Chemical Engineering with Year Abroad

The underlying goal of this course is the preparation of high quality graduates who will ultimately take leadership roles in their chosen professions, whether in the process engineering sector, in research, or in the various commercial activities which attract many of our graduates.

The design of the MEng course has been based upon a number of key principles:

1. Fluency in the fundamental principles of mathematics and chemical engineering science - students are expected to develop a firm grasp of the fundamental concepts and principles, and not simply to be able to manipulate empirical formulae.
2. Active learning techniques - more than half of the programme is centred around project work of various types as opposed to formal lectures.
3. Design proficiency - the ability to incorporate concepts into the design of new products or processes is an important characteristic of all engineering disciplines and is reflected by design projects of increasing complexity distributed throughout the course.
4. Development of professional skills - skills in group working and problem-solving and competence in oral and written communication are stressed throughout the course.
5. Industrial involvement - All students are expected to participate successfully in an industry based project towards the latter part of the course.
6. Flexibility of provision - Because students interest develop in different directions, a wide variety of options are available in the last two years of the course - some choose to study abroad for a year (in English or a foreign language), others choose "streams" which concentrate on business and management studies, environmental issues, fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals, or others.

7. Year 1

   Mathematics 1 
   Chemistry 6
   Properties of Matter 
   Thermodynamics 
   Process Analysis                                                                                                                                                                                                 Separation Processes 
   Transfer Processes 1: Fluid Mechanics 1 
   Transfer Processes 1: Heat and Mass Transfer 
   Design Project 
   Matlab 
   Test 
   Foundation Labs 
   Mastery for Engineers 
   Engineering Ethics and Work Behaviour

   Year 2

   Mathematics 2 
   Process Dynamics and Control 
   Thermodynamics 2 
   Reaction Engineering 1 
   Industrial Chemistry 
   Biochemistry 
   Transfer Processes 2: Fluid Mechanics 2 
   Transfer Processes 2: Heat Transfer 
   Separation Processes 2 
   Reactor Design 
   Knowledge Labs 
   Controller Design 
   Pilot Plant 
   Mastery for Engineers 
   Economic Evaluation of Projects

Year 3

Courses according to the guidelines for the Year Abroad Program 

Year 4

Advanced Chemical Engineering Practice 12
Advanced Chemical Engineering Design Practice 
General Mastery 
Design Mastery 
Safety and Loss Prevention*
Transfer Processes 3: Fluid Mechanics 3*
Transfer Processes 3: Particle Mechanics*
Elective: Process Heat Transfer*
Elective: Clean Fossil Fuels*
Elective: Dynamic Behaviour of Process Systems*

*Students have to choose up to six optional modules from a larger list of
engineering, humanities or business optional modules. The courses listed above
are the most common choice of students. They may include core courses that are
taken instead of optional modules if these courses were not covered while the
student was abroad.

In terms of Advanced (A) Level grades, minimum requirements are A*AAA or A*A*A in Maths,
Chemistry and further relevant A-levels. We insist on candidates offering Mathematics and Chemistry
at A-level in addition to another one or two subjects at A-level (such as Physics or Biology or
Economics or Further Maths for instance).
Minimum entrance requirements for International Baccalaureate (IB) applicants are 7 in Mathematics,
6 in Chemistry and 6 in Physics, Biology or Economics (at higher level), in addition to 39+ points.
Applicants with other qualifications, including leaving certificates of various non-UK national systems
and other Baccalaureates (e.g., European or French) are very much welcomed. The eligibility of such
qualifications can be checked with the Admissions Tutor before making a formal UCAS application.
GCSE achievements are also considered, as are the references provided.
The undergraduate courses in chemical engineering are intended for able students who are selected
on the basis of academic ability as well as motivation. The former will normally be judged by
performance in examinations, while the latter will be assessed at an interview which all applicants
attend if they live within reasonable travelling distance, or if they can meet one of our staff overseas.

A-LEVELS

All applications that meet the minimum grade requirement of A*AAA or A*A*A will be considered.

Actual offers may vary and the majority of offers are A*A*AA to include:

• A* in Mathematics
• A* or A in Chemistry
• Remaining A-levels in relevant subjects including Physics, Biology, Further Mathematics, and Economics

We also consider GCSE achievements, or their equivalent.

If you are applying for a course with a year in France, Switzerland, Spain or Germany you must show ability in the appropriate language. A pass at grade A in GCSE, or a pass at AS-level, will usually be required. You must be willing to continue language study once at the College.

For students following the International Baccalaureate, all applications that meet the minimum grade requirement of 39 points overall will be considered. This should include:

• 7 in Mathematics at higher level
• 6 in Chemistry at higher level
• 6 in Physics, Biology or Economics at higher level

Actual offers may vary and the majority of offers typically require an overall score of 41 points overall, to include:

• 7 in Mathematics at higher level
• 7 or 6 in Chemistry at higher level
• 7 or 6 in Physics, Biology or Economics at higher level

We also welcome applications from candidates attending Baccalaureate (International, European and French), Scottish Advanced Highers or Irish Leaving Certificate qualifications.

You will have to demonstrate a satisfactory level of proficiency in French/Spanish six months before the planned start of the year abroad. You will also be expected to have maintained at least a 2.1 degree standard academically. If you do not reach this level you will be able to transfer to the standard course. You may also transfer to the standard course at any earlier time. Similarly, there are opportunities for anyone from the standard course to transfer to the Year Abroad course.

If you opt for the exchange in Germany, Switzerland or some destinations in Spain, the arrangements are similar, except that the third year is spent abroad, and you will then return to Imperial for the final year.

There is competition for the limited number of exchange places to the USA, Australia, Singapore, Sweden and the Netherlands, though the latter two take place in the final year, not the third. If your aim is to go to one of these destinations, you will be invited to follow the MEng curriculum in the first and second years.

Applicants for courses requiring BMAT scores as part of the assessment for entry need to have registered for this test no later than 15 October 2014

Overseas candidates will be considered for admission if they have, or expect to gain, the necessary qualifications. Most organisations providing secondary level education are familiar with the UCAS system and are able to provide the relevant support. Please note that, due to the operation of imposed quotas, there are a limited number of places offered each year to full cost overseas students of the School of Medicine.

All candidates must have sufficient command of both written and spoken English to follow their course of study and should have a recognised English language qualification at the appropriate level, or make provision to take an acceptable English test prior to registering with the College.

Where necessary you should make provision to take an acceptable English test so that the results are available by 22 July 2015. Applicants who are awaiting results of English tests will not have their places confirmed unless proof of a pass at the required level has been provided.

Applicants requiring ATAS clearance as a condition of offer are required to obtain this by 22 July 2015.