Learn to design, create and implement systems for chemical processes in Europe

From penicillin to the pill to the screen you’re reading this article on, chemistry has played a huge role in making big things happen. Chemical Engineering takes this scientific discipline one step further. 

Chemical engineers are at the forefront of scientific and technological developments. They design, construct and operate processes to create products that we all depend on and are often tackling some of the world’s most urgent problems. Many of the technologies combating pollution today were created by chemical engineers  — with new processes, more industrial and consumer waste being reprocessed and reused. 

There are many more reasons to take up a degree in chemical engineering. Exciting and various career prospects, developing a wide skill set and having the opportunity to change the world are just three examples. Here are four universities that can help you achieve that: 

UNIVERSITY OF HULL: FACULTY OF SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 

Hull students get a head start on the career ladder. Source: University of Hull

What sets the University of Hull’s Chemical Engineering programmes apart is how they give students access to key institutions to get the most out of their degrees. This enables them to graduate with accreditations or the ability to apply for accreditations, giving them a head start on the career ladder. 

The BEng Chemical Engineering is accredited by the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) and meets the academic criteria for registration as a Chartered Engineer. The MEng Chemical Engineering gives students the mandatory four years of study that you need for accreditation as a Chartered Engineer. Both can be taken with an optional placement year. The MSc in Advanced Chemical Engineering is designed for applicants who wish to enhance a technical career in the chemical and process industry. 

The setting? A region that is the largest commercial estuary in the UK and the fourth-largest in Europe, with a six billion pounds a year chemical and processing industry. It is also one of the fastest-growing chemical bases in the UK. Nearly 350 engineering and process giants — including BP Chemicals, Total, Phillips 66, Smith & Nephew, Reckitt Benckiser, Croda, and Cristal — call this region home.

Many of them are involved with the university, leading to local opportunities few other UK universities can replicate. Whether it’s a short-term placement, access to CATCH training facility for process safety training, or a full placement year, such industry experience distinguishes Hull graduates from the competition. To learn more about why a Hull chemical engineering programme is extraordinary, click here.

KU LEUVEN: DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

KU Leuven provides top-level teaching recognised on both a national and international level. Source: KU Leuven

Standing among Europe’s oldest research universities, KU Leuven provides top-level teaching recognised on both a national and international level. It is also one of the world’s top 50 universities, according to Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2019. 

You will find a host of programmes available at this institution, making it an ideal school for engineering professionals who are looking to upskill. To study here is to be exposed to world-class research from early on. 

At the postgraduate level, KU Leuven offers an interdisciplinary Master of Chemical Engineering Technology. You will be exposed to fundamental chemical-scientific course units, in addition to coursework in numerous areas, including (bio)chemical/scientific coursework, socio-economics and biotechnology, among others. Opt for a master’s thesis conducted in either a research-specific or industrial context or a flexible cross-campus elective package.

For those interested in sustainability, the Sustainable Process and Materials Engineering option is where students can learn about reliable technology that meets today’s demands, without jeopardising the welfare of future generations.

More inclined towards business? The Postgraduate Programme in Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Engineering offers a dynamic cross-fertilisation between company and classroom through an engineering challenge as the central assignment with a company.

POLITECNICO DI MILANO: DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY, MATERIALS AND CHEMICAL ENGINEERING 

Politecnico di Milano is a scientific-technological university for aspiring engineers, architects and industrial designers. Here, students learn through experimental research and technological transfer. 

The Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering is where the magic happens. Research dives deep into topics such as chemical reactions: mechanisms, dynamics, kinetics and catalytic reactions; as well as electrochemistry, electrodialysis, microfluidics, sensors.

The university’s School of Industrial and Information Engineering offers a wide range of master’s degree programmes in English including Aeronautical Engineering; Agricultural Engineering; Automation and Control Engineering; Bioinformatics for Computational Genomics; Biomedical Engineering; Chemical Engineering; Computer Science and Engineering and more. MSc candidates here investigate the breadth of materials science through the extended study of mathematics, chemistry, and physics for engineering applications and structures.

Modern chemical engineering is a vast subject extending far beyond its traditional roots in oil and gas processing. Through the Master’s in Chemical Engineering programme, students are introduced to modules including: Engineering Products from Renewable Sources; Catalytic Processes for Energy and Environment; Electrochemical Energy Generators; Odour Science and Engineering; Chemistry and Materials for Energy and Environment and more. 

LUT UNIVERSITY: SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING SCIENCE

LUT University hosts the largest water research cluster in Finland. Source: LUT University

At LUT University, students have the chance to work with industry leaders from a diverse range of backgrounds, giving them exposure to a broad spectrum of engineering practices. The university constantly seeks new sustainable solutions with its expertise in technology and business. If there is a problem, LUT has a solution. 

Here, transformation happens at the university’s School of Energy Systems; School of Engineering Science; and School of Business and Management. LUT’s School of Engineering Science is an international expert in the fields of separation; purification and process technology; green chemistry, machine vision and pattern recognition; industrial mathematics and different branches of physics. 

The school has one aim: to create sustainable solutions for a world dealing with climate change; diminishing natural resources and limited access to clean water. The Master’s Programme in Chemical Engineering combines chemistry, physics, mathematics, biology, and economics to turn raw materials into chemical products. You will earn a set of skills to create sustainable, environmentally friendly chemical processes and products. 

“The LUT Master’s Programme in Chemical Engineering includes courses on biorefineries unit operations, mass and heat transfer, fluid dynamics and product and process design,” says programme leader Arto Laari. “It also covers many scientific and technological topics important for human wellbeing, a clean environment and the sustainable use of natural resources.” 

*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International