Master's in Chemical Engineering
A postgraduate degree, usually one or two years after a bachelor's, that takes you deeper into one area of a field and often ends with a research project or thesis.
Overview
Why study a Master's in Chemical Engineering?
A master's in Chemical Engineering deepens your knowledge of process design and analysis, or lets you specialise in an area that a bachelor's only introduces. Taught programmes, usually titled MSc, MEng or MS, combine advanced modules with a research or design project, while research master's such as the MASc, MPhil or thesis-based MS centre on a single investigation and can lead on to a PhD. Common specialisms include process systems engineering, bioprocessing, energy and hydrogen, carbon capture, polymers, process safety and water engineering.
Length varies by country. Most UK taught master's last one year, US degrees one to two years, Canadian and Australian programmes one and a half to two years, and German and Japanese master's normally two years. Some programmes are designed only for chemical engineering graduates, while others accept chemists or graduates of related engineering disciplines and add foundation modules in the first term. Check which kind you are applying to, because the content and entry requirements differ.
A master's is often how graduates move into a particular sector or country. Process safety, advanced process control and bioprocess engineering are areas where specialist knowledge counts, and a programme taught near the relevant industry can open up company projects and contact with recruiters. In the UK, an accredited master's can also count towards the further learning needed for chartered status when it follows an accredited bachelor's, so check how each programme is accredited.
Curriculum
What you may study
Master's programmes commonly offer modules such as these.
- Advanced transport phenomena
- Advanced reaction engineering and catalysis
- Process systems modelling and optimisation
- Advanced process control
- Process safety and risk assessment
- Bioprocess and biochemical engineering
- Carbon capture, utilisation and storage
- Hydrogen and electrochemical engineering
- Polymer and materials processing
- Research or industrial design project
Published programmes for Chemical Engineering at Master's
No programmes for Chemical Engineering at Master's are published yet.
Not in our catalogue yet: that reflects what Universta lists, not what universities teach.
Programmes show each university’s published offering. Course guides describe the course across universities.
Admission
Getting into Master's in Chemical Engineering
Most programmes ask for a bachelor's in Chemical Engineering or a closely related discipline, such as petroleum, biochemical, polymer or process engineering, with good results in core subjects. Some accept chemistry or mechanical engineering graduates, sometimes with conditions or extra modules. Minimum grades are set by each university and are often expressed as a percentage or CGPA for Indian degrees. US programmes may ask for GRE scores, although many have made them optional, and research master's applicants should show some project or laboratory experience.
Applications usually include transcripts, a statement of purpose, two references and an English test score from IELTS, TOEFL or PTE. In Germany, international applications often go through uni-assist, and English-taught master's still ask for evidence of English. Deadlines range from the autumn or winter before entry for many US and German programmes to a few months before the start for some UK courses, but popular courses fill early, so apply well ahead.
Careers
Career pathways
A master's can lead to more specialised technical roles such as these.
- Process Development Engineer
- Process Simulation Engineer
- Advanced Process Control Engineer
- Process Safety Specialist
- Bioprocess Engineer
- Carbon Capture Engineer
- Hydrogen Process Engineer
- Polymer Process Engineer
- Process Technology Engineer
- Research and Development Engineer
- Environmental Consultant
- Project Engineer
Sectors
Industries
Energy Transition and Hydrogen
Master's graduates design and assess electrolysers, carbon capture units and low-carbon fuel processes, often at pilot or early commercial stage.
Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology
Bioprocessing specialists develop and scale up fermentation, cell culture and purification steps for medicines and vaccines.
Oil, Gas and Petrochemicals
Graduates work on process optimisation, advanced control and emissions reduction in refineries and chemical complexes.
Engineering Contractors and Consultancies
Master's holders prepare process design packages, simulation studies and safety reviews for new and expanded plants.
Materials, Polymers and Batteries
Graduates develop production routes for plastics, specialist materials and battery components such as cathode chemicals.
Process Safety and Risk
Specialists carry out hazard studies, consequence modelling and safety audits for operators, insurers and regulators.
Who hires
Employers
- ExxonMobil
- Johnson Matthey
- Air Liquide
- AstraZeneca
- Evonik
- Worley
- Mitsubishi Chemical
- Engineers India Limited
- Dr. Reddy's Laboratories
- Bharat Petroleum
Named for illustration only; not a ranking, endorsement or partnership.
Outlook
Looking ahead
Demand for specialist chemical engineers is shifting towards the technologies industry needs to meet climate targets. Electrolysis, carbon capture, sustainable aviation fuel, chemical recycling of plastics and the refining of battery minerals all need engineers who can take a process from laboratory to plant. Many of these projects are the first of their kind, so they call for strong skills in modelling, scale-up, techno-economic analysis and safety, which a good master's is designed to build.
Biomanufacturing is also expanding, as more medicines, enzymes and food ingredients are made using cells and microorganisms. At the same time, machine learning, model-based control and digital twins are becoming standard in large plants. A master's that pairs one of these application areas with solid computational skills keeps a wide range of options open, including a later move into doctoral research.
Specializations
Other Engineering specializations at Master's
Subject
Engineering at Master's
Questions
Questions about Master's in Chemical Engineering
Can I take a master's in Chemical Engineering with a chemistry degree?
Some universities accept chemistry graduates, particularly onto programmes that include foundation modules in mass and energy balances, transport phenomena and process design. Others require an engineering bachelor's. Read each programme's entry criteria carefully and, if in doubt, ask the admissions team whether your modules cover the expected background.
Should I choose a taught or a research master's in Chemical Engineering?
A taught master's suits you if you want advanced knowledge and a faster route into industry, while a research master's suits those who are considering a PhD or want to work deeply on one problem. In Canada and the United States, research routes are more often funded through assistantships. Course-based degrees are usually self-funded.
Do I need the GRE for a master's in Chemical Engineering?
It depends on the country and the university. Some US programmes still ask for GRE scores or recommend them, while many have made the test optional. Programmes in the UK, Australia, Germany and Japan rarely require it. Check the current requirement on each programme's admissions page, as policies change.
Which specialisms are worth considering at master's level?
Popular choices include process systems and simulation, process safety, bioprocess engineering, energy and hydrogen, carbon capture and polymer engineering. The best choice depends on the industry you want to join and the country where you hope to work, so look at job adverts in that market alongside the module lists.
Plan
Plan your Master's
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