A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in chemical engineering or a closely related field.
For 2020 entry we accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified*:
IELTS: total 7.0 (at least 6.5 in each module)
TOEFL-iBT (including Special Home Edition): total 100 (at least 23 in each module). We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
PTE Academic: total 67 (at least 61 in each of the "Communicative Skills" sections)
CAE and CPE: total 185 (at least 176 in each module)
Trinity ISE: ISE III with a pass in all four components
For 2021 entry we will accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified*:
IELTS: total 7.0 (at least 6.5 in each module)
TOEFL-iBT (including Special Home Edition): total 100 (at least 23 in each module). We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
CAE and CPE: total 185 (at least 176 in each module)
Trinity ISE: ISE III with a pass in all four components
*(Revised 21 February 2020 to remove PTE Academic from 2021 entry requirements. Revised 21 April 2020 to include TOEFL-iBT Special Home Edition in 2020 and 2021 entry requirements.)
Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, PTE Academic or Trinity ISE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.
This one-year programme at the University of Edinburgh will immerse you in the most current developments in chemical engineering, through a combination of taught modules, workshops, an MSc research dissertation, and a number of supporting activities delivered by the key experts in the field.
The MSc programme will develop from fundamental topics (including modern approaches to understanding properties of the systems on a molecular scale and advanced numerical methods) to actual industrial processes, with a particular emphasis on energy efficiency, to the MSc research dissertation projects where the acquired skills in various areas are put into practice, to be applied to actual chemical engineering problems.
A unique feature of the programme is a strong and committed involvement of the UK and EU chemical engineering industry. The programme is advised by an Industrial Advisory Board, while MSc research dissertation projects are formulated and coadvised by industrial partners, with topics ranging from computational fluid dynamics for medical applications, to carbon capture and storage, to continuous manufacturing for the pharmaceutical industry.
The programme develops from compulsory courses, emphasizing modern computational techniques and research methods, to a range of options. It is complemented by a strong management and economics component, culminating in a research project leading to a masters thesis.
Compulsory courses
Numerical Methods for Chemical Engineers
Molecular Thermodynamics
Introduction to Research Methods
Advanced Chemical Engineering Dissertation
Advanced Design Courses
Students must undertake at least one of the following courses:
Group Design Project (Power Station with Carbon Capture and Storage) (Semester 1)
Separation Processes for Carbon Capture (Semester 2)
Optional Courses
Students can select one of the following courses during Semester 1:
Chemical Reaction Engineering
Computational Fluid Dynamics
Fire Science and Fire Dynamics
Engineering Project Management
Polymer Science and Engineering
Living Materials and their Biomaterial Replacements
Plus, between three and six of the following courses (depending on above Adv. Design choices, for a total of 120 credits) during Semester 2:*
Supply Chain Management
Modern Economics in Industry
Technology and Innovation Management
Adsorption
Gas Separations Using Membranes
Separation Processes
Nanomaterials in Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
Bio-Inspired Engineering
Advanced Process Safety
Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering
Particle Technology Fundamentals and Industrial Applications
Electrochemical Engineering
Oil and Gas Systems Engineering (Semester 2)
Our graduates enjoy diverse career opportunities in the oil and gas, pharmaceutical, food and drink, consumer products, banking and consulting industries. Recent employers of our graduates include BP, P&G, Mondelēz International, Doosan Babcock, Atkins, Safetec, Xodus Group, Diageo, Wood Group, GSK, Gilead Sciences, ExxonMobil, Jacobs, Halliburton, Cavendish Nuclear, to name but a few. This wide range of potential employers means that our MSc graduates are exceptionally well placed to find rewarding and lucrative careers. According to the Complete University Guide, the Chemical Engineering programme at the University of Edinburgh is ranked as one of the top in the UK in terms of graduates' prospects.
Find out more about career opportunities:
Chemical Engineering and Chemistry Careers Blog
The MSc in Advanced Chemical Engineering may also lead to further study in a PhD programme. With the 94% of our research activity rated as world-leading or internationally excellent (according to the most recent Research Excellence Framework 2014), Edinburgh is the UK powerhouse in Engineering.
As an MSc student at Edinburgh you will be immersed in a research-intensive, multidisciplinary environment and you will have plenty of opportunities to interact with PhD, MSc students and staff from other programmes, Institutes and Schools.
Find out more about our research:
Research at the School of Engineering
