The University of Birmingham is a public research university located in Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Queen's College, Birmingham, and Mason Science College, making it the first English civic or 'red brick' university to receive its own royal charter. The University have a long and proud history of firsts, at the University of Birmingham; they were the first – and are now one of the largest - civic universities in the UK.

At Birmingham, the institution teach and research across the full breadth of academic disciplines, creating a vibrant community with multi-disciplinary opportunities for research and education. The University is a truly international community consisting of more than thousands of staff, students, and alumni. The student community is not only one of the largest of any UK university, it is highly diverse, with 82 per cent of home undergraduate students from state schools, 32 per cent from a BAME background, and 35 per cent in the first generation of their family to attend university.

The MSc programme is a one-year full time course or can be taken part-time over two or more years. Taught modules are delivered in semesters 1 and 2. The programme starts with an introductory 10-credit module to introduce material that will be encountered in the programme. Depending upon your academic background, you will begin by studying the fundamental principles of either chemical engineering or the relevant biological science.

This is followed by 50 credits of multidisciplinary core modules that cover advanced concepts in chemical engineering that are relevant to multiple sectors. The properties of colloidal systems, commonplace in formulated products such as food, are studied with a view to processing and characterisation. Techniques for measurement and characterisation are investigated alongside experimental design in an engineering context. Use of biological systems for production of novel products is also covered.

The core modules are followed by optional modules in multiple diverse areas, reflecting the expertise of the school. The programme is designed to allow you to customise your learning experience and topics studied, to reflect your interests and next destination. The Advanced Chemical Engineering programme allows the most diversity, with students choosing 60 credits of optional modules from multiple themes.

These enable you to gain specific knowledge relating to topics that are the subject of current research within the school, such as bioprocessing, energy, engineering business, food processing, healthcare technology, pharmaceuticals, fuel cells, food and pharmaceutical product development. Safety, regulatory and quality issues applicable across the relevant industries are also considered.

You will have the freedom to pick and choose modules from each theme (providing timetabling allows for this). Some modules advertised currently may be subject to change, either in terms of the module content as stated below, or in terms of if the module will be available for this programme (due to staff changes, timetable changes, etc).

Finally, in the summer, Masters students undertake an original research project, working closely with a research group within the school. This allows you to consolidate your knowledge in a practical setting and develop practical research expertise. This brings the total credits for the MSc to 180.

Introductory modules
If you have not taken a chemical engineering first degree, then you will take Process Engineering Fundamentals. Otherwise, you will take Bioscience for Graduates of other disciplines, which will give you the background you require in biological topics.

Bioscience for Graduates of other disciplines - 10 credits
Process Engineering Fundamentals - 10 credits
Core modules
Applied Synthetic Biology - 10 credits
Measurement, Sensors and Design of Experiments – 20 credits
Non-ideal materials – 20 credits
Research Project (MSc only) - 60 credits
Optional modules – choose 60 credits
Modules from different themes can be combined within timetabling constraints. All modules are offered subject to sufficient enrolled students. All module descriptions are provisional and subject to minor change. Example optional are listed below:

Hydrogen Energy Theme
Advanced Electrochemical Applications -10 credits
Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Technology - 10 credits
Introduction to Electrochemistry - 10 credits
Techniques for Fuel Cell Characterisation - 10 credits
Food Engineering and Safety Theme
Chemical Contamination of Food and Water - 10 credits
Food Chain Security - 10 credits
Food Structure for Performance - 10 credits
Future Engineering of Food – 10 credits
Sustainability in the Food Industry - 10 credits
Pharmaceutical Technology Theme
Design and development of drug delivery systems - 10 credits
From bench to market: the development of pharmaceutical drug products - 10 credits
Healthcare Technology Theme
Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing for Healthcare Applications - 10 credits
Advanced Biomaterials for Healthcare Technologies – 10 credits
Advanced Therapeutic Medicine Products - 10 credits
Frontiers in Tissue Engineering - 10 credits
Medical Devices – 10 credits
Sensor Systems in Medicine – 10 credits
Bioprocessing Theme
Bioseparations - 20 credits
Cell Factories - 20 credits
Business Studies Theme
Business and Strategy Development - 10 credits
Project Management (Business Strategy Delivery) - 10 credits
Energy Theme
Energy Storage – 10 credits
Energy Systems and Policy - 10 credits
Energy Systems Design - 10 credits
Energy Systems Modelling - 10 credits
Renewable Energy Systems - 10 credits
Core Process Engineering Skills Theme
Chemical NanoEngineering - 10 credits
Explosion Science, Prevention and Protection - 10 credits
Industry 4.0 and Big Data - 20 credits
Please note: The modules listed on the website for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

You will need to book the accommodation after you have been accepted.

You can choose to live on campus or off campus in private accommodation.

• Make a booking online after you have been accepted (in this case please let us know your choice when you apply).
• Register when you arrive - its not possible to reserve a room before arriving. You can arrive a few days before and book it