Chemical engineering involves the systematic design, development and operation of process systems for the extraction, transformation and recovery of materials. It is a key engineering discipline, which combines knowledge of basic chemistry, mathematics and, increasingly, biology with engineering principles and real-world economic considerations. The scale of operation varies from small to very large, and a principal feature of chemical engineering is the translation of laboratory-scale research results to large-scale commercial production.

Chemical engineering is the discipline that sustains and improves a range of industries as diverse as food processing, petrochemicals, ceramics, petroleum refining, primary metals, plastics, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, glass and specialty chemicals.

The first two years of the academic program are spent developing an understanding of the foundation subjects of chemical engineering, which are increasingly put into practice in the third and fourth years via major design, research and experimental projects.

The program also offers two specialisations: Minerals Processing and Sustainable Energy.

Minerals processing involves the science and technology of adding value to raw mined products through the extraction of valuable minerals and their subsequent conversion into products such as iron, steel, aluminium, copper, gold and uranium.

Sustainable energy provides chemical engineers with the knowledge and skills required to improve and design ground-breaking processes that are technically, economically and environmentally sound.

Students are required to complete 12 weeks of approved practical experience.

Note: for 2014 entry onwards, the prerequisites will be SACE Stage 2: Mathematical Studies, Specialist Mathematics and Chemistry.

Graduates of this degree have the opportunity to seek national and global careers in an office, in the outdoors or on an industrial plant or a combination of all of these. Some industries and careers that chemical engineers are involved in include:

• Biotechnology industries(e.g. biofuel production, production of nutrients from microalgae)
• Pharmaceutical industries (e.g. production of vaccines and antibiotics)
• Winemaking
• Food production (e.g. beer, milk, cheese)
• Petrochemicals (e.g. gold, rare earths, oil refining, natural gas, plastics)
• Industrial bulk chemicals industries (e.g. production of chlorine and explosives)
• Personal and home care products (e.g. production of detergents, soaps and cosmetics)
• Plastic and rubber products industries (e.g. production of polymers from raw materials such as oil or wood, production of items from polymers ranging all the way from cling film to rainwater tanks to high performance products for building, automotive and aerospace applications)
• Mining and minerals processing (e.g. concentrating minerals, production of iron ore, steel, aluminium, uranium and similar from minerals)
• Environmental engineering (e.g. air pollution control, water and waste-water treatment, waste disposal, resource management)
• Semi-conductors and microelectronics (e.g. production of computer memory and CPUs, flat-screen TVs)
• Nanotechnology (e.g. production of nanoporous materials for catalysis, separations and energy storage)
• Management consulting (e.g. engineering business and financial management).

Many chemical engineers go on to manage companies, or even start their own business.

The objective of the undergraduate Chemical Engineering program is to produce graduates with specific attributes as outlined in the University Calendar.

Graduates qualify for professional membership of Engineers Australia and IChemE (UK).

Students are required to complete 12 weeks of approved practical experience outside normal class time. Work experience can be undertaken in Australia or overseas.

Faculty of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences

• School of Chemical Engineering
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