Programme Specifications

Programme summary

1. Programme Aims

• To prepare graduates for professional careers in the process industries, primarily as process engineers in leading roles.  
• To enable them to understand, solve, and manage technical problems in general to a high level, and to be able to take advantage of further education, research and experience throughout their careers.
• To develop incoming students’ knowledge, skills, understanding and attitudes to those of more able professional chemical engineers.
• To impart in-depth knowledge of chemical engineering principles through the underlying mathematics, science and associated technologies.
• To provide knowledge and understanding of leading edge subjects within modern chemical engineering.
• To develop the ability to reason critically, collect, analyse, evaluate and synthesise data to facilitate optimisation, gather and use information, apply concepts and methodologies.
• To develop skills to a high level, especially in (a) drawing rational conclusions from experimental investigations, (b) information technology, including the use of calculation and design packages, computer graphics and word processing, and (c) communication, both oral and written.
• To impart thorough understanding of process principles through problem solving, projects and assignments, particularly process design exercises.
• To encourage professional attitudes through the study of the human, environmental, business and economic implications of technology, through team work, and through working with established professionals.

2. Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external reference points used to inform programme outcomes:

• QAA Benchmark statements for Engineering

• Framework for Higher Education Qualifications

• Accreditation of Chemical Engineeering Degrees: A guide for university departments and assessors, IChemE

• UK-SPEC

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

 On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to demonstrate good to excellent (as defined in the QAA Benchmark statements for Engineering) knowledge and understanding of:

1. Mathematics, science and engineering principles (including IT and technically leading subjects) relevant to the Process Industries.
2. Economic evaluation and business principles relevant to engineering and engineers, including entrepreneurship.
3. More in-depth concepts, principles and theories in subjects of the student's own choice.
4. The role of the engineer in society and as a team player, and the constraints within which their engineering judgement will be exercised.
5. The professional and ethical responsibilities of engineers, including those in leading roles.
6. The international role of the engineer and the impact of engineering solutions in a global context.
7. The detailed principles of process selection and design.

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

8. Demonstrate significant and wide ranging ability in identifying, defining and solving engineering problems using mathematical and modelling techniques with due cognisance of science and engineering principles.

9. Show strong ability in the selection, design and optimisation of process engineering systems and processes.

10. Recognise how to ensure safe operation of apparatus and plant whilst exercising judgement of economic and environmental constraints.

11. Evaluate and integrate information and processes through individual and team project work; communicating articulately in the process.

12. Show strong ability to plan an experiment (or project), analyse and interpret data recorded in the laboratory and on processes to deliver supported recommendations and/or solutions.

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

13. Use laboratory and pilot equipment well and safely, including advanced analytical apparatus.

14. Observe and record data in the laboratory and on processes.

15. Use computer packages appropriate to process engineering to a high level.  Integrate them extensively with project, laboratory and design work.

16. Prepare technical reports, technical research papers and reviews to a level that demonstrates initiative and in-depth thinking. Research the material(s) required to produce these.

17. Give technical presentations, with IT multimedia whenever possible.

18. Understand technical drawings.  Prepare block, flow, piping and instrumentation, and mechanical drawings.

19. Apply knowledge and skills to a high level in a professional environment through projects and training in industry (DIS/DIntS students and PDP in industry students only).

c. Key transferable skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

20. Communicate in a detailed and effective manner using written, oral, graphical and presentational skills – sorting data in the most appropriate manner.

21. Use IT effectively (e.g. process simulator, word processor, spreadsheet, presentation, CAD, email, www and specialist software) and integrate the benefits well with communication and reporting.

22. Use mathematical skills appropriate to a well qualified professional engineer.

23. Work independently to a high level.

24. Work in a team environment, taking a leading role if required.

25. Manage workloads and time effectively and efficiently.

26. Work with limited or contradictory information whilst being able to fully justify conclusions that are drawn.

4. Programme structure

4.1       PART A - Introductory Modules

            (i)  Compulsory modules - total modular weight 110

            (ii)  Optional Modules - total modular weight 10

One from

4.2       PART B - Degree Modules

            (i)  Compulsory modules - total modular weight 110

            (ii)  Optional Modules - total modular weight 10

One from

4.3         PART I – Optional Placement Year

One from

4.4       PART C - Degree Modules

            (i)  Compulsory modules - total modular weight 100 

(ii)  Optional Modules - total modular weight 20

Two from

4.5         Part D - Degree Modules 

              (i)  Compulsory modules - total modular weight 75 

              (ii)  Optional Modules - total modular weight 45

              Choose 3 from 6

5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

5.1 For students commencing Part A or joining a cohort commencing Part A before 2019/20,   in order to progress from Part A to Part B, from Part B to C, from C to D and to be eligible for the award of an Honours degree, candidates must not only satisfy the minimum credit requirements set out in Regulation XX but also:

- Candidates will be allowed to progress from Part A to Part B if in the Part A assessment they accumulate at least 100 credits in accordance with Regulation XX, and normally a minimum overall average of 60%.

- Candidates will be allowed to progress from Part B to Part C if in the Part B assessment, they accumulate at least 100 credits in accordance with Regulation XX, and normally a minimum overall average for Part B of 55%.

- Candidates will be allowed to progress from Part C to Part D if in the Part C assessment, they accumulate at least 100 credits in accordance with Regulation XX, and normally a minimum overall average of 50%.

- In order to qualify for the award of an Honours Degree, candidates will be required to accumulate a minimum of 100 credits in Part D in accordance with Regulation XX.

5.2 For students commencing Part A or joining a cohort commencing Part A FROM 2019/20 ONWARDS, in order to progress from Part A to Part B, from Part B to C, from C to D and to be eligible for the award of an Honours degree, candidates must not only satisfy the minimum credit requirements set out in Regulation XX but also:

- Accumulate a minimum of 120 credits from the Part.

- Achieve a minimum overall average for the Part of 55%.  

- Gain credit (≥40%) in modules MAA308 Mathematical Methods in Chemical Engineering and CGD045 Individual Process Design Project

5.3 Any candidate who fails to qualify for the award of the MEng Honours Degree in Part D may, at the discretion of the Examiners, be awarded a BEng in Chemical Engineering with a classification based on the candidate’s performance in Parts B and C (using modular weightings appropriate to the BEng programme) and provided that an Individual Process Design Project is completed.

Provision will be made for candidates who have the right of reassessment in Parts A, B, C and D of the programme to undergo reassessment in the University’s special assessment period.

6. Relative Weighting of Parts of the Programme for the Purposes of Final Degree Classification

The candidate's final degree classification will be determined on the basis of their performance in degree level module assessments in Parts B, C and D in accordance with the scheme set out in Regulation XX.  The average percentage marks of each Part will be combined in the proportions Part B 20 : Part C 40 : Part D 40 to determine the final degree classification.