Join the climate revolution!
Solve global challenges via process engineering
Process engineers are among the most demanded engineers across multiple sectors, due to the flexibility of their skillset. They can design, optimise and operate industrial processes, as well as lead engineering projects. MSc in Advanced Process Engineering integrates applied learning experience with internationally-recognised research, professional development, career mentoring and teamwork to transform you into the engineering leader who will solve global challenges. You will develop relevant employability skills to become a successful process engineer in any sector that utilises process engineering, including energy and power, nuclear, chemical, petrochemical, water, food and drink, and pharmaceutical industries. You will also become a member of Cranfield Process Engineering team and will work with us to solve global challenges through real-life assignments and projects. Ranked in the UK top 5 for mechanical engineering, Cranfield offers a unique, postgraduate-only environment, near-industrial scale engineering facilities, industrially focused modules and real-world case studies. You will take a practical approach to develop solutions to challenges, such as achieving net-zero in power and industrial sectors and solving climate emergency.Overview
- Start dateFull-time: October. Part-time: October
- DurationOne year full-time, two-three years part-time
- DeliveryTaught modules 40%, Group project 20% (dissertation for part-time students), Individual Research Project 40%.
- QualificationMSc, PgDip, PgCert
- Study typeFull-time / Part-time
- CampusCranfield campus
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“As an international university with excellent facilities combined with quality education and research, and is renowned for its relevance in the application of technology to business, I will say Cranfield University is the ideal place for any student pursuing his or her postgraduate studies. It was certainly true for me. ”
Nathaniel Essilfie-Conduah, student, Process Systems Engineering MSc
Who is it for?
The Advanced Process Engineering MSc is ideal for candidates with engineering or applied science backgrounds who want to dedicate their career to solving global challenges via process engineering. Process engineers play a pivotal role in contributing to meeting emission reduction targets and, subsequently, global warming mitigation.
We recognise that process engineering is an inherently multi-disciplinary and, therefore complex field of study. This course is specifically designed for those seeking a career in design and development, research and development, operation and management of process engineering systems in industry, government or research organisations.
This course will equip you with an advanced process engineering knowledge, as well as applied analytical, problem-solving and communication skills that are crucial to your successful career as a process engineer or project engineer.
You will become proficient in the use of state-of-the-art approaches that are applied throughout the process development process to deal with the major operational and design challenges. You will receive up-to-date technical knowledge and develop skills required for achieving the best management, design, control and operation of efficient process systems.
Your career
The Advanced Process Engineering MSc is designed to provide you with the skills, knowledge and expertise required to develop a successful career in any sector, including energy and power, nuclear, chemical, petrochemical, water, food and drink, and pharmaceutical industries. We aim to influence your career development from day one. This course will enable you to apply your learning through applied modules and real-life assignments, industrially-relevant group and individual research projects; while equipping you with the engineering and management skills you need to make an immediate impact in your career.
Successful graduates have pursued careers in roles that include:
Engineering consultants, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Teaching Associate, PhD Researcher, Subsea Engineer, Senior Engineer, Telecommunications Engineer, Process Engineer, Layout and Material Flow Engineer, Process Project Engineer, Project & Continuous Improvement Engineer, Senior System Engineer, Lead Storage Engineer.
Our graduates have been employed by:
Aramco (Saudi Arabia), Bayer Crop Science, British Petroleum (BP), National Iranian Oil Company, Petroleum Research Institute (Libya), Ecopetrol (Columbia), Emerson Process Management, Ford Motor Company, Hidrostal, China Petroleum Engineering & Construction Corporation, GlaxoSmithKline, Doosan Babcock, Oceaneering, Opal Telecom, Origami Energy, Petrofac Engineering, DIT Ireland, Thistle Seafoods, Sanofi-Synthelabo, Saipem, Process Systems Enterprise, M W Kellog, Solutia Ltd, ABB.
Cranfield Careers Service
Cranfield’s Career Service is dedicated to helping you meet your career aspirations. You will have access to career coaching and advice, CV development, interview practice, access to hundreds of available jobs via our Symplicity platform and opportunities to meet recruiting employers at our careers fairs. We will also work with you to identify suitable opportunities and support you in the job application process for up to three years after graduation.
Why this course?
Advanced Process Engineering MSc is based on a complex engineering specialisation and constitutes an interdisciplinary research area within the chemical engineering discipline. It plays a vital role across the lifecycle of any chemical, physical, and biological process, including process development, design, construction, debottlenecking, optimisation, operation and control. Process engineering utilises both experimental techniques and systematic computer-aided tools to ensure the process is designed and operated in the most efficient and economically feasible way.
Through this course, you will develop practical skills by using the experimental techniques and systematic computer-aided tools along the process development cycle, including the development, design, optimisation, debottlenecking, operation and control of any chemical, physical, and biological processes.
By combining advanced process engineering topics, with an underpinning in the management skills required to lead complex projects, this course will prepare you for a successful and rewarding career:
- Learn through innovative teaching practices and student-led exercises, designed to advance your independent learning and ability to solve real-world problems,
- Benefit from near-industrial scale facilities for project work, including our Process Systems Engineering Laboratory,
- Work with lecturers who have extensive, current experience of working with industry on solving real-world process engineering challenges,
- Experience real-world situations in teaching to learn how to create new problem diagnoses, designs, or system insights that will make a difference in the industry,
- Develop your technology leadership capabilities with the world-renowned Cranfield School of Management,
- Participate in individual and group projects focused on your personal interests and career aspirations,
- Study at a top 5-ranked UK university for mechanical, aeronautical and manufacturing engineering.
This MSc is supported by our team of professorial thought leaders, including Professor Phil Hart, who is influential in the field of process engineering, and an integral part of this MSc.
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I am currently a Layout & Material Handling Engineer at Ford Motor Company. During the interview process my interviewer showed interest in my experience at Cranfield. It is a renowned university and therefore greatly valued by employers. I would personally highlight that every single one of my soft skills were tested during the course and helped me stand out from other graduates my age.
Jorge Martinez Romero, Layout & Material Handling Engineer
Informed by industry
The Advanced Process Engineering MSc is closely aligned with industry to ensure that you are fully prepared for your career:
- Cranfield’s long-standing strategic partnerships with prominent players in the process sectors - including Alstom Power, BP, Chevron, Conoco Philips, Emerson Process Management, npower, and Siemens – ensures that the course content meets the needs of global employers,
- The teaching team are heavily involved in industrially funded research and development, enabling you to benefit from real-world case studies throughout the course,
- Engineering modules cover a range of topics including Process Instrumentation and Control Engineering, Process Design and Simulation, Thermal Systems Operation and Design, Risk and Reliability Engineering and Advanced Control Systems,
- Student projects are often linked to the department’s industrially funded research – ensuring relevance to employers,
- The Institution of Mechanical Engineers and The Energy Institute accredits the course, ensuring professional recognition and relevance to employers.
Course details
The taught programme for the MSc in Advanced Process Engineering is delivered from October to February and is comprised of eight compulsory taught modules. A typical module is delivered over two weeks. Generally the first week involves intensive teaching while the second week has fewer teaching hours to allow time for more independent learning and completion of the assessment.
Students on the part-time programme will complete all of the compulsory modules based on a flexible schedule that will be agreed with the Course Director.
Course delivery
Taught modules 40%, Group project 20% (dissertation for part-time students), Individual Research Project 40%.
Group project
The group project runs from late February until early May, and enables you to apply the skills and knowledge developed during the taught modules into practice in an applied context while gaining transferable skills in project management, teamwork and independent research. The group project is usually sponsored by industrial partners who provide particular problems linked to their plant operations. Projects generally require the group to provide a solution to the operational problem. Potential future employers value this experience. This group project is shared across the MSc in Advanced Process Engineering and other courses, giving the added benefit of gaining new insights, ways of thinking, experience and skills from students with other backgrounds
During the project you will develop a range of skills including learning how to establish team member roles and responsibilities, project management, and delivering technical presentations. At the end of the project, all groups submit a written report and deliver a presentation to the industrial partner. This presentation provides the opportunity to develop interpersonal and presentation skills within a professional environment.
It is clear that the modern engineer cannot be divorced from the commercial world. In order to provide practice in this matter, a poster presentation will be required from all students. This presentation provides the opportunity to develop presentation skills and effectively handle questions about complex issues in a professional manner.
Part-time students are encouraged to participate in a group project as it provides a wealth of learning opportunities. However, an option of an individual dissertation is available if agreed with the Course Director.
Recent group projects include:
- Integrated management of production and utility systems in process industries.
- Multiphase regime monitoring and control using optical fibre sensing.
- CO2 capture and energy storage technologies for decarbonisation of power sector.
- Energy production and demand management in smart microgrids based on combined heat and power units.
Individual project
The individual research project allows you to delve deeper into a specific area of interest. As our academic research is so closely related to industry, it is common for our industrial partners to put forward real practical problems or areas of development as potential research topics. The individual research project component takes place between April and August.
For part-time students, it is common that their research project is undertaken in collaboration with their place of work.
Research projects will involve designs, computer simulations, techno-economic feasibility assessments, reviews, practical evaluations and experimental investigations.
Typical research areas include:
- Design, simulation and optimisation of process or energy systems.
- Advanced process control methodologies.
- Instrumentation and process measurement systems.
- Multi-phase flow and processes.
- Renewable energy systems.
- Studies involving environmental issues.
Recent Individual Research Projects include:
- Optimisation frameworks for the design and planning of oil and gas supply chains.
- Operational planning and maintenance of utility systems.
- Optimal design and planning of biomass supply chains.
- Inferential slug control of a U-shaped riser.
- Self-optimizing control of Tennessee Eastman plant.
- Design/simulation of a lab-scale fixed-bed reactor for CO2 capture-remove process.
- Effluent treatment system for a secondary pharmaceutical site.
- Condition monitoring in subsea engineering.
- CHP systems with Stirling power generator.
- Electro-chemical coolers for small-scale refrigeration.
Modules
Keeping our courses up-to-date and current requires constant innovation and change. The modules we offer reflect the needs of business and industry and the research interests of our staff and, as a result, may change or be withdrawn due to research developments, legislation changes or for a variety of other reasons. Changes may also be designed to improve the student learning experience or to respond to feedback from students, external examiners, accreditation bodies and industrial advisory panels.
To give you a taster, we have listed the compulsory and elective (where applicable) modules which are currently affiliated with this course. All modules are indicative only, and may be subject to change for your year of entry.
Course modules
Compulsory modules
All the modules in the following list need to be taken as part of this course.
Risk and Reliability Engineering
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Aim |
This module introduces you to the principles of risk and reliability engineering, and associated tools and methods to solve relevant engineering problems in industry. |
Syllabus |
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Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you should be able to:
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Computational Fluid Dynamics for Industrial Processes
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Aim |
This module introduces you to the CFD techniques and tools for modelling, simulating and analysing practical engineering problems with hands on experience using commercial software packages used in industry. |
Syllabus |
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Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you should be able to:
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Process Design and Simulation
Module Leader |
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Aim |
This module aims to introduce you to the modern techniques and computer aided engineering tools for the design, simulation and optimisation of process systems. Via a large share of process simulation and optimisation case studies, the module will enable you to gather the hands-on experience of using the commercial software. |
Syllabus |
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Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you should be able to:
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Sustainability and Economic Assessment
Module Leader |
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Aim |
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Syllabus |
Economic appraisal of engineering projects Environmental impact assessment and sustainability |
Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you should be able to:
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Advanced Control Systems
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Aim |
This module introduces you to the fundamental concepts, principles, methodologies, and application for the design of advanced control systems for industrial applications. |
Syllabus |
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Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you should be able to:
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Energy Entrepreneurship
Module Leader |
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Aim |
In this world of downsizing, restructuring and technological change, notions of traditional careers and ways of creating value have all been challenged. People are depending more upon their own initiative to realise success. Never, it seems, have more people been starting their own companies than now, particularly to exploit the World Wide Web. There’s no single Government (in either the developed or the developing world), which is not paying at least lip service to enterprise development. The aim of this module is to provide you with knowledge and skills relevant for starting and managing new ventures across the entrepreneurial life cycle. Moreover, it will prepare you on how to prepare a business pitch to an investor. |
Syllabus |
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Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you should be able to:
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Process Instrumentation and Control Engineering
Module Leader |
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Aim |
This module introduces a systematic approach to the design of measurement and control systems for industrial process applications. The fundamental concepts, key requirements, typical principles and key applications of the industrial process measurement and control technology and systems will be highlighted. |
Syllabus |
Principles of Measurement System Principles of Process Measurement Practical of Process Control |
Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you should be able to:
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Research Methods and Project Management
Module Leader |
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Aim |
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Syllabus |
Research methods: Project management: Ethics and the role of the engineer: Professional code of conduct (in line with the code of conduct defined by the Engineering Council, IMechE, IChemE and Energy Institute). |
Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you should be able to:
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Teaching team
You will be taught by our multidisciplinary team of leading technology experts including: Dr Dawid Hanak – Course Director and Senior Lecturer in Energy and Process Engineering. Our teaching team work closely with business and have academic and industrial experience. The course also includes inputs from industry that will relate the theory to current best practice. Knowledge gained working with our clients is continually fed back into the teaching programme to ensure that you benefit from the very latest knowledge and techniques affecting industry. As an Advanced Process Engineering student, you will become a member of Cranfield Process Engineering team and will work with us to solve global challenges through real-life assignments and projects. The Admissions Tutor is Dr Ayub Golmakani and the Course Director is Dr Dawid Hanak.
Accreditation
The MSc of this course is accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) and The Energy Institute.
How to apply
Applications need to be made online. Click the 'Apply now' button at the top of this page.
Once you have set up an account you will be able to create, save and amend your application form before submitting it.