Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology

Why study Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology at Emmanuel College?

Chemical Engineers and Biotechnologists can make a difference to the real world, particularly in addressing the challenge of how processes can make products in a sustainable way. At Emmanuel, we build upon the Department teaching within the framework of College supervisions. We have a particular reputation for supporting students through active engagement with the Director of Studies. Students form friendship groups with those doing Natural Sciences in the first year at Emmanuel because of the shared teaching of Chemistry and Maths. In later years they form friendship groups with students taking their subject at other Colleges because work gradually moves over time from being College-based to being Department-based.

What might a typical day be like studying Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology at Emmanuel College?

For Department teaching, you typically have 2 or 3 lectures each day in the mornings. You have a practical laboratory class once a fortnight, with other coursework such as  computing skills, makerspace activities, and other project work taking place in gaps between lectures in the mornings or during the afternoons. You have 2-3 College supervisions each week and these usually take place during the afternoons. Students spend time significant time in the afternoons and/or evenings answering problem sheets (“doing homework”) in preparation for College supervisions.

What qualities do successful Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology students have?

Interviews are primarily designed to assess how well students will do on the course, noting that students have different backgrounds and have done different qualifications. Interviews try to test understanding of topics covered at school rather than simply the ability to recall facts. Questions sometimes test ability by linking topics together in a way that does not usually happen at school.

Once on the course, students need an interest in using scientific and engineering principles to solve real-world problems on a large scale, particularly in the process and biotech industries. Academically, they should have a good understanding of scientific principles – whether chemical, physical or biological – and fluency in mathematical manipulations.

Where could a Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology degree lead?

There are many career opportunities, some of which directly use the subject knowledge while others use the generic thinking and transferable skills acquired during the course. Typically 40-50% of graduates go on to jobs within the process industries – whether in the fields of chemicals manufacture, pharmaceuticals, biotech, the energy sector, the food and drink industry, or other consumer goods. About 15% continue within the University sector and undertake a research degree. A significant proportion take up careers in finance and management consultancy. So there is a wide range of employment opportunities without any one particular sector dominating.