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Chemical Engineering
Chemical Engineering has a reputation in Cambridge of being something of a “doss” subject, especially amongst fellow sciency types. To an extent this reputation is justified.
Iain Lingwood
Robinson
4th Year
Manchester
The course in Cambridge is unusual in that it is second year entry only, with the majority of students having taken Part IA Natural Sciences or Part IA Engineering. Because of this, Chem Eng is sometimes seen as the easy way out, with the amount of contact time vastly reduced from the first year Nat Sci and Engineering courses. This is not the complete truth though - a large amount of material in Chem Eng (approx 30% in Part I) is continually assessed. As a result of this anyone wishing to study Chem Eng has to have the self-motivation to complete longer projects as well as the normal supervision work and labs. The continually assessed work is a feature of all three years in the department, culminating with a year long research project in Part IIB.
“ This is a highly technical course, and we're in demand around the world. ”
The atmosphere in the department is a good one, everyone is very friendly. This is certainly helped by the fact that the department is small (though ever growing). As such you’ll get to know pretty much everyone in your year as well as people from other years through the wide range of social events organised by the incredibly active student society (CUCES). The friendly atmosphere is fostered by the almost ritual usage of the department tea room every day. Lectures are organised such that there is a twenty minute break in the morning for everyone to grab a cup of tea (free of course!) and have a natter.
Chem Eng is a stimulating course which results in you gaining an incredibly useful degree. Chemical Engineers are in high demand around the world and hence command high salaries. This is aided by the fact that Chem Eng is a highly technical degree and that the Cambridge course is so highly respected. All members of the department become members of the Institute of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) for free. Completion of four years results in students gaining the MEng degree, showing a high degree of technical competence and allowing a career in industry to be followed. A few people decide that Chem Eng isn’t for them at the end of the third year and either leave with a BA or choose to take a year of Management Studies.
Best thing? Interesting and genuinely useful course
If you’re considering a career in industry then apply for Chem Eng, there isn’t really anything to lose. Chem Eng is a good course in a great department (supervisors have been known to provide cake and cookies during supervisions) and is a highly employable degree. It is of course, hard work, but then any Cambridge degree is, and no matter what anyone tells you, it is incredibly rewarding. Go on, apply!
Worst thing? Large number of labs and lectures