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University of Southampton · Undergraduate
MEng (Hons) Chemical Engineering Integrated Master's degree at Southampton
MEng (Hons) Chemical Engineering at Southampton. Sustainability sits at the centre of the course rather than being bolted on as an afterthought, so the environmental and process-efficiency dimensions of chemical engineering run through the way problems are framed from the outset.
MEng (Hons)
Award
4
Years
Full-time
Study mode
89%
in work/study (15m)
About this course
Take the fastest route to being a chartered chemical engineer on this 4 year course. We focus on sustainability, with bespoke labs & an optional industry year. From the provider’s course page.
MEng (Hons) Chemical Engineering is an Integrated Master's degree (MEng (Hons)) at Southampton. It runs 4 years, studied full-time.
For Engineering graduates from this provider, 89% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 87% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £33,000. (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.
9.1
/ 10
Exceptional
3 of 3 official measures
Student satisfaction
What students say in the National Student Survey
Excellent83
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
Excellent89
Stronger evidence Published sample: 120. Cohort 2022-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 89% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Continuation
Students who continue past their first year
Exceptional100
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 7 modules
- An Introduction to Engineering DesignOptional
- Chemical PrinciplesOptional
- Data Science and Computing for EngineersOptional
- Mathematics for Engineering and the EnvironmentOptional
- Mechanics, Structures and MaterialsOptional
- Principles of Chemical EngineeringOptional
- ThermoFluidsOptional
Year 2 8 modules
- Unit Operations 1 -Particle TechnologyOptional
- Chemical ReactionsOptional
- Heat and Mass TransferOptional
- Mathematics for Engineering and the Environment Part IIOptional
- Practical Operations and Numerical AnalysisOptional
- Process Control and SafetyOptional
- Reaction EngineeringOptional
- Unit Operations 2 - Fluid TechnologyOptional
Year 3 9 modules
- Advanced Reaction Engineering (Bio Reactors and Catalysis)Optional
- Chemical Engineering Group Design ProjectOptional
- Chemical Engineering Part 3 LabsOptional
- Management of Safety in Chemical PlantsOptional
- Professional Aspects of Chemical EngineeringOptional
- Unit Operations 3 - Separation ProcessesOptional
- Chemical Engineering for Sustainable EnergyOptional
- Chemical Engineering for the Pharmaceutical SectorOptional
- Urban Water and Wastewater EngineeringOptional
Year 4 8 modules
- Chemical Engineering Advanced Research ProjectOptional
- Designing for Scale: Commercialising ChemistryOptional
- Process Integration and IntensificationOptional
- BioenergyOptional
- Chemical Engineering in Food TechnologyOptional
- Principles, Techniques and Energy Applications of ElectrochemistryOptional
- Process Optimisation and ControlOptional
- Waste Resource ManagementOptional
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 course structure moves you through a sequence that starts with core theory, the fundamentals of chemical engineering science, thermodynamics, reaction engineering and process design, before building into research & methods, where you learn how engineers actually investigate and solve problems rather than just apply known formulae. Applied practice follows, putting that theory to work in the bespoke labs mentioned above, translating equations and models into physical outcomes you can observe and measure. As you progress you'll choose from specialist options such as process sustainability, advanced separations or plant design, allowing you to angle the degree towards the parts of chemical engineering that interest you most. The independent project, typically undertaken in the final year, gives you a substantial piece of work to lead yourself, from defining the problem through to presenting your findings, often the piece of work you'll speak about most in graduate interviews. Running alongside all of this is a strand of professional skills, covering the communication, project management and teamwork abilities that chartered engineers are expected to demonstrate. Students who opt into the industry year insert a placement between the taught years, which extends the course but adds a full year of workplace experience directly relevant to the specialisms above.
Who it's for
This course suits someone who enjoys taking a problem apart to understand how it works, whether that's a chemical process, an energy system or an environmental challenge, and who's motivated by the idea that engineering decisions have real consequences for sustainability. You'll likely have a solid grounding in maths and science already, since most entrants arrive with A-levels or equivalent qualifications, typically in the 160–175 UCAS tariff range, though this reflects what students have previously held rather than a fixed requirement. Day to day, expect a mix of lecture-based theory and genuinely practical lab work, so you should be someone who's comfortable moving between abstract calculations and hands-on experimentation without losing patience with either. The independent project and professional skills strand reward students who can work autonomously and manage their own time over long stretches, rather than needing constant direction. If the idea of spending a year in industry partway through your studies appeals, testing what you've learned in a real workplace before returning to finish your degree, the optional industry year is likely to be a strong draw. Equally, if chartered status is your end goal and you'd rather not add a separate Master's year onto a Bachelor's later, the integrated four-year structure will feel like the right shape for your ambitions.
Careers & job market
Chemical engineering graduates nationally report starting salaries 15 months after graduating in the £29,000–£35,000 range, with figures for engineering graduates broadly climbing to £26,775–£37,800 after three years and £33,150–£46,800 after five, according to national Graduate Outcomes and LEO data, these are national figures across the field rather than guarantees tied to this specific course. Across Engineering courses nationally, 90% of graduates are in work or further study 15 months after finishing, and 80% of those in work are in roles classed as highly skilled or continuing into further study. Retention on this course area is also strong nationally, with 88% of students continuing past their first year, whether still enrolled or having completed their studies. The professional skills strand and independent project built into the MEng are aimed squarely at the competencies employers and professional bodies look for when assessing candidates for chartered engineer status, and the optional industry year gives you a documented period of relevant workplace experience to draw on when applying for graduate roles.
University & format
The University of Southampton is a public, research-intensive university and a member of the Russell Group, founded in 1862 and home to 21,335 students in total. It was and holds a Silver award for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023. This MEng (Hons) Chemical Engineering course (UCAS code H803) runs full-time over four years, taught in English at Southampton campus, and leads to an integrated Master's award.
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.
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.
Published entryAAA typical offer
Provider-published requirement; check the linked course page before applying.
Contextual offersPublished by this provider
The provider publishes contextual-offer information. Eligibility and any reduced offer are applicant-specific.
AccreditationIChemE
Names detected beside accreditation or recognition copy on the provider course page; verify the route and intake.
PlacementPublished placement option
Paid industrial placement. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
Open daysOpen days and visits
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
Entry & how to get in
Typical offer (from the provider)The university’s course page lists a typical A-level offer of AAA. Always check the provider for the current offer and subject requirements.
Most entrants held A-levels or equivalent90% of accepted students came in with A-levels or equivalent (entrants over recent years).
Typical UCAS tariff: 160 - 175 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 Southampton'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 | 90% |
| a previous degree | 5% |
| a foundation course | 5% |
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 codeH803quote this on your application
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course (code H803). 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 Southampton 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
Homeup to £9,790 / yr
International£31,000 / yr
Provider fee page (England 2026/27 cap where not stated).
Check fees at Southampton →For students who normally live in England
illustrative Maintenance Loan per year
£9,790tuition used per year, illustrative full-time England fee-cap scenario
illustrative borrowing over 4 years
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.
Funding matched to this course
All Southampton funding →Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
Named awards published by the university. Compare the eligibility and application route before budgeting for one.
electrical engineering students
Check eligibility →Global Talent in Adult Nursing Scholarship£5,000 off tuition fees
international students studying eligible undergraduate or postgraduate master's in adult n
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 | £33,000 | £30,000 – £37,000 | 120 |
| 3 years after | £34,500 | £29,500 – £41,500 | 365 |
| 5 years after | £43,500 | £36,000 – £52,500 | 375 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Stronger evidence. Published sample: 120. Cohort 2022-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
89%
in work or further study 15 months on
87%
in highly skilled work or study
100%
continue past their first year
82%
find their work meaningful
83%
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
£33,000
£29,000 – £35,000After 3 years LEO
£34,500
£26,775 – £37,800After 5 years LEO
£43,500
£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.
89 of 100
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
74% working8% working and studying7% in further study87% in highly skilled work or study
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Stronger evidence. Published sample: 120. 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 £43,500Peer median £38,500Middle 50% £35,500–£42,500
81st percentile
Compared with 2,256 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
Birmingham Metropolitan CollegeFdSc Foundation Degree Dental Technology£43,500Brunel University of LondonBEng (Hons) Computer Systems Engineering£43,500Brunel University of LondonBEng (Hons) Computer Systems Engineering with Placement Year£43,500Brunel University of LondonBEng (Hons) Electronic and Electrical Engineering (Communication Systems)£43,500
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
- Information Technology ProfessionalsSOC 2020 213 · 13% of published destinations · ASHE median £55,357
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: 325; response rate: 61%. 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.
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
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
89% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £33,000. 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 9.1 out of 10: NSS 82.7% · in work or study 89% · continued 100%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
The University of Southampton
All students25,785
International35.1%
Aged 25+17%
Engineering and technology across the UK
Students176,530
Aged 25+23%
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around Southampton
941 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Violent Crime 308Anti Social Behaviour 121Shoplifting 106Public Order 79Criminal Damage Arson 75
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 Southampton from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is £31,000 / 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
Southampton offers the Global Talent in Adult Nursing Scholarship (£5,000 off tuition fees) for international students, see Scholarships above.
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 Southampton and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at Southampton
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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 160 - 175 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 Southampton. 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 graduates from this provider, 89% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 87% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £33,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
What will it cost me?
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. See Fees & funding on this page to work out your numbers.
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