94.1% employed within four months of graduating.
Graduate Outcomes Survey 2023-2025, Undergraduate Engineering.
Degree overview
Delivering impact at an industrial scale.
Chemical engineers make an impact in ways we may not always see, transforming raw materials and energy into the products and processes society relies on every day. Their work can help provide clean water and cleaner energy, recover critical minerals, produce food and medicines, and reduce waste and emissions across large-scale industries.
What is chemical engineering? Chemical engineering is about designing efficient ways to produce, use and transform materials and energy. At the University of Newcastle, you’ll apply the principles of physics and chemistry, along with specialised areas such as advances in minerals processing and energy technologies, to design processes, plants and control systems that improve productivity, safety and sustainability.
Chemical engineers work at many different scales. You could develop processes to recover and recycle valuable minerals used in batteries and renewable technologies, improve water treatment and reuse, develop cleaner fuels, or make the production of food, medicines and everyday products safer and more efficient.
Small improvements to a process can have a big impact when they are repeated at scale, helping to reduce waste, cut emissions, lower costs and improve safety.
World top 250
?
for Chemical Engineering
12 weeks
of Industrial Experience
Career opportunities
Chemical engineers work across a wide range of industries, including critical minerals, energy, water, metallurgy, sustainable manufacturing, food and beverage, pharmaceuticals and consumer products.
Your career could involve designing and improving industrial processes, developing new technologies, increasing resource efficiency or managing complex engineering projects. You may work in hands-on operations and fieldwork, design and development, research, or move into project and team leadership.
Professional outcomes include:
- chemical engineer
- process engineer
- chemical safety manager
- water treatment designer
- mineral processing engineer
- project manager
- operations and maintenance engineer
- business development manager.
Course overview
Develop the technical knowledge and problem-solving skills to design, optimise and operate processes and systems that transform materials and energy efficiently, safely and sustainably. You’ll also have opportunities to personalise your studies through a minor or electives, allowing you to broaden your knowledge in a complementary area or explore other interests.
You'll develop skills in:
- heat transfer and energy systems
- thermodynamics
- mass transfer and separation processes
- fluid mechanics
- kinetics and reaction engineering
- process modelling and optimisation
- process safety
- green engineering and sustainable processes.
Throughout your degree, you’ll build practical and professional skills through laboratory work, industry experience, professional practice courses, engineering design and final-year projects.
Student experience
Demo Day: First Year Chemical and Renewable Energy Engineering 0:49
Hear from our first year student Reuben, about what our chemical and renewable energy engineering students achieved during their water desalination project and testing at Demo Day.
Career-ready placements
All University of Newcastle engineering students complete 12 weeks of industrial experience during their degree. This can be completed in one block or as shorter placements of no less than two weeks.
Through your work placement you’ll build important professional networks and put your learning into practice.
Studying at Newcastle campus
Living in Newcastle
Nestled on Australia's spectacular east coast and surrounded by some of the state's most popular destinations, Newcastle is an all-round wonderful choice as a safe and friendly place to live.
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Campus Life
Our campuses are welcoming, inspiring, and collaborative places for students, staff, and the community. Explore our beautiful campuses and discover what it’s like to study at the University of Newcastle.
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Scholarships
Our scholarships recognise achievement and support enthusiastic and dedicated students. If you are a current student, or planning to study with us, we encourage you to apply for all scholarships you meet the criteria for.
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Accommodation
Living on campus is an experience unlike any other. Whether you're from across Australia or around the globe, your home on campus is where you'll form lifelong friendships and harness your potential in a supportive and diverse community.
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Student showcase
Sharni and Cooper's Bachelor of Chemical Engineering (Honours) story 3:05
Learn what kind of opportunities are on offer for a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering (Honours) student at the University of Newcastle.
Gizelle: Reducing waste in the biodiesel industry 3:03
Chemical engineering research student, Gizelle Sanchez-Combita, is helping to reduce waste in the biodiesel industry.
How to apply
Apply as a domestic student
You are a domestic student if you are:
- An Australian or New Zealand citizen (including dual citizens)
- A permanent resident of Australia
- A holder of a permanent Australian visa.
Apply as an international student
Entry requirements — Senior secondary school qualification
Admission to our undergraduate degree programs usually requires successful completion of a senior secondary school qualification similar to the Higher School Certificate (HSC), the highest educational award in New South Wales schools.
English proficiency requirements
Applicants who do not speak English as a first language must demonstrate that they meet the University's English proficiency requirement. Further information regarding English language proficiency requirements can be found at the English Language Proficiency for Admission Policy.
- IELTS overall minimum - 6.0
- IELTS section minimum - 6.0
- About English Language Pathways
Apply to the University via our online application portal.
In the application portal, you can enter the program you wish to study and upload relevant documents needed as part of your application. It is recommended you submit your application a minimum of 12 weeks before your intended semester of trimester start date.
If you are applying through an education agent, they can also apply through the application portal. Ensure your agent is contracted to the University to avoid delays with your application.
Once you have started your application you will be provided with a reference number. You or your education agent will be able to track your application as it progresses.
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1 Indicative annual fees are based on a full year full time load (80 units). Learn more.
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Disclaimer Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information on this website. However, changes to courses and programs may occur. The University accepts no responsibility for any information supplied on this web site or any actions taken on the basis of the information. Users are advised to seek confirmation of the information from the relevant area of the University.
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.