Chemical engineers invent, design, and manage products and processes that transform raw materials into valuable products such as bio-fuels, plastics, wine, pharmaceuticals, and artificial blood. They do this using the latest knowledge of biology, chemistry and physics to ensure viable commercial production whilst minimising loss of materials and energy consumption. This value-adding must be safe, economical and environmentally sound. It is a rapidly changing profession with chemical engineers working at the cutting-edge of fields such as molecular biology, nano-materials, chemistry, physics, mathematics and information technology.

The Bachelor of Engineering and Master of Engineering (BE/ME) in Chemical Engineering builds on the project centred curriculum in the first three years of the BE. The final two years of the BE/ME are built around a placement semester where students are able to choose what type of placement they would like to do and where they would like to do it. This placement is a key element in the studentÂ's development and to give context to the preceding BE course work and grounding for the ME level coursework to follow. The student is supported during their placement by their host, a UQ academic and a professional development program to get the most out of the placement. The ME level coursework will put students closer to the cutting edge of knowledge and technology in select fields that are important to Chemical Engineers in industry and research. These courses will be delivered in a mixture of modes with academic and industry leaders in various fields.

Chemical engineering is one of the most mobile and diverse careers you can choose. Your skills will allow you to work in a wide range of industries, government departments and private consultancies. For example you can work in: - Environmental protection, management and safety - Natural resource utilisation and the energy sector - Chemical, petroleum and petrochemical industries - Biochemical, biomedical and pharmaceuticals industries - Computer-aided process and control engineering - Advanced materials design and manufacture - Minerals processing and related industries - Food processing - Product design and development. BE/ME graduates will have a head start in careers that require specialist skills and adaptability (e.g. in consulting, corporate/governmental advising or industrial research) or when applying for research higher degrees at the worldÂ's top research institutions.