What's ChemEng really like?

Calling all chemical engineers


Next year I'll be going to study chemical engineering at rather Manchester, Bath, Edinburgh, Nottingham or Birmingham (as long as i get the grades). Which is great but I have a couple of questions about the degree.

1) How hard really is it?
2) How much maths is involved, I mean is it much harder is it than A2 maths?
3) How much work is there; I mean does it cripple the social life compared to other students?
4) Are most other ChemEng students kinda nerdy?
5) Is the money really that good?
6) And most importantly, is it fun at all?

Teesside University.

Most on here have very low opinions of it. The uni seems good to me and the lecturers give lots of extra help if anyone needs it so If given the chance I wouldn't move. Though this could be because of the fact my particular class is more like a family really.


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1) How hard really is it?
How longs a piece of sting?
In comparison with A levels I'd say its much easier as exams/coursework seem to be more spread out as oppose to having a whole bunch of them in one week!

2) How much maths is involved, I mean is it much harder is it than A2 maths?
In my course I had a module named Engineering Mathematics in my first year which everyone found was a bit of a doss module in that it was very similar to As maths with a bit of A2 maths later on. Nothing too difficult and a bit of revision meant that everyone who had done A levels got 80/90%.

In year two we have a module named Analytical Techniques which is all about different methods of sving equations, using graphs and different rules like the "Golden Section rule" Aswell as using excel to solve cramers rule and such. . I've just done a coursework ICA which was heavily excel based and took about 4 hours to derive the equations from a problem and then an hour or so to put it into excel... Will take about 3 hours to write it up into a good report and then it's done! So it's not difficult... Just make sure you make detailed notes and do some regular revision.

3) How much work is there; I mean does it cripple the social life compared to other students?
I wouldn't say it's any different to any other course in regards to hardness level.

What I will say is that engineering students generally take there course more seriously than someone doing media studies or such (sorry to name drop here!) and therefore might spend more time revising as oppose to drinking non stop.


4) Are most other ChemEng students kinda nerdy?
Haha in some ways!
"Jps.." -joules per second
"What?" - watt
"Exactly!"
But who cares, we all have a good laugh and if you're at uni and not a "nerd" then this seems like a double entendre to me!
5) Is the money really that good?
Well £28k average starting salary sounds good to me. Just remember not to go all arrogant when you do get a job as an engineer. Take advice from operators.. They know a lot more than you. Be respectful... Just something to keep in mind!

6) And most importantly, is it fun at all?
I enjoy it. Have a bit of banter with the lecturers who are pretty funny and have a lot of experience from working in engineering companies already.
Night life is good, people on my course are great. What's not to like?!

Hope this helps,
Good luck




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Without trying to diss your university or anything, be aware different universities offer different modules, and elite engineering institutions like Bath and Nottingham can be somewhat more challenging.

For example:
Bath: mathematical techniques, thermodynamics, further mathematical techniques, mathematical modelling
Nottingham: Fluid mechanics, engineering thermodynamics, particle mechanics

Have a look at the different modules and descriptions and see what would suit you best.

All engineering courses will have the same core modules, which make up the vast majority of modules offered, as this is a requirement for accreditation.

My course was considerably harder.
There were no doss modules (except safety in Stage 1 - unassesed )

Often all the assignments would be set at roughly the same time, leading to most of the year pulling an all nighter the same night to get finished.

The courses vary immensely between unis - but if you go to a good one that will only benefit you when you come to apply for jobs.

You should perhaps start your assignments earlier. :P


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4 set in the same week! and new bouldering problems at the climbing wall, that takes precedence :P

I get an unholy rush from leaving them to the last minute and charging through.

Ok, so getting some pretty mixed up feedback. But it sounds like the genral gist is that the subject is hard, eats into social life; but bearable?