MS in Chemical Engineering in UK is mostly a year-long course costing around 20,900 GBP to 32,500 GBP annually ~22 to 32 LPA INR. Universities of UK, offer MS in Chemical Engineering as Masters of Science (MSc.) and Masters of Research (MRes) degrees. The general eligibility criteria for MS in Chemical Engineering in the UK is bachelor's in Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Life sciences, or another relevant subject with a percentile score of 60-70%

Since the costs involved are extremely high, a student looks forward to earning better returns. Chemical engineers in the UK earn around 30,000 GBP ~29 LPA INR at the beginning of their careers. a two-year stay back policy in UK has been added, which is an added advantage for international students, planning to pursue a degree from this country.

MS in Chemical Engineering in UK: Top Universities

Some of the universities for masters in engineering in UK offering Chemical Engineering ranks in the top 20 universities in the world according to QS ranking for chemical engineering. Tabulated below are popular universities in UK offering MS in Chemical Engineering:

University QS World Ranking 2022 Course Name Course Fee/ Annum (INR)
Imperial College London #7 MSc Advanced Chemical Engineering 35 lakhs
University College London #8 Chemical Process Engineering MSc 35 lakhs
University of Edinburgh #16 MSc, Advanced Chemical Engineering 31 lakhs
University of Manchester #27 MSc, Advanced Chemical Engineering 27 lakhs
University of Birmingham #90 Advanced Chemical Engineering, MSc 24 lakhs
Chemical Engineering Science, MRes 25 lakhs
University of Leeds #92 Advanced Chemical Engineering, MSc 25 lakhs
University of Nottingham #103 Chemical Engineering, MSc 26 lakhs
University of Aberdeen #205 Advanced Chemical Engineering, MSc 22 lakhs
Loughborough University #231 MSc Advanced Chemical Engineering 23 lakhs
University of Strathclyde #302 MSc, Advanced Chemical & Process Engineering 20 lakhs

Note: Other than the courses listed above the universities of UK also offer chemical engineering-related courses such as Advanced Process Integration and Design, Chemical Engineering and Bio-Processing, Applied Process Engineering, Sustainable Chemical Engineering, Chemical Engineering with Energy, Chemical Engineering with Formation, etc.

Why Study MS in Chemical Engineering in UK?

  • According to QS Ranking 2022, 4 universities of the UK offering chemical engineering degrees, rank in top 50 universities around the world.
  • Two-fifths of chemical engineering graduates are employed within six months after graduation. Of these, 21% are working as production and process engineers.
  • Salary survey report  by IChemE, indicates that despite the slight decline in median salary for chemical engineers, the early career median salary remains steady at 30,000 GBP.
  • Starting salary for chemical engineers in the UK in various industry sectors:
Salaries of Chemical Engineers in Various Sectors in UK

MS in Chemical Engineering in UK: Highlights

The interdisciplinary degree, MS in chemical engineering helps students utilize the knowledge of chemistry and mathematics for processing materials and chemicals. The typical employers for students with master's in chemical engineering in UK include the fiber & polymer industry, plastic & metal industry, food & drink industry, and pulp & paper industry. 

Degrees offered MSc in Chemical Engg, Advanced Chemical Engg,
MRes in Chemical Engg Science,
MSc in Chemical Process Engg
Duration Full time- 1 year
Part-time- 2–3 years
Eligibility UG in a relevant field.
Entrance Exam Cutoff IELTS- 6.0-6.5
TOEFL iBT- 80-92
PTE- 51-64
Annual Course Fee 20,900 GBP-32,500 GBP
Starting Salary 30,000 GBP
Job Profile Chemical engineer, Biochemical engineer, Petrochemical engineer, Chemical process engineer, Chemical engineering consultant

MS in Chemical Engineering in UK: Admission

International students are required to meet certain eligibility requirements in order to pursue masters from colleges in the UK. Given below is the basic eligibility for MS in chemical engineering in UK:

  • UG in Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Life sciences, or biomedical sciences.
  • The previous UG degree must be recognized by UK universities and a minimum of 50-60% is required for admissions.
  • English language proficiency: IELTS, TOEFL (iBT), PTE scores not older than 2-years can be submitted. 

MS in Chemical Engineering in UK: University Specific Eligibility Criteria

Each university has its own UG and English language test score cut-off requirement. These are tabulated below for MS in chemical engineering from UK:

University UG Academic Requirement IELTS (min) TOEFL (iBT) Intake Season
Imperial College London 75% or
CGPA- 8.5+/10
6.5 92 September
University College London 60% or
CGPA- 7.75/10
6.5 92 Application closes- August
University of Manchester First-class in UG 6.5 90 September
University of Nottingham 60% or
GPA- 6/10
6.0 - September
University of Birmingham First-class in UG 6.0 80 Application closes-July
University of Edinburgh 60% or more 6.5 92 September
University of Leeds 60% 6.5 92 Application closes-July
Loughborough University 65%-70% 6.5 92 September
University of Strathclyde 60% 6.5 (with no component below 5.5) - Application closes- August
University of Aberdeen 60-80% 6.5 90 September or January

Documents Required: Academic transcripts, CV/Resume, Reference/ Letter of recommendation(2), ATAS(Academic Technology Approval Scheme) Certificate, IELTS/ TOEFL iBT/PTE score, passport, UK student visa

Note: The UK Government’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) operates a scheme called the Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS). If you are an international applicant and require a student visa to study in the UK then you may need an ATAS certificate to study this course in Universities of the UK.

To apply for an ATAS certificate online, you will need your program details and the relevant Common Aggregation Hierarchy (CAH) code and descriptor. Which can be found on the university website.

MS in Chemical Engineering in UK: Cost

There are three types of costs that international students need to take in account for studying abroad: Pre-arrival Cost, Tuition Fees, and Cost of Living.

Pre-arrival Cost

Pre-arrival Cost is the kind of expense that you need to take care, while you are still in your home country planning your studies. Which include application fees for universities, student visa, and entrance exams required to study in the UK.

Type of Expense Cost (INR)
UK Student Visa Application Fees 34281
IELTS Fee 15,009
TOEFL Fee 14,008
PTE Fee 14,108
Application Fee Variable

MS in Chemical Engineering in UK: Tuition Fees

For most engineering colleges in UK, the master's in chemical engineering is a one-year program. The tuition fees for the program ranges from 20,000 GBP to 32,000 GBP. This will roughly cost around 18 lakh to 30 lakh INR for an Indian student. This hefty amount can be covered with the help of scholarships available to study in UK. Though the cost may seem high on comparing it with countries like Canada, the USA, etc, it can be considered that UK offers a rather cheap chemical engineering degree than other popular study-abroad destinations. 

University Course Fee/ Annum (INR)
Imperial College London 35 lakhs
University College London 35 lakhs
University of Edinburgh 31 lakhs
University of Manchester 27 lakhs
University of Birmingham 24 lakhs
25 lakhs
University of Leeds 25 lakhs
University of Nottingham 26 lakhs
University of Aberdeen 22 lakhs
Loughborough University 23 lakhs
University of Strathclyde 20 lakhs

Cost of Living in UK

The cost of living in the UK depends on your lifestyle. It also depends on your choice of location and university. The average cost of accommodation in UK is 400 GBP. The basic annual cost of living in UK is tabulated below:

Types Of Expenses Average Annual Cost (INR)
One-Bedroom apartment 8.98 lakhs
Meals 1.96 lakhs
Utilities(gas, electric, water) 14 thousand
Local transport 66 thousand
Internet 2 thousand
Miscellaneous 1.87 lakhs

Cities like Cardiff, Manchester, Birmingham, and Glasgow are economically cheaper to live in the UK. Whereas, the cost of living in London is a little higher than in other places.

MS in Chemical Engineering in UK: Scholarships

Pursuing a master's in UK can become a burden on your pockets. But fortunately, there is the availability of various funding for international students in UK. Tabulated below are a few university-specific scholarships you can opt for while pursuing your MS in Chemical Engineering in UK.

University Scholarship Applicable for Award
Imperial College London Great Scholarship Masters in Engineering, Medicine or Natural Sciences 10,000 GBP
Department of Materials - MSc Academic Excellence Scholarship MSc Advanced Materials Science and Engineering applicants. 12,500 GBP and A stipend of 6,000 GBP
University College London IOE Centenary Masters Scholarships PG taught courses Accommodation for a year, tuition fees.
Commonwealth Scholarship PG taught courses 20% of the tuition fee
University of Manchester India Scholarship for Masters Study Indian students in PG courses of Science and Engineering 5,000 GBP
University of Nottingham South Asia Postgraduate Excellence Award PG courses 4,000 GBP of tuition fees
University of Birmingham Chevening Scholarship PG courses Flight fares, accomodation and course fees.
University of Edinburgh The Kenneth Denbigh Scholarship MSc in Advanced Chemical Engineering 1,000 GBP
University of Leeds International Masters Engineering and Computing Scholarship-
School of Chemical and Process Engineering
PG Chemical Engineering courses 2,000 GBP
Loughborough University Chemical Engineering Bursary and Scholarships Chemical Engineering courses 20% of tuition fees
University of Strathclyde Faculty of Engineering International Scholarships Engineering courses 3,150 GBP
University of Aberdeen Aberdeen Global Scholarship Masters programs 2,000 GBP
Scotland's Saltire Scholarships Masters programs 8000 GBP

MS in Chemical Engineering in UK: Jobs

Students with masters in chemical engineering are employed by major employers in gas and oil extraction, oil refining, nuclear and other power generation and process industries, including pharmaceuticals, fine and heavy chemicals, and agrochemicals in the UK. 

Many chemical engineers can also find jobs in UK for engineering consultancy and contracting firms. There are opportunities to work in pollution control, environmental protection, energy conservation, recycling, and alternative energy too. Some of the popular sectors where the graduates of the program are absorbed are depicted below:

Sectors where Chemical Engineering Graduates in UK Work

Post completion of the masters degree over 58% of students choose to be employed, while over 23% choose to study further. In the UK, you can pursue further study too in order to gain professional status as a chartered engineer (CEng) or incorporated engineer (IEng), for boosting career prospects. Salaries for chartered chemical engineers can be significantly higher, around 78,500 GBP.

Table given below contains job roles and average salary information for students with chemical engineering degrees.

Job Designation Average Salary/Annum(INR)
Chemical engineer 40 lakhs
Chemical engineering consultant 65 lakhs
Biochemical engineer 33 lakhs
Petrochemical engineer 38 lakhs
Chemical process engineer 42 lakhs
Energy engineer 40 lakhs
Process development engineer 40 lakhs
Nuclear engineer 50 lakhs
Materials engineer 35 lakhs

The UK is one of the top study abroad destinations for chemical engineering studies with 3 of the universities ranking in the top 20 universities around the globe. Adding to that, the growing need of skilled chemical engineers in the UK makes this country an ideal place to pursue your MS in Chemical Engineering degree. You will not only bag a handsome salary with an MS in chemical engineering in UK but will also get a variety of doctoral options to study further in the field. 

FAQs

Ques. Which university is best for chemical engineering in UK?

Ans. Top tier universities like Imperial College London, University College London, University of Manchester, University of Nottingham, University of Birmingham, University of Edinburgh, etc offer chemical engineering degrees in the UK.

Ques. How much do chemical engineers make in UK?

Ans. The average annual salaries of chemical engineers are around 30,000 GBP at an entry-level. To experienced professional salaries offered are around 55,000 GBP. Salaries for chartered chemical engineers in the UK is around 78,500 GBP.

Ques. What is the duration of MS in Chemical Engineering in UK?

Ans. The duration of MS in Chemical Engineering in the UK is different for universities. The full-time course duration for MS in Chemical Engineering in the UK is 1 year. Part-time courses may take 2-3 years to complete.

Ques. How much does MS in Chemical Engineering in UK costs?

Ans. Although tuition fee differs for different universities and different course disciplines, mostly the tuition fee for this course ranges between 20,900 GBP-32,500 GBP.

Ques. Do I need an ATAS Certificate for MS in Chemical Engineering in UK?

Ans. Yes, if you are an international (non-EU/EEA or Swiss citizen) applicant and require a student visa to study in the UK then you may need an ATAS certificate to study MS in chemical engineering in the UK. The UK Government’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) operates a scheme called the Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS).

Ques. How can I apply for MS in Chemical Engineering in UK?

Ans. International students making applications for masters in chemical engineering in UK must have a relevant bachelors degree with at least 55-70% scores. You will also require to submit proof of language proficiency IELTS (6.5)/TOEFL(90) scores .