Masters in Chemical Engineering

Chemical engineering is a vast, dynamic and evolving subject, having extended from its traditional roots in oil and gas processing to cover fields such as food processing, pharmaceutical technology, biotechnology and environmental issues.

Most Masters in Chemical Engineering courses will take a modular structure, with students completing both compulsory and elective modules. Some modules are designed to help students who have not previously studied chemical engineering to gain the necessary understanding. Other courses, particularly Master of Science (MSc) degrees in Advanced Chemical Engineering, are designed for students who have previously studied chemical engineering for their bachelor’s degree.

In both cases, the course will prepare you for chemical engineering careers in industry, gaining multidisciplinary skills, commercial awareness and risk management skills, among others (see the key skills section for more). You will gain a clear and wide-ranging view of the technologies that are currently applied in manufacturing processes in the industry, and the ways in which these methods can be improved for safety and sustainability. 

Your chemical engineering course will involve extensive research components, the most important of which will be your final coursework. This is likely to be an independent dissertation on a chemical engineering topic of your choice (also known as a thesis, depending on where you study).

Entry requirements

You will typically need a good bachelor’s degree in a related science or engineering discipline for entry to a Masters in Chemical Engineering. Depending on the university, you may also need to provide letters of recommendation, a personal statement, or entrance exam results.

Discover the world’s top universities for chemical engineering 

The multidisciplinary nature of this subject, as well as the fact that it is constantly evolving, means that there are many opportunities to specialize your Masters in Chemical Engineering course in a particular area of interest. Here are some of the most common options.

Process engineering 

Process engineering concerns the application of chemical engineering (and other types of engineering) to industrial processes, and understanding how these processes can be most effectively designed, operated and controlled. A specialization in process engineering will give you an in-depth knowledge of the fundamental concepts and latest trends and technologies in this area. You will learn how to apply techniques and methodologies to solve process engineering challenges, and assess various technical, economic and environmental issues. Possible modules within this specialization include supply chain management, process systems design, process and energy integration, and advanced process control. A sub-specialization you could pursue is food processing, which involves studying how raw materials are turned into preserved, packaged and marketable food products.

Biotechnology 

Biotechnology is the use of biological processes, organisms or systems to produce products intended to improve the quality of human life. A specialization in biotechnology will therefore overlap with related fields such as bioengineering and bio-manufacturing to provide a solid understanding of the optimization and processes of biotechnology, including a focus on the challenges of maximizing safety, decreasing costs and keeping environmental impacts in mind. Possible sub-specializations (or optional modules) include food biotechnology, polymer chemistry, membrane and separation technology, and energy systems engineering.

Transport phenomena

A specialization in transport phenomena concerns the study of fluid dynamics (momentum transport), energy (heat) transport and mass transport in chemical and biochemical engineering systems. You will gain advanced knowledge and skills in macroscopic, microscopic and molecular levels of transport phenomena, and learn how to develop deeper mathematical connections between them.

Pharmaceutical engineering 

Ideal for students interested in chemical engineering jobs within the pharmacy sector, a specialization in pharmaceutical engineering will familiarize you with the key concepts of the development and manufacturing of products, processes and components in the pharmaceutical industry. One of the newer specializations, this will give you a broad understanding and hands-on experience in the preformulation, formulation and regulation of medicines. A similar specialization is biopharmaceutical engineering, which concerns the application of engineering principles to the industrial production of therapeutics by use of biological processes.

Other areas you could choose to specialize in with your chemical engineering degree include plant design, polymers and biopolymers, nanotechnology, catalysis, colloids, product design, environmental engineering, reactor technology, bioenergy and fiber technology.

Discover the world’s top universities for chemical engineering 

Your Masters in Chemical Engineering degree should be looked upon favorably by a wide variety of employers and sectors in chemical engineering jobs, with an increased chance of securing managerial or high-level positions and a high demand overall for chemical engineering graduates. There is also a good earning potential, with Masters in Chemical Engineering graduates earning an average starting salary of US$72,362 in the United States, the highest among the engineering majors at master’s level. The most common sectors for chemical engineering jobs are: 

• Gas and oil extraction
• Civil engineering
• Nuclear and alternative energy
• Mining and minerals
• Food and drink
• Design engineering
• Consumer goods, such as toiletries and cosmetics
• Environment, including waste management and fertilizers
• Healthcare and pharmaceuticals
• Various other process industries.

Chemical engineer 

The most obvious career choice for Masters in Chemical Engineering graduates, chemical engineers research, design and develop the technology and methods used to turn raw materials into everyday products such as fuel, plastics and food. Your exact tasks will vary depending on the industry you work in, but in general you can expect to work closely with other engineering professionals to develop and implement new technologies and approaches. You’ll use your mathematics and science skills to analyze and solve problems, while also ensuring health and safety standards are met, as well as implementing initiatives to protect the environment. Your work environment could be a lab, office or processing plant, or all three at different times. Your Masters in Chemical Engineering degree could help you reach higher-level positions, and could also lead to an impressive salary of around US$100,866 in the US for senior chemical engineers.

Energy engineer

Energy engineers work on the production of energy through a range of natural sources, both renewable and finite. Your tasks could include designing and testing machinery, carrying out lab experiments, conducting site inspections and energy surveys, and developing and researching ways to improve existing methods to protect the environment. You’ll need strong organization skills, initiative and project management skills. Knowledge of a foreign language can also be useful for working with international firms.

Petroleum engineer 

Petroleum engineers are involved in nearly all stages of the location, evaluation and extraction of hydrocarbon deposits, including analyzing cost-effectiveness, production levels, risks and environmental impact. They work both on- and off-shore for oil and gas services and operating businesses. This role encompasses a number of distinct specializations, including petroleum geologists, reservoir engineers, production engineers and drilling engineers.

Product/process development scientist

Product or process development scientists aim to enhance the performance of manufacturing systems by researching and developing new processes or making alterations to existing ones to improve overall productivity and profitability. Employers include companies in the biotechnology, food and cosmetics sectors. Practical work experience in research, a factory or laboratory would be beneficial for increasing your chances in this role.

Other chemical engineering jobs include, but aren’t limited to: analytical chemist, energy manager, manufacturing engineer, materials engineer, mining engineer, production manager and quality manager. 

Find out what else you could do with an engineering degree