Chemical engineer

You can do a degree or postgraduate qualification accredited by the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) .

Subjects include:

• chemical engineering
• process engineering
• biochemical engineering

You may be able to do a postgraduate conversion course if you have a degree in a related area like engineering, chemistry or polymer science.

Many courses include work placements which can give you valuable experience of working in the industry.

Some universities offer a foundation year for people without qualifications in maths and science, which allows them to move onto the degree course afterwards.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science

• 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including chemistry

• a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
• student finance for fees and living costs|https://www.gov.uk/student-finance
• university courses and entry requirements|https://www.ucas.com/

You could apply to do a Science Industry Process Engineer Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship.

This takes around 5 years to complete and combines learning on the job and time spent with a training provider.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a degree apprenticeship

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
• guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide

You could join a company as a chemical engineering technician and do training on the job to qualify as an engineer.

Professional and Industry Bodies

You can join IChemE for professional development opportunities.

Further Information

You can find more details about how to become a chemical engineer from IChemE.

As a chemical engineer in research and development, you could;test new ways to develop products in the lab, like biofuels; use computer modelling to investigate cost-effective and environmentally friendly production methods; plan how to turn lab research into pilot production, then large-scale processing; develop methods to deal safely with by-products and waste materials

In manufacturing, you could:

• work with plant designers to create production equipment and instruments
• oversee the day-to-day operation of the processing plant
• monitor production and deal with problems
• work closely with quality control and health and safety managers

You could work in a laboratory, at a manufacturing plant or in an office.

Your working environment may be outdoors some of the time.

You may need to wear protective clothing.