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Chemical Engineering at Manchester

Hello, I went for my interview earlier this week and I dont know which option to take. The lecturer was so keen on the MEng course with industrial experience as apparently, u will be credited with a masters degree whilst doing 3 years and 1 year in industry. He even said that you will be paid for the experience, roughly about 20k. Sounds like its too good to be true. What do you guys think? :confused:

Reply 1

pghstochaj

11

tianfifde

Hello, I went for my interview earlier this week and I dont know which option to take. The lecturer was so keen on the MEng course with industrial experience as apparently, u will be credited with a masters degree whilst doing 3 years and 1 year in industry. He even said that you will be paid for the experience, roughly about 20k. Sounds like its too good to be true. What do you guys think? :confused:

It's what I do, got any questions specifically? Everything you have said above is true, although the salary is a little hyped, I believe one of my friend's has the highest salary this year and won't reach that despite working nights for 2 months. I earn just over £14k whereas I would approximate the average at around £16-17k this year. I took a lower paid job for less hassle and various other reasons, I also ended up with a much better experience than my friends!

4 year MEng with 1 year in industry included is how it works, the 3rd year is your year in industry, it means you:

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Study an extra 1.5 modules in the second year.

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Study 1 module over distance learning whilst in industry (taken in Jan)

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Complete your dissertation whilst in industry, on any industrial projects (I am doing mine on process simulation)

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Complete skills acquired report - list everything you have done in the year, complete a IChemE style log etc.

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Complete a weekly log

Your 4th year is then sort of like your 3rd year with a few extra bits, you don't do your major research project since you did that in the third year, hence meaning it's possible. All the best students - in general, I bet a few colleagues on my course would shoot me for that - do the year in industry course.

Does that help? It means you save one year's costs at uni and actually make money during it! Which lecturer talked to you?

Reply 2

tianfifde

OP

cheer pghstochaj for the detailed reply.
I don't know the name of the lecturer, sorry
He just highlighted the point that its the best specific course to pick out of the lot as it has a lot of benefits. I want to ask about the workload because it appears that you cram extra work in between the year in industry. How does the placement work, does it get arranged for you?

Reply 3

pghstochaj

11

tianfifde

cheer pghstochaj for the detailed reply.
I don't know the name of the lecturer, sorry
He just highlighted the point that its the best specific course to pick out of the lot as it has a lot of benefits. I want to ask about the workload because it appears that you cram extra work in between the year in industry. How does the placement work, does it get arranged for you?

The workload? Well any MEng in Chemical Engineering is hard, the second year isn't really noticeably harder anyway, to be honest. The Fine Chemicals Production module you do in the 2nd year is pretty straight forward. The other 0.5 module is a nice short course that lasts about 12 hours of lectures (2 hours for 6 weeks) and covers the Process Industry, it's the only qualitative course you do as in the coursework is a two page essay and the exam in a 90 minute written exam, very little maths and just the understanding of the process industry, really.

The year in industry is hard, working 9-5 (or more) 5 days a week, exam, SAR and dissertation, BUT it is rewarding and by far the best choice. You're only allowed to do it if you have at least a 2:1 by the end of the second year.

You find your own placement to an extent. Personally at the end of the first year I contacted a company I knew about, had an interview a week later and a job 3 hours after that. Some people were getting them as late as a year after! The university invites companies to interview people so all my friends went to those and got places through them, a few people like me arranged them on their own. I.e. they will help you but will NOT make it for you.

Any more info? I am happy to help :smile:

Reply 4

tianfifde

OP

excellent stuff, well thats all I needed to know, some reassuring about picking the right course. Thanks pghstochaj. There's still a few months before I go into uni, so I need to make sure i get in. :tsr2:

Reply 5

pghstochaj

11

Well if you do have any more problems just let me know. I was in your position back in 2003/04 and usually do the lunches and help people like yourself (just for the free lunch, however :wink:

) so am pretty clued up. Actually, one of the guys I work with in my office is starting the course at Manchester next year as he's on the YinI scheme, so I always help him with it too.

To reassure you further, you don't need to pick/not pick any of the courses now. After the first few years you will need to be on the chemistry/french/german/management courses but the year in industry can be a decision left until the second year.

Reply 6

TEE001

7

pghstochaj

Well if you do have any more problems just let me know. I was in your position back in 2003/04 and usually do the lunches and help people like yourself (just for the free lunch, however :wink:

) so am pretty clued up. Actually, one of the guys I work with in my office is starting the course at Manchester next year as he's on the YinI scheme, so I always help him with it too.

To reassure you further, you don't need to pick/not pick any of the courses now. After the first few years you will need to be on the chemistry/french/german/management courses but the year in industry can be a decision left until the second year.

hey.. i have applied to manchester too for chem eng (Meng) and gt an offer--unfortunately i chose the management and im now thinkin of the yr in industry option.. will it be easy switchin to the year in industry option or do i have to contact the admissions tutor now..

Reply 7

pghstochaj

11

TEE001

hey.. i have applied to manchester too for chem eng (Meng) and gt an offer--unfortunately i chose the management and im now thinkin of the yr in industry option.. will it be easy switchin to the year in industry option or do i have to contact the admissions tutor now..

No problem whatsoever, don't worry youself, you sort it when you're there :smile:

You can reassure yourself by contacting the admins tutor if you prefer - probably still Stuart Holmes who is a really nice bloke. I can assure you that this was the case up until when I left for my placement, so 9 months ago and it's very unlikely it has changed. It's silly really that you can apply for different ones because everybody changes in the first few weeks! Plenty of people came on and off the year in industry course in the 2nd year too.

Reply 8

TEE001

7

thanks a lot.. the admissions tutor once said its possible to swicth to the yr in industry option.. i just thot its nt as easy as he sed it

Reply 9

pghstochaj

11

It is, as I say, I don't understand why they bother making you decide before you go?!

Any other questions don't worry about asking, happy to help :smile:

Reply 10

TEE001

7

is it possible to do the industrial expirience in another country...or does it have to be in the uk??

Reply 11

pghstochaj

11

Can be done - not aware of anybody doing it this year, however. THere's a proviso though, that it's not too far or you contribute towards their travel cost. Why? Basically you have to have 2 visits whilst in industry from your personal tutor and if you went to Australia, it would obviously be unreasonable to expect the academic to travel out there twice (!).

It's basically something you would have to agree with your personal tutor and the leader of the industrial placement course.

Chemical Engineering at Manchester

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