WELCOME!
Welcome to the Department of Chemical Engineering at The University of Manchester - one of the UK's largest and most historic. This is where the discipline was first established in 1887 by Professor George E. Davis, widely regarded as the founder of chemical engineering.
Here, you’ll learn from world-leading academics and have access to cutting-edge facilities, including our £12 million James Chadwick Building. With our global reputation for excellence, the University is ranked 4th in the UK and 7th in Europe for chemical engineering. We blend chemical engineering with bioscience, chemistry, mathematics, and analytical science, creating a truly multidisciplinary learning environment that prepares you for the challenges of the future. Our strong industry connections and ground-breaking research open doors to exciting career opportunities worldwide - helping you take your next steps with confidence. Join us and become part of a rich heritage of engineers shaping the world.
Ranked 4th in the UK and 6th in Europe (QS World Rankings 2025)
Ranked 16th globally (QS World Rankings 2025)
Ranked 2nd in the UK for research power in Engineering (UK Research Excellence Framework 2021)
OUR RESEARCH AREAS AND THEMES
Our Department drives impactful multidisciplinary research, supported by cutting-edge facilities and specialist equipment.
Strong collaborations with industry, from SMEs to multinationals, ensure our work addresses real-world challenges and delivers societal benefits.
Our research tackles today’s global challenges through eight interconnected themes.
These eight themes include:
- Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering
- Catalysis and Advanced Materials
- Electrochemical Energy
- Multiscale Modelling
- Nuclear Energy and Processes
- Process Integration
- Subsurface Energy
- and Sustainable Industrial Systems
These themes support wider goals in energy, health and well-being, sustainability, and water. By combining cutting-edge technologies and expertise, we deliver innovative solutions, from sustainable industrial systems to breakthroughs in advanced materials and energy transitions. For more information on our research themes, visit our main website.
The University of Manchester Oxford Rd Manchester M13 9PL UK
Royal Charter Number: RC000797