7 replies to this topic

[zaim187]

Anyone doing or thinking of doing chemical engineering at strathclyde. How do you find the course and what does the course involve? Any general information will be appreciated.
Thanks

[D_n_y]

thats the link for the chemical engineering section of the strathclyde website
http://www.strath.ac.uk/chemeng/courses/course-list.htm
It has more info o what the course involves

[bred]

I don't do chemical engineering but this is from the Strathclyde Uni website that D_n_y mentioned:

The BEng course lasts four years and the MEng course five years; both are credit-based with common subjects taken during Years 1-3.
Assessment is based on coursework, projects and exams. The flexible course structure allows transfer between courses, normally until the end of Year 3.
In addition to the core curriculum, elective classes during Years 1 and 2 enable you to choose from a wide range of subjects offered throughout the University according to your own needs and interests.

Year 1 – Skills for Lifelong Learning
This introduces the fundamental principles (‘building blocks’) of Chemical Engineering.
Teaching methods include problem-solving frameworks, small group tutorials and site visits and will develop the skills you need for self-motivated learning.
Year 2 – Chemical Engineering Principles
This provides a grounding in mainstream core Chemical Engineering subjects such as material and energy balances, thermodynamics, heat transfer, mass transfer and fluid flow. You will also be introduced to engineering practice and chemical engineering laboratory work, and to finance and business studies.
Year 3 – Technical Development
The principles taught in Years 2 and 3 are applied to the most important unit operations used in the chemical and process industries, including distillation, gas absorption and adsorption, evaporation, crystallisation, filtration and drying. The syllabus also includes reactor design, biochemical engineering and food processing. Laboratory work continues and students undertake two small Chemical Engineering design projects.
You may also choose to spend some or all of Year 3 abroad.
Years 4 and 5 – Professional Training
By now you will be beginning to feel like a ‘real’ engineer. Technical knowledge is enhanced by taught classes concentrating on specialist and professional subjects, including air pollution control and liquid effluent treatment, process control and instrumentation, safety and hazard analysis and process economics. In the Chemical Engineering Design class, students work in groups to produce a preliminary design of a chemical process. This group project integrates the building blocks of Chemical Engineering developed in Years 1 to 3 and further develops your interpersonal skills. The success of the project depends on teamwork, communication and effective time management.
Year 4 (BEng)
In addition to the above-mentioned subjects, students carry out an individual research project and submit a thesis. Students on the BEng Honours degree programme graduate at the end of this year.

Year 5 (MEng)
As well as studying key Chemical Engineering subjects in greater depth, you will broaden your horizons through a choice of business, language, science and other engineering subjects. You will also carry out a research project based either in industry – where you will find out what it is like to work as a real engineer with real responsibilities – or in another European university where you will gain experience of other practices and cultures and expand your language skills. This individual project, for which you submit a thesis, tests the ability to plan, time-manage and apply knowledge and creativity.



Closer integration with Europe has increased the range of employment opportunities for graduates. Several schemes are available to help you broaden your horizons:

Socrates/Erasmus programme: spend 3-12 months in Europe (partners include universities in Austria, France, Italy, Holland, Spain, Sweden)

North American Exchange Scheme: spend your third year at a university in Canada or the USA

IAESTE (International Association for the
Exchange of Students for Technical Experience): opportunity for a (paid) work placement abroad.

http://www.strath.ac.uk/chemeng/ug-info/ChemEng.htm

[Bridget]

Hi, I'm just starting a degree in chemical engineering.
The course is mainly a combination of maths, chemistry and physics - although more recently it involves concepts found in biology and medicine (i.e. biotechnology, designing artificial organs/ skin cells/ etc).
It's actually quite a broad degree at university in terms of what you will study. Most chemical engineering students, on top of a heavily scientific/engineering course content, must also takes courses in management, computing, economics, possibly European law/ social policy etc. which are essential for roles within the chemical industry (this is because chemical engineers frequently reach management positions). Infact, in some universities, languages can also be taken which provide the chance to spend 6 months or a year abroad, carrying out research or studying at a non-English speaking university.
There are two different classifications of degree offered to chemical engineering students, the BEng and the MEng. The Meng will immediately allow you to enter into a graduate industrial position where as the Beng will only allow you to qualify once you have completed a further course via an industrial placement. If you are doing a master of engineering as an undergraduate degree, you will have to complete a research project in your 5th year (either in an industrial or university environment) Direct entry (going directly into 2nd year) to either of these degrees is usually offered by most universities providing you gain ~AAB in appropriate AHs.
The average age of becoming a chartered chemical engineer is 27, and this will allow you to apply for more senior positions and gain a considerable rise in your salary. Not only will a degree in chemical engineering allow you to become a chemical engineer, but also (because of its mathematical content) it will allow you to work in investment banking, accounting, finance, etc and if further training is taking, patent law, business. I’ve heard of some chemical engineers pursuing a career in medicine after gaining a degree in the subject. On a stranger note, a few chemical engineers have become astronauts (see the careers time-line in the first web-site I have mentioned).

It's great to hear from someone considering studying chemical engineering though, as, unfortunately, it's not really a very well publicised career option. However, it's apparently a very rewarding career (helping provide much needed medicines, combating global warming and producing new products - from chocolate bars to chemicals) and with chemical engineering salaries for graduates starting in the region of £20,000-£30,000 it is also financially rewarding (So it rivals that of medicine and dentistry without having to study for 5 or 6 years and then complete further training that you would have to complete to work in these areas).

Anyway, I hope that hasn't been overwhelming and you've found it helpful. If you have anything else you want to ask then feel free to do so - I'd be happy to help.

P.S. A couple of websites worth looking up are;

www.whynotchemeng.com (A general website about the subject)
www.icheme.org.uk (The website for the UK institute of chemical engineers)

[The Wedge Effect]

I'm doing MEng Chemical Engineering this year, at Strathclyde. I'll be seeing you in the lectures then, I hope.

[Bridget]

Me? I'm not going to Strathclyde, but I know 2 people who are. I went to a couple of the open days at Strathclyde, but in the end I was thinking more about going straight into 2nd year and very few people take that option there. But the course at Strathclyde did seem REALLY interesting and had great links with major companies (Exxon Mobil - to name one).
Plus, I forgot to mention, for those of you who have great academic records, there is loads of funding/ scholarships out there (especially if your a girl).

[dfx]

Btw, apparently there's a shortage of Chemical Engineers, so be fussy and picky about your benefits package once you get employed.

On a more realistic note, they are the best paid of all engineers.

[Paul]

Thanks for all the info Bridget! I am not doin Chemical Engineering, but found ur post very interestin to read!