CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY

Engineer change at scale here at Manchester. How big will your impact be?

OUR CAREERS SERVICE

Think of our award-winning Careers Service (accredited by the Graduate Futures Institute) as your backstage pass to the world of work.

Book one-to-one appointments to polish your CV, rehearse interviews, or get insider tips on placements, internships, and job hunting.

Whether you’re exploring options, planning your next step, or just curious about what’s out there, we’ve got what it takes to help you turn applications into acceptances.

VISIT OUR CAREERS SERVICE

YOUR EMPLOYABILITY JOURNEY STARTS IN FIRST YEAR. HERE'S HOW TO START THINKING ABOUT IT.

Your Chemical Engineering degree skills will allow you to explore many career directions, in engineering and beyond. Click the plus signs to learn how your employability journey progresses throughout your degree.

  • Follow your curiosity: Think about what interests you, not just what looks impressive on paper
  • Scope it out: Explore career areas, niche roles, and where your subject can take you
  • Show up: Go to career talks, employer events, and taster sessions even if you’re “just looking”
  • Get involved: Join societies, build your network, and take on projects outside the lecture hall
  • Gear up: Track your experience, identify skills to develop, and explore options with our Careers Service
  • Get the experience: Apply for placements, internships, or research projects
  • Connect the dots: Link what you learn in lectures and seminars to the real world
  • Polish up: Get your CV and LinkedIn ready, attend application and interview workshops hosted by our Careers Service
  • Level up: Visit career fairs, book a one‑to‑one careers appointments
  • Learn from others: Apply for a career mentor with Careers Service

Industrial placements let you hit pause on lectures and dive straight into real-world work. You will boost your skills, build your network, and come out with a CV that actually catches the eyes of employers.

Plus, you might even land your dream job before graduation.

You’ll have the full support of your academic and Careers teams when you come to apply for your placement.

Our industrial placement students share how to make the most out of your placement year.

FURTHER INFORMATION ON PLACEMENT
  • Start early: Apply ahead for graduate roles, and tailor your CVs and cover letters
  • Speak their language: Translate your degree and experience confidently to employers
  • Engage your network: Lean on classmates, alumni, tutors, and employers you’ve met to open doors
  • Ace it: Leverage our Careers Service to prepare for interviews and assessment centres
  • Further study: Consider furthering your studies with an MSc, explore our alumni discount and fast track
EXPLORE OUR MASTER'S BROCHURE

AVERAGE SALARY

Spoiler: your skills do pay the bills

is the average salary for our Chemical Engineering students 15 months after graduation

(Graduate Outcomes Survey 2023, as presented by Discover Uni)

DID YOU KNOW?

The University of Manchester is the number-one most sought-after university by the UK's Top Graduate Employers.

(High Fliers Graduate Market Report, 2026)

WHAT YOU COULD BE WORKING ON AFTER GRADUATION

Discover some exciting projects our graduates go on to work on:

  • Carbon Footprint Reduction of a Manufacturing Process Mapping the energy and material flows of an existing production line, calculating its carbon footprint, and testing process changes (e.g. heat integration, solvent substitution, or reduced water use) to cut emissions without affecting product quality or throughput.
  • Optimisation of a Drug Substance Crystallisation Step Studying a crystallisation stage in an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) process to improve yield and particle size consistency, including lab trials, data analysis, and working within GMP constraints to support reliable large-scale manufacture.
  • Process Modelling for Hydrogen Production Building and validating a process model for a hydrogen production route (such as steam methane reforming or electrolysis), using plant or pilot data to assess efficiency, energy losses, and potential improvements to operating conditions.
  • Shelf-Life Improvement of a Beverage Product Investigating oxidation and microbial risks in a beverage manufacturing process, analysing processing temperatures and packaging options, and proposing process or formulation changes to extend shelf life while maintaining taste and regulatory compliance.

TRANSLATING YOUR DEGREE FOR EMPLOYEES

Here's how what you've learned becomes what makes you desirable:

Group Labs & Coursework
➡️ Collaboration, communication, time management
Programming & Simulation Tasks
➡️ Computational skills, coding (MATLAB/Python), model-building
Final Year Project
➡️ Project management, research skills, independent problem-solving, technical reporting
Aerodynamics & Propulsion Modules
➡️ Engineering analysis, critical thinking, real-world application
Flight Mechanics Labs
➡️ Experimentation, precision, data analysis, troubleshooting
CAD & Technical Drawing
➡️ Visualisation, attention to detail, technical proficiency