phd chem eng cambridge

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Before submitting

The word limit is 65,000 words (including appendices, footnotes, tables and equations, but excluding the bibliography). It must not contain more than 150 figures. See  Word limits and requirements of your Degree Committee . If you need to increase your word limit, you must apply for permission via your CamSIS self-service account. Requests for more than 72,000 words will not be considered under any circumstances.

Additional Materials

Additional materials* are defined as materials created by the candidate which are integral to the thesis and essential for examination, but cannot be easily included in the main body of the thesis. Examples may include 3D models, simulations, video or audio recordings, hi-resolution images, or computer programmes. Additional materials are defined as materials created by the candidate which are integral to the thesis and essential for examination, but cannot be easily included in the main body of the thesis. Examples may include 3D models, simulations, video or audio recordings, hi-resolution images, or computer programmes.

If you need to include additional materials , you need permission to do so BEFORE submitting your thesis for examination.

*Please note that additional materials cannot be used to circumvent the thesis maximum word limit

Format and presentation

Please see the information on the  Cambridge Students website.

Your submission deadline

Your PhD thesis should be submitted before the last day of your fourth year of study. You can find your submission deadline on your CamSIS self-service account. The earliest date you can submit is the first day of your ninth term. We strongly advise students to aim to submit within ten terms, or by the end of their funding date, whichever is soonest . This will allow you some contingency time in case of unexpected delays.

Extensions can only be granted in limited circumstances (ie where you have experienced unforeseen delays); see  Extending your submission date . Please ensure that you read and follow the guidance carefully if you need to apply for an extension. If you do not submit by your deadline, you will be removed from the register of graduate students, which will result in you losing access to resources. However, if this happens, you will still be able to submit your thesis at a later date .

Preparing to submit

Four weeks before you intend to submit your thesis, please complete the online  Intention to Submit Form . After consulting with your supervisor, the GSO will arrange for your examiners to be appointed and your title approved. At this point the GSO will add you to the Moodle site so that you can submit your thesis when it is complete.

If you wish to notify examiners of any disability or request adjustments on account of such disability for your viva voce examination (either for your first year assessment or final examination), you can do this via your Degree Committee by completing and submitting the  voluntary disclosure form .

Where and what to submit

You should submit an electronic pdf copy of your thesis via the Engineering Degree Committee thesis submission   Moodle site. Please name the file "PhD_ Your CRSid.pdf" so that it is identifiable.

Providing examiners have been appointed, your thesis will be forwarded to the examiners within two days of receipt by the GSO. For details of where to submit your thesis and what paperwork to include, see  Submitting your Thesis .

After submitting

The oral examination (viva).

We will email you when your thesis has been forwarded to your examiners. You should expect to wait at least 8 weeks for your  oral examination . In most cases the viva will be between you and two examiners, usually one internal and one external.

After your oral examination, you may be asked to make some corrections to your thesis. If your examiners do not provide you with a list of corrections, please contact the GSO and we will arrange for a list to be sent to you.  When the corrections are complete, you should show them to your internal examiner (and/or your external examiner in some cases).

After the examination

Your examiners' reports will be considered at a meeting of the Engineering Degree Committee . Following this meeting, the Degree Committee will send their decision to the Student Registry. You will usually receive an email from the Student Registry within about a week of the Degree Committee meeting, informing you of the outcome, along with copies of your examiners' reports. In some cases, your examination paperwork will also need to be considered by the Postgraduate Committee (see 'Other outcomes' below).

No corrections needed, or corrections completed and approved before paperwork considered by Degree Committee

If you were not required to make any corrections, or you have already completed your corrections and they have been approved by your examiners before your paperwork is considered by the Degree Committee, then following the meeting you will receive an email from the Student Registry informing you to submit the hardbound and electronic copies of your thesis . In some cases where corrections have been completed, you may first receive notification that corrections are required, and then another email within a day or two to confirm that those have been completed and you can submit your hardbound and e-thesis.

Corrections required

Examiners can recommend that you need to complete some corrections  to your thesis. These can be either minor, which you will be given three months to complete, or major, which you will be given six months to complete. These timings start from the date that your examination paperwork is approved by the Degree Committee, and you will receive an email from the Student Registry informing you of the relevant timeframes following that meeting.

You remain on the register of graduate students during this period (unless your corrections are approved sooner), however the working restrictions for graduate students do not apply during this time. You should still apply for leave to work away if you are completing your corrections away from Cambridge. After completing your corrections, you should send them to your internal examiner to approve, who will then confirm to the Degree Committee, via the GSO, when they have done so. Approval of corrections does not need to go through any further committee meetings. The GSO will notify the Student Registry, who will then send you an email about submitting the hardbound and electronic copies of your thesis .

Other outcomes

Although the most common outcome is that corrections are required before you can be awarded a PhD (or occasionally an outright pass), it is also possible that you may be asked to Revise and Resubmit your thesis for a new examination. Alternatively, you may be offered the award of a lower degree, or in rare cases, outright failure is a possible outcome. You can find the full list of potential outcomes in the Code of Practice . If the Degree Committee wishes to recommend one of these outcomes, your examination results will need to be considered at a meeting of the University's Postgraduate Committee before a decision is agreed and notified to you. If your examination results are to be considered at a Postgraduate Committee meeting, you will be informed by the Student Registry after the Degree Committee meeting, 

After degree approval

After your PhD, including any corrections required, has been approved by the Degree Committee, you will be notified that you need to submit the hardbound copy of your thesis, as well as an electronic copy. You can find information about this, as well as what to do if you need to restrict or embargo your thesis, on the Cambridge Students website.

You can then make arrangements to attend a congregation, or have your degree awarded in absentia .

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PhD in Chemical Engineering

University of cambridge, different course options.

• Key information

Course Summary

Tuition fees, entry requirements, similar courses at different universities, key information data source : idp connect, qualification type.

PhD/DPhil - Doctor of Philosophy

Subject areas

Chemical Engineering

Course type

The Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology offers PhDs in Chemical Engineering or Biotechnology.

Research within the Department covers a wide and exciting array of activities ranging from quite fundamental research in biology through to the traditional fields of chemical engineering.

After completing three years (nine terms) but no more than four years, a PhD student must submit a thesis of up to 65,000 words. The thesis will be orally examined by two examiners, one internal and one external to the University.

All first-year PhD (Probationary) students complete a literature review and compile their findings in a short report that is submitted three months after the start of their PhD.

Near the end of the first year, all students submit a first-year report and are assessed orally. Additionally, as part of the assessment, students will present their work to their examiners. If successful, the student will then be fully registered for the PhD.

UK fees Course fees for UK students

For this course (per year)

International fees Course fees for EU and international students

Applicants for this course should have achieved a UK High II.i Honours Degree.

MSc Advanced Chemical Engineering

London south bank university, mphil chemical engineering, university of bath, chemical engineering phd, advanced chemical engineering msc, cranfield university, advanced chemical engineering, msc, university of greenwich.

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PhD in Chemistry

Entry requirement:   2.1 Masters degree or equivalent . 

Please check international qualifications equivalence guidelines here .

Coming to Cambridge for a PhD in Chemistry means you will be joining a community of over 50 academics, 350 PhD students and more than 200 postdoctoral researchers. The research opportunities are vast and career development is second to none. 

The route to a PhD takes up to four years of full-time research, culminating in a substantial thesis of up to 60,000 words which is examined by viva. Along your journey to a PhD, you will be absorbed in the laboratory life of your chosen research group. The postgraduate chemistry lecture series we offer aims to bring everyone up to the same high-level of foundational knowledge; irrespective of prior educational background at Masters level. You will present your research at seminars and conferences as you progress. Most PhD students go to at least one international and national chemistry conference in the course of their studies.

HOW TO APPLY

We strongly recommend that you correspond with potential supervisors early and well in advance of submitting your application. This is also important for maintaining oversight of which project you could be working on. Prospective projects may not always reflect groups publications therefore, we encourage you to discuss this with your potential supervisors to avoid disappointment. 

For information about funding please click here .

Table of academics.

About the Department

Departmental services.

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Head of Graduate Recruitment, Department of Chemistry Graduate Admissions

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Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, BA (Hons) and MEng

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Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology at Cambridge | #GoingToCambridge

The Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology course at Cambridge looks at the challenge of how processes can make products in a sustainable way.

Chemical Engineers make chemical products from raw materials. Biotechnologists use living systems and organisms to make products. On the course, you'll learn the scientific principles used by both.  

Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology at Cambridge

The skills you'll learn are essential to the development of processes and products that are needed to address some of the problems facing humanity. These include:

• the need for sustainable food and water supplies as climate change occurs
• the provision of improved global healthcare solutions and therapeutics
• the energy transition away from fossil fuels

As well as learning scientific theory, you'll work on projects that teach you about the practical side of process and product design.

We aim to produce graduates who meet the needs of today's process and biotech industries. To do this, we provide you with:

• a thorough understanding of the subject
• technical competence
• transferable skills

You can graduate after 3 years with a BA degree, but most students stay on for the fourth year which leads to the BA and MEng degrees.

Teaching and facilities

We have a reputation for excellence in teaching and research. The Department regularly tops national league tables. We also benefit from strong links with industry.

Our purpose-built department building has the highest quality teaching and research facilities.

These include:

• laboratory space for practicals and research projects
• a Makerspace area with 3D printers and other mechanical and electronic workshop equipment
• a computer suite
• lecture theatres and classrooms
• a central social space for relaxing and networking

You'll be able to access library resources for Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology. These are at the West Hub, near to the department.

You'll also have access to:

• our impressive Cambridge University Library, one of the world’s oldest university libraries

Course costs

When you go to university, you’ll need to consider two main costs – your tuition fees and your living costs (sometimes referred to as maintenance costs).

Your living costs will include costs related to your studies that are not covered by your tuition fees. There are some general study costs that will apply for all students – you can find details of these costs here .

Other additional costs for Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology are detailed below. If you have any queries about resources/materials, please contact the Department.

• University approved scientific calculator. Estimated cost £20.
• Lab coat. Estimated cost £15.
• Safety glasses. Estimated cost £5.

Becoming an accredited Chartered Engineer

The four-year course is accredited by the Institution of Chemical Engineers.

This means that you can apply for Chartered Engineer status after you've graduated and have four years of relevant experience. You won't need to take any further exams.

Progression to the fourth year and accreditation are dependent on satisfactory performance in core components.

Your future career

There are many well-paid career opportunities within chemical engineering and biotechnology.

Some of our graduates go on to postgraduate study before entering employment.

Graduates may go on to work as:

• engineers in the process industries
• research scientists
• technical managers

The skills you learn on the course will also prepare you for careers outside of the subject. For example, previous graduates have gone into careers in finance and management consultancy.

You will mostly be taught through lectures. These lectures are supported by projects, laboratory classes, supervisions and coursework.

In a typical week students attend 10 lectures and have 2 or 3 supervisions.

In the first two years of the course, you will do a significant amount of laboratory work. The amount of project work increases each year.

You'll be assessed by a combination of written examinations and coursework.

You won't usually be able to resit any of your exams.

Year 1 (Part IA)

You will study:

• Fundamental scientific topics such as cell biology, materials science and engineering principles
• Introductory chemical engineering and biotechnology principles. For example, sustainability, process calculations, fluid mechanics, and chemical and biochemical product design
• Chemistry from Part IA of Natural Sciences
• Mathematics from Part IA of Natural Sciences

You will also:

• complete an engineering design and manufacturing workshop
• do the chemistry practical laboratory class from Part IA of Natural Sciences

Year 2 (Part IB)

In the second year, you will study:

• fundamental principles like biotechnology, process thermodynamics, fluid mechanics and heat and mass transfer
• introductory applications. For example, reaction engineering, separations and solids processing
• supporting topics like engineering mathematics, data science, and safety principles

You will also take:

• laboratory classes in chemical engineering and biotechnology
• assessed exercises
• classes in computing skills, including process simulation

Year 3 (Part II)

In the first term, you will study further applications. These include:

• advanced biotechnology
• equilibrium thermodynamics
• reaction engineering
• separation technology
• process dynamics and control

In the second and third terms, you study process design and undertake a design project.

You will work in a team to design a plant making a particular chemical or biological product.

As part of the project, you will consider all aspects of engineering design, including:

• specification of equipment
• control procedures
• safety and environmental impact
• economic assessment

If you successfully complete the third year, you’ll get a BA degree.

Year 4 (Part III)

Progression to fourth year depends on satisfactory performance in your previous exams.

If you successfully complete the fourth year, you’ll get the MEng qualification, as well as the BA degree.

You will study some compulsory topics. Currently, these are:

• energy technology
• sustainability
• advanced design

You will also develop your research skills and undertake a research project. This might involve experimental, theoretical and/or computational work.

Some projects support ongoing Department research. But others are ‘blue sky’ investigations leading to new research programmes.

You also choose further topics from a list of optional papers. The options change every year to reflect the research interests of academic staff.

Past examples include:

• pharmaceutical engineering
• adsorption and nanoporous materials
• computational fluid dynamics
• interface engineering
• optical microscopy
• bionanotechnology
• biosensors and bioelectronics
• healthcare biotechnology

For further information, see the  Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology  website.

Changing course

It’s really important to think carefully about which course you want to study before you apply. 

In rare cases, it may be possible to change course once you’ve joined the University. You will usually have to get agreement from your College and the relevant departments. It’s not guaranteed that your course change will be approved.

You might also have to:

• take part in an interview
• complete an admissions test
• produce some written work
• achieve a particular grade in your current studies
• do some catch-up work
• start your new course from the beginning 

For more information visit the Department website .

You can also apply to change to:

• Management Studies at the Judge Business School
• Manufacturing Engineering at the Institute for Manufacturing

You can't apply to these courses until you're at Cambridge. You would usually apply when you have completed 1 year or more of your original Cambridge course.

You should contact your College’s Admissions Office if you’re thinking of changing your course. They will be able to give you advice and explain how changing courses works.

Minimum offer level

A level: A*A*A IB: 41-42 points, with 776 at Higher Level Other qualifications : Check which other qualifications we accept .

Subject requirements

To apply to any of our Colleges for Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, you will need A levels/IB Higher Levels (or the equivalent) in:   

• Mathematics   
• Chemistry   
• A third science/mathematics subject  

Please note, ‘science/mathematics subjects’ refers to Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics and Further Mathematics.  

Colleges will usually require an A*/7 in Mathematics or Further Mathematics, and Chemistry.

If applying to Churchill, you will need to achieve:

• A Level: A* in Further Mathematics, if available at your school/college (otherwise an A* in Mathematics), and A* in Chemistry or Physics
• IB: 7 in Higher Level Mathematics and 7 in IB Higher Level Chemistry and/or IB Higher Level Physics

If you’re studying IB Higher Level Mathematics, we ask for Analysis and Approaches for this course. If this isn’t an option at your school, please contact the College you wish to apply to for advice.  

If you’re studying a science not listed above as your third subject, please contact the College you wish to apply to for advice.    

What Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology students have studied

Most Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology students (who had studied A levels and started at Cambridge in 2017-19) achieved at least A*A*A* (88% of entrants). 

All had studied:

• Mathematics

Most also took Further Mathematics (86%) and/or Physics (91%). 

The majority of students who studied IB achieved at least 43 points overall.

Check our advice on choosing your high school subjects . You should also check if there are any required subjects for your course when you apply.

Admissions test

All applicants for Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology for 2025 entry are required to take the Engineering and Science Admissions Test (ESAT) at an authorised assessment centre. You must register in advance for this test.

Please see the admissions test page for more information.

Submitted work

You won't usually be asked to submit examples of written work. You may be asked to do some reading prior to your interview, but if this is required the College will provide full details in your interview invitation.

Offers above the minimum requirement

The minimum offer level and subject requirements outline the minimum you'll usually need to achieve to get an offer from Cambridge.

In some cases, you'll get a higher or more challenging offer. Colleges set higher offer requirements for a range of reasons. If you'd like to find out more about why we do this,  check the information about offers above the minimum requirement  on the entry requirements page.

Some Colleges usually make offers above the minimum offer level. Find out more on our qualifications page .

All undergraduate admissions decisions are the responsibility of the Cambridge Colleges. Please contact the relevant  College admissions office  if you have any queries.

Discover your department or faculty

• Visit the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology website - The Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology website has more information about this course, facilities, people and research.

Explore our Colleges

• Find out how Colleges work - A College is where you’ll live, eat and socialise. It’s also where you’ll have teaching in a small group, known as supervisions.
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Discover Uni allows you to compare information about individual courses at different higher education institutions.  This can be a useful method of considering your options and what course may suit you best.

However, please note that superficially similar courses often have very different structures and objectives, and that the teaching, support and learning environment that best suits you can only be determined by identifying your own interests, needs, expectations and goals, and comparing them with detailed institution- and course-specific information.

We recommend that you look thoroughly at the course and University information contained on these webpages and consider coming to visit us on an Open Day , rather than relying solely on statistical comparison.

You may find the following notes helpful when considering information presented by Discover Uni.

• Discover Uni relies on superficially similar courses being coded in the same way. Whilst this works on one level, it may lead to some anomalies. For example, Music courses and Music Technology courses can have exactly the same code despite being very different programmes with quite distinct educational and career outcomes. Any course which combines several disciplines (as many courses at Cambridge do) tends to be compared nationally with courses in just one of those disciplines, and in such cases the Discover Uni comparison may not be an accurate or fair reflection of the reality of either. For example, you may find that when considering a degree which embraces a range of disciplines such as biology, physics, chemistry and geology (for instance, Natural Sciences at Cambridge), the comparison provided is with courses at other institutions that primarily focus on just one (or a smaller combination) of those subjects.You may therefore find that not all elements of the Cambridge degree are represented in the Discover Uni data.
• Some contextual data linked from other surveys, such as the National Student Survey (NSS) or the Destination of Leavers in Higher Education (DLHE), may not be available or may be aggregated across several courses or several years due to small sample sizes.  When using the data to inform your course choice, it is important to ensure you understand how it has been processed prior to its presentation. Discover Uni offers some explanatory information about how the contextual data is collated, and how it may be used, which you can view here: https://discoveruni.gov.uk/about-our-data/ .
• Discover Uni draws on national data to provide average salaries and employment/continuation data.  Whilst starting salaries can be a useful measure, they do not give any sense of career trajectory or take account of the voluntary/low paid work that many graduates undertake initially in order to gain valuable experience necessary/advantageous for later career progression. Discover Uni is currently piloting use of the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) data to demonstrate possible career progression; it is important to note that this is experimental and its use may be modified as it embeds.

The above list is not exhaustive and there may be other important factors that are relevant to the choices that you are making, but we hope that this will be a useful starting point to help you delve deeper than the face value of the Discover Uni data.

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Chemical Engineering

The Chemical Engineering programme from The University of Cambridge, covers a broad range of topics, including healthcare, sustainability, energy, and materials. Individual academics offer a broad range of topics.

University of Cambridge Multiple locations Cambridge , England , United Kingdom Top 0.1% worldwide Studyportals University Meta Ranking 4.3 Read 63 reviews

The specifics of any project will dictate the activities of the student.  This can be molecular biology through to quantum mechanics. The Chemical Engineering programme is offered at The University of Cambridge.

• Research within the Department covers a wide and exciting array of activities ranging from quite fundamental research in biology through to the traditional fields of chemical engineering.

Programme Structure

Curriculum: 

• Thesis / Dissertation
• All first-year PhD (Probationary) students complete a literature review and compile their findings in a short report that is submitted three months after the start of their PhD.
• Near the end of the first year, all students submit a first-year report and are assessed orally

Key information

• 37 months

Start dates & application deadlines

• Apply before 2024-10-02 00:00:00
• Apply before 2025-05-16 00:00:00

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Disciplines

Academic requirements, english requirements, student insurance.

Make sure to cover your health, travel, and stay while studying abroad. Even global coverages can miss important items, so make sure your student insurance ticks all the following:

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Other requirements

General requirements.

• Two academic references 
• Transcript 
• Evidence of competence in English 
• Statement of interest 
• Reasons for applying 

Tuition Fee

International, living costs for cambridge.

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find PhD's scholarship opportunities for Chemical Engineering.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

Read more about eligibility

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Chemical Engineering PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships

A PhD in Chemical Engineering is an exciting opportunity for those passionate about pushing the boundaries of scientific knowledge and making a real impact in the field of engineering.

What's it like to study a PhD in Chemical Engineering?

Studying a PhD in Chemical Engineering is a challenging and rewarding experience. As a doctoral student, you will have the opportunity to delve deep into a specific area of chemical engineering and contribute to the advancement of the field. Whether it's developing new materials, improving industrial processes, or finding sustainable solutions, your research will have the potential to shape the future of engineering.

During your PhD, you will work closely with a supervisor who will guide and support you throughout your research journey. You will have access to state-of-the-art laboratories and facilities, allowing you to conduct experiments and gather data to support your research findings. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to collaborate with other researchers and attend conferences to share your work and gain valuable insights from experts in the field.

Entry requirements for a PhD in Chemical Engineering

To pursue a PhD in Chemical Engineering, you will typically need a strong academic background in engineering or a related field. Most universities require a minimum of a 2.1 Honours degree or a Master's degree in a relevant subject. Additionally, you will need to submit a research proposal outlining your intended area of research and how it aligns with the expertise of the department or faculty.

PhD in Chemical Engineering funding options

Funding for PhDs in Chemical Engineering may be available from various sources, including governments, universities and charities, business or industry. See our full guides to PhD funding for more information.

PhD in Chemical Engineering careers

A PhD in Chemical Engineering opens up a wide range of career opportunities. Graduates can find employment in various sectors, including pharmaceuticals, energy, environmental engineering, and manufacturing. With your advanced knowledge and research skills, you can pursue careers in research and development, process engineering, project management, or academia.

Many graduates of a PhD in Chemical Engineering go on to work in research and development roles, where they can contribute to the development of new technologies and processes. Others may choose to work in consultancy, providing expert advice and solutions to industry challenges. Additionally, academia offers opportunities for those interested in teaching and conducting further research.

Overall, a PhD in Chemical Engineering equips you with the skills and knowledge to make a significant impact in the field of engineering and opens up exciting career prospects in various industries.

Micro-PIV Investigation of Seabed Reactions to Hydrodynamic Conditions and Energy Changes

Phd research project.

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

This project has funding attached, subject to eligibility criteria. Applications for the project are welcome from all suitably qualified candidates, but its funding may be restricted to a limited set of nationalities. You should check the project and department details for more information.

Microstructure-flow interplay in 3D printing: linking structure, rheology and printability of bespoke and commercial formulations

Funded phd project (uk students only).

This research project has funding attached. It is only available to UK citizens or those who have been resident in the UK for a period of 3 years or more. Some projects, which are funded by charities or by the universities themselves may have more stringent restrictions.

Unveiling and enhancing nature-based solutions for mitigating emerging micropollutants - PhD

Competition funded phd project (students worldwide).

This project is in competition for funding with other projects. Usually the project which receives the best applicant will be successful. Unsuccessful projects may still go ahead as self-funded opportunities. Applications for the project are welcome from all suitably qualified candidates, but potential funding may be restricted to a limited set of nationalities. You should check the project and department details for more information.

Prospective Life Cycle Assessment for Sustainable Chemical Innovation: Developing Digital Techniques for Early-Stage Decision Support

Improving the green pharmaceutical transition - a feasibility study, phd studentship in solar chemical technologies, gif cdt: design and optimization of an adsorption-based co2 capture shipboard process, gid cdt: advanced instrumentation for carbon capture materials characterisation - competitive adsorption processes, gif cdt: a novel gas/liquid contactor for direct air capture and industrial co2 capture technologies, gif cdt: integrative systems of carbon removal technologies and green hydrogen scale up and standardisation, gif cdt: fundamental combustion chemistry of hydrogen/ammonia/nitrogen fuel blends, gif cdt: future proof energy and materials feedstock resilience for sustainable aviation fuels supply chain (safsc), gif cdt: post-combustion co2 capture solvents: addressing the knowledge gap with long-term testing, gif cdt: cfd modelling of hydrogen and blends combustion and emissions, gif cdt: impact of sustainable aviation fuels on local environment and contrails.

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Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology

The Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology course at Cambridge will teach students how to design and operate industrial processes that convert raw materials into products. The increasing importance of sustainably manufacturing products expands the need for understanding the biological aspects of the circular economy and means that chemical engineers and biotechnologists are in great demand. The Cambridge course aims to produce highly qualified graduates with transferable skills who understand the fundamental science underpinning the subject and can apply their skills to a wide range of process industries.

Cambridge’s Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology is relatively small. It has an intake of about sixty undergraduates each year, of whom typically 3-4 would come from Trinity.  The College’s Director of Studies in Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology is Professor Andy Sederman.  College supervisions in the first, second and third years – approximately three hours per week – are largely given by Professor Sederman or other members of the Department.  In the fourth year students are supervised by specialists in their chosen options.  Professor Sederman is a Fellow of the College and his research interests at the Magnetic Resonance Research Centre lie in the development and application magnetic resonance methods to process and reaction engineering and in particular the understanding of multi-component reaction, diffusion and flow processes.  Professor Gladden is also a Fellow of the College and runs fourth year research projects within the department.

Course Details

Teaching staff.

• Professor Andy Sederman

Admissions Assessment

All applicants are required to take the Engineering and Science Admissions Test (ESAT) , see the  written assessments  page for further information.

You must be registered in advance (separately to your UCAS application) to take the test – the online registration deadline is 16 September 2024 .

You will take the test on 15 or 16 October 2024 . You must take the test in this first sitting.

Please note that your performance in the ESAT will not be considered in isolation, but will be taken into account alongside the other elements of your application.

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Applying to Graduate School

Welcome to the MIT Chemical Engineering Graduate Admissions page. This page explains the application process in general. To apply, go to the online application . You will be asked to create a user ID and password. Please write down your user ID and password for future use. You do not need to complete the entire application in one sitting. You may begin the application, save it, and return to it at a later time using your user id and password.

MIT’s Department of Chemical Engineering offers three graduate degree programs — PhD , PhD CEP and MSCEP .  MIT admits students for the Fall term each year; there is no January or June admissions.

Before you apply…

• Admission Frequently Asked Questions
• ChemE Application Mentorship Program (ChAMP)
• Learn about our Interdisciplinary Programs
• Watch Graduate Admissions Info Session Webinar
• Q&A and Slides from the Webinar

Note: Many questions are answered in our Frequently Asked Questions ( FAQ ) section. Prior to contacting MIT ChemE ( [email protected] ), please take the time to review our FAQ page.

The Department of Chemical Engineering does not provide application updates via email. All updates will be posted in the application portal.

Online Application: Due November 13

Fill out the online application by 23:59, EST, November 13

You will be providing the following information:

• Field(s) of interest
• Personal information
• We recommend that before October 15 you notify your letter writers that you will be requesting evaluations from them. This will give them time to prepare and submit their letters by November 13 . Once you have submitted your online application, instructions to your letter writers will be generated for you. You are responsible for making sure that your letter writers have copies of these instructions.
• Letters of recommendation should address the admissions criteria listed below.
• Scanned copies of your college transcripts
• For international students, official TOEFL, IELTS, or Cambridge English exam scores
• PhDCEP only : Self-reported GRE general exam scores
• PhD & MSCEP: GRE scores are not required or accepted as part of the graduate application
• Application fee of $75*
• Any honors, awards, prizes, or fellowships you have received
• All teaching, work, and research experiences you have had
• Any publications or presentations, including full citation with title and list of all authors and the DOI if applicable
• Any military or major volunteer service and study abroad experiences
• Anything else you’d like to share
• What motivates you to earn a PhD/PhDCEP/MSCEP in Chemical Engineering at MIT? (300 words)
• For up to two of your most important scientific, engineering, research, or work experiences over the last four years, describe your specific role, the new knowledge or discovery that you made, and the potential impacts of the project on science or society. (300 words per experience)
• In what type of environment do you and others thrive?  How do you find, create, and maintain those environments?  (300 words)
• Please tell us anything else about yourself that you think we should know. (No word limit)

* Fee waivers are available for eligible applicants.

Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications as early as possible and are responsible for ensuring that all admissions credentials are submitted on time. Your application will not be reviewed until all materials have been received. There is no separate application for financial support; all admitted students are offered financial support.

Admissions Criteria

Prospective student applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

Understanding of the Chemical Engineering Fundamentals: The candidate’s core knowledge of chemical kinetics, transport phenomena, thermodynamics, and the underlying quantitative skills that form the core solution methods for Chemical Engineers.

Analytical and Scientific Preparation: A candidate’s background in chemistry, biology, physics, mathematics, and computer science as relevant to the candidate’s area(s) of interest.

Drive and Persistence: A candidate’s commitment to education and research and ability to overcome adversity when challenges are encountered.

Excellence in Research: A candidate’s demonstrated accomplishment in scientific research, including scientific creativity and ability to formulate important scientific questions.

Character: A candidate’s integrity, leadership potential, and ability to work effectively on teams and as a community member within a diverse and multicultural environment.

Communication Skills: A candidate’s demonstrated effectiveness with scientific written and oral communication in English on technical and non-technical subjects.

Admissions Timeline

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Thank you, your report has been submitted. We will deal with the issue as soon as possible. If you have any other questions, please send an email to [email protected] .

Your Programmes

University of Cambridge

PhD Chemical Engineering Standard Graphene Technology Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Sensor Technology and Applications

4 in 9 applicants to this programme received an offer.

Data shown above is for entry in academic year 2021/22 (sources) .

Previous Years

Data sources.

• FOI Request by Albert Warren.
• FOI Request by Ash Rizwan. January 2017.
• FOI Request by Lai Yinsheung. August 2022.

The acceptance rate , or offer rate, represents the fraction of applicants who received an offer. Note that this will be generally lower the acceptances rates (acceptances divided by applicants) published by many other sources. This article explains it in more detail. The acceptances generally indicate the number of offer holders who accepted the offer and fulfilled its conditions. For some universities, however, it denotes the number of applicants who accepted the offer, regardless of whether they subsequently met its conditions.

Data Reliability

Unless otherwise noted, the data presented comes from the universities and is generally reliable. However, some of the differences between years and/or courses may be due to different counting methodologies or data gathering errors. This may especially be the case if there is a sharp difference from year to year. If the data does not look right, click the "Report" button located near the top of the page.

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MIT graduate engineering and business programs ranked highly by U.S. News for 2024-25

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U.S. News and Word Report has again placed MIT’s graduate program in engineering at the top of its annual rankings, released today. The Institute has held the No. 1 spot since 1990, when the magazine first ranked such programs.

The MIT Sloan School of Management also placed highly, in rankings announced April 9. It occupies the No. 5 spot for the best graduate business programs. 

Among individual engineering disciplines, MIT placed first in six areas: aerospace/aeronautical/astronautical engineering, chemical engineering, computer engineering (tied with Stanford University and the University of California at Berkeley), electrical/electronic/communications engineering, materials engineering, and mechanical engineering. It placed second in biomedical engineering/bioengineering (tied with Duke University, Georgia Tech, and Stanford) and nuclear engineering.

In the rankings of individual MBA specialties, MIT placed first in four areas: business analytics, information systems, production/operations, and project management (tied with Carnegie Mellon University). It placed second in supply chain/logistics.

U.S. News bases its rankings of graduate schools of engineering and business on two types of data: reputational surveys of deans and other academic officials, and statistical indicators that measure the quality of a school’s faculty, research, and students. The magazine’s less-frequent rankings of graduate programs in the sciences, social sciences, and humanities are based solely on reputational surveys. Among the 12 peer-review disciplines ranked this year, MIT placed first in computer science.

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• U.S. News 2022 Best Graduate Schools rankings for 2024-2025

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MIT graduate engineering, business, science programs ranked highly by U.S. News for 2023-24

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MPhil in Advanced Chemical Engineering

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Course closed:

Advanced Chemical Engineering is no longer accepting new applications.

The programme is a full-time course occupying 11 months and is structured as follows:

Students come into College residence in late September/early October. During the first two terms, students take a total of ten taught modules, the choice of which includes a combination of core chemical engineering modules and elective modules based on engineering and business/management-related subjects. During March to August, students undertake a full-time research project, the results of which are submitted as a dissertation.

The objectives of the programme are to:

• provide students with advanced technical skills in chemical engineering;
• enable students to solve problems within an engineering type of environment;
• provide students with business and management skills; and
• provide training in research.

Learning Outcomes

Successful students should gain:

advanced knowledge of fundamental areas of chemical engineering;

an understanding of how discoveries and other ideas can be exploited effectively, including new company spin-outs, reorganisation of existing company structures, technology licensing, etc, by undertaking a series of business-based modules to include topics such as financing and marketing;

the capacity to work individually and in a team, under time constraints, to produce workable solutions to engineering problems. Key skills learned will be time management, interaction with colleagues, obtaining technical and financial information, defining optimal outcomes, and presentation and communication of results; and

the ability to define, organise and undertake a research project within a specified period of time and to report it in writing and by seminar in an acceptable manner. The project might involve business-related as well as chemical engineering research and may involve industrial collaboration. This will introduce the student to the practical problems of undertaking research.

This course cannot be counted as one year of a PhD research degree, although continuing students wishing to apply for a PhD are expected to obtain a good Pass for the MPhil ACE course.

The Postgraduate Virtual Open Day usually takes place at the end of October. It’s a great opportunity to ask questions to admissions staff and academics, explore the Colleges virtually, and to find out more about courses, the application process and funding opportunities. Visit the  Postgraduate Open Day  page for more details.

See further the  Postgraduate Admissions Events  pages for other events relating to Postgraduate study, including study fairs, visits and international events.

Key Information

11 months full-time, study mode : taught, master of philosophy, department of chemical engineering and biotechnology, course - related enquiries, application - related enquiries, course on department website, dates and deadlines:, michaelmas 2024 (closed).

Some courses can close early. See the Deadlines page for guidance on when to apply.

Funding Deadlines

These deadlines apply to applications for courses starting in Michaelmas 2024, Lent 2025 and Easter 2025.

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UD rises in engineering rankings

Article by UDaily Staff Photo by Evan Krape June 18, 2024

U.S. News and World Report ranks UD at #38 nationally, chemical engineering at #7

The 2025 edition of U.S. News and World Report ’s   Best Graduate Schools has ranked the University of Delaware's engineering program at #38 nationally, a jump of four spots. Additionally, UD’s consistently top-ranked chemical engineering graduate program remained in the top 10 nationally at #7.

“This momentum in the rankings reflects the outstanding work of our dedicated faculty, staff and students, as well as the strategic investments that the University has made to strengthen our intellectual capital, expand our academic programs, enhance our research capacity and provide unique opportunities to learn and grow,” said UD President Dennis Assanis. “UD’s top-notch engineering program is educating the workforce of the future and driving the growth of the Delaware region’s economy while also solving critical problems around the world."

The complete list of rankings for engineering graduate programs reflects an upward trajectory in six areas:

• Chemical engineering, 7
• Engineering schools, 38 (up from 42)
• Materials engineering, 40 (up from 42)
• Biomedical engineering, 50
• Mechanical engineering, 50
• Civil engineering, 51 (up from 55)
• Electrical and computer engineering, 53 (up from 66)
• Computer engineering, 55 (up from 57)
• Computer science, 70 (up from 77)

“The College of Engineering is proud of the impact we are having in empowering students to achieve their educational goals, addressing society’s most vexing challenges and serving our communities,” said Levi Thompson, dean of the College of Engineering and Elizabeth Inez Kelly Professor of Chemical Engineering. “This most recent ranking, the highest in our college’s history, reflects the excellent work of our engineering and computer science faculty, staff and students and the exceptional outcomes of our strategic investments in innovative research, world-class teaching and student resources.”

Engineering innovation

Delaware engineers are driving discoveries in critical domains ranging from the sustainability of the nation’s energy infrastructure to the design and production of new biopharmaceuticals, the transformation of plastics waste into new materials, and disaster resilience along U.S. coastlines.

Innovations such as these have driven a period of remarkable growth in engineering and computing research at UD, with the College’s research expenditures exceeding $126 million in FY2023 — a 76% increase from FY2019 — and the College of Engineering comprising approximately half of the university's total research portfolio. College faculty have recently launched numerous federally funded centers, including the Center for Plastics Innovation (DOE EFRC); the Delaware Center for Musculoskeletal Research (NIH COBRE); the Center for Hybrid, Active, and Responsive Materials (NSF MRSEC); the Coastal Hazards, Equity, Economic Prosperity, and Resilience Hub (NSF CoPe); and the Center for Clean Hydrogen (DOD).

Over the past six years, the College of Engineering has established five new degree programs, including an interdisciplinary doctorate in quantum science and engineering, a biopharmaceutical sciences master’s degree that includes a 15-month internship, and a dual-degree initiative with Delaware State University. New bachelor's degree programs in materials science and engineering and cybersecurity engineering ensure that students graduating from UD keep pace with industry demands. In the fall of 2023, student enrollment in the college rose to 3,504. 

Over $20 million in philanthropic funds were raised last year alone in support of new and renovated facilities, professorships and industry partnerships.

In addition, new facilities at UD’s Science, Technology and Accelerated Research (STAR) Campus are helping to advance engineering innovation at the local, regional and national levels. The National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals ( NIIMBL ), located at STAR, is a national-scale public-private partnership focused on biopharmaceutical manufacturing and innovation to advance new technologies, secure domestic supply chains and train the biomanufacturing workforce. NIIMBL is complemented by the Securing American Biomanufacturing Research and Education ( SABRE ) Center, a pilot-scale biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility currently under development, and the Institute for Engineering Driven Health . College faculty also provide leadership in key workforce development activities within the MACH2 Department of Energy regional clean hydrogen hub, which was announced in October 2023 by the Biden-Harris administration.

Engineering is part of a growing UD innovation hub that extends to Fintech , an exploding industry that uses the power of data science and computer engineering to improve financial technology, equity, and access. Other strategic engineering-related investments across campus enable solutions for pressing societal problems such as plastic pollution, the need for sustainable energy resources, including clean hydrogen, and efforts to improve the  translation of research to practice .

About the rankings

In April 2024, U.S. News and World Report announced the  2025 graduate program rankings but delayed the release of the rankings for two specific programs: Best Engineering Schools and Programs and Best Clinical Psychology Programs.

The complete listing of UD graduate programs ranked by U.S. News and World Report is available on  UD’s Institutional Research and Effectiveness Rankings webpage . Please note that programs and specialties used by U.S. News might vary slightly from the names of degree programs used by UD.

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School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

College of engineering, chbe 5th in u.s. news ranking of grad programs.

Georgia Tech’s School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (ChBE) is ranked 5th for the third year in a row in U.S. News & World Report ’s annual  ranking  of graduate programs nationwide as well as No. 2 among public universities.

Georgia Tech’s engineering  graduate program  has climbed one spot to No. 4 (tied with California Institute of Technology) in the 2024-25 edition of the  U.S. News & World Report  national rankings. For 13 years now, all 11 of the College’s programs are ranked in the top 10.

U.S. News  releases graduate school rankings each spring. Their evaluation of engineering as a whole is based on a variety of factors, including research expenditures, peer assessments, and doctoral degrees awarded. Rankings of specific engineering disciplines are based solely on peer assessments by department heads.

2024 Graduate Rankings

U.S. News & World Report

MPhil in Advanced Chemical Engineering

Develop your skills in advanced aspects of the discipline, as well as essential areas of business and management, such as technology policy, economics, and sustainable processes. 

© Martin Bond

The discipline and practice of Chemical Engineering is currently undergoing profound changes, which will have an important impact on the need for advanced training.

The sphere of operation and employment of chemical engineers is likely to lie increasingly well outside the conventional core of the discipline (for example in life sciences, chemistry, the environment, new materials and microelectronics), and therefore the challenge is to ensure that the core curriculum contains the essential knowledge and advanced skills required to undertake work at these interfaces. Due to the increasingly dynamic nature of global industries and rapid advances in scientific research, graduates will need to have advanced and durable skills which will enable them to be effective in companies where speed of change and product scope can occur rapidly.

Our MPhil in Advanced Chemical Engineering (MPhil ACE) programme is unique because:

• candidates receive an education both in advanced aspects of Chemical Engineering and in essential areas of business and management, such as technology policy, economics, and sustainable processes;
• there are opportunities to develop professional problem-solving skills; and
• it offers conventional research experience at a leading academic institution.

About the programme

The rationale of the programme is to enhance the attractiveness to employers of highly capable engineers and scientists. Courses of this type have been shown to make alumni highly appealing to industry, government and academia. 

The objectives of the programme are to:

• provide students with advanced technical skills in Chemical Engineering that will enable them to (a) translate fundamental discoveries in life sciences, materials and other high technology areas to commercial exploitation, and (b) adapt readily to the challenges presented in a diverse range of industrial sectors that can benefit from process engineering approaches;
• enable students to solve problems within a technical environment, particularly with regard to problem definition, team-working, organisation and delivery of objectives within the constraints imposed by the time and information available;
• provide students with engineering administration skills, such as reorganisation of existing company structures and technology licensing, together with the requisite knowledge of raising capital, financing, marketing, environmental legislation and sustainability; and
• provide training in research, such that students are able to define, organise and undertake a research project within a specified period of time and to report it in an acceptable manner.

The deployment of technology by business, industry and government is increasingly bound up with complex economic, socio-political, regulatory, administrative and environmental issues. There is thus a need to provide engineers and scientists with the knowledge and skills required to provide competent leadership in the constructive development and assembly of technology. 

Programme content

The M.Phil ACE programme is a full-time course occupying one year and is structured as follows: 

Michaelmas Term: students come into College residence in Cambridge in late September and attend Department induction in early October. During the Term, students take five taught modules from a list of core Chemical Engineering and elective subjects. 

Lent Term Lecture Timetable 2023

Lent Term: students take another five taught modules from the list supplied. 

March - August: During this period students undertake a full-time research project within the University, the results of which are submitted as a dissertation. The research projects are supervised by University staff members, and students will be required to plan and execute their own work. The projects may include extensive industrial collaboration. 

Modules are taught by a combination of formal lectures, demonstrations, discussion classes and example problems, and students are expected to devote at least four evenings per week to private study. The taught material enhances basic knowledge on chemical engineering fundamentals, as well as offering experience of other science and business-based disciplines. The courses are assessed by both unseen examination and written coursework. Examples of modules that may be offered are included below. The elective courses are taught by academic staff at the Department of Engineering and the Judge Business School. 

Core chemical engineering modules

• Electrochemical Engineering
• Adsorption & Advanced Nanoporous Materials
• Interface Engineering
• Optical Microscopy
• Healthcare Biotechnology
• Bionanotechnology
• Biosensors & Bioelectronics
• Pharmaceutical Engineering

Elective modules

• Materials and Molecules: Modelling, Simulation and Machine Learning
• Nuclear Power Engineering
• Electricity and Environment
• Climate Change Mitigation
• Innovation & Strategic Management of IP
• Strategic Management
• Business Innovation in a Digital Age
• International Business

The assessment of taught modules involves a combination of some or all of the following:

• Coursework - individual or group
• Class participation
• Written examination
• Presentations - individual or group

The research projects will be examined by appraisal of a dissertation and seminar.

To earn the MPhil degree, students are expected to pass satisfactorily both the taught and research components of the course.

Entry requirements

Because of the advanced technical coursework and examinations to be undertaken, the intake will be made up primarily of students with a very good first class honours degree in Chemical Engineering , and who show consistency in achievement across all subjects studied. 

The extent of the programme will require students who are very highly motivated, innovative, able to work efficiently both on their own and in a team and who have high levels of perseverance. Candidates who do not possess these qualities will struggle with the intensive coursework and challenging written examinations. Applicants will need to demonstrate to the assessment panel a high level of commitment and diligence, irrespective of formal academic qualification, when they apply. All shortlisted applicants will be interviewed before an offer of admission is formally recommended. Interviews may be conducted by telephone, video-conference or in person.

How to apply

All applications must be made through the Graduate Admissions Office. Full information, including descriptions of colleges, funding available and a downloadable application pack, can be found on their  website.

In the Graduate Application Form, applicants are expected to complete a 'reasons for applying' section, which should address why the Cambridge M.Phil. ACE programme is an appropriate course of study. This should not be a duplication of any text already contained within the Graduate Application Form. Applicants may wish to indicate a general field of research that would be of interest, although this is not mandatory.

Typical costs for full-time study, including University and College fees and maintenance (living costs), for home, EU and overseas students are given in the  Fees and Costs  section.

If you require funding, please see the  Funding  section.

The Department supports the University's initiatives in addressing Equality and Diversity issues.

For more information

Please visit the University of Cambridge's Course Directory:

If you have any questions about the course, please contact the M.Phil. ACE Programme Manager, Dr Sarah Rough .

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