Why should I study chemical engineering?

What is Chemical Engineering?

Chemical engineering is the design, development, production, transformation, transportion, operation and management of the industrial processes that turn raw materials into valuable products. It is a multi-disciplinary branch of engineering that combines natural and experimental sciences (such as chemistry and physics), along with life sciences (such as biology, microbiology and biochemistry) plus mathematics and economics.

Three reasons to study Chemical Engineering:

1. Chemical Engineers have the knowledge to save the world: chemical engineers develop products making life easier and better for others. The products you will develop as a chemical engineer are part of everyday life, e.g. pharmaceuticals, fuels, plastics and vehicles. You can even help decrease starvation, diseases and poverty with your products.
2. Development of soft skills: the work of chemical engineers is challenging and covers a rather comprehensive body of knowledge. You will be trained to think logically, creatively and in an innovative way as well as to communicate and work well with others to solve problems.
3. Good job opportunites: because of their expertise in developing products commercially, e.g. by reducing costs and the time required to finalise processes, chemical engineers can generally expect high salaries when entering the labour market.

How to study Chemical Engineering?

Courses in chemical engineering are made up of lectures, tutorials, seminars, computer practice sessions, practical laboratory work and both individual and group work. Site visits and classes by industry professionals may also form part of the course. Many courses include work placements and a year in industry to equip graduates for tools to succeed in the industry.

Because chemical engineering is a developing study subject, the curriculum changes and adapts with it.

What kind of job can I get by studying Chemical Engineering?

Graduates with a degree in chemical engineering typically have a focus in one of the two sub-areas, but will need both to successfully do their jobs.

How can U-Multirank help me find the best Chemical Engineering study programme for me?

If you’re considering pursuing a degree in chemical engineering, then let us help you find the best university for you. U-Multirank’s ‘For students’ track offers personalised university comparisons, so you can find the university that best matches you. U-Multirank’s subject rankings provide the feedback of more than 100,000 current students studying at the respective universities, offering a unique student perspective to the rankings via our Teaching & Learning dimension. Create your own personalised rankings today, and compare universities according to what matters most to you.  To start, make sure to select chemical engineering as your subject of interest and we’ll help guide you through the rest.