Chemical Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Chemical engineering designs processes that change the chemical, biochemical or physical state of materials, and deals with turning basic raw materials into everyday products. Thermodynamics, separation processes, fluid mechanics and process design are the core courses.
Engineering and technologyExample courses
What do graduates do?
- Chemical engineer
- Process development specialist
- Energy engineer
- Environmental engineer
- Materials engineer
- Biotechnologist
- Food technologist
- Sustainability consultant
Which subjects matter?
Imperial College London asks for A* in chemistry and maths at A-level for Chemical Engineering MEng. The third subject can be physics, biology, economics, business or Further Mathematics. The University of Bath also asks for A-level chemistry and maths for chemical engineering.
Example: University College London (UCL), first-year courses
- Introduction to Chemical Engineering
- Transport Phenomena
- Thermodynamics
- Physical Chemistry
- Computational Modelling and Analysis
- Mathematical Modelling and Analysis 1
Length by country
United KingdomUnited Kingdom
USA
NetherlandsExams required for this field
ESAT United Kingdom
The ESAT is required to apply to Cambridge Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology.
ESAT United Kingdom
Imperial's Chemical Engineering department requires the ESAT.
No exam United Kingdom
UCL's Chemical Engineering department does not interview applicants and does not require an exam.
Examples of schools where you can study this subject
12 schools in 10 countries. Programmes were checked on the schools’ own websites. These are only examples; every country has many more options. We choose the schools that fit your budget, documents and goals together.
United Kingdom
University of EdinburghChemical Engineering BEng (Hons) · EdinburghUniversity of ManchesterChemical Engineering BEng · ManchesterUniversity of SheffieldChemical Engineering · SheffieldUSA
Penn State UniversityChemical Engineering
Canada
Toronto Metropolitan UniversityChemical Engineering · Toronto
Ireland
University College DublinChemical & Bioprocess Engineering · DublinNetherlands
University of GroningenChemical engineering · Groningen
Italy
Politecnico di MilanoProcess Engineering · Milan
Hungary
University of DebrecenChemical Engineering · Debrecen
Lithuania
Kaunas University of TechnologyChemical Technology and Engineering · Kaunas
Finland
Aalto UniversityChemical Engineering · Espoo
Australia
University of SydneyBachelor of Engineering Honours (Chemical and Biomolecular) · SydneyWhat to know, country by country
For each country where you can study this subject: an example tuition fee and the next step in the timeline. You can find the details in our country guides.
- 26 October to 21 December 2026
Booking period for the January 2027 session of the ESAT, TMUA and TARA exams (for universities other than Oxford and Cambridge).
- 7 November 2026
SAT exam (next date 5 December 2026). Whether a school asks for a test varies by school
- 7 November 2026
Recommended application date for the University of Toronto first review rounds (OUAC 105)
- October to November 2026
For Trinity, ask study@tcd.ie whether your high school is on the direct entry list.
- 1 December 2026
Early round deadline for University Colleges (AUC, LUC, UCU)
- October 2026 to March 2027
Prepare a B2 English or Italian language certificate
- 1 December 2026
International applications for 2027/28 open at the University of Szeged Faculty of Medicine.
- November 2026
A high school diploma, a transcript of the last four years and a YKS result document are the documents asked for in a Vilnius University application.
- 5 January 2027
The University of Helsinki English-taught bachelor's application (SAT/ACT group) opens. The last day is 19 January 2027 at 15:00 (Finland time).
- November 2026
Clarifying the diploma route. The Turkish high school diploma is not on the Melbourne and Sydney lists. Looking at foundation, IB, or a US diploma with SAT/ACT
Let’s build your school list for Chemical Engineering together
- We choose schools from 26 countries that fit your grades, budget and documents.
- We gather every school’s application timeline, required documents and exam scores in one list.
- We put tuition fees and living costs side by side.
- We prepare your application file and personal statement together.
Frequently asked questions
Is a placement year part of a chemical engineering program?
In the United Kingdom, some schools offer it as an option. The University of Bath's Chemical Engineering BEng with professional placement takes 4 years, and the placement is in year 3. According to Bath, the placement year also counts toward becoming a Chartered Engineer.
Why does accreditation of a chemical engineering program matter?
The Washington Accord is an agreement between bodies that accredit engineering bachelor's programs. ABET in the US, the Engineering Council in the United Kingdom, Engineers Canada in Canada and MÜDEK in Türkiye are part of this agreement. Member bodies treat programs accredited by each other as equal.
Is a chemical engineering degree earned abroad valid in Türkiye?
To use the degree in Türkiye, you need to get recognition and denklik from YÖK. Recognition means accepting that the school and the program are authorized to award degrees. The preliminary application is made through e-Devlet or the YÖK website.
Other fields of study in this category
Last checked: October 2026.
Is Chemical Engineering right for you?
Let's talk about interests, strong subjects and target countries, and narrow down the subject and school options together.