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If COVID-19 restrictions apply, we may need to make changes to units and/or delivery modes.

Chemical Engineering

Chemical Engineering

Undergraduate Major

MJRH-CHENG

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Major
Chemical Engineering Major (BEng Hons)
Admission criteria
Guaranteed ATAR 80
Credit
600

Outline

Expand your range of career options in process engineering industries.

If COVID-19 restrictions apply, we may need to make changes to units and/or delivery modes.

Curtin life

Get the Curtin edge

Access to leadership programs, specialist facilities and industry placements give you a competitive edge in the job market. 

Qualify sooner

Start working as a professional engineering graduate in just four years.

Professional recognition

Graduates fulfil the stage one competencies required by Engineers Australia for a professional engineer.

Curtin Early Offers for 2023

Are you in year 12 and keen to lock in your place at Curtin early? Let us take the pressure off.

Our Early Offers Program is available for most Curtin courses, and will help you secure a place in your chosen course before you even receive your ATAR.
Find out more

Chemical or ‘process’ engineering involves finding the best sequence of chemical and physical processing operations, plus the right operating conditions, to convert raw materials into higher-value products.

Chemical engineering covers the development, design and management of processes and equipment for the extraction, conversion and upgrading of materials, using physical, chemical and biological operations.

There are numerous process industries serving a range of societal needs.

You will select either the Chemical Engineering or Oil and Gas streams to study.

Chemical Engineering

In this general stream, you will examine processes for a range of materials.

You’ll explore the theory and applications of fluid flow, energy transfer, and separation and chemical reaction for the synthesis, design, control and optimisation of general chemical processes.

Oil and Gas

In addition to learning chemical engineering fundamentals, you will gain detailed knowledge of the exploration and development of oil and gas resources.

You’ll explore the behaviour of hydrocarbon reservoirs, offshore drilling and production, the refining of crude oil and processing of natural gas.

Double degree options
You can study a Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical Engineering) with a Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Science (Chemistry) or Bachelor of Science (Extractive Metallurgy).

See our handbook for more course information.

Student profile

View our student profile table to get an indication of the likely peer cohort for new students at Curtin University. This table provides data on students that commenced undergraduate study and passed the census date in the most relevant recent intake period for which data are available. It includes those admitted through all offer rounds and international students studying in Australia.

Professional recognition

Graduates fulfil the stage one competencies required by Engineers Australia.

Career information

Careers

  • Chemical engineer
  • Process engineer
  • Production/operations engineer
  • Risk and safety manager

Industries

  • Oil and gas
  • Bioengineering and biotechnology
  • Aerospace and automotive
  • Agrochemical
  • Food processing
  • Mineral and material processing
  • Pharmaceutical
  • Semiconductor
  • Biomass and sugar refining
  • Cement and lime production
  • Industrial and fine chemical production
  • Petrochemical and polymer production
  • Paper and board manufacture
  • Water and wastewater treatment

Further study

What you'll learn

  • apply scientific and engineering principles to process engineering design and development, including sound risk management, environmental and OHS practice
  • think critically and creatively to generate innovative and optimum solutions
  • identify, evaluate and synthesise information from a range of sources to optimise process engineering design and development
  • communicate effectively in ways appropriate to the discipline, audience and purpose
  • use appropriate information and process technologies (recognising their advantages and limitations) in the design and development of sustainable process systems
  • engage in continuous education, training and research, and take control of their own learning and development
  • recognise and apply international standards and best practice in process engineering
  • demonstrate respect for cultural diversity
  • be ‘career ready’ for the process engineering profession, demonstrate leadership qualities, and work ethically and professionally both within a team and independently

Admission criteria

Curtin requires all applicants to demonstrate proficiency in English. Specific English requirements for this course are outlined in the IELTS table below.

IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System)
Writing 6.0
Speaking 6.0
Reading 6.0
Listening 6.0
Overall band score 6.0

You may demonstrate English proficiency using the following tests and qualifications.

I recently attended high school

Applicants with recent secondary education are those whose admission is primarily based on the achievement of the required ATAR within the last two years. This includes applicants whose secondary education was undertaken interstate or overseas.

  • Guaranteed ATAR : 80
  • Essential WACE subjects (pre-requisites): 
    • Mathematics: Methods ATAR and at least one of the following: Physics ATAR, Chemistry ATAR and Engineering Studies ATAR, or equivalent.
  • Desirable WACE subjects: Mathematics: Specialist ATAR, or equivalent.
  • STAT entry : Not accepted.

Please see our correlation comparability for previous TEE subjects, WACE courses and WACE ATAR courses.

Other admission options

Lowest selection rank to which a recent Year 12 student offer was made (including the consideration of any equity or other adjustment factors)

View the lowest selection rank (incorporating ATAR plus any adjustments) of an applicant to which an offer of a place was made in the most relevant recent intake period, this includes any ATAR adjustments.

Selection rank adjustments (previously referred to as ATAR related adjustments)

Details of the types of adjustment factors (bonus points) commonly available to applicants can be found on our StepUp to Curtin webpage.

ATAR and selection rank profile for those offered places wholly or partly on the basis of ATAR in the most recent intake period

View data on the ATAR and selection rank profile of offers made from the most relevant recent intake period.

I have work and life experience

Applicants with work and life experience are those who left secondary education more than two years ago (i.e. who are not classified as recent secondary education applicants) and have not undertaken vocational education training (VET) or higher education study since then.

‘Experience’ includes a combination of factors sufficient to demonstrate readiness for higher education such as mature-age entry, professional experience whether completion of the Special Tertiary Admission Test (STAT) is required or not, community involvement or work experience. Applicants may have undertaken non-formal programs that have helped prepare them for tertiary education or are relevant to the proposed higher education field of study.

  • Guaranteed ATAR : 80
  • Essential WACE subjects (pre-requisites): 
    • Mathematics: Methods ATAR and at least one of the following: Physics ATAR, Chemistry ATAR and Engineering Studies ATAR, or equivalent.
  • Desirable WACE subjects: Mathematics: Specialist ATAR, or equivalent.
  • STAT entry : Not accepted.

Please see our correlation comparability for previous TEE subjects, WACE courses and WACE ATAR courses.

I’ve studied at TAFE or done an apprenticeship

Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study are those whose highest level of study since leaving secondary education is a VET course. This includes study at a public TAFE or other VET provider, whether a qualification was completed or not. Applicants with VET study may have other qualifications such as a Year 10 or Year 12 secondary school certificate.

  • Guaranteed ATAR : 80
  • Essential WACE subjects (pre-requisites): 
    • Mathematics: Methods ATAR and at least one of the following: Physics ATAR, Chemistry ATAR and Engineering Studies ATAR, or equivalent.
  • Desirable WACE subjects: Mathematics: Specialist ATAR, or equivalent.
  • STAT entry : Not accepted.

Please see our correlation comparability for previous TEE subjects, WACE courses and WACE ATAR courses.

I’ve gone to university before

Applicants with higher education are those whose highest level of study since leaving secondary education is a higher education course, such as a university degree. This may include applicants who are currently studying a higher education course at another education provider and want to transfer to Curtin University, or applicants who are currently studying at Curtin but want to switch to a different course. It may also include applicants who have completed past study with university and non-university higher education providers.

Not all Curtin courses accept course switchers from other institutions.

  • Curtin offers a variety of bridging courses to help you meet the admission criteria for this course. Find out more about our bridging courses.
  • Essential WACE subjects (pre-requisites): 
    • Mathematics: Methods ATAR and at least one of the following: Physics ATAR, Chemistry ATAR and Engineering Studies ATAR, or equivalent.
  • Desirable WACE subjects: Mathematics: Specialist ATAR, or equivalent.

Please see our correlation comparability for previous TEE subjects, WACE courses and WACE ATAR courses.

Curtin course switcher criteria

To switch into this course, you need to have:

  • attained an ATAR of 80 and completed the prerequisites; or
  • if you have studied Maths Applications or equivalent:
    • completed 75 credits within one semester with a semester weighted average (SWA) of at least 70%; or
    • completed 100 credits within one semester with SWA of 65% or higher, plus any unit/s assessed as comparable to Maths Methods ATAR and Physics ATAR and Chemistry ATAR; or
  • if you have studied Maths Methods or equivalent:
    • completed 75 credits within one semester with an SWA of 65%; or
    • completed 100 credits within one semester with an SWA of 60% or higher, plus any unit/s assessed as comparable to Maths Methods ATAR, and Physics ATAR or Chemistry ATAR.

The Maths Methods prerequisite can be met with:

  • Maths Methods ATAR; or
  • MATH1013 Introductory Mathematics or MATH1005 Pre-Calculus (12.5 credits); and
  • MATH1014 Foundations of Calculus.

The Physics ATAR prerequisite can be met with:

  • Physics ATAR; or
  • PHYS1006 Foundations of Physics.

The Chemistry ATAR prerequisite can be met with:

  • Chemistry ATAR; or
  • CHEM1003 Introduction to Chemistry.

Higher education course switcher criteria

To switch into this course from another higher education course, you need to have:

  • attained an ATAR of 80 plus any unit/s assessed as comparable to Maths Methods ATAR, and Physics ATAR or Chemistry ATAR; or
  • if you have studied Maths Applications or equivalent:
    • completed 75 credits within one semester, with a semester weighted average (SWA) of 70%; or
    • completed 100 credits within one semester, with an SWA of 65% or higher, plus any unit/s assessed as comparable to Maths Methods ATAR, and Physics ATAR or Chemistry ATAR; or
  • if you have studied Maths Methods or equivalent:
    • completed 75 credits within one semester, with an SWA of 65%; or
    • completed 100 credits within one semester, with an SWA of 60% or higher, plus any unit/s assessed as comparable to Maths Methods ATAR, and Physics ATAR or Chemistry ATAR.

Admission criteria may be different if you are studying this major as part of a double degree. Please contact the Admissions Office for more information.

Other requirements and notes for this course



In addition to the course-specific admission criteria listed above, please read our general admission criteria. Our general admission criteria apply to all courses at Curtin University.

Application information

This major sits within the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) degree. To apply for this major directly through Curtin, apply for the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours).

Advanced standing

At Curtin, we understand that everyone’s study journey has been different.

You may have already studied some of the units (subjects) listed in your Curtin course, or you may have work experience that matches the degree requirements.

If this applies to you, you can apply for credit for recognised learning (CRL), which means your previous study is recognised and matched against a similar unit in your intended Curtin course.

A successful CRL application exempts you from having to complete certain units within your course and means you could finish your degree in a shorter amount of time.

CRL is also known as recognition of prior learning, advanced standing and credit transfer.

Use the CRL search to find out how much CRL you qualify for, or contact us at:

Webform: Submit here

Curtin Connect: 1300 222 888

CRL search

Fees & charges

Please view the degree for indicative fees.

How to apply

Please review information on how to apply for the campus of your choice

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  • The offering information on this website applies only to future students. Current students should refer to faculty handbooks for current or past course information. View courses information disclaimer.

  • Curtin course code: MJRH-CHENG
  • Last updated on: July 1, 2022

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