BEng (Hons) Chemical Engineering Bachelor's degree at the University of Sheffield
BEng (Hons) Chemical Engineering at University of Sheffield. Draft this section
About this course
On this course, you’ll learn to design and operate processes that make fuels, medicines, plastics, food, and advanced materials. You’ll explore energy production and sustainable manufacturing while gaining hands-on skills to tackle real-world challenges in cutting-edge industries. From the provider’s course page.
BEng (Hons) Chemical Engineering is a Bachelor's degree (BEng (Hons)) at the University of Sheffield, based in Main Campus. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.
For Chemical, process and energy engineering graduates from this provider, 95% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 65% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £34,500. (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 2021-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 95% (2021-23; 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.
First year 5 modules
- Chemical Engineering PrinciplesCore20 credits
Module details
Master the process synthesis method and apply it to real-world chemical process challenges. Explores material balances and energy balances in depth. Applies concepts across chemical reactors, heaters/coolers, mixers, distillation columns, evaporators, cooling towers, crystallisation, and boilers. Sustainability focus on minimizing energy requirements in separation processes. Foundational techniques for evaluating vapour-liquid and gas-liquid equilibria with introduction to distillation. Embedded
- Fundamental Science and SkillsCore20 credits
Module details
Equips essential knowledge and skills for chemical engineering careers. Covers chemical stoichiometry, physical chemistry, equilibria, kinetics, and organic chemistry. Embedded laboratory sessions and extended process project applying concepts to real-world chemical industries. Covers data analysis techniques and industrially relevant chemical engineering modelling software. Includes week-long cross-faculty interdisciplinary design activity. Focus on sustainability and inclusivity.
- Engineering with Living SystemsCore20 credits
Module details
Comprehensive exploration of biomanufacturing and production using living systems. Foundational understanding of biotechnology industry. Explores host cell systems such as yeast and E. coli. Covers microbiology, cell growth kinetics in batch and continuous systems, fermentation, metabolic engineering and synthetic biology. Case studies and practical laboratory sessions on genetic and metabolic engineering. Covers biological engineering, microbial processes, bioproducts, enzymatic catalysis, synt
- Thermo and Fluid DynamicsCore40 credits
Module details
Core principles of chemical engineering exploring thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, particle mechanics, and heat transfer. Covers thermodynamics, energy utilization, efficiency, thermodynamic equilibrium, first and second laws of thermodynamics, power and refrigeration cycles. Covers fluid dynamics in chemical plants, flow rates, laminar and turbulent flow, pipe flow, dimensional analysis. Covers particle mechanics and heat transfer including conduction, convection, and radiation. Practical proble
- Mathematics (Chemical)Core20 credits
Module details
Reinforces previous mathematical knowledge and develops new basic mathematical techniques needed to support engineering subjects at levels 1 and 2. Provides foundation for level 2 mathematics courses. Delivered via online lectures reinforced with weekly interactive problem classes.
Second year 6 modules
- Process ControlCore20 credits
Module details
Study of regulating the conditions of a process to obtain stable process and high quality products efficiently, economically and safely. Covers modelling and analysing various control system behaviours, including first order and higher order systems, with closed and open loops. Application of control systems to various chemical processes and units. Principles applied in context of heat exchanger design. Covers selection of suitable heat exchange systems and units and evaluation of different type
- Reaction Engineering 1Core20 credits
Module details
Holistic design of reactions and appropriate reactors, using concepts of materials and energy balances, kinetics and chemical thermodynamics. Applies across all sectors of chemical engineering. Covers reactor design including reactor volume, reaction or residence time and operating temperature. Optimization of reactor design and reactor type alongside operating conditions. Application to open ended problems and tools to model idealised reaction systems.
- Data Driven EngineeringCore20 credits
Module details
Designing, undertaking and analysing results from experimental studies. Uses Diamond Pilot Plant and other unit operation experiments as test bed. Covers applied statistics for experimental design and analysis. Student teams given open ended laboratory investigations. Introduction to how large datasets can be used to implement machine learning. Students design experiments and visit lab to collect data for analysis. Results presented as written technical reports.
- Process and Product DesignCore20 credits
Module details
Selection and design of process equipment found on chemical plants, including scale-up methods and short cut design procedures. Introduction to product design including techniques for selection of ideas and screening of alternatives, manufacturing and economic considerations. Introduction to process safety and loss prevention from industrial processes. Enables students to carry out activities involved in safety review of proposed and existing plants.
- Maths, Design & Digital SkillsCore20 credits
Module details
Consolidates and develops mathematical knowledge relevant to chemical engineering, such as Partial Differentiation, Calculus, Partial Differential Equations and Probability Distributions. Mathematical skills deployed in engineering context alongside computer programming and modelling skills to solve real world chemical engineering problems. Culminates in week-long design project. Includes interdisciplinary group project week to develop teamwork, communication and design skills.
- Mass Transfer and Separation ProcessesCore20 credits
Module details
Fundamental principles of equilibrium and mass transfer kinetics in multicomponent systems applied to analysis and design of separation processes. Covers molecular diffusion in gases, liquids and solids, and transport of momentum, heat and mass. Extends thermodynamic concepts from Year 1 to non-ideal, multicomponent mixtures and applies to phase equilibria. Uses phase equilibria to design and rate staged separation processes.
Third year 4 modules
- Systems for SustainabilityCore20 credits
Module details
Sustainability relevant to environmental impact of chemical processes and industry. Covers concepts of systems analysis by introducing systems-level thinking. Tools to examine process sustainability including life cycle analysis and circular economy.
- Process Design ProjectCore40 credits
Module details
Prepares students for professional practice in industrial development of chemical engineering processes. Students analyse an open problem, research issues and synthesize technical solution, taking account of context, economics, environment and safety. Students work effectively as small team. Group develops overall study of substantial industrial process, taking account of geographical, social and economic factors and produces group report and presentation. Students take responsibility for parts
- Reaction Engineering 2Core20 credits
Module details
In depth analysis of complex reactions and design of realistic reactors including fluid-solid reactions. Covers complex reaction kinetics and concepts such as residence time distributions and non-ideal flow models. Provides understanding of catalytic and autocatalytic processes, including both chemical and enzymatic catalysis, and microbial bioreactors. Computer simulation of reactor dynamics deployed to optimise reactor design and reaction conditions.
- Transport PhenomenaCore
Module details
Explores rates by which heat, momentum and mass are transported between system and surroundings. Builds upon previous modules by extending use of shell balances to set up and solve governing differential equations for heat and mass transfer. Covers appropriate constitutive equations for different geometries and resistances in series. Explores different boundary and initial conditions for steady-state and transient problems. Combined convection-diffusion problems for heat and mass solved in terms
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.
Who it's for
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Careers & job market
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University & format
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Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively.
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.
Provider-published requirement; check the linked course page before applying.
The provider publishes contextual-offer information. Eligibility and any reduced offer are applicant-specific.
Names detected beside accreditation or recognition copy on the provider course page; verify the route and intake.
Optional placement year. 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 | 90% |
| another higher-education qualification | 5% |
| a Baccalaureate | 5% |
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 H810). 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
Standard capped home fee at English providers (2026/27); Scotland, Wales & NI differ.
Check fees at University of Sheffield →For students who normally live in England
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
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 | £34,500 | £31,000 – £39,500 | 20 |
| 3 years after | £32,000 | £25,500 – £36,000 | 105 |
| 5 years after | £42,000 | £34,500 – £54,000 | 105 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Limited evidence. Published sample: 20; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23.
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: 2021-23. Limited evidence. Published sample: 20; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23. 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 · 25% of published destinations · ASHE median £50,325
- Sales occupationsSOC 2020 71 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £15,975
- Teaching ProfessionalsSOC 2020 231 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £42,660
- Finance ProfessionalsSOC 2020 242 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £47,173
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: 65%. 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
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.
Where graduates go
95% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £34,500. 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 9.3 out of 10: NSS 85.4% · in work or study 95% · continued 100%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
The University of Sheffield
Engineering and technology across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around Main Campus
2,964 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
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 Sheffield from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by University of Sheffield; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. 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 Sheffield’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 Sheffield and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at University of Sheffield
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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