Cambridge Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology Admissions Guide
Why Cambridge Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology (CEB)?
The Cambridge Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology course offers a unique integration of two key scientific disciplines: chemical engineering and biotechnology. Chemical engineers focus on transforming raw materials into valuable products, while biotechnology leverages living systems and organisms to create new solutions. The Cambridge Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology course offers a uniquely interdisciplinary approach to these disciplines, designed to equip students with the tools needed to solve real world problems, such as creating sustainable food and water supplies, cleaner energy, and renewable plastics.
In the first year, students build a strong foundation in engineering design, chemistry, and practical skills through lectures and hands-on lab work, as well as small group supervisions. By the second year, you’ll have the opportunity to dive deeper into specialised areas such as biotechnology, process thermodynamics, and fluid mechanics. In the third year, students undertake a major design project, applying their knowledge to real-world problems, with further research options in your final year.
The course places a strong emphasis on the essential transferable skills needed to drive innovation. The four year course is accredited by the Institution of Chemical Engineers and ensures all graduates can go on to make a positive impact in their careers.
Cambridge Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology: Entry Requirements
All students applying to study the Cambridge Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology course must:
Receive A* A* A at A Level
Take A Level Maths and Chemistry (where you are generally required to get an A*)
Take a third sciences/maths subject (e.g Biology, Physics, Further Maths)
You should note that the majority of successful applicants take Physics or Further Maths, and receive an A* in this as well.
Register and sit the ESAT. View our full guide to the ESAT, here
Cambridge Chemical Engineering Personal Statement
The Cambridge Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology course is a unique offering. It’s really important you use your personal statement to show the admissions tutors that the course is exactly what you are interested in studying. Not Chemistry. Not Engineering. Not Biotechnology. Not Life Sciences. So, why Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology?
You’ll certainly encounter the question at interview but it’s important that before you even write your personal statement, you have an answer to this question as it should help guide and structure your Chemical engineering personal statement. Make sure you have a really good understanding of what Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology actually is and encompasses. These online resources can help you get a better sense of the subject:
The Cambridge Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology Department: Take a look at the research interests of departmental staff to get a sense of the kind of projects and scope of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology. They also have some short videos introducing their research. Look for further reading opportunities if you find one topic particularly interesting!
IChemE: IChemE has a great series of videos and articles which introduce Chemical Engineering and help you understand what Chemical Engineers do. This is a great starting overview.
Boost your Cambridge Chemical Engineering Personal Statement
A great way to showcase curiosity for the Cambridge Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology course is by working with a tutor on an independent research project, diving into a topic of your own interest and honing your problem-solving and research skills. Students will work with tutors who are graduates from the Cambridge course to explore their research interests, answering questions such as: “Can biotechnology provide sustainable solutions for the global food crisis, or are the engineering challenges too complex?”
Working with a U2 Tuition tutor will push you to develop problem-solving skills and expand your Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology knowledge to impress admissions tutors and really stand out.
Once you do understand the subject, think about what it means to you. How would you define it? What excites you about it? These questions can guide your independent research and direct your preparation for your Cambridge Chemical engineering personal statement.
Cambridge want to see that you are genuinely excited about the subject and have taken time and steps to further explore it. That means looking at associated areas (e.g. energy, environment healthcare products, sustainability, risk and safety etc.) and having a broad understanding of an interest in the wide range of scientific disciplines it encompasses.
Some reading suggestions that you can dip in and out of to explore the breadth of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology are:
Online resources:
The New Scientist (look for articles on Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology!)
Chemical Engineering resources (useful explanations of scientific principles!)
Books:
J Keeler & P Wothers, Why Chemical Reactions Happen, O.U.P.
PW Atkins, Molecules, Scientific American
Bondi, C, New Applications of Mathematics, Penguin
Hall, N (ed.), The New Scientist Guide to Chaos, Penguin
Baillie, C and Vanasupa, L, Navigating the Material World, Academic Press
As you read to gain a broad understanding of the subject, pay close attention to interdisciplinary links you can draw out in your personal statement and any other topics that interest you that you can go away and research further.
A really strong Cambridge Chemical Engineering personal statement will be able to show your interest in and understanding of the subject and an ability to engage with some of the interdisciplinary thinking and real world applications. Cambridge emphasise the power of the course to allow graduates to enact real positive change in the world so look for moments where Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology have created innovative solutions that inspire and excite you.
Tutors are also looking for you to showcase your curiosity and commitment to the Cambridge Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology course. A great way to do this is through co-curricular activities. These allow you to engage with the subject first hand, build your knowledge and demonstrate your creativity and innovative approach to problem-solving, qualities also strongly valued by Cambridge admissions tutors.
Here are some ideas for how to get involved with Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology:
Innovation Challenges
The Davidson’s Inventors Challenge:
The University of Cambridge runs the Davidson’s Inventors challenge every year and places a strong emphasis on creativity and innovation.
Minds Underground’s Engineering Innovation Challenge
Our co-curricular division, Minds Underground, also runs an innovation challenge where you can design a wearable.
You could also have a go at entering the Young Engineering Awards for innovation and sustainability.
Essay Competitions
Minds Underground STEM Essay Competition
Our co-curricular division Minds Underground runs a regular STEM essay competition. With questions for Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Maths, you could enter to showcase your interest in a range of science disciplines.
Regardless of the outcome, entering competitions and challenges is a great way to show your dedication and will give you lots to talk about in your personal statement and an interview. Reflect on what the exercise taught you, what were the challenges and how did you think outside the box to reach a solution?
You could also get involved in chemical engineering work experience. IChemE offers a virtual work experience programme to give students an initial insight into the world of chemical engineering. Through our co-curricular division, Minds Underground, you could also take an independent work and research experience project in chemical engineering and gain important skills in data analysis and problem-solving. Students can choose from a range of possible titles tailored to the research interests of our Engineering specialists. Find out more.
Cambridge Chemical Engineering Interview Prep:
The Cambridge Chemical Engineering Interview is the first moment you get to meet the admissions tutors and it’s the opportunity for your excitement for the course to really shine through.
You will normally have two interviews, each lasting around 20-25 minutes.
The interview questions you get asked will in part assess your motivation and in part your skills and aptitude. Be ready to expand on your Chemical engineering personal statement and on why you want to study the subject.
You should also be prepared for some practical questions in your Cambridge Chemical Engineering interview that are designed to test your problem-solving skills and maths and science knowledge. Make sure you have a strong understanding of order of magnitude (a key skill for engineers) and have broadened your knowledge of science beyond the A Level curriculum.
The Cambridge NRich programmes are a great way to boost your knowledge in preparation for the ESAT and the Cambridge Chemical engineering interview. They have programmes in Maths, Chemistry and Physics that will help enhance your skills beyond the level set at A Level.
Cambridge Chemical Engineering Interview Days
Our Mock Interview Days provide an excellent opportunity for students to test their knowledge and skills in a realistic, online interview setting designed to mirror the actual Cambridge interview experience.
Students participate in three mock interviews with experienced tutors from the Cambridge Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology course, receiving detailed written feedback which includes additional practice questions and personalised reading recommendations to help refine their interview technique and boost their confidence.
A Cambridge interview is designed to test your aptitude for the subject and the supervision system. Being able to think flexibly is a key skill for Chemical Engineering students and something the interview format naturally tests. You will often be presented with new information in stages and tasked to process it and incorporate it into your argument. Don’t be afraid to change your mind if new information contradicts something you’ve just said. Show yourself to be an agile thinker who can quickly and intelligently respond to new information and use it to solve problems.
Here’s a Cambridge Chemical Engineering Interview task designed to get you thinking in the way the interview will:
Cambridge Chemical Engineering Interview Questions
How would you design a cost-effective method to produce clean water from seawater?
How can biotechnology be used to improve food production in the face of climate change?
How would you estimate the cost of producing a new chemical product from raw materials?
Remember, throughout the interview it’s important you how your enthusiasm and curiosity. You’re not expected to already know everything but to be interested in it. You can do this by asking questions that will help you better understand if you don’t immediately get the question.
How can U2 Tuition enhance my Cambridge Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology Application?
If you're preparing for the Cambridge Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology course, U2 Tuition offers a range of tailored support to help you really stand out to admissions tutors.
Admissions Prep Tuition: Our expert tutors, who are Cambridge Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology graduates, provide one-on-one mentoring to guide you through personal statement writing and interview preparation. You'll receive personalised feedback and insights to ensure your application showcases your academic strengths and enthusiasm for the subject.
ESAT tuition: Prepare for the Engineering Admissions Assessment (ESAT) with one-on-one tuition, focusing on key concepts, time-saving strategies, and guided practice to excel in this crucial part of the application process.
Oxbridge Mock Interview Days: Prepare for the Cambridge Chemical Engineering interview with our immersive Mock Interview Days. You'll participate in three mock interviews with specialist Cambridge Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology tutors, simulating the real interview experience. Comprehensive feedback, additional practice questions, and reading recommendations will follow to help refine your performance.
Co-Curricular Exploration: Demonstrating curiosity and initiative is essential for a strong Cambridge Chemical engineering personal statement or interview performance. Through our co-curricular platform, Minds Underground, we offer several ways to broaden your engagement with the subject:
STEM Essay Competition: Take part in our regular competition, with tailored questions for Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology to challenge your interdisciplinary thinking and research skills.
Engineering Design Challenge: Test your creativity and engineering problem-solving skills through our Minds Underground Engineering Innovation Challenge, where you can design solutions to real-world engineering problems.
Independent Research Projects: Work closely with a subject specialist tutor to explore a topic of your choice, such as sustainable energy, biotechnology, or materials science, enhancing your problem-solving skills and demonstrating your passion for the subject.
STEM and Design Engineering Clubs: Join our Minds Underground STEM and Design Engineering clubs for regular discussions, hands-on activities, and opportunities to develop projects related to your Cambridge Chemical Engineering interests.
By combining academic preparation with co-curricular activities, U2 Tuition ensures that you are fully equipped to excel in your Cambridge Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology application. You can book an initial consultation or find out more about our Oxbridge mentoring programmes, here.