Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, BA (Hons) and MEng

Teaching

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

Assessment

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
• undertake classes in computing skills, including process simulation
• attend workshops on professional and transferable skills

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 analysis, and safety principles

You will also take:

• laboratory classes in chemical engineering and biotechnology
• assessed projects throughout the year
• classes in computing skills, including process simulation
• an engineering design and manufacturing project
• professional and transferrable skills workshops

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
• biophysics
• bionanotechnology
• biosensors and bioelectronics
• rheology and complex fluids

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.