UCL Biochemical Engineering AMA

How would you compare between UCL biochemical engineering vs Imperial Bioengineering or Chemical Engineering? Particularly in career prospect and teaching resources (people and equipment). Thanks for advice.

Go to ICL if you have an offer there as it is stronger overall and I suspect will resources be better too, but career prospects at that level will come down to you (A-Levels, Interview skills, passion etc.).

Thanks for your comment. I understand that ICL has a slightly better ranking and reputation than UCL on engineering in general. However, when I look at UCL biochemical engineering, it appears that the graduate can have very good prospect, going to pharmaceutical companies, finance and consultancy.... etc.. On the other hand, ICL (Molecular) Bioengineering is quite a new program and I cannot see much information how their graduate do. And if comparing the data from Uni Discovery, UCL Biochemical Engineering has annual salary of 35K & 95% employed while ICL Bioengineering has 32K. and 89% employed for graduate after 15 months. I attended UCL career webinar recently and they said that the latest salary data is increased to 37.5K as their skills highly valued by Pharmaceutical company, particularly recently with the impact of COVID19. And UCL Biochemical engineering is accredited by IChemE while ICL Bioengineering is accredited by IOM3. I may be wrong. But it appears to me that accredited to IChemE would be more useful and high potential impact to career.

So, I am now struggling between a higher reputation Engineering at ICL vs it appears that UCL Biochemical Eng has better pay and career potential.

Would be happy to hear further comment on both programs.

The Biochem Eng course likely has a higher starting salary because it is older, although I remember us being told that the salary was even higher than chem eng (don't quote me). This is likely because when applying for grad schemes, it's good to stand out, which I believe the course allows you to do in a positive way (a course involving physics, maths, chemistry, and biology will obviously be viewed positively). I've seen alumni go to every major IB/consultancy from the course despite it being relatively young and having a smaller alumni network, which I feel provides evidence of the "standing out" point.

As for imperial molecular bioengineering, the imperial brand is strong enough that I'd still generally take ICL over UCL for anything engineering. That being said, the imperial course is structured very differently from the chemical/biochemical engineering courses, which are similarly structured. The lack of modules such as thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and mass transfer for example is quite disconcerting and may hinder your chances for chemical engineering roles, as well the absence of IChemE accreditation.

It ultimately depends on what you want to do; biochem eng will set you up better for industrial/broader work, but the imperial brand is stronger for generalist positions (finance grad schemes, consulting etc.)

Thanks for comment. As you stated, one other characteristic I like is that UCL Biochemical Eng "stand out" . It is quite unique program not many UK Universities have it. Your comment on Imperial Brand is also valid. I need to think through it to determine my firm and insurance choice. Thanks

Hi, does anyone know how many students does the UCL biochemical engineering department take up each year? Because I couldn't find any statistics, but I've been told that it's not a lot?

Hi,
I got an offer from biochemical engineering from UCL. I wanted to ask whther Chemical engineering would be a better option as it is much broader and I can rather do a masters in biochemical? In terms of job prospects and the broadness of the degree, which one do you think will be better?
Thanks

Hi,
I got an offer from biochemical engineering from UCL. I wanted to ask whther Chemical engineering would be a better option as it is much broader and I can rather do a masters in biochemical? In terms of job prospects and the broadness of the degree, which one do you think will be better?
Thanks

From what I learnt from UCL biochemical engineering career seminar and the information about the course, except may be the petrochemicals related, the biochemical engineering cover all the essentials of chemical engineering and also get the IChemE accreditation. And in the final year of MENG, they have several career routes and one of them is chemical engineering, so you can do more chemical engineering if this is really what you want. On the other hand, as Biochemical engineering are oriented towards and more specialized related to bio aspects. It is unique vs chemical engineering and I feel it can get job easier related to the bio field. I also got messages from career seminar the graduate in UCL biochemical engineering get over average salary vs other engineering including chemical engineering. Hence, for me, I choose UCL biochemical engineering over chemical engineering.

From what I learnt from UCL biochemical engineering career seminar and the information about the course, except may be the petrochemicals related, the biochemical engineering cover all the essentials of chemical engineering and also get the IChemE accreditation. And in the final year of MENG, they have several career routes and one of them is chemical engineering, so you can do more chemical engineering if this is really what you want. On the other hand, as Biochemical engineering are oriented towards and more specialized related to bio aspects. It is unique vs chemical engineering and I feel it can get job easier related to the bio field. I also got messages from career seminar the graduate in UCL biochemical engineering get over average salary vs other engineering including chemical engineering. Hence, for me, I choose UCL biochemical engineering over chemical engineering.

Thank you. I think biochemical engineering would be best for me.
Are you currently studying/studied it at UCL. How would you say are the job prospects and pay rise in this career? Do you enjoy your time in lab and studying this subject?I am a medical applicant but still waiting from 2 options so looking for any good alternative options.
Thanks

Word of advice even though you didn't ask: don't go into the course thinking it's an "alternative" to medicine. It's a fully fledged chemical engineering curriculum i.e If you're not comfortable with maths and mechanical aspects of physics, I'd be wary. I'm saying this as someone who studied the course.

Thanks.
Yeah I do understand that it is going to be maths and physics based. I wanted to apply for chemical engineering at the start of year 12 but had the chance to apply for med so took the chance. Fingers crossed if I get an offer for med I’ll go in there but if I don’t I’ll just go into biochemical engineering as this i something which also interests me.
You said you studies this course. Were you able to get any internships/work experience through the uni during your time there? Also assuming yoh may be working now, how easy is to get jobs for it in big cities like lon/man/ednbrgh?

Hi there, I'm a current undergraduate student studying biochemical engineering at UCL.

I'm happy to answer any questions prospective students might have so ask away and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. I'm just doing this because I would've appreciated it before applying - I haven't been asked to or anything.

If you just want to know whether it is good and would I recommend it, the answer is definitely yes I would