Chemical Engineering with an Industrial Placement Year

Learn about the design and operation of processes for making products such as fuels, medicines, plastics, food and materials for high technology industries. Between years two and three you'll take a paid placement in the chemical engineering industry, putting your academic studies into context and making you even more employable.

Why study this course?
- World-class facilities, practical training: Gain invaluable experience using industrial-scale equipment in energy, pharmaceutical, and biological engineering. The Diamond Pilot Plant, featuring the UK's first university powder processing line, mirrors the systems and processes used in industry, ensuring you graduate with real-world skills that employers value.

- Gain valuable industry experience with a placement year: You’ll have the opportunity to put your skills into practice with a year-long industry placement, gaining invaluable industry experience that enhances your employability, builds professional connections, and prepares you for a dynamic career in the field.

- Pursue your dream career: Our course is designed with your future in mind, with employability embedded at every stage. Our dedicated chemical engineering employability team hosts an annual careers and employability conference, featuring guest speakers from leading companies such as Nestlé, Pepsico, GTC, and Reckitt.

- Prepare for a sustainable future: Sustainability is at the core of our course, equipping you to address global challenges such as climate change and resource management. Learn how chemical engineers lead the transition to green energy, reduce emissions and create sustainable processes.

Become a skilled chemical engineer with real-world experience, working to solve the myriad challenges facing humanity, from sustainable manufacturing to clean energy.

Sustainable manufacturing, clean energy, and healthcare are key challenges that need skilled chemical engineers. At Sheffield, we’ll equip you with the skills and knowledge to tackle global issues and make an impact.

We emphasise learning through practical experience. That means lab work, projects and open-ended problem-solving. And our state-of-the-art pilot plant gives you the chance to apply what you learn by experimenting with large-scale process equipment. In fact, hands-on experience of using industry standard equipment is integrated throughout the course.

Chemical engineering is rapidly evolving. You’ll gain essential skills for an increasingly digital manufacturing world, including advanced computer modelling techniques. These skills are critical for future-proofing your career in a tech-driven, sustainable economy.

You’ll have the opportunity to study abroad or take part in a year-long industry placement. Both options offer a chance to gain real-world experience and build valuable international and industry connections that will help you stand out when you graduate.

In your third year, you’ll take on a design project where you’ll create a real-world process from start to finish, replicating the work of chemical engineers in the industry. This comprehensive, hands-on project will integrate everything you’ve learned, preparing you for your first step into the industry.

Put your knowledge and skills into practice with a year-long industry placement, gaining invaluable real-world experience. Placements are not guaranteed and are your responsibility to secure, but you’ll receive comprehensive support and advice from our dedicated Industrial Placement Year team to help you find the right opportunity. Recent placements include roles at renowned organisations such as Johnson Matthey, Pepsico, Roche, Airbus, and Müller.

We are accredited by the Institution of Chemical Engineers on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as an Incorporated Engineer and partially meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer.