Chemical engineering
A chemical engineering degree sets you up to work with ground-breaking technologies that can have an impact within the energy, pharmaceutical and food and drink industries
Job options
Jobs directly related to your degree include:
- Biotechnologist
- Chemical engineer
- Colour technologist
- Energy engineer
- Geochemist
- Materials engineer
- Metallurgist
- Nuclear engineer
- Petroleum engineer
- Product/process development scientist
Jobs where your degree would be useful include:
- Analytical chemist
- Energy manager
- Environmental engineer
- Manufacturing engineer
- Mining engineer
- Production manager
- Quality manager
- Waste management officer
- Water engineer
Remember that many employers accept applications from graduates with any degree subject, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here.
Work experience
Most employers will require some previous related work experience. It's also useful if you're unsure about the area of chemical engineering you want to work in as it will give you an insight to what the specific industry is actually like.
Work experience could be in the form of a year in industry as part of your degree or it could be a shorter placement that you arrange yourself during the summer.
Placements are a great way of building up your practical experience and skills, testing and expanding your knowledge, and establishing a network of contacts for future work opportunities. There may also be opportunities to work shadow a chemical engineer to find out more about what they do.
Work experience is available in the pharmaceutical, petrochemical, and food and drink industries. Check out the careers section of company websites for more information on the opportunities available. Your university careers service can also advise on relevant work placements.
Search for placements and find out more about work experience and internships.
Typical employers
Employers cover a range of industrial and processing sectors. Any company involved in large-scale conversion of raw materials into a product will require chemical engineers.
You'll find major employers in power generation industries including gas and oil extraction, oil refining and nuclear energy, as well as process industries, including pharmaceuticals, fine and heavy chemicals, and agrochemicals. Other manufacturing industries that need chemical engineers include those supplying:
- fibres and polymers
- food and drink
- plastic and metals
- pulp and paper
- toiletries.
Many chemical development engineers work for engineering consultancy and contracting firms.
There are also opportunities to work in pollution control, environmental protection, energy conservation, waste recovery and recycling, alternative energy, medical science and health and safety.
You can also find employment outside of engineering and will be well equipped for careers in business, finance, management, IT and research.
Find information on employers in engineering and manufacturing, energy and utilities, science and pharmaceuticals and other job sectors.
Skills for your CV
In addition to specific technical knowledge, a chemical engineering degree provides a sound theoretical basis for introducing new technology and advancing existing technology. You also gain an awareness of the global and societal context in which engineering solutions are applied.
Transferable skills that would be useful in a range of engineering and business-related roles, including those outside of engineering, include:
- problem-solving and analytical skills
- project management, through group design work
- resource management
- teamwork and leadership, including people management
- IT skills
- initiative and attention to detail, through independent research
- creativity and innovation
- business acumen
- communication and presentation skills, developed through group work and presenting research projects.
Further study
It's possible for you to go on to further study at Masters or PhD level to further your knowledge and expertise in a specific area of chemical engineering that interests you. A PhD is essential for a career in academia and research.
It's also possible to complete postgraduate study in areas such as design, science or management. This may be particularly helpful if you want to enter a career that isn't directly related to chemical engineering.
While you're working, it's possible to gain professional status as an incorporated (IEng) or chartered engineer (CEng), which can help to boost career prospects. You may need to undertake further qualifications to achieve this. For more information on the requirements, see the Engineering Council: Professional Registration.
For more information on further study and to find a course that interests you, see Masters degrees and search postgraduate courses in chemical engineering.
What do chemical engineering graduates do?
Nearly a third (30%) of chemical engineering graduates are working as production and process engineers 15 months after graduation, with a further 9% working as engineering professionals.
Other notable jobs include management consultants and business analysts, engineering project managers and project engineers, programmers and software development professionals, health and safety managers and officers, IT business analysts, architects and systems designers, civil engineers, finance and investment analysts and advisers, environment professionals and data analysts.
| Destination | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Employed | 89.1 |
| Further study | 0.2 |
| Working and studying | 8.9 |
| Unemployed | 0.3 |
| Other | 1.5 |
| Type of work | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Engineering | 49.5 |
| Business, HR and finance | 14.5 |
| IT | 8.4 |
| Other professionals | 4.8 |
| Other | 22.8 |
Find out what other chemical engineering graduates are doing 15 months after finishing their degrees in What do graduates do?
Graduate Outcomes survey data from HESA.