MEng (Hons) Chemical Engineering Integrated Master's degree at the University of Edinburgh
MEng (Hons) Chemical Engineering at University of Edinburgh. Studying at a long-established, research-intensive university (Edinburgh was founded in 1583 and sits within the Russell Group), you're taught within a department that treats chemical engineering as a discipline connecting chemistry…
About this course
MEng (Hons) Chemical Engineering is an Integrated Master's degree (MEng (Hons)) at the University of Edinburgh, based in Central. It runs 5 years, studied full-time.
For Chemical, process and energy engineering graduates from this provider, 90% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 95% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £35,000. (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.
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)
Limited evidence Published sample: 20; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 90% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 100% (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 10 modules
- Chemistry for Chemical Engineers 1ACompulsory
- Engineering Mathematics 1aCompulsory
- Engineering PrinciplesCompulsory
- Chemistry for Chemical Engineers 1BCompulsory
- Engineering Mathematics 1bCompulsory
- Chemical Engineering Design 1Optional
- Civil and Environmental EngineeringOptional
- Electronics and Electrical Engineering 1Optional
- Mechanical Engineering 1Optional
- General EngineeringOptional
Year 2 11 modules
- Separation ProcessesCompulsory
- Chemical Engineering Design 2Compulsory
- Applied Chemistry and Biochemical EngineeringCompulsory
- Fluid MechanicsCompulsory
- Engineering Mathematics 2ACompulsory
- Programming Skills for EngineersCompulsory
- Process Plant EngineeringCompulsory
- Fundamentals of Chemical Engineering ThermodynamicsCompulsory
- Engineering Mathematics 2BCompulsory
- Frontiers in Chemical EngineeringOptional
- Chemical Engineering for Biomedical ApplicationsOptional
Year 3 12 modules
- Heat, Mass and Momentum TransferCompulsory
- Chemical Engineering Design 3Compulsory
- Chemical Engineering LaboratoryCompulsory
- Chemical Engineering Kinetics and CatalysisCompulsory
- Phase and Reaction Equilibrium ThermodynamicsCompulsory
- Solids ProcessingCompulsory
- Process Dynamics and ControlCompulsory
- Chemical Engineering Unit OperationsCompulsory
- Food and Beverage ManufacturingOptional
- Biochemical EngineeringOptional
- Polymers, Sustainability and ManufacturingOptional
- Electrochemical Engineering and Energy SystemsOptional
Year 4 3 modules
- Chemical Engineering Design: ProjectsCompulsory
- Chemical Engineering Design: Synthesis and EconomicsCompulsory
- Chemical Reaction EngineeringCompulsory
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
The programme is structured to take you from grounding to specialism over five years. Early years establish core theory, the mathematics, thermodynamics and process fundamentals that underpin chemical engineering, alongside research & methods training so you learn how engineers investigate and solve problems rather than just memorising solutions. As you progress, applied practice becomes more prominent: translating theoretical models into designs for real plant, reactors and processes. Later years bring specialist options, such as areas within energy, biochemical processing or materials, allowing you to shape the degree around your own interests. Professional skills, communication, teamwork, project management and an awareness of ethical and safety responsibilities, run throughout, reflecting what's expected of a practising engineer. The degree culminates in an independent project, giving you the chance to work on a substantial, self-directed piece of engineering research or design under academic supervision, the kind of work that distinguishes an MEng from a shorter BEng.
Who it's for
This course suits someone who enjoys mathematics and science but wants to see them applied to tangible, large-scale problems, how to make a process cleaner, safer or more efficient, rather than working purely in the abstract. You should be comfortable with sustained, gradually deepening study, since the five-year structure rewards patience and steady progression rather than expecting instant specialism. If you're the sort of person who likes understanding how something works from first principles before applying it, and who doesn't mind spending early years on fundamentals before the more specialist and independent work arrives, this rhythm will suit you. It's also a good fit if you can see yourself eventually leading or contributing to an independent research or design project, someone reasonably self-motivated, willing to work through problems methodically, and interested enough in the subject to sustain that interest over five years. Most entrants arrive with A-levels or equivalent, typically in the 208–223 UCAS tariff range, though this reflects what past students held rather than a fixed requirement, so it's worth checking current entry criteria directly.
Careers & job market
Nationally, Engineering graduates report solid progression: 90% are in work or further study 15 months after graduating, and 80% of those working are in highly skilled roles or further study, figures drawn from Graduate Outcomes data across Engineering courses generally, not specific to this university or guaranteed to any individual. Around 88% of students nationally continue past their first year of an Engineering degree, still enrolled or having completed. On earnings, national data (not a promise of what any graduate will earn) shows starting salaries 15 months after graduation typically between £29,000 and £35,000; after three years, between £26,775 and £37,800; and after five years, between £33,150 and £46,800. An MEng, with its integrated Master's and independent project, is often viewed as useful preparation for chartered engineer status and roles requiring postgraduate-level qualification, though outcomes will always depend on the individual and the wider job market.
University & format
The University of Edinburgh is a public, research-intensive Russell Group university founded in 1583, with a total student body of 26,138. This particular course is based at the university's central campus and is delivered full-time over five years, in English, under UCAS code H804. Edinburgh is, and as a recognised UK degree-awarding body, the MEng you receive carries national recognition.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively. Overall student satisfaction: 88%.
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.
- 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.
Names detected beside accreditation or recognition copy on the provider course page; verify the route and intake.
Industrial placement. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
Entry & how to get in
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.
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.
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
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.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course (code H804). 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.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Provider fee page. Set under Scotland's student-finance system; the provider's page is authoritative.
Check fees at University of Edinburgh →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.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
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 | £35,000 | £32,000 – £37,000 | 20 |
| 3 years after | £34,500 | £26,500 – £39,500 | 50 |
| 5 years after | £41,500 | £34,000 – £50,500 | 50 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Limited evidence. Published sample: 20; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 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
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.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Limited evidence. Published sample: 20; treat comparisons cautiously. 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.
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
- Finance ProfessionalsSOC 2020 242 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £47,173
- Business and public service associate professionalsSOC 2020 35 · 10% 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: 35; response rate: 60%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Job market & outlook
How Engineering graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How 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 LtdIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
Fees for this course are set under Scotland's own student-finance system, not the England cap; check the provider's course page for the exact figure. 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
90% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £35,000. 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 9.2 out of 10: NSS 85.9% · in work or study 90% · continued 100%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
The University of Edinburgh
Engineering and technology across the UK
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 University of Edinburgh from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is £18,552 / 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 University of Edinburgh’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 University of Edinburgh and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at University of Edinburgh
Common questions
How competitive is entry?
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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