Education
Chemical Engineers make a tangible and beneficial difference to the world in which we live. The quality of our output is dependent upon a sound education in Chemical Engineering, but also on continuous professional development.
Chemical Engineering
Studying Chemical Engineering at university is a fantastic experience and a Chemical Engineering degree is a very practical and personally-rewarding qualification.
According to the IChemE, Chemical Engineers are amongst the highest-paid following graduation and have salaries comparable with other professions such as accountants, lawyers and doctors.
In the UK, US and further afield, there are a number of excellent universities (colleges) where high standards of Chemical Engineering teaching and research are widely-recognised. Whether you want to study for a Bachelors or Masters degree, we recommend you spend a decent amount of time researching your options.
Below you'll find the current rankings of UK and US universities. See also Wikipedia.
UK University Rankings in Chemical Engineering - 2010
| Rank 2010 | Rank 2009 | Institution | Score | UK Rank: All Subjects(a) | World Rank: All Subjects(b) |
| 1 | 1 | Cambridge | 100 | 2 | 3 |
| 2 | 2 | Imperial College | 93.8 | 3 | 6 |
| 3 | 3 | Manchester | 89.3 | 24 | 29 |
| 4 | 7 | Surrey | 88.5 | 37 | 223 |
| 5 | 16 | Leeds | 87.4 | 27 | 104 |
| 6 | 9 | Newcastle | 87.1 | 21 | 162 |
| 7 | 4 | Loughborough | 86.8 | 17 | 230 |
| 8 | 8 | Sheffield | 86.6 | 18 | 76 |
| 9 | 14 | Nottingham | 83.7 | 20 | 86 |
| 10 | 10 | Birmingham | 83.0 | 22 | 75 |
| 11 | 15 | Edinburgh | 82.8 | 14 | 23 |
| 12 | 5 | Herriot-Watt | 82.5 | 40 | - |
| 13 | 17 | Stathclyde | 81.1 | 37 | 270 |
| 14 | 6 | Queen's Belfast | 81.0 | 32 | 202 |
| 15 | 12 | UCL | 80.4 | 5 | 7 |
| 16 | 11 | Bath | 80.3 | 13 | 152 |
| 17 | 18 | Aston | 80.1 | 25 | 316 |
| 18 | N/A | Aberdeen | 79.3 | 33 | 153 |
| 19 | 13 | Swansea | 77.2 | 50 | - |
| 20 | 19 | London South Bank | 64.1 | 113 | - |
Source a: Good University Guide 2010. The Times.
Source b: US News: Worlds 400 Best Colleges
It is worth considering the overall rank and prestige of the university and not just the ranking in Chemical Engineering. A case in point is UCL, ranked 15th in Chemical Engineering, but 7th in the World in all subjects; good universities will ultimately attract top teaching talent. Consider also how you think the university may rank well into the future - ones with a good pedigree will be a safe bet.
Global rankings will be important if you are considering working or studying abroad. Consistency year-on-year is also to be considered.
US University Rankings in Chemical Engineering
| Rank 2010 | Rank 2009 | Institution | World Rank: All Subjects |
| 1 | 1 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | 9 |
| 2 | 2 | University of California (Berkeley) | 30 |
| 3 | 4 | Univeristy of Minnesota (Twin Cities) | 87 |
| 4 | 3 | University of Wisconsin (Madison) | 55 |
| 5 | 5 | Stanford University | 17 |
| 6 | 7 | University of Texas (Austin) | 70 |
| 7 | 6 | California Institute of Technology | 58 |
| 8 | 8 | Univeristy of Illinois - Urbana Champaign | 71 |
| 9 | 9 | Georgia Institute of Technology | 83 |
| 10 | 10 | University of Delaware | |
| - | 10 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor | 18 |
Source: US News
We will add univeristies from other countries in due course. If you know of any definitive guides to Chemical Engineering degrees in other countries, please do let us know.
Postgraduate Studies
the MBA
Chemical Engineers who want to climb the managerial ladder or start their own firms often study for an Master of Business Administration (MBA) post-graduate degree.
The MBA is a fantastic qualification that Chemical Engineers are well-suited to with their analytical and practical ability. Coupling the MBA (1-2yrs) with a BEng (3yrs), rather than studying for an MEng (4yrs), also opens up significantly more possibilities for the Chemical Engineer.
MBAs are not cheap: for example the Cranfield MBA costs £28K, but in terms of personal and career development, and network contacts, an MBA is unbeatable. Just in terms of networking, for example, Cranfield has an active Alumni of some 12,000. As an Alumnus, you have the contact details of all these people.
Salaries of MBAs are also good: for example Cranfield MBAs earn $125K (~£82K) on average (cf. London Business School $147K (~£97K) and Harvard $165K (~£109K)). This is according to the FT rankings (see below). Compare this with the average salary of a Chemical Engineer in the UK of £59K (source: IChemE).
Do ensure that you select a business school with a good reputation as the number of universities offering MBAs is proliferating rapidly.
The MBA is typically studied over a one year period (full-time) or part-time over two years.
We can personally recommend Cranfield School of Management in the UK.
See the FT Global MBA rankings. More...
Continuous Professional Development
IChemE (UK)
The IChemE run a number of courses which are considered highly credible and valuable in the industry. Courses such as HAZOP and Chemical Plant Commissioning are invaluable. Attendance at courses run by the IChemE helps to, for example, smooth the path to chartership.
To find out more, see the IChemE
Other Providers
4-Sight Consulting in the UK offer an excellent range of courses on safety instrumented systems, functional safety, alarms systems management.
AIChE (US)
Similarly, the AIChE also run excellent courses.
Please contact us if you want to appear as a provider of courses.