Master of Engineering (MEng)

MEng Chemical Engineering

A chemical engineering master's degree from Manchester opens up a world of opportunity.

  • Duration: 4 years
  • Year of entry: 2025
  • UCAS course code: H801 / Institution code: M20
  • Key features:
  • Study abroad
  • Scholarships available
  • Accredited course

Full entry requirementsHow to apply

Fees and funding

Fees

Tuition fees for home students commencing their studies in September 2025 will be £9,535 per annum (subject to Parliamentary approval). Tuition fees for international students will be £36,000 per annum. For general information please see the undergraduate finance pages.

Policy on additional costs

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

Scholarships/sponsorships

At The University of Manchester we're committed to attracting and supporting the very best students. We have a focus on nurturing talent and ability and we want to make sure that you have the opportunity to study here, regardless of your financial circumstances.

For information about scholarships and bursaries please see our undergraduate fees pages and check the Department's funding pages .

Course unit details:
Engineering Chemistry

Course unit fact file
Unit code CHEN10022
Credit rating 10
Unit level Level 1
Teaching period(s) Semester 2
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

Part A - General Chemistry.

 - Electronic structure of the atom and periodicity.

- Chemical Bonding (including Lewis notation and VSEPR theory)

- Molecular Structure and Geometry

- Intermolecular Interactions

- Spectroscopy Basics

- Electrochemistry (including corrosion)

- Acid-Base Reactions (including titrations)

 

Part B - Organic Chemistry.

Fundamental aspects of structural organic chemistry including:

    - Organic chemistry and the chemical industry

    - Bonding in Carbon

    - Drawing and Naming Organic Molecules

    - Functional Groups

    - X-Ray diffraction and molecular structure

    - Isomerism

    - Conjugation, electron delocalisation and resonance structures

    - Intermolecular interactions and physical properties of organic substances

 

Fundamental aspects of organic chemical reactions including:

    - General aspects of chemical reactions

               - Nucleophilic substitution reactions and mechanisms (SN1 and SN2)

               - Elimination reactions and mechanisms (E1 and E2)

  - General aspects of chemical reactions

 

Aims

The unit aims to:

To build a basic understanding on general chemistry (part A) and organic chemistry (part B) relevant to Chemical Engineering processes. The unit has particular emphasis on atomic and molecular structure, molecular shape, and chemical bonding. An understanding is built up of organic chemistry and organic reaction mechanisms with an appreciation for the influence of acids, bases, redox reactions and pH.

Learning outcomes

ILO 1.Derive the electronic structure of atoms and use Lewis notation and VSEPR theory to predict electron arrangement and molecular shape.

ILO 2.Demonstrate understanding of the basics of IR spectroscopy, electrochemical and acid/base reactions.

ILO 3.Use the pKa scale of relative acidities of various acids and the basicity of bases to predict the outcome of simple proton transfer processes.

ILO 4.Name and draw, using various different representations, various organic molecules and their isomers.

ILO 5.Draw, recognise and name 3D structures and isomers of organic molecules.

ILO 6.Predict the effects of polarisation, resonance, conformation, steric interaction and ring-strain on simple organic molecules.

ILO 7.Describe and predict the mechanisms for nucleophilic substitution reactions and elimination reactions and use curly arrows.

 

Teaching and learning methods

Lectures provide fundamental aspects supporting the critical learning of the module and will be delivered as pre-recorded asynchronous short videos via our virtual learning environment.

Synchronous sessions will support the lecture material with Q&A and problem-solving sessions where you can apply the new concepts. Surgery hours are also available for drop-in support.

Students are expected to expand the concepts presented in the session and online by additional reading (suggested in the Online Reading List) in order to consolidate their learning process and further stimulate their interest to the module.

Teaching Activities

Lecture - 10 hours
Tutorial - 16 hours
Assessment (Revision/Preparation) - 30 hours
Independent Study - 44 hours

Intellectual skills

Linking the ideas from the electronic structure of the atom through to reaction mechanisms in organic chemistry.

Practical skills

Derive and calculate molecular properties and pH values.

Draw and name organic molecules and their isomers.

Predict the outcome of organic reactions.

Transferable skills and personal qualities

Participation in the problem solving sessions and a lively discussion of the problems set will help to develops team working skills.

Assessment methods

Assessment Types

Total Weighting

Final exam

80%

Online test

20%

Feedback methods

Feedback on problems and examples, feedback on coursework and exams, and model answers will also be provided through the virtual learning environment. A discussion board provides an opportunity to discuss topics related to the material presented in the module.

Recommended reading

Reading lists are accessible through the Blackboard system linked to the library catalogue.

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Lectures 10
Tutorials 16
Independent study hours
Independent study 44

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Aline Saiani Unit coordinator
Christopher Hardacre Unit coordinator

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