone of your degree. Many students undertake a placement within this structure.
Who it's for
This course suits students with A-level qualifications or equivalent. Most accepted students held A-levels or equivalent qualifications. The typical UCAS tariff among accepted students was 224–239 points, reflecting the standard entry profile for this programme.
Careers & job market
Across Engineering courses nationally, 90% of graduates are in work or further study within 15 months of graduating. Of those working, 80% are in highly skilled roles or undertaking further study. National graduate earnings data shows starting salaries of £29,000–£35,000 at 15 months; after three years, £26,775–£37,800; and after five years, £33,150–£46,800. These figures reflect national outcomes for engineering graduates, not university-specific guarantees. First-year retention stands at 88% across the student body.
University & format
This BEng (Hons) Chemical Engineering degree is studied full-time over 4 years at Heriot-Watt University, a university founded in 1821, based in Edinburgh. Instruction is in English. The degree is awarded by a recognised UK degree-awarding body, meaning it is nationally recognised. Heriot-Watt is.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively. Overall student satisfaction: 94%.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
Application timelineWhat happens next
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
AccreditationIChemE
Names detected beside accreditation or recognition copy on the provider course page; verify the route and intake.
Entry & how to get in
Most entrants held A-levels or equivalent100% of accepted students came in with A-levels or equivalent (entrants over recent years).
Typical UCAS tariff: 224 - 239 pointsThe most common UCAS tariff band among accepted students. This is what entrants had, not a stated requirement.
Entry requirements are set by the universityGrades, subjects and contextual offers vary. Check Heriot-Watt University's official course page for the current offer.
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
UCAS tariff of entrants
Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 100% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Competitive entry
Accepted students typically held strong UCAS tariffs. Check how your predicted grades compare and whether a contextual offer applies.
Will you get in? Plot your grades
Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.
Your UCAS points0
▾
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Add your grades to see where you land
Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
Apply by13 January 2027, 18:00 UK timefor this course
Typical gradesA*A*A*+A-level equivalent admitted students held
UCAS codeH800quote this on your application
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course (code H800). One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
💡 Many universities make a contextual (reduced-grade) offer, for example based on your school’s results, time in care, or where you live. Ask Heriot-Watt University whether you’re eligible before you apply; it can lower the grades you need.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Home£9,790 / yr
International£25,808 / yr
Provider fee page. Set under Scotland's student-finance system; the provider's page is authoritative.
Check fees at Heriot-Watt University →If you normally live in Scotland
For eligible Scottish-domiciled students at an eligible Scottish provider, SAAS can pay tuition directly. Living-cost support can combine bursary and loan and depends on household income and student circumstances. Students from elsewhere use their home funding body.
Check the current amounts with SAAS →Paying for it
- SAAS tuition payment: paid directly to the university for eligible Scottish-domiciled students, applied for through SAAS.
- Living-cost support: a mix of bursary and loan from SAAS, depending on household income.
- Repayment: only above the Scottish repayment threshold, and written off at the end of the plan term.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
Scotland runs its own system through SAAS; check saas.gov.uk for current rates.
Funding matched to this course
All Heriot-Watt University funding →Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
Named awards published by the university. Compare the eligibility and application route before budgeting for one.
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Check eligibility →Amounts, exclusions and deadlines can change. An award is not guaranteed unless the university confirms it.
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Career quizApplication walkthroughSalary & CV check
Careers & earnings
What Engineering graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £32,000 | £30,000 – £36,000 | 135 |
| 3 years after | £30,500 | £26,500 – £36,500 | 450 |
| 5 years after | £37,500 | £30,500 – £45,000 | 450 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Stronger evidence. Published sample: 135. Cohort 2022-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
95%
in work or further study 15 months on
95%
in highly skilled work or study
85%
continue past their first year
90%
find their work meaningful
85%
say work fits their future plans
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in engineering · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Engineering nationally
Starting (15 months) HESA GO
£32,000
£29,000 – £35,000After 3 years LEO
£30,500
£26,775 – £37,800After 5 years LEO
£37,500
£33,150 – £46,800national rangethis course’s medianaxis £25,000 – £48,500
National figures for Engineering graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
95 of 100
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
85% working5% working and studying5% in further study95% in highly skilled work or study
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Stronger evidence. Published sample: 135. Cohort 2022-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Engineering courses at the same study level.
This course £37,500Peer median £38,500Middle 50% £35,500–£42,500
36th percentile
Compared with 2,256 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
UK occupations graduates enter
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
- Engineering professionalsSOC 2020 212 · 60% of published destinations · ASHE median £50,325
- Business and public service associate professionalsSOC 2020 35 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £38,760
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 45; response rate: 80%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Is BEng (Hons) Chemical Engineering worth it?
Generally yes. On its graduates’ median earnings, BEng (Hons) Chemical Engineering is worth about +£95,840 more over the first ten years of work than going straight to a job, a solid return once you net out the fees.
Solid payoff: pays for itself within the typical range for a degree
Cumulative earnings vs. going straight to work at 18, counting tuition and 4 years of wages given up while studying. The line clears zero around year 14.3. This is a simplified gross-earnings comparison, not a forecast of cash loan repayments.
+£95,840
10-year payoff
extra earnings over the first decade, after the fees you pay
3.4×
Return on investment
extra earnings over 10 yrs per £1 of fees
£39,160
Tuition over the course
£9,790/yr × 4 yrs (published course home fee)
£37,500
Grad earnings, 5 yrs on
£13,500 above a non-graduate (£24,000)
Model: this course’s own median graduate earnings (Graduate Outcomes / LEO) above the £24,000 non-graduate baseline (ONS), net of £9,790/yr over 4 years (published course home fee). Eligible England-domiciled students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan; repayments are 9% only on income above the threshold, with anything left written off after 40 years. That makes the cash flow different from conventional commercial debt. Opportunity cost assumes £18,000 gross earnings forgone in each study year; figures are nominal and exclude tax, living costs, investment returns and loan interest. A simplified estimate. Earnings and actual fees vary by graduate, provider, fee status and UK nation.
Job market & outlook
How Engineering graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
90%
in work or further study 15 months after graduating, across Engineering courses nationally.
Graduate Outcomes80%
of working graduates are in highly skilled work or further study.
highly skilled88%
of students continue past their first year (still enrolled or completed).
continuationHow AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Engineering graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Engineering & manufacturing firms
- Automotive & aerospace
- Energy & utilities
- Defence & consultancies
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Engineering graduates.
Engineering Surveyor (Machine Control)BAM UK & IrelandEngineering Operations Project ManagerFdo Consulting LimitedEngineering ManagerVerto PeopleEngineering ManagerRobert WaltersEngineering ManagerPremier Technical RecruitmentEngineering ManagerRedline Group LtdLive from the StudySmarter job board · as of 2026-08-01.See all matching jobs
Is this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
💷
Student finance
Published home tuition is £9,790/year for this course. Tuition for eligible Scottish-domiciled students is paid by SAAS directly to the university, applied for through SAAS and not Student Finance England. Living-cost support is a mix of bursary and loan, and you repay only above the Scottish threshold.
📈
Where graduates go
95% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £32,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
🎯
Your entry chances
Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.
⭐
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 8.9 out of 10: NSS 85.9% · in work or study 95% · continued 85%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
Heriot-Watt University
All students9,845
International31.2%
Aged 25+21.8%
Engineering and technology across the UK
Students176,530
Aged 25+23%
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Is Engineering right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to Heriot-Watt University from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is £25,808 / year for this course (from the provider’s fee page). You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check Heriot-Watt University’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with Heriot-Watt University and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at Heriot-Watt University
Common questions
How competitive is entry?
Entry is competitive. Accepted students typically held strong UCAS tariffs. The most common tariff band among recent entrants was 224 - 239 UCAS points. Use the calculator on this page to see where your predicted grades would put you; many universities also make lower contextual offers.
What are the entry requirements?
Set by Heriot-Watt University. Most accepted students held A-levels or equivalent. Check the university's course page for the exact offer.
What do graduates go on to do?
For Engineering and technology graduates from this provider, 95% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 95% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £32,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
What will it cost me?
The published home tuition is £9,790 per year for this course. Tuition for eligible Scottish-domiciled students is paid by SAAS directly to the university, applied for through SAAS and not Student Finance England. Living-cost support is a mix of bursary and loan, and you repay only above the Scottish threshold. See Fees & funding on this page to work out your numbers.
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