Chemical engineering relates to the design, operation and optimisation of processes used to produce valuable products from raw materials on a large scale. These valuable products are crucially important to almost every sphere of the modern society, be it in the form of basic consumables or commodities. Processes designed and operated by chemical engineers are also important for delivery of services such as supply of potable water, pollution prevention and environmental management. The chemical engineer therefore plays a pivotal role in society and has the opportunity to improve the everyday lives of people!

Chemical engineers focus on ensuring safe and environmentally friendly processing, while also considering economical aspects. They can specialise in many sectors and areas of expertise, including:
• Biotechnology
• Vaccine development
• Pharmaceuticals
• Petrochemicals
• Cosmetics
• Mining and metallurgy
• Water purification and technology
• Fertilizers
• Renewable energy
• Nanotechnology
• Explosives
• Paper and pulp
• Food and beverages
• Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG)
• Energy and environmental affairs
• Cement and glass
• Data science and machine learning
• Business and financial services
• Biomedical sector
• Management consultancy
Typical job functions of chemical engineers include the following:
• Designing processes for conversion of raw materials
• Improving and optimising existing processes
• Coordinating production
• Managing business units
• Researching and developing novel processes and products
Should students wish to pursue postgraduate studies after their BEng degree, they could do research in one of the five research focus areas: bioresource engineering, extractive metallurgy, separation technology, water technology, and machine learning. Completing postgraduate research degrees would enable you to enter the academe or pursue research as a career path.

Watch this video for a detailed description of our curriculum, presented by Prof Tobi Louw, our Undergraduate Programme Coordinator.

The Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) (Chemical Engineering) degree starts with a common first year; all BEng first-year students will register for the same modules. Modules focus mainly on mathematics and fundamental natural sciences, such as physics and chemistry, applied to the engineering context. They will also learn about ethics, professionalism and effective communication.
Second- and third-year modules will equip students with a sound theoretical knowledge of key chemical engineering concepts. Students will learn how to best describe and model the behaviour of different phases of matter. They will understand the fundamental concepts that explain how heat is transferred, why chemicals react, what entropy means, and will use mathematics to calculate how quickly, and to what extent, it all happens. They will learn to design reactors, heat exchangers, transport equipment (such as pipes, valves and pumps) and the required separation process units to obtain a pure product.
The fourth year is the final preparation to enter industry.
Students will be trained to manage large engineering projects as a member of a team of engineers from different disciplines. Undergraduate studies will culminate in the design of a chemical, biochemical or metallurgical plant through application of all the theory learnt up to that point. A final-year research project will be completed that investigates an engineering problem in order to arrive at a suitable solution through independent learning and application of chemical engineering principles.

Engineering Graphics and Design or Information Technology are not required for admission to the programme. The curriculum of the first year module Engineering Drawings 123, which all engineering students register for, is structured assuming that first year students did not have Engineering Graphics and Design as a school subject. Engineering drawings is important in the chemical engineering context because of the use of equipment design and plant layout drawings in many chemical engineering areas of specialisation. You will also register for a computer programming module in the second semester of your first year where you’ll learn the necessary programming skills required for subsequent years of study.  

The Department offers excellent facilities for teaching, practical training, and research, equipping our graduates for the world of work and postgraduate research. These include modern lecture rooms and well-equipped laboratories with a wide range of laboratory-scale setups and pilot-scale unit operations that are used for undergraduate practical modules and final-year research projects.

Minimum admission requirements for all four-year engineering programmes:
• A National Senior Certificate with admission to bachelor’s studies, or an exemption certificate issued by the Matriculation Board, and
• A minimum average of at least 70% using the six best matric subjects (excluding Life Orientation and Mathematical Literacy), and
• A minimum average of at least 70% for Mathematics, and
• A minimum average of at least 60% for Physical Sciences, and
• Language minima:
o English Home Language: At least 50%, with no Afrikaans requirement; or
o English First Additional Language: At least 60%, with no Afrikaans requirement; or
o English First Additional Language: At least 50%, together with Afrikaans Home Language of at least 50%; or
o English First Additional Language: At least 50%, together with Afrikaans 2nd Additional Language of at least 60%.
Selection process for all four-year engineering programmes:
• The selection score is the most important measure used by the Faculty for selecting students for BEng programmes. This score is calculated as follows:
Selection score = Mathematics mark + Physical Sciences mark + 6 X Matric average
• The percentages you obtained in Mathematics and Physical Sciences, plus the average percentage of your six best matric subjects (excluding Life Orientation and Mathematical Literacy), are used for calculating the selection score.
• This means that the selection score takes a broad group of matric subjects into account, and that, in effect, Mathematics and Physical Sciences each contribute twice.
• The maximum score obtainable is therefore 800 if you achieve 100% for all your matric subjects (100 + 100 + (6 X 100) = 800).
• The Faculty sets an admission threshold and a minimum selection score for each BEng programme. The admission threshold is a selection score based on:
o the number of applicants who meet the admission requirements, and
o the number of places available in the particular degree programme.
• The minimum selection score is the lowest score that indicates that a student will be reasonably likely to complete the particular programme. This score is based on the Faculty’s experience with previous students.
• You will be selected if you:
o meet the admission requirements, and
o your selection score is equal to, or greater than, the admission threshold score for the particular degree programme for which you wish to enrol.
Please note the following:
• Being selected for one BEng programme does not mean that you have been selected for another BEng programme.
• You may apply for more than one BEng programme and you will be considered for each programme independently. If you are selected for more than one BEng programme, you will receive more than one offer to choose from.
• If your selection score is below the admission threshold, but above the minimum admission requirements for your preferred BEng programme(s), the following happens:
o you are placed on a waiting list, which means that you may still be admitted to a particular programme if places become available later; or
o you can apply to be admitted to another BEng programme if you meet the selection requirements for that particular programme. You must contact the Faculty Officer or the Faculty Administrator if you consider changing the programme(s) you applied for.

Visit our website: Our website has more information and videos about our BEng (Chemical) degree, our education philosophy, our lecturers, and the department. The contact information for the liaison for prospective students is also listed on the website.

Email us: Contact Gini van der Westhuizen, our undergraduate student liaison, at gini@sun.ac.za if you have any questions or need support.