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Masters in Chemical Engineering in UK: Fees, Eligibility, Top university , Scholarships, Jobs & Salary

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Tanisha Butola • 9 Mins read • 26 Jul 25
Masters in Chemical Engineering in UKMasters in Chemical Engineering in UK

A Masters in Chemical Engineering from the United Kingdom is a good choice. The UK is the best option, as it provides quality education, has top-ranking universities across the world, and has top recruiting companies that visit the campus. The duration of an MSc in Chemical Engineering is 1 year. The intake varies by university.

The top chemical engineering master's programs in the UK with research opportunities are chemical engineering, petroleum engineering, drug delivery process engineering, and biotech. Public universities providing master's degrees in the UK for chemical engineering include Oxford, Queen’s University, and Imperial College, Nottingham, Leeds, Edinburgh, and Manchester. The tuition fee structure for this course costs around ₹26,00,000-₹39,00,000.

Top recruiters from the petroleum and chemical industry visit the campus and offer a whopping package of around ₹30,00,000 to ₹40,00,000, promising a high ROI.

The blog shows all the information regarding an MSc in Chemical Engineering from the United Kingdom. It includes details such as duration, qualification, eligibility criteria, scholarships provided, placements, fees, and many such.


Masters in Chemical Engineering in UK: Quick Highlights

The following table shows the details about an MSc in Chemical Engineering from the United Kingdom:

Category

Details

Degree Awarded

MSc (Master of Science)

Duration

1 year (Full-time)

Minimum Qualification

UK 2:1 Honours Degree (or equivalent) in Chemical/related Engineering

Language Requirements

IELTS: 6.5–7.0, TOEFL iBT: 90–100

Top Universities

Imperial College London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Leeds

Tuition Fees

₹26,00,000-₹39,00,000

Cost of Living

₹9,90,000

Application Deadlines

Varies by university (Jan – July 2025)

Entrance Exams

IELTS/TOEFL and GRE/GMAT rarely required

Top Recruiters

Shell, BP, GSK, AstraZeneca, Unilever, Johnson Matthey

Popular Specializations

Advanced Chemical Engineering, Process Engineering, Energy, Biotech, Drug Delivery

Scholarships Available

GREAT, Commonwealth, British Council Women in STEM

Average Starting Salary

£28,000 – £38,000 (INR 29 – 39 Lakhs/annum)

Job Roles After Graduation

Process Engineer, R&D Scientist, Consultant, Nuclear/Chemical Analyst

Career Scope

UK, EU, Middle East – Pharma, Energy, Petrochemicals, Environment

Visa Type

UK Student Visa (Tier 4) + Post-Study Work Visa (2 years)


Masters in Chemical Engineering in UK: Important Dates and Events

Check the following table to know in detail about the dates and deadlines


Masters in Chemical Engineering in UK: Application Start & End Dates for Top Universities

The following table shows the application deadlines for Masters in Chemical Engineering from the United Kingdom:

University

Application Deadline

University of Manchester

July 2025

University of Edinburgh

To be announced in October

Imperial College London

January 2025

University of Birmingham

July 2025

University of Leeds

July 2025

Cranfield University

June 2025


Masters in Chemical Engineering in UK: Visa Application Deadlines

University

Visa Deadline

University of Manchester

June-Aug 2025

University of Edinburgh

June-Aug 2025

Imperial College London

June-Aug 2025

University of Birmingham

June-Aug 2025

University of Leeds

June-Aug 2025

Cranfield University

June-Aug 2025


Masters in Chemical Engineering in UK: Fees

The following table shows the fees for Masters in Chemical Engineering from the United Kingdom:

University

Total Tuition Fees (GBP)

University of Manchester

£33,500

University of Edinburgh

£33,300

Imperial College London

£38,600

University of Birmingham

£26,640

University of Leeds

£28,000

Cranfield University

£26,580


Masters in Chemical Engineering in UK: Cost of living

The following table shows the cost of living for Masters in Chemical Engineering from the United Kingdom:

Expense Type

Average Annual Expense (GBP)

Cost for Indian Students (INR)

Accommodation

6,580

6.8 Lakhs

Meals

1,200

1.2 Lakhs

Transportation

400

41.7 Thousand

Health Insurance

470

49 Thousand

Personal Expenses

900

94 Thousand

Total

9,550

9.9 Lakhs


Why Choose a Master's in Chemical Engineering in UK?

Choose a Master's in Chemical Engineering from the United Kingdom because of the following reasons:

  1. Top Universities: Public universities providing master's degrees in the UK for chemical engineering include Oxford, Queen’s University, Imperial College, Nottingham, Leeds, Edinburgh, and Manchester. The tuition fee structure for this course costs around ₹26,00,000-₹39,00,000.
  2. Quality Education: Universities in the United Kingdom provide quality education, including master's degrees in specializations like chemical engineering, petroleum engineering, drug delivery process engineering, and biotech. 
  3. International Exposure: Students get international exposure and networking opportunities.
  4. Top-Recruiting Companies: Top recruiters from the petroleum and chemical industry visit the campus and offer a whopping package of around ₹30,00,000 to ₹40,00,000, promising a high ROI.
  5. High ROI: Students pursuing master's degrees from the UK can expect a high return on investment.

Also Check: Masters in Chemical Engineering in Germany

Masters in Chemical Engineering in UK: Qualification

The following table shows the minimum qualification for a Master's in Chemical Engineering from the United Kingdom:

Degree Awarded

Duration

Minimum Academic Qualification

MSc

Full-time – 12 months

A UK 2:1 Honours Degree or its international equivalent in chemical engineering or a closely related field such as mechanical, process, or biochemical engineering. Applicants with a 2:2 may also be considered based on relevant experience or a strong academic profile.


Masters in Chemical Engineering in UK: Eligibility Criteria—University-wise

The following table shows the eligibility criteria for a Master's in Chemical Engineering from the United Kingdom:

University

Academic Requirements

English Language Proficiency (ELP)

University of Manchester

Upper second class honours or equivalent in engineering

IELTS: 6.5; iBT: 90

University of Edinburgh

UK 2:1 honours degree or equivalent

IELTS: 6.5; iBT: 92

Imperial College London

UK 2:1 honours degree or equivalent

IELTS: 6.5; iBT: 92

University of Birmingham

UK 2:1 honours degree or equivalent

IELTS: 6.0; iBT: 80

University of Leeds

UK 2:1 honours in chemical engineering

IELTS: 6.5 (no band < 6.0)

Cranfield University

First- or second-class UK honours degree or equivalent

IELTS: 6.5; iBT: 92


Masters in Chemical Engineering in UK: Application Process

The following table shows the application process for a Master's in Chemical Engineering from the United Kingdom:

Step

Details

Research Universities

Identify top UK universities offering MSc in Chemical Engineering

Check Eligibility

Typically requires a 2:1 Honours degree in Chemical/related Engineering

Prepare Documents

Academic transcripts, SOP, LORs, CV, passport, English proficiency scores

Take Entrance Exams

IELTS/TOEFL, sometimes GRE/GMAT (rarely required for engineering)

Apply via University Portals

Apply directly or through UCAS (for some institutions)

Track Application Status

Monitor emails/portals for interview or offer updates

Accept Offer & Apply for Visa

Accept conditional/uncondition


Masters in Chemical Engineering: Top Entrance Exams for UK

The following table shows the entrance exams for Masters in Chemical Engineering from the United Kingdom:

Exam

Purpose

Required By

IELTS

English proficiency test (most common)

All UK universities

TOEFL

Alternative to IELTS

Accepted by most UK universities

PTE Academic

Some universities accept this as well

University-specific

GRE

Rarely required for MSc Chemical Engineering

Optional for some competitive programs


Masters in Chemical Engineering in UK: Cutoff

The following table shows the cutoff for entrance exams for Masters in Chemical Engineering from the United Kingdom:

University Tier

IELTS Requirement

TOEFL iBT Requirement

Top-tier (e.g., Imperial)

7.0 overall (6.5 each)

100 overall

Mid-tier (e.g., Leeds)

6.5 overall (6.0 each)

90–95

Lower-tier universities

6.0 overall (5.5 each)

79–85


Masters in Chemical Engineering in UK: Seats in Best Universities 

The following table shows the seats in top universities for Masters in Chemical Engineering from the United Kingdom:

University Name

THE World Ranking

Total Students

University of Oxford

1

20,774

University of Cambridge

6

19,370

Imperial College London

11

17,176

University College London (UCL)

16

34,590

University of Edinburgh

30

30,649

University of Manchester

51

36,550

University of Birmingham

107

30,198

Queen Mary University of London

110

19,365

University of Sheffield

121

26,165

University of Southampton

127

23,498

Lancaster University

136

13,047

Durham University

149

17,049

University of Nottingham

158

30,789

University of Leeds

160

31,240

University of Exeter

174

22,007

University of Aberdeen

178

12,863

Newcastle University

178

24,089

University of East Anglia

200

15,757

Queen’s University Belfast

200

18,438

University of Bath

201

14,410


Masters in Chemical Engineering in UK: Syllabus

The following table shows the specializations and the type of Master's in Chemical Engineering from the United Kingdom:

University

Specialization

Type 

University of Hull

Advanced Chemical Engineering

M.Sc., Full-time, 1 year

Loughborough University

Analytical Chemistry (Pre-Master)

Pre-Master, Full-time, 1 year

University of Birmingham

Advanced Chemical Engineering with Energy

Master's, Full-time/Part-time, 1 year

Teesside University

Chemical Engineering

M.Sc., Full-time/Part-time, 1 year

Teesside University

Chemical Engineering (with Advanced Practice)

M.Sc., Full-time, 1 year 8 months

OnCampus Aston

Drug Delivery (Pre-Master’s)

Pre-Master, Full-time, 1 year

University of Birmingham

Advanced Chemical Engineering

Master's, Full-time/Part-time, 1 year

University of Bradford

Advanced Chem. & Petroleum Engg. (Pre-Master)

Pre-Master, Full-time, 3 months

University of Huddersfield

Chemical Engineering

Master's, Full-time/Part-time, 1 year

Loughborough University

Advanced Chemical Engineering with IT and Management (Pre-Master)

Pre-Master, Full-time, 1 year

University of Greenwich

Advanced Chemical Engineering with Industrial Practice

M.Sc., Full-time, 2 years

University of Edinburgh

Advanced Chemical Engineering

M.Sc., Full-time, 1 year


Masters in Chemical Engineering in UK vs in India

The following table shows the comparison between Masters in Chemical Engineering from the United Kingdom vs. from India:

Feature

UK

India

Duration

1 year (Full-time)

2 years (Full-time)

Eligibility

2:1 Honours degree (or equivalent) in Engineering

BE/BTech in Chemical Engineering or related field

Top Universities

Imperial College London, University of Cambridge, University of Manchester

IIT Bombay, ICT Mumbai, NIT Trichy, IISc Bangalore

Tuition Fees

£20,000 – £35,000 (INR 21 – 37 lakhs)

INR 50,000 – 2 lakhs (public); INR 2 – 6 lakhs (private)

Language Requirements

IELTS/TOEFL/PTE

Not required (for Indian students in Indian universities)

Research Opportunities

High (cutting-edge labs, international funding)

Moderate to High (especially in IITs/IISc)

International Exposure

High (multicultural learning environment)

Limited

Job Prospects

High in UK, EU, Middle East

High in India and Middle East

Average Starting Salary

£28,000–£38,000/year (INR 29 – 39 lakhs/annum)

INR 6–12 LPA

Read More: Masters in UK


Masters in Chemical Engineering in UK: Scholarships

The following table shows the scholarships for Masters in Chemical Engineering from the United Kingdom:

Scholarship

Awarded by (Private/Government/University)

Eligibility

Award Value

British Council Women in STEM Scholarship

British Council

Women from South Asian countries

100% funding of the tuition fee

Commonwealth Masters Scholarship

Government of UK

Citizens of Commonwealth countries

Funded tuition fee, cost of living, meals, and airfare

GREAT Scholarship

British Council

Citizens of India

10,000 GBP


Masters in Chemical Engineering in UK: Career Scope

The following table shows the career scope for Masters in Chemical Engineering from the United Kingdom:

Career Path

Job Roles

Process Engineering

Process Engineer, Production Engineer

Energy & Environment

Energy Analyst, Environmental Engineer

Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

Chemical Engineer, R&D Scientist

Petrochemicals & Oil & Gas

Process Engineer, Operations Manager

Food & Beverages Industry

Food Process Engineer, Quality Analyst

Academia & Research

PhD Researcher, University Lecturer

Consulting & Project Management

Chemical Consultant, Project Engineer


Masters in Chemical Engineering in UK: Top Recruiters

The following table shows the top recruiters for Masters in Chemical Engineering from the United Kingdom:

  • Shell UK
  • BP (British Petroleum)
  • Unilever
  • GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)
  • Johnson Matthey
  • AstraZeneca
  • Pfizer UK
  • Jacobs Engineering
  • Wood Group
  • Tata Steel Europe
  • Air Products
  • INEOS
  • BASF UK


Masters in Chemical Engineering in UK: Salary Package

The following table shows the average salary for Masters in Chemical Engineering from the United Kingdom:

Profession

Average Salary (INR)

Chemical Engineer

₹35,20,000

Biotechnologist

₹37,60,000

Mining Engineer

₹52,10,000

Chemical Plant Operator

₹26,30,000

Nuclear Engineer

₹45,30,000

Analytical Chemist

₹27,70,000


Frequently Asked Questions


Ques: What are the best universities for a chemical engineering master's in the UK?

Ans: The best universities for a chemical engineering master's in the UK are public universities like Oxford, Queen’s University, and Imperial College, Nottingham, Leeds, Edinburgh, and Manchester. The tuition fee structure for this course costs around ₹26,00,000-₹39,00,000.

Ques: How to apply for a chemical engineering master's in the UK?

Ans: To apply for a chemical engineering master's in the UK, students need to submit documents such as SOP, CV, and recommendation letters. Also, they need to pass IELTS or TOEFL with a bachelor's degree.


Ques: What are the top chemical engineering master's programs in the UK with research opportunities?

Ans: The top chemical engineering master's programs in the UK with research opportunities are chemical engineering, petroleum engineering, drug delivery process engineering, and biotech. 


Ques: Is a master's in chemical engineering in the UK worth it?

Ans: Yes, a master's in chemical engineering in the UK is worth it. It provides world-class quality education in the top-ranking universities across the world. Students get international exposure and networking opportunities.


Ques: What is the average salary for chemical engineering master's graduates in the UK?

Ans: Top recruiters from the petroleum and chemical industry visit the campus and offer a whopping package of around ₹30,00,000 to ₹40,00,000. This promises a high ROI.