Studies & Degrees in Chemical Engineering
Chemical Engineering Study Programs
Chemical engineering is the branch of engineering that turns raw materials into useful products on an industrial scale. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, chemical engineers apply the principles of chemistry, physics and engineering to design equipment and processes for manufacturing products such as gasoline, detergents and paper. Purdue University adds biology and mathematics to that list and names fuel, pharmaceuticals, food and consumer goods among the industries served.
The subject is different from chemistry. A chemist studies substances and reactions, usually in the laboratory. A chemical engineer designs, scales up and runs the plant in which those reactions take place safely and economically.
What students learn
The accreditation criteria of ABET, which accredits engineering programmes in the United States, give a good summary of the core. A chemical engineering curriculum must include:
- applications of mathematics, including differential equations and statistics, to engineering problems
- college-level chemistry and physics, with some courses at an advanced level
- the engineering application of these sciences to the design, analysis and control of processes, including the hazards associated with them
In practice this means subjects such as thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, heat and mass transfer, reaction engineering, separation processes, process control and plant design, together with laboratory work and a final design project. Programmes often add optional tracks. Purdue, for instance, offers concentrations in biological engineering, data science, energy and environment, materials and polymers, pharmaceutical engineering and semiconductors.
Qualifications and levels
- Spain. Official bachelor's degrees (grados) have 240 ECTS credits. The Grado en Ingeniería Química of the Universidad de Murcia lasts 4 years, is taught in Spanish and gives graduates the professional competences of the regulated profession of Ingeniero Técnico Industrial, speciality in industrial chemistry. The profession of Ingeniero Químico is reached through a master's degree: the Máster Universitario en Ingeniería Química taught jointly by the Universidad de Almería, the Universidad de Cádiz and the Universidad de Málaga has 90 ECTS credits over 2 years, is taught in Spanish and qualifies for that profession.
- Latin America. The degree is usually a single long programme. At the Instituto Tecnológico de Buenos Aires (ITBA), Ingeniería Química lasts 5 years and leads to the title of Ingeniero/a Químico.
- United States. The entry qualification is a bachelor's degree. Some students add a cooperative education (co-op) programme: at Purdue it alternates semesters in class with semesters of full-time work for the same employer and extends graduation by about a year.
- United Kingdom. The National Careers Service advises a degree or postgraduate qualification accredited by the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE). Applicants usually need 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including chemistry.
Doctoral studies follow the master's degree for those who want a career in research.
Where to study it
The SpainExchange directory lists 171 schools for chemical engineering. The United States has 52 and Spain 31, followed by the United Kingdom (9), Brazil (7), Argentina (6), China (5), and Canada, Chile, Colombia and Mexico with 4 each. The language of instruction normally follows the country: the Murcia degree and the Andalusian joint master's are taught in Spanish.
When comparing programmes, check whether the degree is accredited or official in its country (ABET in the United States, IChemE in the United Kingdom, an official degree in Spain), whether it gives access to a regulated profession, and how much industrial experience it includes.
Careers
Chemical engineers work in process design, plant operation, safety, quality and research. In the United States, the Bureau of Labor Statistics counted 21,900 chemical engineering jobs in 2025. Chemical manufacturing employed 28 percent of them, engineering services 11 percent and research and development 9 percent. Employment is projected to grow 5 percent from 2025 to 2035, with about 1,100 openings each year.
A bachelor's degree in chemical engineering or a related field is the typical entry requirement there, and some employers prefer candidates with practical experience from an internship or a co-op programme. A licence is not required for entry-level chemical engineers in the United States. In Spain, by contrast, Ingeniero Técnico Industrial and Ingeniero Químico are regulated professions tied to specific official degrees.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to study chemical engineering?
It depends on the country. In Spain the grado has 240 ECTS credits and lasts 4 years, and the master's degree that qualifies for the profession of Ingeniero Químico adds 90 ECTS credits over 2 years in the Andalusian joint programme. At ITBA in Argentina the degree lasts 5 years.
What is the difference between chemistry and chemical engineering?
Chemistry studies substances and reactions. Chemical engineering applies chemistry, physics and mathematics to design, analyse and control industrial processes, including their hazards.
Is the Spanish Grado en Ingeniería Química enough to work as an engineer?
The Universidad de Murcia states that its grado gives the professional competences of Ingeniero Técnico Industrial, speciality in industrial chemistry. The profession of Ingeniero Químico requires the corresponding official master's degree.
Does accreditation matter?
Yes. In the United Kingdom the National Careers Service recommends a qualification accredited by IChemE, and in the United States engineering programmes are accredited by ABET, with the American Institute of Chemical Engineers as lead society for chemical engineering.