MEng (Hons) Chemical Engineering Integrated Master's degree at the University of Sheffield
MEng (Hons) Chemical Engineering at University of Sheffield. Chemical engineering, at its heart, is about turning raw materials into the things society depends on, and this integrated Master's puts that transformation centre stage.
About this course
This course is about the design and operation of processes for making products such as fuels, medicines, plastics, food and materials for high technology industries. You'll also learn about the production and use of energy. From the provider’s course page.
MEng (Hons) Chemical Engineering is an Integrated Master's degree (MEng (Hons)) at the University of Sheffield, based in Main Campus. It runs 4 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, 85% 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 2022-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 95% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 95% (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
In this module you will master the process synthesis method, and apply it to real-world chemical process challenges. A cornerstone of chemical engineering, material balances will then be explored in depth, providing you with a fundamental tool for industrial applications. The module expands your design toolkit to include the crucial development of energy balances. You'll apply these concepts across a wide spectrum of essential chemical processes, including chemical reactors, heaters/coolers, mix
- Fundamental Science and SkillsCore20 credits
Module details
This module will help equip you with the essential knowledge and skills for a thriving career in chemical engineering. You'll master key scientific principles, including chemical stoichiometry, physical chemistry, equilibria, kinetics, and organic chemistry. This theoretical understanding is powerfully reinforced through immersive embedded laboratory sessions, and an extended process project where you'll apply concepts directly to real-world chemical industries. Beyond core science, this module
- Engineering with Living SystemsCore20 credits
Module details
This dynamic module provides a comprehensive exploration of biomanufacturing, focusing on the innovative production of essential products using living systems. You will gain a foundational understanding of the burgeoning biotechnology industry, learning about the diverse range of products across its various sectors. You will explore the intricate workings of host cell systems, such as yeast and E. coli, which are the very backbone of industrial bio-manufacturing. You will gain a deep understandi
- Thermo and Fluid DynamicsCore40 credits
Module details
Unlock the core principles of Chemical Engineering with this essential module, exploring thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, particle mechanics, and heat transfer. This module provides the foundational knowledge crucial for designing and operating sustainable chemical processes. You'll delve into thermodynamics, understanding energy utilization, efficiency, and the vital role of thermodynamic equilibrium. We'll explore the first and second laws of thermodynamics, analysing power and refrigeration cy
- Mathematics (Chemical)Core20 credits
Module details
This module aims to reinforce students' previous knowledge and to develop new basic mathematical techniques needed to support the engineering subjects taken at levels 1 and 2. It also provides a foundation for the level 2 mathematics courses in the appropriate engineering department. The module is delivered via online lectures, reinforced with weekly interactive problem classes.
Second year 6 modules
- Process ControlCore20 credits
Module details
Process control is the study of regulating the conditions of a process in order to obtain a stable process and to generate high quality products efficiently, economically and safely. This module covers modelling and analysing various control system behaviours, including first order and higher order systems, with closed and open loops. The application of control systems to various chemical processes and units will be included. The principles will then be applied in the context of heat exchanger d
- Reaction Engineering 1Core20 credits
Module details
Reaction engineering deals with the holistic design of reactions and appropriate reactors, using the concepts of materials and energy balances, kinetics and chemical thermodynamics. These concepts apply across all sectors of chemical engineering, from petrochemicals to food; from pollution control to biotechnology. This module will cover reactor design including reactor volume, reaction or residence time and operating temperature; and in particular how to optimise both reactor design and reactor
- Data Driven EngineeringCore20 credits
Module details
Much of engineering involves designing, undertaking and analysing the results from experimental studies. This module gives students a chance to do so using the Diamond Pilot Plant and other unit operation experiments as the test bed. Core to good experimental design and analysis is a sound grounding in applied statistics which will be covered as part of this module. Student teams will be given open ended laboratory investigations. Students will be introduced to how large datasets can be used to
Assessment: Results will be presented as written technical reports
- Process and Product DesignCore20 credits
Module details
The module covers the selection and design of process equipment found on a chemical plant, including scale-up methods and short cut design procedures. Students are introduced to product design including various techniques necessary for the selection of ideas and screening of alternatives, as well as the details of manufacturing and economic considerations. The module also provides an introduction to process safety and loss prevention from industrial processes and will enable students, with furth
- Maths, Design & Digital SkillsCore20 credits
Module details
This module consolidates and develops mathematical knowledge relevant to chemical engineering, such as Partial Differentiation, Calculus, Partial Differential Equations and Probability Distributions. These mathematical skills developed will be deployed in an engineering context alongside computer programming and modelling skills to solve real world chemical engineering problems. This will culminate in a week-long design project drawing on skills from across the entire programme. Students will al
- Mass Transfer and Separation ProcessesCore20 credits
Module details
The course introduces the fundamental principles of equilibrium and mass transfer kinetics in multicomponent systems and applies these principles to analysis and design of separation processes. This includes molecular diffusion in gases, liquids and solids, and the transport of momentum, heat and mass. Thermodynamic concepts from Year 1 are extended to non-ideal, multicomponent mixtures and applied to phase equilibria. These equilibria are then used to design and rate staged separation processes
Third year 1 modules
- Systems for SustainabilityCore
Module details
This module introduces sustainability relevant to the environmental impact of chemical processes and industry.
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 degree is structured to move you from foundational understanding towards independent, professional-level work. Early stages concentrate on core theory, the chemistry, physics, mathematics and engineering principles that underpin process design. Alongside this sits research & methods teaching, where you pick up the analytical and investigative skills needed to interpret data and evaluate process performance. As you progress, applied practice becomes more prominent, giving you the chance to work through realistic design and operational problems rather than purely theoretical ones. Later years bring specialist options, such as areas within energy production and use or the design of processes for specific product types, allowing you to steer your studies towards what interests you most. The extra year of the MEng is built around an independent project, where you take a problem and work through it with a good degree of autonomy, and a strand of professional skills development that runs throughout, preparing you for the realities of working as a qualified engineer.
Who it's for
This course suits someone who enjoys working out how things are made, not just what they're made of, the kind of person who's curious about the plant behind the product as much as the chemistry itself. You'll need to be comfortable with mathematics and physical sciences, since the course leans on both throughout, but you don't need to arrive with a fixed idea of which industry you want to work in. Studying chemical engineering here means a lot of problem-solving, working through design challenges that don't have a single neat answer, and gradually taking on more independent responsibility as you move through the four years. The extra year of the MEng suits students who want more time to go deeper into a specialist area and to carry out a substantial independent project, rather than moving straight into work after three years. It also suits those who like the idea of professional skills development sitting alongside technical study, since much of what you learn is aimed squarely at functioning as an engineer in a real workplace. If you're drawn to problems involving energy, materials or large-scale production processes, and you want a degree that treats the practical side of engineering as seriously as the theory, this is likely to feel like the right fit.
Careers & job market
Chemical engineering graduates work across a wide range of industries, given how broadly the discipline applies, from energy and pharmaceuticals to food production and advanced materials. Nationally, Engineering graduates report strong outcomes: 90% are in work or further study 15 months after graduating, and 80% of those in work are in highly skilled roles. These are national Graduate Outcomes figures across Engineering courses, not specific to this university or guaranteed for any individual. Continuation into a second year is also strong nationally, with 88% of students still enrolled or having completed their course after the first year. On pay, national LEO data for graduates show starting salaries in the region of £29,000–£35,000 fifteen months after graduating, moving to roughly £26,775–£37,800 after three years and £33,150–£46,800 after five years. Again, these figures describe the national graduate population and labour market rather than any individual's expected earnings, and they naturally vary by role, sector and location.
University & format
You'd study this MEng full-time over four years at the University of Sheffield's main campus, taught entirely in English. Sheffield is a public, research-intensive university and a member of the Russell Group, founded in 1905, and it holds a Silver rating for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023 assessment. Most students accepted onto this course arrive with A-levels or equivalent qualifications, around 95% of recent entrants, typically with UCAS tariff scores in the 160–175 range, though this reflects what students have actually held rather than a fixed entry requirement (the course's UCAS code is H800). It's worth checking the university's own funding pages for details of any bursaries or scholarships that might apply to your circumstances.
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 | 95% |
| 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 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.
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 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
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: 60; 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 9.0 out of 10: NSS 80.3% · in work or study 95% · continued 95%.
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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