Key info

Learning mode
Online
Study level
Postgraduate
Credits
15 What are credits?
Duration
13 weeks
Time commitment
10 - 15 hours per week
Start date
21 September 2026
Cost
£1,395

Develop your skills in air and water pollution control, 100% online.

Join us online to build the skills you need to work in and improve air and water pollution control.

In this Masters-level short course, you’ll learn about the common processes used for the treatment of wastewater and waste gas.

With guidance from experts in the field, you’ll:

  • develop the skills you need to model, analyse, and design these systems
  • learn to evaluate and assess water and air pollution control technologies
  • interpret how process parameters affect the outcome of pollution controls.

You’ll also learn to use practical engineering tools to help you estimate, predict, and improve process design to reduce air and water pollution.

Who can join this pollution control course?

This course is designed for graduates in chemical engineering, environmental engineering, physics, applied maths or chemistry.

Build credits towards a Masters degree

This course is part of online:

You can use the credits you earn with this short course towards this MSc qualification.

What you’ll study

In this course, you’ll develop your understanding of the basic concepts, characteristics, and features of common processes used to treat wastewater and waste gas.

You’ll learn how to model, analyse, and design such systems, and to use tools to improve process design to reduce air and water pollution.

Course areas

This course introduces the water cycle and the need for wastewater treatment.

Biological wastewater treatment is covered in detail, with a focus on activated sludge process for carbon and nitrogen removal and anaerobic digestion.

Air pollution control is also covered in detail.

The course focuses on process design based on mass balances, heat balances and kinetics.

Topics you may cover include:

  • Introduction to air pollution: the problem, major pollutants and their sources, concentration limits and regulatory frameworks, effects of air pollutants.
  • Chemistry of atmospheric pollution, local and global implications.
  • Evaluation of atmospheric pollution.
  • Air quality modelling and plume dispersion.
  • Air pollution control technologies.
  • Air pollution control equipment.
  • Introduction to biological wastewater treatment.
  • Kinetics and stoichiometry of biological reactions, estimation of kinetic parameters.
  • Activated sludge process for carbon and nitrogen removal.
  • Anaerobic digestion.
  • Heat generation and heat balances in biological wastewater treatment processes.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to...

  • Interpret the basic terminology, concepts, and processes used in wastewater and waste gas treatment.
  • Produce / write mass and heat balances for biological wastewater treatment.
  • Design and scale-up methodologies.
  • Identify the key parameters in the design of air and water pollution control.
  • Analyse and evaluate air and water pollution control technologies using chemical engineering principles.
  • Use mathematical methods to check and verify analysis and design procedures.

Study air and water pollution control with University of Aberdeen Online

Earn as you learn

We fit around full-time work, so you can build qualifications while you keep earning a salary.

You’re in expert hands

We’ve been training world-class engineers for over 100 years and delivering online learning for decades.

20% alumni discount

University of Aberdeen alumni get 20% off fees for this online course.

How you’ll study

Online learning

This distance-learning air and water pollution control course is delivered flexibly, 100% online.

You can learn with us anywhere in the world, no student visa required, and manage your study hours to suit you.

Your teaching

This course is taught at Masters level.

Teaching is delivered through MyAberdeen, our online Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). It holds all the materials, tools and support you’ll need in your studies. Take a look around MyAberdeen.

You can access your learning materials on computer, smartphone and laptop, 24 hours a day. You’ll find a range of resources available, including:

  • pre-recorded video lectures
  • slide shows
  • reading materials
  • discussion boards with your tutors and peers
  • online access to our award-winning Sir Duncan Rice Library.

Tutor support

If you have questions during your studies, you can also request an online meeting with your tutor to discuss course content and related queries.

Your tutor

This course is delivered by our School of Engineering.

You’ll learn from an internationally experienced academic and researcher with extensive expertise in chemical and environmental engineering issues.

This course is assessed online.

You’ll be assessed throughout your course via:

  • a timed online test (worth 30% of your final course grade), and
  • an online exam (worth 70%).

The course totals approximately 150 hours of study and assessment time. That’s around 10 – 15 hours per week.

This is an indicative guide to the time required for a typical student at this level to achieve the learning outcomes. This includes time for independent study, as well as teaching and assessments.

You can largely set your own study hours each week to cover the materials. MyAberdeen is available 24/7, so you can log in and study when it suits you.

Activities with deadlines

There will be some activities scheduled at fixed times, such as assessments with deadlines, or meetings with your tutor. But otherwise, you can access and work through the course at your convenience.

Our first-class support structure will ensure that you aren’t alone in your studies. You’ll have contact with your coordinator via email, MyAberdeen and Microsoft Teams. You can use social media and discussion boards to chat with your fellow students too.

We provide a wide range of services to support you in your studies and beyond:

Wherever you are in the world, you’ll feel part of our very special Aberdeen learning community.

Your course coordinator

Dr Claudia Fernandez Martin

Dr Claudia Fernández-Martin

Claudia is a Senior Lecturer in Chemical Engineering with over 17 years’ combined experience in prestigious research institutions and academia.

An internationally recognised researcher in her field, Claudia’s expertise spans the synthesis and characterisation of a wide range of sustainable porous materials, and the development of greener processes for carbon capture.

View Claudia’s profile

Where this will take you

Towards a Masters

You’ll earn 15 credits at Masters level (SCQF Level 11) with this course. You can use these credits towards our online:

Masters in Advanced Chemical Engineering

Develop your knowledge and qualifications in chemical engineering, design and practice, with an emphasis on safety and sustainability. Study flexibly online in this degree that fits around full-time work.

View MSc Advanced Chemical Engineering

Careers in pollution control

This course is designed to help you progress within or work towards a career related to biological wastewater treatment and/or air pollution control and prevention.

The course aims to fill the knowledge gaps in many areas of this sector, giving you the skills you need to stand out in this area.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

Your employer or professional institute may recognise this course for CPD hours. Talk to your employer or institute to find out more.

Free career support

Access our free careers service while you study.

  • 1:1 appointments
  • CV checks
  • Interview prep
  • Job opportunities

See how our careers service can help you.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

We welcome students from all over the world.

This course has no formal entry requirements. You do not need to provide proof of your qualifications.

But you do need to check the entry guidance above to understand the level of teaching delivered, to decide if this course is right for you.

If you do not have qualifications from the UK, check the equivalent teaching level for your country.

Visa requirements

You do not need a student visa to study online with us.

English language requirements

Teaching is delivered in English.

You do not have to provide proof of your English language skills to join this course. But we want to make sure that you can use English well enough to study successfully.

Recommended level of English

For this course, we recommend the following level of English language proficiency.

These are our Postgraduate Standard requirements, and these are minimum scores.

IELTS Academic, IELTS UKVI Academic, or IELTS Online (not IELTS Indicator or IELTS General Training)

  • 6.5 overall
  • 5.5 for listening, reading and speaking
  • 6.0 for writing

TOEFL iBT or TOEFL iBT Home Edition

  • 90 overall
  • 17 for listening
  • 18 for reading
  • 20 for speaking
  • 21 for writing
  • TOEFL DI code is 0818

Cambridge English: B2 First, C1 Advanced, or C2 Proficiency

  • 176 overall
  • 162 for listening, reading and speaking
  • 169 for writing

LanguageCert Academic / LanguageCert Academic SELT

  • 70 overall
  • 60 for listening, reading and speaking
  • 65 for writing

Oxford ELLT Digital – English Language Level Test Online

  • 7.0 overall
  • 5.0 for listening, reading and speaking
  • 6.0 for writing

PTE Academic (online test not accepted)

  • 62 overall
  • 59 for listening, reading, speaking and writing

Skills for English: SELT

  • B2 pass with merit

Duolingo tests taken from 1 July 2024 onward

  • 120 overall
  • 95 for listening, reading and speaking
  • 105 for writing

University of Aberdeen English Pre-sessional Programme (PSE)

  • Pass
  • Valid for one year. Refresher can be offered if out of date

Pre-sessional academic English preparation programmes undertaken at other UK universities

  • Pass at an equivalent of 6.5 (C1)
  • B2 in all four skills
  • Certification must be within one year prior to the start of your course

For full information about language requirements, see our English Language Requirements page.

You will need access to:

A computer (PC, laptop or Mac) with an up-to-date operating system

Most teaching materials are smartphone- and tablet-friendly. But we recommend a proper laptop or desktop for completing assignments comfortably.

Reliable internet access

We recommend:

  • a wired connection
  • a minimum download speed of 2 Mbps so you can take part fully in live sessions.

Speakers or headphones

  • We recommend a headset with built-in microphone and earphones if you’re likely to study in an environment with background noise.
  • A webcam is optional, but you may like to use one for some interactive sessions.

Software

We’ll give you access to Office365 applications. This means you can use online versions of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneDrive and install these programs on up to five personal devices.

If your course requires specialist software, we’ll provide you with access to this and a licence that lasts throughout your studies.

See our detailed IT requirements for more information.

When you study with us, you can expect a first-class support structure so that you’re never alone in your studies.

But learning online does mean you have to motivate yourself and manage your own time.

Your most important commitment will be time – the time to work through, reflect on and understand your teaching materials.

Before you start a course that involves a high degree of independent study, we recommend looking at the time you will be able to devote to your studies each week:

  • Be realistic
  • Create a weekly schedule as a guide

If you have any questions about studying online, get in touch with our friendly team. We’re here to help.

Fee payment

Your course fee needs to be paid in full before you start your course.

We accept payment via Visa Debit, Visa Credit and Mastercard.

Ways to save

You may be able to get help funding this course via:

  • discounts – if any discounts are available for this course, they’ll appear in the section below
  • employer sponsorship – we accept full and partial fee payments from sponsors.

Find out more about funding options.

Student card

All our students are entitled to a University of Aberdeen student card. This gives you access to a range of student discounts around the city and online.

Learning resources

Access to all the essential books and resources you need are included in your tuition fee. They’ll be made available to you online and you do not have to buy your own copies.

We also provide optional recommended reading lists. Many of these resources are available electronically through our library, although purchases may be required if you wish to read the full list.

Printing

You may want to set aside a small budget for printing, depending on how you like to work.

This course has no formal entry requirements. You decide if it’s suitable for you.

The course is delivered at Masters level. At this level, for this course, you should have at least:

  • a 2:2 UK honours degree (or equivalent) in Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Physics or Chemistry, or
  • three years’ relevant professional experience that supports this level of study.

Additional knowledge required

Since the course includes a significant level of mathematical content, it’s essential that you have a good foundation in engineering mathematics.

Basic knowledge and understanding of mass and heat balances is also essential.

Fundamental knowledge in chemistry, main biochemical reactions, and thermodynamics is desirable but not essential.

Apply for this course

Start date
21 September 2026
Cost
£1,395
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