Chemical Engineering with Foundation Year

This is a 4 year degree course. Please ensure that when you apply for this course you choose Point of entry 1 in your UCAS Hub.

Not everyone arrives at chemical engineering with the right grades, subjects or confidence to start a demanding STEM degree straight away - and this course is built for exactly that. The BEng (Hons) Chemical Engineering with Foundation Year adds a dedicated preparation year onto the start of our IChemE-accredited degree, bringing your maths, science and computing skills up to the level you need before you begin the core engineering course.

Entry to the Foundation Year is just 48 UCAS points, well below the standard tariff for direct entry. If you're short of even that, Prepare for Foundation Year days are available to help you get application-ready. During your Foundation Year you'll study Foundation Mathematics I and II, Problem Solving in Science and Technology, Practical Engineering Science for Electro-Mechanical Design, Fundamentals of Computing, and Communication and Study Skills - all chosen specifically to prepare you for chemical engineering, not a generic mix of subjects.

Successfully complete your Foundation Year and you move straight into Year 1 of the same three-year chemical engineering degree studied by direct-entry students, with no separate application needed. From there you'll study thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, reaction engineering and process design, using pilot-scale distillation columns, adsorption units and reactors that mirror real plant environments, before completing a year-long, 40-credit Design Project in your final year.

You'll be taught in smaller groups during your Foundation Year, with a Personal Tutor assigned from day one, and access to Student Support Advisers throughout your studies. If your circumstances change, you can also leave with a recognised intermediate award, such as a Certificate or Diploma of Higher Education.
Once you reach the main degree, you're guaranteed a professional placement, exactly like every other chemical engineering student - a structured, real-world experience chosen to build the transferable workplace skills, such as professionalism, communication, teamwork and time management, that every engineering employer expects.

A Foundation Year start doesn't mean a different destination. Graduates go on to the same range of careers as direct-entry students, across some of the highest-value sectors in the economy, including energy, pharmaceuticals, food processing and manufacturing, in roles such as Process Design Engineer, Chemical Plant Design Engineer and Product Development Engineer.

If your grades or background don't yet reflect your potential, this route is built to change that, without changing where you end up.