phd chemical engineering salary uk

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Chemical Engineering PhD

• Full-time: 3 to 4 years
• Part-time: Not available
• Start date: Multiple available
• UK fees: £5,100
• International fees: £21,500 or £28,600 depending on the nature of your project

Research overview

Chemical engineering is the application of physical and life sciences, with mathematics to produce, transform, transport and effectively use chemicals, materials and energy.

Entry requirements

All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements below apply to 2024 entry.

Meeting our English language requirements

If you need support to meet the required level, you may be able to attend a presessional English course. Presessional courses teach you academic skills in addition to English language. Our  Centre for English Language Education is accredited by the British Council for the teaching of English in the UK.

If you successfully complete your presessional course to the required level, you can then progress to your degree course. This means that you won't need to retake IELTS or equivalent.

For on-campus presessional English courses, you must take IELTS for UKVI to meet visa regulations. For online presessional courses, see our CELE webpages for guidance.

Visa restrictions

International students must have valid UK immigration permissions for any courses or study period where teaching takes place in the UK. Student route visas can be issued for eligible students studying full-time courses. The University of Nottingham does not sponsor a student visa for students studying part-time courses. The Standard Visitor visa route is not appropriate in all cases. Please contact the university’s Visa and Immigration team if you need advice about your visa options.

We recognise that applicants have a variety of experiences and follow different pathways to postgraduate study.

We treat all applicants with alternative qualifications on an individual basis. We may also consider relevant work experience.

If you are unsure whether your qualifications or work experience are relevant, contact us .

Our step-by-step guide contains everything you need to know about applying for postgraduate research.

Additional information for international students

If you are a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland, you may be asked to complete a fee status questionnaire and your answers will be assessed using guidance issued by the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) .

These fees are for full-time study. If you are studying part-time, you will be charged a proportion of this fee each year (subject to inflation).

There are many ways to fund your research degree, from scholarships to government loans.

Check our guide to find out more about funding your postgraduate degree.

Researcher training and development

The Researcher Academy is the network for researchers, and staff who support them. We work together to promote a healthy research culture, to cultivate researcher excellence, and develop creative partnerships that enable researchers to flourish.

Postgraduate researchers at Nottingham have access to our online Members’ area, which includes a wealth of resources, access to training courses and award-winning postgraduate placements.

Graduate centres

Our graduate centres are dedicated community spaces on campus for postgraduates.

Each space has areas for:

• socialising
• computer work
• kitchen facilities

Student support

You will have access to a range of support services , including:

• academic and disability support
• childcare services
• counselling service
• faith support
• financial support
• mental health and wellbeing support
• visa and immigration advice
• welfare support

Students' Union

Our Students' Union represents all students. You can join the Postgraduate Students’ Network or contact the dedicated Postgraduate Officer .

There are also a range of support networks, including groups for:

• international students
• black and minority ethnic students
• students who identify as women
• students with disabilities
• LGBT+ students

SU Advice provides free, independent and confidential advice on issues such as accommodation, financial and academic difficulties.

Where you will learn

University park campus.

University Park Campus  covers 300 acres, with green spaces, wildlife, period buildings and modern facilities. It is one of the UK's most beautiful and sustainable campuses, winning a national Green Flag award every year since 2003.

Most schools and departments are based here. You will have access to libraries, shops, cafes, the Students’ Union, sports village and a health centre.

You can walk or cycle around campus. Free hopper buses connect you to our other campuses. Nottingham city centre is 15 minutes away by public bus or tram.

Whether you are considering a career in academia, industry or haven't yet decided, we’re here to support you every step of the way.

Expert staff will work with you to explore PhD career options and apply for vacancies, develop your interview skills and meet employers. You can book a one-to-one appointment, take an online course or attend a workshop.

International students who complete an eligible degree programme in the UK on a student visa can apply to stay and work in the UK after their course under the Graduate immigration route . Eligible courses at the University of Nottingham include bachelors, masters and research degrees, and PGCE courses.

Completing a research degree with us will ensure that you develop transferable skills that will be beneficial in a number of different careers. Graduates within the faculty have gone on to have successful careers as:

• researchers
• production managers and directors
• IT and telecommunication professionals
• business, research and administrative professionals
• science, engineering and production technicians
• natural and social science professionals
• teachers, lecturers and educators

92.6% of postgraduates from the School of Engineering Research secured graduate level employment or further study within 15 months of graduation. The average annual salary for these graduates was £33,689.*

*HESA Graduate Outcomes 2019/20 data published in 2022 . The Graduate Outcomes % is derived using The Guardian University Guide methodology. The average annual salary is based on data from graduates who completed a full-time postgraduate degree with home fee status and are working full-time within the UK.

Related courses

Environmental engineering phd, environmental sciences phd/mphil/mres, research excellence framework.

The University of Nottingham is ranked 7th in the UK for research power, according to analysis by Times Higher Education. The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is a national assessment of the quality of research in UK higher education institutions.

• 90%* of our research is classed as 'world-leading' (4*) or 'internationally excellent' (3*)
• 100%* of our research is recognised internationally
• 51% of our research is assessed as 'world-leading' (4*) for its impact**

*According to analysis by Times Higher Education ** According to our own analysis.

This content was last updated on 27 July 2023 . Every effort has been made to ensure that this information is accurate, but changes are likely to occur between the date of publishing and course start date. It is therefore very important to check this website for any updates before you apply.

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Chemical Engineering in United Kingdom

27  Chemical Engineering PhDs in United Kingdom

Chemical Engineering The School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at the Queen's University Belfast aims to promote... Queen's University Belfast Belfast, N Ireland, United Kingdom

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PhD/MPhil Chemical Engineering / Overview

Year of entry: 2024

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The standard academic entry requirement for this PhD is an upper second-class (2:1) honours degree in a discipline directly relevant to the PhD (or international equivalent) OR any upper-second class (2:1) honours degree and a Master’s degree at merit in a discipline directly relevant to the PhD (or international equivalent).

Other combinations of qualifications and research or work experience may also be considered. Please contact the admissions team to check.

Full entry requirements

Apply online

In your application you’ll need to include:

• The name of this programme
• Your research project title (i.e. the advertised project name or proposed project name) or area of research
• Your proposed supervisor’s name
• If you already have funding or you wish to be considered for any of the available funding
• A supporting statement (see 'Advice to Applicants' for what to include)
• Details of your previous university level study
• Names and contact details of your two referees.

Find out how this programme aligns to the UN Sustainable Development Goals , including learning which relates to:

Goal 3: Good health and well-being

Goal 7: affordable and clean energy, goal 9: industry, innovation and infrastructure, goal 12: responsible consumption and production, goal 14: life below water, programme options.

Programme description

The Department of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science is a world leader in industrially relevant research and teaching in chemical engineering and related subjects.

We undertake leading-edge multidisciplinary, creative and relevant research on a wide range of topics. Focused on advancing the science and engineering of complex systems and addressing different scales and levels of complexity, the research in the Department is carried out within seven research themes :

• Advanced functional materials and analytical science
• Biochemical and bioprocess engineering
• Catalysis and porous materials
• Multi-scale modelling
• Process integration
• Subsurface energy systems
• Sustainable industrial systems

Our breadth of research expertise and highly advanced facilities make us an ideal choice whatever your doctoral interest.

Facilitating research across chemical engineering and bioscience, chemistry, mathematics and analytical and measurement science, means we can offer you the benefits of a large multidisciplinary institution at the same time as ensuring you are given personal support for your professional development.

Explore the range of research projects we offer, as well as the development and network opportunities you can expect as one of our postgraduates.

For entry in the academic year beginning September 2024, the tuition fees are as follows:

• PhD (full-time) UK students (per annum): Band A £4,786; Band B £7,000; Band C £10,000; Band D £14,500; Band E £24,500 International, including EU, students (per annum): Band A £28,000; Band B £30,000; Band C £35,500; Band D £43,000; Band E £57,000
• PhD (part-time) UK students (per annum): Band A £2393; Band B £3,500; Band C £5,000; Band D £7,250; Band E 12,250 International, including EU, students (per annum): Band A £14,000; Band B £15,000; Band C £17,750; Band D £21,500; Band E £28,500

Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.

The programme fee will vary depending on the cost of running the project. Fees quoted are fully inclusive and, therefore, you will not be required to pay any additional bench fees or administration costs.

All fees for entry will be subject to yearly review and incremental rises per annum are also likely over the duration of the course for Home students (fees are typically fixed for International students, for the course duration at the year of entry). For general fees information please visit the postgraduate fees page .

Always contact the Admissions team if you are unsure which fees apply to your project.

Scholarships/sponsorships

There are a range of scholarships, studentships and awards at university, faculty and department level to support both UK and overseas postgraduate researchers.

To be considered for many of our scholarships, you’ll need to be nominated by your proposed supervisor. Therefore, we’d highly recommend you discuss potential sources of funding with your supervisor first, so they can advise on your suitability and make sure you meet nomination deadlines.

For more information about our scholarships, visit our funding page or use our funding database to search for scholarships, studentships and awards you may be eligible for.

UN Sustainable Development Goals

The 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the world's call to action on the most pressing challenges facing humanity. At The University of Manchester, we address the SDGs through our research and particularly in partnership with our students.

Led by our innovative research, our teaching ensures that all our graduates are empowered, inspired and equipped to address the key socio-political and environmental challenges facing the world.

To illustrate how our teaching will empower you as a change maker, we've highlighted the key SDGs that our programmes address.

Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation

Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

Contact details

The School of Engineering creates a world of possibilities for students pursuing skills and understanding. Through dynamic research and teaching we develop engineering solutions that make a difference to society in an ethical and sustainable way.  Science-based engineering is at the heart of what we do, and through collaboration we support the engineers and scientists of tomorrow to become technically strong, analytically innovative and creative. Find out more about Science and Engineering at Manchester .

Programmes in related subject areas

Use the links below to view lists of programmes in related subject areas.

• Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science

Regulated by the Office for Students

The University of Manchester is regulated by the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS aims to help students succeed in Higher Education by ensuring they receive excellent information and guidance, get high quality education that prepares them for the future and by protecting their interests. More information can be found at the OfS website .

You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of Manchester, including our Degree Regulations and Complaints Procedure, on our regulations website .

We have 361 Chemical Engineering PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships in the UK

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Chemical Engineering PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships in the UK

Phd studentship in solar chemical technologies, phd research project.

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

This project has funding attached, subject to eligibility criteria. Applications for the project are welcome from all suitably qualified candidates, but its funding may be restricted to a limited set of nationalities. You should check the project and department details for more information.

GIF CDT: Design and optimization of an adsorption-based CO2 capture shipboard process

Gid cdt: advanced instrumentation for carbon capture materials characterisation - competitive adsorption processes, gif cdt: a novel gas/liquid contactor for direct air capture and industrial co2 capture technologies, gif cdt: integrative systems of carbon removal technologies and green hydrogen scale up and standardisation, gif cdt: fundamental combustion chemistry of hydrogen/ammonia/nitrogen fuel blends, gif cdt: future proof energy and materials feedstock resilience for sustainable aviation fuels supply chain (safsc), gif cdt: post-combustion co2 capture solvents: addressing the knowledge gap with long-term testing, gif cdt: cfd modelling of hydrogen and blends combustion and emissions, gif cdt: impact of sustainable aviation fuels on local environment and contrails, novel approaches for cleaning up radionuclide nanoparticle pollutants in the environment, funded phd project (uk students only).

This research project has funding attached. It is only available to UK citizens or those who have been resident in the UK for a period of 3 years or more. Some projects, which are funded by charities or by the universities themselves may have more stringent restrictions.

PhD Studentship - Process Industries: Net Zero Towards Net Zero by optimising thermal energy recovery and management in the waste-water sector

Phd project: sustainable production of chemicals and aviation fuels, phd project: integration of direct air capture into industrial clusters and renewable energy systems, phd project: hydrogen and carbon dioxide storage and transport for net-zero industrial clusters.

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PhD programme in Chemical Engineering

The PhD in Chemical Engineering is a three to four-year research degree which may be undertaken in one of the Department's  research themes ,  academic research groups and/or research centres and institutes .

PhD programme information

Applications.

In order to be considered for a PhD in our Department,

you will need to submit your PhD application for admission through the online admissions system . The programme title is 'Chemical Engineering (PhD)'. Your application form must include:

• Full transcripts of your university studies to date.
• A personal statement to support your application, which should outline your research interest and experience.
• A copy of your English Language certificate if applicable. You must meet the College’s English language requiremen t at the higher level.
• The contact details of two referees , at least one of whom must be an academic referee, for example your project supervisor or personal tutor.

Financial support and scholarships

Chemical engineering phd scholarships and dtp studentships.

Unless you state specifically in your application that you have already secured funding and do not wish to be considered for any of the College scholarships, you will automatically be considered for the  Chemical Engineering PhD Scholarships and any other College-administered scholarships for which you may be eligible.

In addition, there is a limited number of EPSRC-funded Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTPs) available. These are allocated during the selection process for the Chemical Engineering PhD Scholarships to suitable candidates who fulfil the eligibility criteria set out by EPSRC . Most of these are expected to be allocated in the April round each year.

Funding offered by Academics

Some funding is project specific and therefore linked to specific supervisors. These are usually advertised on our opportunities page ,  jobs.ac.uk or FindAPhD . You do not need to submit several applications in order to be considered for various projects. If appropriate, you may want to submit a revised personal statement. Once you have submitted an online application, you can be considered for any suitable projects, providing you meet our entry requirements.

Unsuccessful applications for PhD Scholarships that meet our entry requirements for PhD registration can be made available to potential supervisors, in case anyone has suitable funding. Please note that not all these opportunities are advertised, as sometimes suitable candidates can be identified from the pool of existing candidates.

Research areas

The Department adopts an interdisciplinary approach to research, with interests ranging from fundamentals to practical applications.  The research activities of the Department fall into at least one of the following nine research themes :

• Biomedical engineering and industrial biotechnology
• Energy and environmental engineering
• Multiphase transport processes
• Multi-scale computational chemical engineering
• Multi-scale thermodynamics and molecular systems
• Reaction engineering and applied catalysis
• Separations
• Soft matter engineering

Find out more on the research themes page .

Further information

The teaching and research laboratories are exceptionally well equipped and fully backed by comprehensive technical services. First-class computing facilities are provided.

Employment prospects

Our graduates quickly go on to jobs including industry, academic and related, consulting, finance, software and many other sectors.

Supervision

Each PhD student has both a supervisor and an cohort mentor of the academic staff. In addition, each PhD student is allocated an assessor who will carefully monitor the progress at various stages during the PhD.

Chemical Engineering MPhil/PhD

London, Bloomsbury

Chemical engineering research integrated with basic science offers great potential for bringing essential understanding and innovative technological solutions to the challenges of the future. To this end, we collaborate widely with various academic and industrial research groups and are partners in the Sargent Centre for Process Systems Engineering, UCL CoMPLEX and the UCL Materials Chemistry Centre.

UK tuition fees (2024/25)

Overseas tuition fees (2024/25), programme starts, applications accepted.

• Entry requirements

A UK Master’s degree in a relevant discipline with Merit or above; or an MEng degree from a UK university with an upper second-class or above; or an overseas qualification of equivalent standard.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 1

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

If you are intending to apply for a time-limited visa to complete your UCL studies (e.g., Student visa, Skilled worker visa, PBS dependant visa etc.) you may be required to obtain ATAS clearance . This will be confirmed to you if you obtain an offer of a place. Please note that ATAS processing times can take up to six months, so we recommend you consider these timelines when submitting your application to UCL.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website .

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

Research is a core activity in the department, and it covers a broad range of scales from the molecular to the complex systems level. Our work is organised in five research groups: Catalysis & Reaction Engineering, Electrochemical Engineering, Molecular & Engineering Thermodynamics, Multiphase Systems and Product & Process Systems Engineering, addressing challenges in three research areas: Energy & CO2, Sustainable Advanced Manufacturing and Health & Environment.

Who this course is for

Our MPhil/PhD programme appeals to students from a wide spectrum of disciplines including, health, energy, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, bioengineering and more who wish to develop cutting-edge solutions to grand challenges.

What this course will give you

Our PhD programme involves a wide range of challenging and innovative engineering problems in tandem with the opportunity to be supervised and mentored by world-leading academics. Many of our PhD students are involved in industry-led projects acquiring a diverse set of analytical, business and problem-solving skills.    We offer exceptionally well-equipped research laboratories across our campuses in Bloomsbury and UCL East in Stratford, fully backed up by technical services. World-class computing facilities are also available for those involved in computational studies.     Graduates from our PhD programme have an outstanding track-record of securing competitive positions in industry, academia, consulting, finance as well as founding their own successful start-up companies. 

The foundation of your career

Chemical engineering offers great potential for bringing quantitative understanding to the service of the chemical industry. Chemical industry alone is one of the UK's largest manufacturing industries and number one exporter. The skills achieved by our students not only make them employable in the major chemical, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, food and energy industries, but are also transferable to other sectors including environmental technology, biotechnology and even management and finance. Our graduates have been employed in major industries such as GSK, Unilever, Procter and Gamble, Shell, Amec, Tate & Lyle Sugar, as well as continuing successfully in academia.

Employability

Recent graduates have secured positions in a wide range of industries, from engineering to finance. Examples of organisations include: Shell UK Exploration and Production, AMEC, Petrofac, Sun Chemicals, M W Kellogg, Procter and Gamble, Barclays Bank, UBS and HSBC. Many of our graduates who chose an academic career pathway hold academic posts in world-leading universities.

Extensive networking opportunities are provided through our weekly international departmental seminar series where eminent and worldwide experts from academia and industry talk about their research and development and new cutting-edge applications. The department has strong links with the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) and the Royal Academy of Engineering as well as other learned societies via the breadth of research undertaken in the department. In addition, career development seminars are embedded in the teaching curriculum and provide the students with an opportunity to learn more about the process and network with their peers as well as invited guests.

Teaching and learning

Apart from your primary supervisor you will be assigned a secondary one who you will meet regularly. As part of your degree you will participate in training courses from the UCL doctoral school, attend departmental seminars and related activities in the department. 

Students of the programme are initially registered for the MPhil degree with the expectation to pass the upgrade viva and transfer to PhD within the first 18 months from their initial enrolment. For the successful upgrade from MPhil to PhD candidates are required to prepare a written report and pass an oral examination focusing on their preliminary findings and future plans.    For the award of a PhD, candidates will be examined on their final research thesis and have a viva with two independent examiners. 

Research students’ attendance is not formally monitored; however, it is expected that their research time mirrors that of staff engagement as closely as possible. It is therefore recommended that full-time research equates roughly to 36.5 hours per week; this should be pro-rata to whatever part-time-equivalent has been agreed, but not normally less than 50% the full-time-equivalent (FTE). If a student has external funding, they should also ensure they meet the Terms & Conditions of their funder in this regard.

Research areas and structure

• Catalysis & Reaction Engineering
• Electrochemical Engineering
• Molecular & Engineering Thermodynamics
• Multiphase Systems
• Product & Process Systems Engineering

Within these areas, research expertise includes:

• Catalysis, photo catalysis and electro catalysis
• Cement chemistry and processing
• CFD modelling of multiphase flows
• Computational catalysis
• Data mining and visualisation
• Electrochemical engineering
• Fracture mechanics
• Fuel cells and batteries
• Functional materials
• Kinetic modelling
• Micro reaction technology
• Molten salts
• Particle technology (crystallisation and fluidisation)
• System modelling and optimisation
• Statistical modelling
• Thermodynamic modelling
• Two phase flow
• X-ray, micro PIV

Research environment

Through our research, we aim to create pioneering breakthroughs in science and technology and seek solutions to Grand Challenges (such as energy, reducing carbon dioxide emissions, materials, sustainable manufacturing, health and environment), based on significant advances in fundamental knowledge. To this end, we collaborate widely with other departments in UCL Engineering, Chemistry and beyond, as well as various academic and industrial research groups. 

In the latest Research Evaluation Framework (REF 2021), 97% of our submissions rated as either “world leading” (4*) or “internationally excellent” in the Engineering Unit of Assessment at UCL.

The UCL Department of Chemical Engineering has access to a range of state-of-the-art facilities and equipment used for multidisciplinary research, including within our:

• Bio-Energy Technology Research Laboratory 
• Materials and Catalysis Laboratory (MCL)
• Multiphase Labs
• Fluidization and Advanced Imaging Laboratory 
• Solar Energy & Advanced Materials (SEAM) Labs
• Crystallisation and Nanoparticle Labs
• Adaptive and Responsive Nanomaterials Labs
• Centre for Correlative X-ray Microscopy
• Nature Inspired Chemical Engineering Labs

Details about these labs and their equipment are available on our chemical engineering research website .

The length of registration for the research degree programme is 3 years for full-time and 5 years for part-time.

Within three months of joining the programme, you are expected to agree with your supervisor the basic structure of your research project, an appropriate research methodology and a realistic plan of work. You will produce and submit a detailed outline of your proposed research to your supervisor for their comments and feedback.

In your second year you will be expected to upgrade from an MPhil to a PhD. To successfully upgrade to a PhD, you are required to prepare a written report and pass an oral examination focusing on their preliminary findings and future plans. 

Upon successful completion of your approved period of registration you may register as a completing research student (CRS) while you write up your thesis. 

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk . Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing team .

Fees and funding

Fees for this course.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees .

Additional costs

The programme may be subject to an Additional Fee Element (AFE). The AFE (also known as a bench fees) is levied to cover the additional costs related to consumables, equipment, materials, attending conferences etc. As each PhD project is unique in nature, the AFE is calculated on a student by student basis and is determined by the academic supervisor. The AFE is banded into four fixed amounts: £1,000, £2,500, £5,000, £10,000 with one further band for variable sums over £10,000.

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at  Accommodation and living costs .

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs .

Funding your studies

The department receives Research Council awards for outstanding research students. Information concerning current studentships available can be found on the chemical engineering departmental website .There are a number of funding opportunities throughout the year. For instance, we offer the H. Walter Stern Scholarship . There are UCL Research Scholarships (GRS and ORS) available each year. There is also the Dean's Prize , which supports overseas fee-paying students who have won a competitive scholarship to cover their stipend, by waiving the international fees.

Eligible students may apply for a UCL EPSRC DTP award, such as the DTP Open Doctoral Studentships Competition or the Interdisciplinary DTP scheme.

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website .

CSC-UCL Joint Research Scholarship

Value: Fees, maintenance and travel (Duration of programme) Criteria Based on academic merit Eligibility: EU, Overseas

UCL Research Opportunity Scholarship (ROS)

Deadline: 12 January 2024 Value: UK rate fees, a maintenance stipend, conference costs and professional development package (3 years) Criteria Based on both academic merit and financial need Eligibility: UK

Deadlines and start dates are usually dictated by funding arrangements so check with the department or academic unit to see if you need to consider these in your application preparation. In most cases you should identify and contact potential supervisors before making your application. For more information see our How to apply page.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2024-2025

Got questions get in touch.

Chemical Engineering

[email protected]

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Chemical Engineering MPhil, PhD

You'll have the opportunity to work on multidisciplinary research projects in collaboration with colleagues across the University or from external organisations.

You are currently viewing course information for entry year:

Start date(s):

• September 2024
• January 2025

Our MPhil and PhD in Chemical Engineering attract a diverse range of students. These are usually from disciplinary backgrounds such as:

• electrical engineering

Our research

Research in the department of Chemical Engineering is cross-disciplinary. Our strategy centres on investigating novel processes, materials, and concepts that can deliver transformational routes for a sustainable and circular economic framework.

We work in a range of sectors that include:

We investigate solutions for relevant health, environmental and material problems.

Advanced materials

Every article, instrument, machine or device we use depends on its success upon:

• effective production

We work on a wide range of materials topics including:

• new material development
• optimising of materials processing
• testing and evaluation at component scale and at high spatial resolution
• failure analysis

Much of our work relates to materials and processes for:

• renewable energy generation
• energy efficiency
• carbon capture

We also use biological and bio-inspired processes to develop new functional materials.

Process intensification

Process intensification is the philosophy that processes can often be made smaller, more efficient and safer using new process technologies and techniques, resulting in order of magnitude reductions in the size of process equipment. This leads to substantial capital cost savings and often a reduction in running costs.

Find out more about our chemical engineering research

Important information

We've highlighted important information about your course. Please take note of any deadlines.

Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.

View our  Academic experience page , which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2023-24.

See our  terms and conditions and student complaints information , which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.

Related courses

Qualifications explained.

Find out about the different qualification options for this course.

An MPhil is available in all subject areas. You receive research training and undertake original research leading to the completion of a 40,000 - 50,000 word thesis.

Find out about different types of postgraduate qualifications .

A PhD is a doctorate or doctoral award. It involves original research that should make a significant contribution to the knowledge of a specific subject. To complete the PhD you will produce a substantial piece of work (80,000 – 100,000 words) in the form of a supervised thesis. A PhD usually takes three years full time.

Find out about different types of postgraduate qualifications

How you'll learn

Off-campus study may be available in some circumstances, particularly if you have industrial sponsorship. Our programme includes:

• intensive subject-specific supervision
• training in research methodologies and core skills

You may also have an opportunity to undertake:

• paid laboratory demonstrations 
• tutoring to gain teaching experience

Depending on your modules, you'll be assessed through a combination of:

We offer a wide range of projects for the thesis. These will either be provided by our academics, or you can propose your own topic.

Our mission is to help you:

• stay healthy, positive and feeling well
• overcome any challenges you may face during your degree – academic or personal
• get the most out of your postgraduate research experience
• carry out admin and activities essential to progressing through your degree
• understand postgraduate research processes, standards and rules

We can offer you tailored wellbeing support, courses and activities.

You can also access a broad range of workshops covering:

• research and professional skills
• careers support
• health and safety
• public engagement
• academic development

Find out more about our postgraduate research student support

The following subject group pages outline our specialist research areas:

• Advanced Materials and Electrochemical Engineering
• Materials, Concepts and Reaction Engineering
• Process Intensification

 You'll be able to:

• explore possible research programmes
• find out more about staff working in these research areas
• identify a potential research supervisor

Your development

Working with industry.

Industrial involvement is a part of some PhDs and covers a wide range of activities such as:

• food processing
• water treatment systems
• process intensification technology
• solvent extraction
• polymer reactors
• process modelling and control
• design of electrochemical reactors and fuel cells
• clean technology

Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering (SAgE) researcher development programme 

Each faculty offers a researcher development programme for its postgraduate research students. We have designed your programme to help you:

• perform better as a researcher
• boost your career prospects
• broaden your impact

Through workshops and activities, it will build your transferable skills and increase your confidence.

You’ll cover:

• techniques for effective research
• methods for better collaborative working
• essential professional standards and requirements

Your programme is flexible. You can adapt it to meet your changing needs as you progress through your doctorate.

Find out more about the SAgE researcher development programme

Doctoral training and partnerships

There are opportunities to undertake your PhD at Newcastle within a:

• Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT)
• Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP)

Being part of a CDT or DTP has many benefits:

• they combine research expertise and training of a number of leading universities, academic schools and academics.
• you’ll study alongside a cohort of other PhD students
• they’re often interdisciplinary
• your PhD may be funded

Find out more about doctoral training and partnerships

If there are currently opportunities available in your subject area you’ll find them when you search for funding in the fees and funding section on this course.

The following centres/partnerships below may have PhD opportunities available in your subject area in the future:

• IAPETUS2 Doctoral Training Partnership
• EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Renewable Energy Northeast Universities (ReNU)

Your future

Our careers service.

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.

Visit our Careers Service website

Quality and ranking

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body

From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Check the government’s website for more information .

The School of Engineering has a wide range of chemical engineering facilities for teaching and research. These include:

• bioprocessing laboratory
• Centre for Process Innovation
• ExxonMobil Design Suite
• Hiden Catlab
• electron microscopy
• X-ray powder diffraction
• chemical analysis laboratory

Fees and funding

Tuition fees for 2024 entry (per year).

We are unable to give an exact fee, this is why the fee is shown as a range. This fee range takes into account your research topic and resource requirements.

Your research topic is unique so it will have unique resource requirements. Resources could include specialist equipment, such as laboratory/workshop access, or technical staff.

If your research involves accessing specialist resources then you're likely to pay a higher fee. You'll discuss the exact nature of your research project with your supervisor(s). You'll find out the fee in your offer letter.

Home fees for research degree students

For 2024-25 entry, we have aligned our standard Home research fees with those set by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) . The standard fee was confirmed in Spring 2024 by UKRI.

If your studies last longer than one year, your tuition fee may increase in line with inflation.

Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.

EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support.

If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here .

Scholarships

We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See  our   searchable postgraduate funding page  for more information.  

What you're paying for

Tuition fees include the costs of:

• matriculation
• registration
• tuition (or supervision)
• library access
• examination
• re-examination

Find out more about:

• living costs
• tuition fees

If you are an international student or a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you need a visa to study in the UK, you may have to pay a deposit.

You can check this in the How to apply section .

If you're applying for funding, always check the funding application deadline. This deadline may be earlier than the application deadline for your course.

For some funding schemes, you need to have received an offer of a place on a course before you can apply for the funding.

Search for funding

Find funding available for your course

Entry requirements

The entrance requirements below apply to 2024 entry.

Qualifications from outside the UK

English language requirements, admissions policy.

This policy applies to all undergraduate and postgraduate admissions at Newcastle University. It is intended to provide information about our admissions policies and procedures to applicants and potential applicants, to their advisors and family members, and to staff of the University.

Download our admissions policy (PDF: 201KB) Other policies related to admissions

Credit transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can allow you to convert existing relevant university-level knowledge, skills and experience into credits towards a qualification. Find out more about the RPL policy which may apply to this course

• How to apply

Using the application portal

The application portal has instructions to guide you through your application. It will tell you what documents you need and how to upload them.

You can choose to start your application, save your details and come back to complete it later.

If you’re ready, you can select Apply Online and you’ll be taken directly to the application portal.

Alternatively you can find out more about applying on our applications and offers pages .

Open days and events

You'll have a number of opportunities to meet us throughout the year including:

• campus tours
• on-campus open days
• virtual open days

Find out about how you can visit Newcastle in person and virtually

Overseas events

We regularly travel overseas to meet with students interested in studying at Newcastle University.

Visit our events calendar for the latest events

• Get in touch

Questions about this course?

If you have specific questions about this course you can contact:

Postgraduate Research Administrator School of Engineering Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 7340 Email:  [email protected]  

For more general enquiries you could also complete our online enquiry form.

Fill in our enquiry form

Our Ncl chatbot might be able to give you an answer straight away. If not, it’ll direct you to someone who can help.

You'll find our Ncl chatbot in the bottom right of this page.

Keep updated

We regularly send email updates and extra information about the University.

Receive regular updates by email

Chat to a student

Chat online with current students with our Unibuddy platform.

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• How You'll Learn
• Your Development
• Quality and Ranking
• Fees and Funding
• Entry Requirements
• Open days & events

• Log in
• Site search

Chemical engineer

Chemical engineers develop raw materials into a range of useful products. A career in the field will see you creating petrochemicals, medicine and plastics

As a chemical engineer, you'll be involved in the design and development of a range of products. Your work will focus on changing the chemical, biochemical and physical state of a substance to turn it into something else, such as making plastic from oil.

You'll need to understand how to alter raw materials into required products, while taking into consideration health and safety and cost issues.

You can work in a variety of industries including:

• food and drink
• oil and gas
• pharmaceuticals
• water treatment.

Modern chemical engineering is also concerned with pioneering valuable new materials and techniques, such as nanotechnology, fuel cells and biomedical engineering.

Responsibilities

Your daily activities will be extremely diverse and largely depend on the role and the sector in which you work. However, you'll generally need to:

• work closely with process chemists and control engineers to ensure the process plant is set up to provide maximum output levels and efficient running of the production facility
• design plant and equipment configuration so that they can be readily adapted to suit the product range and the process technologies involved, taking environmental and economic aspects into account
• set up scale-up and scale-down processes, including making appropriate changes, to equipment design and configuration
• assess options for plant expansion or reconfiguration by developing and testing process simulation models
• design, install and commission new production plants, including monitoring developments and troubleshooting
• optimise production by analysing processes and compiling debottleneck studies
• apply new technologies
• research new products from trial through to commercialisation and improve product lines
• ensure that potential safety issues related to the project operator, the environment, the process and the product are considered at all stages.

Examples of work activities in specific sectors include:

• undertaking small and intermediate-scale manufacturing and packaging activities in pharmaceutical product development for clinical trial purposes
• developing new methods of safe nuclear energy production, including projects such as conceptual design, simulation and construction of test rigs, and detailed design and operations support.
• According to a recent salary survey by the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE), graduates earn a median salary of around £28,600.
• The median salary for chemical engineers under 25 in the early stage of their careers is about £30,000, rising to a median salary of £54,000 for more experienced engineers.
• Salaries for chartered chemical engineers can be significantly higher. For example, the median salary for chartered engineers with an undergraduate degree is around £78,500. Work in certain industries, for example the finance, insurance and risk sector, or oil and contracting, can attract higher salaries.

Salaries vary according to a range of factors, such as your location - salaries for those working in London and the South East are typically higher than elsewhere. Other factors influencing salary levels include the sector you work in, the size and the nature of the industry, and whether you have chartered status.

Income data from the annual IChemE Salary survey . Figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours

Working hours are typically 9am to 5pm, possibly with some extra hours. Jobs in processing and manufacturing may involve shift work, including evenings and weekends.

What to expect

• Work may take place in a lab, office or processing plant. Development work may progress from lab to plant or construction site.
• Safety is a high priority in chemical and nuclear-based industries, and hygiene is critical in food and drink production and water treatment. In certain circumstances, you'll need to wear safety or protective clothing.
• Jobs are widely available and process plants are located in industrial areas throughout the UK and overseas.
• Travel and overseas work depend on the sector and profile of the employing company. With many UK-based chemical companies, travel and overseas postings are only occasionally necessary, while overseas projects may be the norm if you work for a global manufacturer or consultancy.
• Men and women in the early career category earn the same amount, but the gap widens from age 25 onwards. The largest gap is in the 45 to 49 age band, where women earn £27,500 less than their male counterparts.

Qualifications

You'll need a degree in chemical, process or biochemical engineering to become a chemical engineer. To gain chartered engineer status as your career develops, your degree should be accredited by the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE).

Chartered engineers (CEng) are registered with the Engineering Council, the UK regulatory body for the engineering profession. To become chartered, you'll need to have studied at Masters level, either completing a four-year (five years in Scotland) accredited integrated MEng or an accredited BEng followed by further learning to Masters level or an accredited Masters or engineering doctorate (EngD).

Search the list of IChemE accredited degree courses .

Once you've completed appropriate industrial experience and professional development, you'll then be able to apply to become chartered. When you apply for CEng registration, you can apply for chartered member status of the IChemE (MIChemE) at the same time.

The following degree subjects may be particularly relevant:

• applied chemistry
• biochemical/process engineering
• biomedical engineering
• environmental engineering
• nuclear engineering
• polymer science/technology.

Several employers may accept an HND or foundation degree in the physical or applied sciences, although you might work at a lower level to begin with. You'll need to complete further qualifications if you wish to become chartered.

A number of employers and professional organisations offer financial sponsorship for students studying chemical engineering at university. Companies typically advertise sponsorship schemes on their websites.

For more information on getting into chemical engineering, see whynotchemeng .

You'll need to have:

• an understanding of engineering principles and mathematics
• project management skills
• resource management skills
• oral and written communication skills
• analytical and problem-solving ability
• the ability to work as part of a team
• the capacity to motivate and lead a team
• strong IT skills
• a careful and methodical approach with good attention to detail
• commercial and business awareness
• creativity and innovation.

Work experience

Employers look for graduates with relevant work experience and may favour recruiting candidates from their own work placement schemes. These are generally vacation placements, typically lasting six to twelve weeks, or extended placements, which vary in length from six months to a year. This type of placement can offer the opportunity to work on a more extensive project in industry.

Undertaking a period of work experience will give you the opportunity to put into practice what you're learning on your course, learn about different areas of operation, manage small projects, develop soft skills in areas such as communication and problem solving, and build up a network of contacts.

Some chemical engineering degree courses include a year out in industry. Many university departments offer help in securing an industrial placement.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Any company involved in large-scale conversion of raw materials into a product needs chemical engineers.

Employers are as diverse as the products they produce and cover a range of industrial sectors, including:

• biotechnology
• business, management and consultancy
• chemical and allied products
• process plants and equipment

There are also opportunities at companies that design and manufacture chemical process plants and equipment, although this may require mechanical engineering knowledge.

You could also work at engineering consultancy and contracting firms. In these roles, you're likely to design and commission a new plant or modify an existing one.

Look for job vacancies at:

• The Chemical Engineer Jobs - published by IChemE
• Engineering & Technology Jobs
• Fish4Jobs Engineering
• New Scientist Jobs
• Oil and Gas Job Search

Specialist recruitment agencies such as NES Global Talent and SRG also advertise vacancies.

Professional development

Many companies offer internal training schemes for graduates to make sure they get the broad spectrum of experience needed to develop a career as a professional engineer. The IChemE benchmarks many of these schemes, known as Accredited company training schemes (ACTS) . This means that the scheme, if followed correctly, should ensure each graduate becomes a well-rounded and competent professional engineer.

An ACTS will also go towards fulfilling the application requirements for becoming a chartered chemical engineer and member of IChemE (CEng MIChemE). As you work towards chartership, you can usually expect your employer to provide a mentor and to supplement your regular development training with relevant technical training for specific projects.

You'll need to provide evidence that you have the relevant professional experience for getting chartered status and have completed enough continuing professional development (CPD).

Once you've obtained CEng status, you'll need to continue to maintain your CPD throughout your career. The IChemE runs a variety of training events. These include:

• conferences
• short courses
• digital training resources
• e-learning modules and courses.

For information on the sort of activities you can undertake, see IChemE CPD .

Career prospects

Career development is usually dependent on achieving chartered status. The dynamic nature of the industry means you can expect to be offered significant CPD opportunities in order to develop new knowledge.

The nature of the work provides you with a variety of skills and enables you to handle a range of technical, environmental and commercial challenges. This allows for promotion to senior management more quickly than is possible in some other sectors.

Initially, you'll gain experience from a variety of projects, either within the same company or, after gaining chartership, by changing companies. After training in the early years, there are various possible career routes available. For example, you can:

• continue working on projects in order to become a project manager
• develop expertise in a new technique or process in demand within the industry and move into research and development
• move into specialist roles, such as safety and risk management or environmental management
• move into commercial areas, such as technical sales, marketing, supply chain management, personnel, finance and IT.

Many of the larger manufacturers and consultancies offer roles that involve travel or that are located overseas.

Once you've reached a senior position, you'll have the opportunity to shape the technical leadership and direction of the business. In some cases, there will be opportunities to sit on the board of directors.

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All things Chemical Engineering!

What's a realistic starting salary for a PhD in industry

I'm about to start a PhD in ChemE next month after receiving a Master's last December. This process is going to take somewhere between 3-5 years. The MS is going to knock off the coursework requirements for me, but I'm starting my research from scratch

I like R&D and I'd love to do that as a career for the rest of my life. That's why I'm doing a PhD. That being said, I'm not particularly good at it. I'd say I'm average at best.

I was solely focused on getting this PhD until last week, when I received an offer for a color technologists position at a petrochemical company.

This position pays 89K at ver low COL area with very good benefits. In comparison to the 32k PhD stipend in New York city, this is a lot of money.

This had me thinking. I just turned 25, I paid off my loans before going back to school (0 net savings). However, I'm not sure I'm making the best decision for my career anymore.

To summarize my dilemma, I'm not sure I'd be getting this after finishing the PhD. This is especially true if I do a postdoc after but I'm not really interested in that.

The field that I'm getting into is electrocatalysis and battery research. The salaries people list online on glassdoor seem highly suspicious ( +150 K starting?).

If someone from industry could please share their start starting salary I'd really appreciate it!

Bouns question:

What set of skills do you look for in a PhD application?

Graduate Studies in Chemical Engineering

Join our growing program and reach your goals!

The University of Kentucky offers a rich graduate program in chemical engineering that allows students to immerse themselves in novel research projects across many fields. Reasons you should consider UK include:

• A highly collaborative cross-disciplinary research atmosphere with the Colleges of Medicine, Pharmacy, Arts & Sciences and Agriculture, Food and Environment—all within a 10-minute walk of each other.
• The department also conducts research through the Center for Applied Energy Research, a nationally recognized leader in renewable energy solutions, as well as the Center of Membrane Sciences, UK Superfund Research Center, Center for Pharmaceutical Research and Innovation, Center for Clinical and Translational Science and the Markey Cancer Center.

Apply for Admission Today!

Graduate Program Snapshot

PhD graduate students who receive full funding, including tuition, health insurance, and a competitive stipend

Enrolled graduate students

Women and/or underrepresented minority PhD students

Students who receive additional competitive internships, fellowships or scholarships

Career Paths

Our graduates succeed in a wide variety of career paths:

Academia and National Labs Alumni have went on to have independent careers at University of Alabama, Vanderbilt University, University of Rhode Island, University of Michigan-Dearborn and Batelle and Oak Ridge National Lab to name a few.

Industry Alumni have joined numerous fields and industries. A few examples include stating their own companies, joining the pharmaceutical industry at Moderna, GSK and Abbvie, joining the chemical industry at Johnson and Johnson, Ashland Chemical, and Thermo Fisher or even joining the bourbon industry at Buffalo Trace.

In addition to all of the options, chemical engineers have traditionally ranked at or near the top of starting salaries among all of the engineering professions!

Program Requirements

Most students take 12 courses in our PhD curriculum. To build and improve our student’s communication skills, all students serve as teaching assistants for one semester. Students also take a preliminary exam in the first year. The exam is meant to assess student progress and provide guidance for the development of their proposal. The students present their proposal to a committee of four to five faculty members in year two. To complete the program, students submit dissertations and take final oral examinations.  For more details, please see the current chemical engineering graduate student handbook .

Research Areas

Advanced Materials: Polymers and Composites

Biotechnology & Bionanotechology

Sustainable Engineering

Modeling & Simulation

Separations and Purification

Success in Engineering

View Our List of Researchers

Lexington is a great place to live

We are the Horse Capital of the World. Lexington has over 100 parks and a lively atmosphere for all kinds of lifestyles. The city also has four distinct seasons allowing you to enjoy a variety of outdoor activities.

• #33 Best Place to Live in the US – U.S. News & World Report
• #19 Cheapest places to live - U.S. News & World Report

Collaborative Environment

Students and faculty commonly collaborate on projects. We share resources and expertise to help everyone accomplish their projects. Some groups even have joint group meetings to establish an open environment.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

We aim to create diversity, provide equitable opportunities, and develop an inclusive environment within our department.

The safety of all our students and staff is a top priority. We provide safety training regarding best practices in the research setting. We also prioritize safety as it pertains to the whole person, which includes both physical safety and mental health.

Meghan Herschelman [email protected]

Doctorate (PhD), Chemical Engineering Degree

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