We welcome applications from the United States of America
We've put together information and resources to guide your application journey as a student from the United States of America.
Overview
Top reasons to study with us
Practical hands-on courses including lab-based sessions and project work
Brand new state-of-the-art facilities
Get real-world experience with our placement years
Chemical Engineers pioneer materials and technologies of the future; they design and develop the processes behind today’s most useful products. In studying this programme, you will further develop your knowledge in chemistry and engineering, and develop the skills for a rewarding career.
Chemical Engineers do not work in isolation and modern engineering is just as much about effective teamwork and communication, as it is the underlying science. As a result, our accredited Chemical Engineering programme recognises the broad field of the subject by starting with a general first year, which is shared among all engineering subjects at Lancaster.
You will explore core themes of design, materials, thermodynamics and heat transfer, along with appropriate mathematical study in the first year. Alongside these, you will develop your design, problem-solving, management and leadership skills.
Following the first year, where you will have developed a solid foundation of engineering knowledge and begun to explore a variety of different areas of the discipline, you will have the opportunity to consider and plan your academic progression. At this stage, you may choose to begin your Chemical Engineering study, or move onto any of our other specialist programmes.
In the second year, you will begin to encounter specialist modules in chemical engineering, and you will continue to develop your core skills as an engineer. This year, you will also be encouraged to engage with and solve increasingly open-ended, real-world problems. Alongside the technical modules, you will develop your creativity, entrepreneurial and analytical skills, improving your employability.
In your third year your will study at one of our overseas partner universities building your global outlook and connectivity.
A key element of your final year is the group design project, where you will be asked to solve an open-ended design project over the course of the year. The projects typically involve conceptual design, as well as evaluation of economic, safety, legislative and ethical standards of assessment. Alongside this, you will practise and develop project management, team-working and technical writing skills.
All of your teaching is delivered by world-class academics and shaped by their outstanding research output. You will gain hands-on experience with access to cutting-edge facilities and an array of high-quality equipment in our state-of-the-art Engineering Building.
Lancaster University will make reasonable endeavours to place students at an approved overseas partner university that offers appropriate modules which contribute credit to your Lancaster degree. Occasionally places overseas may not be available for all students who want to study abroad or the place at the partner university may be withdrawn if core modules are unavailable. If you are not offered a place to study overseas, you will be able to transfer to the equivalent standard degree scheme and would complete your studies at Lancaster.
Lancaster University cannot accept responsibility for any financial aspects of the year or term abroad.
Chemical engineering is an innovative and interdisciplinary subject area, combining techniques and processes used across the STEM field in order to evolve the world around us. Chemical engineers are therefore in high demand across a huge range of sectors – and our graduates have gone on to pursue careers in energy, oil and gas, manufacturing and much more. Some have even gone on to pursue further study and embark on a career within academia, working at the forefront of scientific research and discovery. The highly-transferable skills you will acquire will make you a desirable employee in many fields – even those beyond traditional engineering career destinations. Graduates from our Engineering degrees are well-paid too, with a median starting salary of £29,000 (HESA Graduate Outcomes Survey 2023).
Here are just some of the roles that our BEng and MEng Chemical Engineering students have progressed into upon graduating:
Engineering Consultant – Ernst & Young
Wind Analyst – SSE Renewables
HDD Design Engineer – O’Connor Utilities Ltd
Graduate Chemical Engineer – Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC
Safety and Reliability Engineering Consultant – AFRY UK
MPhil Advanced Chemical Engineering – University of Cambridge
Operations and Management – Network Rail
PhD Candidate – Newcastle University
Lancaster University is dedicated to ensuring you not only gain a highly reputable degree, you also graduate with the relevant life and work based skills. We are unique in that every student is eligible to participate in The Lancaster Award which offers you the opportunity to complete key activities such as work experience, employability/career development, campus community and social development. Visit our Employability section for full details.
Gain vital skills and experience
Each of our Engineering undergraduate programmes comes with an optional placement with a cutting-edge engineering company. Each placement will give you practical, realistic workplace experience that will make you attractive to employers after your graduation. In recent years, Lancaster University students have taken work placements with EDF, Jaguar-Land Rover, Mercedes AMG, Network Rail and more.
Entry requirements
These are the typical grades that you will need to study this course. You may need to have qualifications in relevant subjects. In some cases we may also ask you to attend an interview or submit a portfolio. You must also meet our English language requirements.
ABB. This should include Mathematics and a science subject from: Chemistry, Physics or Biology.
Considered on a case-by-case basis. Our typical entry requirement would be 30 Level 3 credits at Distinction plus 15 Level 3 credits at Merit, but you would need to have covered appropriate subject content.
We accept the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales in place of one A level, or equivalent qualification, as long as any subject requirements are met.
Considered alongside A level Chemistry and appropriate evidence of Mathematics ability
Our typical requirement would be A level grade B plus BTEC(s) at DD, or A levels at grade BB plus BTEC at D, but you would also need to meet the subject requirements.
32 points overall with 16 points from the best 3 HL subjects including either:
1. Mathematics HL grade 6 (either pathway) plus grade 6 in a HL Physical Science
2. Mathematics HL grade 6 (either pathway) plus grade 6 in two SL Physical Sciences
3. Mathematics SL grade 7 (analysis and approaches) plus grade 6 in a HL Physical Science
Acceptable physical science subjects include Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. GCSE Chemistry at grade B or 6 required with a HL Physics or Biology.
We are happy to admit applicants on the basis of five Highers, but where we require a specific subject at A level, we will typically require an Advanced Higher in that subject. If you do not meet the grade requirement through Highers alone, we will consider a combination of Highers and Advanced Highers in separate subjects. Please contact the Admissions team for more information.
Considered on a case-by-case basis, and only accepted alongside A level Mathematics grade B.
Contact Admissions
If you are thinking of applying to Lancaster and you would like to ask us a question, please complete our enquiry form and one of our team will get back to you.
International foundation programmes
Delivered in partnership with INTO Lancaster University, our one-year tailored foundation pathways are designed to improve your subject knowledge and English language skills to the level required by a range of Lancaster University degrees. Visit the INTO Lancaster University website for more details and a list of eligible degrees you can progress onto.
Contextual admissions
Contextual admissions could help you gain a place at university if you have faced additional challenges during your education which might have impacted your results. Visit our contextual admissions page to find out about how this works and whether you could be eligible.
Course structure
Lancaster University offers a range of programmes, some of which follow a structured study programme, and some which offer the chance for you to devise a more flexible programme to complement your main specialism.
Information contained on the website with respect to modules is correct at the time of publication, and the University will make every reasonable effort to offer modules as advertised. In some cases changes may be necessary and may result in some combinations being unavailable, for example as a result of student feedback, timetabling, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes and new research. Not all optional modules are available every year.
This module introduces fundamental applications of engineering science to build physical components, structures and systems and create functionality across all engineering disciplines. The basics of manufacturing and processes will be explored together with design principles, methods of sensing physical, electromagnetic, electrostatic and chemical effects, and converting these effects to electrical signals and mechanical actuation.
Over the course of this module, students will learn how to manipulate and manufacture objects, synthesise chemical compounds, as well as build and code electrical interfaces. At the end of the module, students will complete a group project using CAD tools to analyse, design, capture, and manufacture engineering components, sensor interfacing, data conversion and data processing.
This module introduces concepts associated with the fundamentals of engineering science relevant to chemical, mechanical, nuclear and electrical/electronic systems. Students will learn how physical principles associated with heat, energy transfer, radiation, fluid mechanics, forces, kinetics, impedance, and atomic level behaviour govern the function of structures, processes, components, devices, and systems. These principles provide a foundation for all engineering degree programmes. By the end of the module, students will be able to apply their knowledge of these principles in a practical manner to investigate real-world challenges.
This module introduces key numerical and analytical concepts relevant to the engineering disciplines providing a foundation for all engineering programmes. Students will consolidate their skills in the use of complex numbers, calculus, differential equations, vectors, matrices and transforms as engineering tools that can be applied to the analysis and design of engineered materials, components, devices, structures, assemblies and systems.
MATLAB and Excel will be introduced to both solve mathematical problems, apply mathematical principles to data sets to generate curves, statistics and trends. Students will learn basic programming in order to implement mathematical algorithms commonly used in the engineering disciplines. Supporting laboratories will involve tasks associated with the visualisation of mathematical solutions, the processing of data sets and the use of programming techniques to implement solutions on an embedded processor or personal computer.
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This module considers a range of material in the wider business development area. Students are encouraged to think with creativity, entrepreneurial flair and innovation. Practical sessions allow students to demonstrate their progress on a weekly basis through idea generation, peer presentations, elevator pitches and formal presentations. The module is accompanied by a number of external industrial speakers who have been successful in their own business endeavours and are keen to pass on that knowledge.
Students will become familiar with a rich mixture of experiential learning opportunities, that develop a wide range of transferable skills in the context of engineering entrepreneurship. The module will focus on the development and use of business plans and marketing strategies. Students will prepare a business plan, discuss team dynamics and the requirements for entrepreneurial activity. Additionally, the appropriate terminology to use when developing business projects will be explored. Students will discuss relevant aspects of company finance, uncertainty in business ventures and techniques for analysing markets. They will also examine frameworks for marketing and structuring a business plan and will develop the ability to analyse potential markets and sources of funding.
Through this module students have the opportunity to learn about both the fundamental principles of chemical engineering and their application to a range of so called ‘unit operations’ which achieve specific process objectives, such as the separation of the components of a mixture. Students will learn about the safety, health and environmental activities required prior to commencing work in a laboratory or on semi-technical scale equipment. They will be able to learn about chemical engineering experimental design, data collection and error, and will practice safe working in laboratory and semi-technical facilities.
Students will develop their professional skills through team working, experimental design, safe equipment operation, data collection and keeping laboratory record books. They will also develop their reporting skills through the presentation of scientific reports, presentations to their peers and one to one discussions.
This module introduces students to numerate aspects of engineering. It is designed to provide students with a broad and flexible array of mathematical methods for the analysis of data and signals. It also intends to illustrate the essential role of computing in the application of these skills. Students will use calculus for the analysis of trigonometric, non-linear, polynomial and exponential functions, and will sketch multivariable functions with a relation to engineering on three-dimensional Cartesian axes.
Additionally, students will evaluate the significance of differential equations in the description of an engineering system and will apply methods such as Laplace, integration and substitution to find the solution of these equations. They will also develop the ability to analyse systems in both the time and frequency domain using Fourier and Laplace transformations. Students will learn to apply the spectrum of approximate methods that exist for finding the roots of equations, definite integrals and linear approximations.
The matrix representation of coefficients and their correspondence will be applied to arrays in software, including the use of manipulations such as the inverse matrix. Students will use the concept of least squares analysis in order to assess the consistency of data. Finally, they will develop the ability to use a software package such as Excel for multivariable analysis of a given function and to produce appropriate graphical outcomes.
Working in groups, students are responsible for the research, management and technical content of the project as well as, providing evidence for their use of engineering design skills where appropriate. The students will be assigned a project title and project supervisors who will advise them throughout.
Students will apply chemical engineering principles to industrial problems including sustainable development, safety and environmental issues. They will also develop and demonstrate creative and critical powers by making choices and decisions in areas of uncertainty and pick up transferable skills such as communication and team working. This module will allow students to take confidence in their ability to apply technical knowledge to real problems.
Students will understand that design is an open-ended process, lacking a predetermined solution. It requires synthesis, innovation and creativity, as well as judgemental choices on the basis of incomplete and contradictory information. Students will gain the ability to make decisions, work with constraints and multiple objectives whilst justifying the choices and decisions they have made. Additionally, students will apply their chemical engineering knowledge using rigorous calculation and results analysis to arrive at and verify the realism of the chosen design. Students will take a systems approach to design including complexity, interaction and integration. Ultimately, students will work in a team and will learn to manage the processes of peer challenging, planning, prioritising and organising.
In this module students will learn how forces arise in static fluids and will be introduced to the basics of fluid machinery. The behaviour of fluids in laminar and turbulent flow and in pipes will also be explored. Students will develop their ability to carry out calculations on fluids motion.
They will have the opportunity to develop their understanding of the first, second and third laws of thermodynamics and will be introduced to the concept of the equation of state (EoS). Students will learn about EoS models from the 'ideal' to the 'real' such as Van der Waals and virial models. Understanding of free energy, enthalpy, entropy and the relationships between the thermodynamic variables will be developed in the context of physico-chemical processes. The concepts of chemical potential, fugacity, activity and their role in both phase and chemical equilibria will also be examined. Binary interactions will be discussed as an underlying explanation for non-ideal behaviour of pure substances and mixtures.
This module is designed to enhance students’ understanding of system dynamics and feedback at the block diagram level, by providing tools for the analysis of linear single degree freedom systems. Students will gain the ability to use appropriate instrumentation for feedback and data-logging purposes. The module will enable students to interface devices such as memory, digital IO and analogue IO to a microprocessor or microcontroller. They will also discover how to access such devices from within a program using C and/or Assembler.
On successful completion of this module, students will be able to develop single degree freedom models for simple mechanical, electric and electromechanical systems. They will also be able to discuss the assumptions necessary to develop such linear models and have an awareness of nonlinear and chaotic systems. Additionally, students will develop the ability to analyse 1st and 2nd order models in both the time and frequency domain, including vibrations and asymptotic stability. They will write down the transfer function of a system from its differential equation and understand the significance of the poles/zeros.
Further skills available on the module include the ability to manipulate block diagrams of open and closed-loop systems and the design of proportional, integral, derivative, velocity and multi-term controllers. Finally, students will construct and use Bode diagrams, and will develop the knowledge required to analyse the function and physical operation of a range of common types of transducer, e.g. for the measurement of strain, force, temperature and acceleration.
This module considers mass and heat transfer and their importance in chemical engineering. It describes the underlying principles and provides an understanding of the technological implications of mass and heat transfer. It aims to develop knowledge of heat transfer calculations and show where these are the essence of, or are essential to, engineering design. The module will also provide an understanding of health, safety and environmental considerations when working with particulates.
On successful completion of this module, students will be able to understand mass and heat transfer principles, estimate steady state heat transfer rates and size simple parallel and contra flow heat exchangers. They will gain the necessary skill set to estimate temperature distributions within 1-D or rotationally symmetric systems in which there is steady heat flow, and correctly sized cooling fins. They will also set up appropriate boundary conditions for 3-D heat conduction problems that are to be solved numerically using a software package. Finally, students will be able to evaluate and determine film and overall mass transfer coefficients, as well as be able to correctly size fluid to fluid mass transfer equipment.
This module introduces advanced mass transfer, particulate technology and separation processes, and their importance. It will describe the underlying principles behind these and aims to provide a sound basis for confidently designing and selecting processes involving reactants and products of any physical form. It also aims to provide a good understanding of health, safety and environmental considerations when working with particulates. Students will learn to describe advanced mass transfer processes and will develop an understanding of the interdependence of elements of a complex system. They will also gain the ability to integrate processing steps into a sequence.
Students will apply analysis techniques, understand powder characterisation techniques, and specify appropriate data required for further processing and to ensure quality of the final product. Additionally, students will select methods for preparing desired products and understand the governing principles behind their operation. They will demonstrate an understanding of particulate interactions with fluids and the how these govern the operation of solid/liquid and solid/gas processes, with particular application to those studied in the module. Students will also be able to select the appropriate processes for the objectives given a critical understanding of a range of options available, and will have an appreciation of the compromises which may have to be made.
Finally, students will demonstrate knowledge of some common industrial processes, and will be able to explain that operation from fundamental principles and apply this knowledge to unfamiliar examples. They will gain an appreciation for health, safety and environmental considerations of working with particulates and relevant process equipment.
This module addresses the sizing and analysis of ideal reactors and looks at homogeneous reaction in batch and continuous reactors, along with systems of continuous reactors such as series and parallel. Students will also become familiar with multiple reactions, as well as conversion, selectivity and yield. They will also explore the classification of reactions. Students will be introduced to the concept of reactor design and its relationship to system kinetics, and will learn the differences between various types of reactors. They will gain the ability to select appropriate reactors to carry out specific reactions.
Additionally, students will develop the knowledge necessary to describe batch and continuous operation and the criteria selection of each. They will understand and apply principles associated with reactor design. Students will also gain an understanding of the interdependence of elements in a complex system, and will learn to integrate processing steps into a sequence. Finally, students will learn to apply analysis techniques to the design of reactors.
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In this year, you will study at one of our international partner universities. This will help you to develop your global outlook, expand your professional network, and gain cultural and personal skills. You will choose specialist modules relating to your degree as well as other modules from across the host university.
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An advanced exploration of chemical engineering fundamentals is provided and applied to the concept of simultaneous momentum, heat and mass transfer in the design process. Students will develop skills used in the chemical engineering design of evaporators, humidifiers, dryers and complex separations.
Students will gain an understanding of the fundamental processes involved in integrating momentum of heat, mass and momentum transfers including the humidification process, cooling towers and multi-component distillation.
The module will also enhance students’ ability to define a problem and identify the constraints of such processes. They will learn to adapt designs to meet new purposes, and apply innovative design solutions whilst simultaneously solving momentum, heat and material balance problems.
In addition, students will develop an awareness of the principles of mass and energy balance and how that, and other process parameters, are interrelated and combined in the design of processes and equipment to create a complete plant. Finally, students will gain knowledge about the principles of effective management of health and safety including appropriate legislation. They will be able to refer to a range of relevant design standards when generating designs.
This module develops students’ understanding of reactors and reaction engineering from the homogenous through catalytic and enzymatic to heterogenous and bio-reactions.
Students will learn about the kinetics of ‘idealised’ catalysis and enzymes in homogeneous systems before being introduced to heterogeneous reactions and the additional concepts required to describe them and interpret their behaviours.
They will also learn to interpret complex kinetic models in terms of the underlying process steps such as: mass transfer, pore-diffusion surface adsorption and desorption and the reaction itself.
Analysis of reaction data will be taught using a range of mathematical and empirical tools to quantify the characteristic kinetic parameters, and students will select and design a range of catalytic and bio-reactors based on the characteristics of the reacting system.
The module provides a sound framework of principles for calculating mass and energy balances for various operations and processes for design purposes. Students will develop skills in the common tool set used in chemical engineering design, and will be introduced to hazard identification techniques and quantification as applicable to process plants.
Students will develop a design for a set of requirements based on customer needs and identify any constraints. They will be expected to ensure it would be fit for purpose including maintenance, reliability and safety, and will adapt designs to meet new purposes and apply innovative design solutions. Additionally, students will learn how to solve material balance problems for multiple stage process operations, and will gain the necessary knowledge to identify principle successive steps required in the start of a process design.
Students will also gain an understanding of how the principles of mass and energy balance and other process parameters are interrelated and combined in the design of processes and equipment to create a complete plant. The principles of effective management of health and safety, including appropriate legislation, will also be described. The students will be able to categorise hazards and refer to appropriate legislation, and will apply hazard identification techniques and analysis techniques in designs to support safety cases. Ultimately, they will develop an understanding of the concept of a safety case, and will gain the ability to refer to a range of relevant design standards when generating designs.
This module offers students an immersive experience of the chemical process design activity, from the later stages of conceptual design through equipment sizing and mechanical configuration to the early stages of detailed process design. Students will gain the opportunity to apply their chemical engineering knowledge and skills previously developed to the real problems associated with the design of a coherent process.
During this module students will demonstrate understanding and competent application, of the tools of synthesis and integration to a complex chemical process. They will also gain a deep understanding of the principles of process evaluation with regard to sustainability as represented by safety, health and environmental and economic impact. An enhanced awareness of the sensitivity of operational variables in their design proposals will also be provided.
Additionally, students will choose a route and synthesise a flowsheet for the manufacture of a specified quantity of a defined chemical product, and will select and deploy appropriate design methods for one or more items of process equipment. Students will evaluate the consequences of uncertainty in data, as well as the route and flowsheet options with regard to sustainability, as represented by safety, health and environmental and economic impact.
Students are introduced to the use of computational data analysis, modelling and simulation in the field of chemical engineering. The module uses a mixture of visual basic and spreadsheet programming and one of the most widely employed professional chemical engineering software packages: ASPEN engineering suite. Students will develop competence in using computer modelling and simulation in chemical engineering analysis and design, and will gain an understanding of numerical methods relevant to this field.
Additionally, students will gain confidence in the application of numerical methods to the interpretation of chemical engineering data and to the creation of bespoke designs. They will develop problem solving skills using a specialist chemical engineering software package, and will enhance their skills of analysis and synthesis of solution algorithms for practical chemical engineering problems.
Completing this module will enable students to recognise the limitations of numerical modelling and simulations.
Students are provided with an insight into the physics, chemistry and engineering of common energy conversion processes, including conventional thermal power generation: coal, oil, open-cycle and combined cycle gas turbines. They will develop the ability to analyse systems efficiency and the CO2 emissions of different schemes, and will also study direct conversion, including solar photovoltaic devices and fuel cells.
This module will enable students to discuss and deduce numerically the efficiency of a variety of energy conversion processes. There will be an opportunity for students to gain a range of transferable skills such as, the ability to describe and analyse energy conversion processes. They will also gain a consideration of where current research trends are taking the field.
This module examines the role of management and its relevance to engineering today. In this context, specific knowledge about manufacturing systems and project financial appraisal will be introduced, together with relevant aspects of law and human resource management, industrial organisation and project costing. Students will receive an outline of company finance and reporting, along with an overview of environmental reporting, quality and safety management.
The module will reinforce students’ understanding of the role of management in industry, as well as how modern manufacturing operations are organised financially. Students will financially evaluate both large and small projects as the basis for major decisions, and will develop knowledge of what quality is and its importance to all organisations. Additionally, students will apply suitable tools for the improvement of quality, and will come to understand the importance of environmental reporting. The module will also enable students to carry out a basic level of safety management.
Fees and funding
Our annual tuition fee is set for a 12-month session, starting in the October of your year of study.
It will be necessary for students to purchase clothing for use in laboratories which is approximately £30. The University pays for student membership of the Institute of Engineering and Technology where appropriate plus contributes to specialist software and workshop materials.
There may be extra costs related to your course for items such as books, stationery, printing, photocopying, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits. Following graduation, you may need to pay a subscription to a professional body for some chosen careers.
Specific additional costs for studying at Lancaster are listed below.
College fees
Lancaster is proud to be one of only a handful of UK universities to have a collegiate system. Every student belongs to a college, and all students pay a small college membership fee which supports the running of college events and activities. Students on some distance-learning courses are not liable to pay a college fee.
For students starting in 2025, the fee is £40 for undergraduates and research students and £15 for students on one-year courses.
Computer equipment and internet access
To support your studies, you will also require access to a computer, along with reliable internet access. You will be able to access a range of software and services from a Windows, Mac, Chromebook or Linux device. For certain degree programmes, you may need a specific device, or we may provide you with a laptop and appropriate software - details of which will be available on relevant programme pages. A dedicated IT support helpdesk is available in the event of any problems.
The University provides limited financial support to assist students who do not have the required IT equipment or broadband support in place.
Study abroad courses
In addition to travel and accommodation costs, while you are studying abroad, you will need to have a passport and, depending on the country, there may be other costs such as travel documents (e.g. VISA or work permit) and any tests and vaccines that are required at the time of travel. Some countries may require proof of funds.
Placement and industry year courses
In addition to possible commuting costs during your placement, you may need to buy clothing that is suitable for your workplace and you may have accommodation costs. Depending on the employer and your job, you may have other costs such as copies of personal documents required by your employer for example.
The fee that you pay will depend on whether you are considered to be a home or international student. Read more about how we assign your fee status.
Home fees are subject to annual review, and may be liable to rise each year in line with UK government policy. International fees (including EU) are reviewed annually and are not fixed for the duration of your studies. Read more about fees in subsequent years.
We will charge tuition fees to Home undergraduate students on full-year study abroad/work placements in line with the maximum amounts permitted by the Department for Education. The current maximum levels are:
Students studying abroad for a year: 15% of the standard tuition fee
Students taking a work placement for a year: 20% of the standard tuition fee
International students on full-year study abroad/work placements will be charged the same percentages as the standard International fee.
Please note that the maximum levels chargeable in future years may be subject to changes in Government policy.
Scholarships and bursaries
You will be automatically considered for our main scholarships and bursaries when you apply, so there's nothing extra that you need to do.
You may be eligible for the following funding opportunities, depending on your fee status:
Unfortunately no scholarships and bursaries match your selection, but there are more listed on scholarships and bursaries page.
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We also have other, more specialised scholarships and bursaries - such as those for students from specific countries.
A generous donation from the family of Tom Millen will enable two outstanding Engineering students to benefit from a bursary of £1,500.
This award is in memory of Tom Millen, who served as Superintendent of Laboratories and Workshops in the School of Engineering at Lancaster University. He began working for the School in 1969 and retired in 1977. He believed passionately in the value of education and his family are generously supporting the award to recognise and support social mobility and widening access to higher education.
Each year, a £1,500 bursary will be offered to support two Engineering students who have performed at a high academic level at the start of their studies at Lancaster. It will be awarded to two first-year students during their second year who meet the following criteria:
The recipients must be home fee-paying students
The recipients must be in receipt of the Lancaster Opportunity Scholarship or Lancaster Bursary
The recipients must pass all modules in the academic year on the first attempt and achieve the highest overall aggregate score from all modules
The award will normally be given to one male and one non-male recipient
The bursary will be given in three £500 instalments over the course of the academic year. You do not need to apply for the scholarship - the selection process is internal.
A place for Maria
What attracted you to study Engineering at Lancaster University? Firstly, it was the offer of an initial general engineering year where I could get to know all types of engineering, and afterwards, be able to choose which path to follow knowing from experience what I enjoyed. Secondly, the excellent equipment of the engineering department which had an extensive research profile and third, the fact that it offered lots of support for international students.
When did you know it was right for you? From the very first moment I stepped onto the Lancaster University campus I knew it was going to become my first choice. I had already visited a few universities in UK, but nothing compared to Lancaster. The university and the town looked very student-based, and although it was compact it still offered all the facilities and shops that I’d need. I really liked the campus feel and that it was surrounded by nature.
What has been your favourite aspect of your course so far? One of my favourite things has been my 3rd-year project. For Chemical Engineering students, it is a group report where everybody has to contribute to designing a chemical plant to manufacture a product. This project has come to show how all the theory we have learnt in our modules is being used in practice, and listening to the needs of a client and delivering a fully functional product.
Maria Sanchez-O’Mullony Martinez, MEng Hons Chemical Engineering
Keep your options open
If you're unsure of which area of specialisation you'd like to go into upon application, you can use the UCA code H100 Engineering to leave your options open. The common first year lets you change your specialisation allowing a more informed choice at the end of year one, subject to meeting the requirements of that course.
Our Facilities
Main Lab
Our Main Engineering Lab is a large and spacious, double-floored room home to the Engineering Strongfloor, Robotics area, and Wind Tunnel. Here is where you'll get the opportunity to load test materials and constructions, and work on projects involving robotics or renewable energy.
Electronics Lab
Our Electronics Lab is equipped with equipment such as oscilloscopes, signal generators, and power supplies to allow you to undertake prototyping and practical work in electronics.
Additive Manufacturing Lab
Our Additive Manufacturing Lab comes equipped with a number of 3D printers and laser-based additive machines to fabricate items that wouldn't be possible using more traditional subtractive methods.
Chemical Engineering Lab
The Chemical Engineering Teaching Lab is where you'll in small groups to rotate around an assortment of experimental apparatus to engage and learn about industrial processes along with the associated health and safety, COSHH assessment, and substance controls.
Teaching Lab
Our Teaching Lab houses a variety of engineering apparatus that you'll get to use throughout your degree, from 3D printers and robotics arms, to CNC machines.
Mechanical Engineering Lab
In the Mechanical Engineering Lab, you'll be able to join your peers working on the Formula Student project. Formula Student is an international racing competition for a single-seater racing car covering a number of static judging (design, marketing and cost) and different dynamic (acceleration, sprint, endurance) events.
Breakout Space
Within the School of Engineering, we have a dedicated Breakout Space for you to get together with other students and collaborate on work, or otherwise socialise in your downtime between lectures, workshops, and labs.
Computer Lab
The School's Computing Lab comes fully equipped with all of the software you'll need in order to create virtual prototypes of your projects, or work on electronic or embedded systems.
Engineering Projects Lab
Engineering Projects make up a significant proportion of most of our Engineering degrees and involve a great deal of collaboration with your peers. This space is dedicated for you to work on these projects, allowing you the room to create and test prototypes.
The information on this site relates primarily to 2025/2026 entry to the University and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.
The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.
More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.
Our Students’ Charter
We believe in the importance of a strong and productive partnership between our students and staff. In order to ensure your time at Lancaster is a positive experience we have worked with the Students’ Union to articulate this relationship and the standards to which the University and its students aspire. View our Charter and other policies.
Our historic city is student-friendly and home to a diverse and welcoming community. Beyond the city you'll find a stunning coastline and the picturesque Lake District.
