Industrial and business collaborations

The Chemical Engineering discipline at the University of Edinburgh has strong links with industry, ensuring that our staff are not only at the forefront of their own discipline, but that they are in touch with the latest developments within the subject area.

Industrial Placement Projects

The majority of our MEng students spend six months, from June to December, in their 5th year of study with a company carrying out an industrial project. The assessment of these projects contributes half of the mark for that year. A wide range of companies in the UK and overseas have hosted these projects, including Diageo, Shell, BP, Mars, Atkins and many more. The six month placement length allows the students to gain substantial industrial experience within the normal degree programme length as part of the programme. For many students their placement leads directly to graduate employment.

Plant Visits

Visits to local process plants form an integral part of the second year curriculum. Our location allows easy access to a variety of chemical engineering companies, such as Ineos, Diageo, Exxon and Lafarge. As well as this, the Chemical Engineering Society, a student run organisation, organises trips to a variety of locations.

Design Projects

Honours design projects might have direct industrial participation, with companies setting the remits for the design and providing practical advice as the project progresses. The final oral presentation of the design projects has an invited audience of engineers from a range of industry sectors who give very valuable feedback to the students.

Industrial Liaison Board

Chemical Engineering benefits from the guidance of a group of practising chemical engineers for a wide range of industries who provide valuable advice on curriculum development relevant to industry as well as helping us to identify the key attributes our students will need to thrive as graduate engineers.

Chemical Engineering student discussing Industrial placement project poster
Chemical Engineering student discussing Industrial placement project poster
North British Grain Whisky Distillery
North British Grain Whisky Distillery