Chemical Engineering

Almost without exception, university engineering departments report that this discipline offers one of the best career potentials, with some of the best salaries. Chemists and biochemists often need to stay on for a PhD if they're going to get the decent jobs, but chemical engineers are straight in there, earning the cash.

The jobs - ofwhich there are plenty - could involve working in the chemical, process, food or pharmaceutical industry or in those areas of the City that deal with the large chemical engineering industry.

The subject is - to try to put it simply - about the practical application of chemistry on a large scale, involving the creation and efficient operation offacilities relating to the manufacture of almost anything, from plastic gizmos to cleaning products, from drugs to toothpaste. It's about building a process, one that's economically viable and environmentally responsible. Some students do shy away from working in an industry with a rather poor environmental image, but a big part of the subject is learning how to manage risks properly. It's worth remembering how much of our everyday life has been brought to us through chemical engineering - from food testing to medicines to printer's ink.