At the University of Newcastle we train engineers capable of solving the greatest global challenges.  As a chemical engineer your study may lead to involvement in a team developing high-efficiency insulation products that improve heating and cooling. You could work on biofuel production in remote communities, assisting with both waste disposal and energy production. Or, you might work in the food industry, refining products for people with special dietary needs.

What is chemical engineering?

Chemical engineers use their knowledge of the synthesis and processing of chemicals to convert raw material into useful products. As a chemical engineering student you'll learn to develop everyday products like toothpaste, beer, puff pastry, chocolate, lipstick, paracetamol and petrol. Chemical engineering students study courses in fields such as energy production, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals.

What you will study

Learn critical technical and engineering skills by studying courses in:

• Heat transfer and design of energy systems
• Thermodynamics
• Mass transfer and separation processes

• Fluid mechanics
• Kinetics and reaction engineering
• Green engineering and sustainability processes

Connect with industry through guest lectures and interdisciplinary projects solving real world problems. Gain invaluable practical experience through your industry placement.

Become job-ready by studying our professional practice courses. You'll learn to tackle ‘wicked problems’ and develop essential workplace skills in finance, project management, sustainability, communication and entrepreneurism.

Diversify your skills and engineering degree with an elective pathway, a cluster of courses which can be used to:

• deepen your technical competence in your engineering field
• broaden your expertise in another area of engineering
• learn skills in areas outside engineering, such as business or maths
• study overseas at one of our many partner institutions.

Chemical engineers are employed in a wide range of industries.  They may be involved in creating products like plastics, fertilisers, consumables, pharmaceuticals and paints. They might also work to develop fields such as environmental control, resource utilisation, minerals processing, renewable energy, waste management and recycling. Average starting salaries for engineers are great – more than $80,000 per annum.

Chemical engineering is flexible and diverse. You may prefer hands-on fieldwork, design and development, or a leadership role managing people and projects. Typical positions include:

• biotechnology engineer
• nuclear engineer
• chemical safety manager
• water treatment designer
• mineral processing engineer
• environmental remediation engineer

Remarkably, engineering is the most commonly held degree among the highest performing Fortune 500 CEOs – the CEOs of companies such as Google, Microsoft, Amazon and Tesla Motors are all engineers.