Chemical and Process Engineering
Scholarships
Ranking
Top 250 in the world for Chemical Engineering (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2019)
Download Brochure
Scholarships
Ranking
Top 250 in the world for Chemical Engineering (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2019)
Download Brochure
Qualifications
Overview
Engineers revolutionise the world. With a Chemical and Process Engineering degree, you will do so by tackling some of society’s greatest challenges:
- supplying clean, safe drinking water
- creating sustainable energy opportunities
- improving society’s health and well-being
- providing a sustainable food supply.
Chemical and process engineers transform raw materials into processed, marketable products by chemical, physical, or biological means. They take science experiments performed in the laboratory and operate them on a commercial scale, taking into account economics, safety, and sustainability. Others are involved in the research and development of new products and processes, such as those in nanotechnology, biotechnology, or advanced materials.
It is the only traditional Engineering discipline that explicitly builds on Physics, Chemistry, and Biological Sciences, along with the mathematical rigour required of all engineers.
Minors in Bioprocess Engineering and Energy Processing Technologies
If you are interested in Biological Sciences as well as Engineering, the Bioprocess Engineering minor is worth considering. Bioprocess Engineering uses biology for sustainable and more effective processes, and design of products, such as protein, alcoholic beverages, vitamins, dairy products, detergents, confectionery, processed foods, and clean water.
For those keen on sustainable engineering harnessing energy from natural resources, the Energy Processing Technologies minor will allow you to gain skills tackling environmental issues raised by extracting raw materials such as fossil fuels, and renewable energy.
- The Bachelor of Engineering with Honours in Chemical and Process Engineering offered by UC is fully accredited by the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) as well as Engineering New Zealand.
- UC is ranked in the top 250 universities in the world for Chemical Engineering (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2019).
- UC's Chemical and Process Engineering department is top in Aotearoa New Zealand for research (the latest Tertiary Education Commission 2012 PBRF Assessment).
- See the Engineering subject page for a host of other reasons why UC's College of Engineering | Te Rāngai Pūkaha is a world-class destination for engineering studies.
Intermediate Year courses (first year)
The first year of the Bachelor of Engineering with Honours is called the Engineering Intermediate Year. For Chemical and Process Engineering students, this is made up of:
Five compulsory courses taken by all Engineering students:
- ENGR 100 Engineering Academic Skills (0 points, no fees)
- ENGR 101 Foundations of Engineering
- EMTH 118 Engineering Mathematics 1A
- EMTH 119 Engineering Mathematics 1B
- PHYS 101 Engineering Physics A: Mechanics, Waves and Thermal Physics
Plus courses specific to Chemical and Process Engineering:
In addition you must study at least 30 points of elective courses
To ensure a total workload of 120 points in the first year. It is advisable to check with the College of Engineering | Te Rāngai Pūkaha Student Advisor for suggested electives.
More information:
- To see how this qualification is structured, see the degree diagram on the Bachelor of Engineering with Honours page.
- See the Regulations for the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Intermediate Year.
- For guidance on how to structure your Intermediate Year, visit the Intermediate Year webpage.
The Professional Years
Once you have completed the Engineering Intermediate Year and successfully applied for entry into Chemical and Process Engineering, you will study that discipline within the three professional years.
The First Professional Year consists of compulsory courses in modelling, engineering chemistry, principles of biology, chemical process technology, thermodynamics, and fluid mechanics.
In the Second and Third Professional Years courses include topics such as process systems and process engineering, thermodynamics, chemical reaction engineering, heat transfer, and separations.
Final-year students can include courses in more specialist topics, including renewable energy technologies, management, bioprocess engineering, industrial pollution control, and advanced modelling and simulation to suit their specific interests, and must complete a group design project and an individual research project.
Chemical and process engineers work in areas such as renewable energy, biofuels, environmental control, fermentation, waste treatment, food industry, biotechnology, and pharmaceuticals.
The petrochemical industry continues to grow and employs chemical engineers at oil refineries and a number of gas processing plants. Managing these and other precious resources provides excellent career opportunities for our graduates in the manufacture of aluminium, steel, and fertilisers.
Alternative career paths for our graduates include operational and asset management, finance, research, consulting, and marketing. Some of our graduates ultimately take company leadership positions.
Graduates are eligible for membership of both IChemE and Engineering New Zealand after a period of experience as a practising engineer.
Find out more about what you can do with a degree in Chemical and Process Engineering.
Contact us
Department of Chemical and Process Engineering
Phone +64 3 369 3784
Email engdegreeadvice@canterbury.ac.nz
Location
See the Department's website for up-to-date contact details.
Postal address
College of Engineering | Te Rāngai Pūkaha
University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch 8140
New Zealand
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