Chemical Engineering

BEng Chemical Engineering at Keele equips you to design and optimise processes that power clean energy, create sustainable materials, and produce life-changing medicines. Through hands-on lab work, specialist modules, and industry-linked projects, you’ll develop the skills to tackle real-world challenges and shape a sustainable future.

Why choose this course?

• Benefit from industry-informed teaching, networking opportunities, and practical learning

• Build key employability skills including data analysis, critical thinking, and evidence-based problem solving

• Flexible pathways let you choose an engineering specialism, with the option to exit with a BEng or continue to an MEng

• Gain industry experience through a work placement year, preparing you for a range of careers

• Study abroad with an international year to broaden your horizons

Chemical engineering addresses some of the world’s most pressing challenges: clean energy, safe water, life-saving medicines, sustainable food systems, and advanced materials for modern technology. Combining science, creativity, and problem-solving, chemical engineers design and optimise the processes that underpin daily life. At Keele, you’ll learn from industry experts, developing the skills to design innovative processes that improve lives and shape a more sustainable future.

This programme is designed to support your development as a professional engineer. You’ll begin with Engineering Fundamentals, gaining the scientific and technical knowledge to tackle complex problems. Alongside this, Engineering Skills will strengthen your practical ability through labs, workshops, and training in communication and project management. Engineering Simulation and Mathematics will then help you apply advanced analysis and modelling techniques, allowing you to understand and present engineering concepts with precision.

Chemical Engineering at Keele combines foundational engineering sciences with specialist study in thermodynamics, reaction kinetics, mass and energy balances, and early exploration of bio-based polymers and nanomaterials. As you progress, you will develop skills in system performance, control, and AI-assisted modelling, addressing complex, real-world applications. In your final year, you will tackle sustainability and circular economy challenges, using Keele’s unique facilities such as HyDEX (hydrogen research) and SEND (smart energy technologies), while exploring process and plant design, reactor technologies, and high-value materials including semiconductors, graphene, and engineered biomaterials. You will also develop leadership, teamwork, communication, and research skills through two major projects: an individual research dissertation and a collaborative industry-led design project.

About Keele

Keele University was established in 1949 by the former Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University. Founded to meet the needs of a changing world, Keele has always had a pioneering vision to be a different kind of university.

We excel in both teaching and research, with some of the most satisfied students in England, and research that is changing lives for the better at a regional, national and global level.

Our beautiful 600-acre campus is one of the biggest in Britain – but all the most important services and facilities are on your doorstep, with accommodation, teaching spaces, facilities including a medical centre, sports centre and pharmacy, and a range of shops, eateries and entertainment venues – including the Students’ Union – clustered around the centre.

Course Modules

For a list of indicative modules please visit the course page on the Keele University website.