Master of Professional Engineering (Chemical)

The Master of Professional Engineering (Chemical) is a two-year postgraduate qualification for people who want to work as chemical engineers. You'll study how raw materials become fuels, fertilisers, plastics, pharmaceuticals, food and clean water. The coursework covers transport phenomena, reaction engineering, thermodynamics, process control, separation processes and plant design. Because chemical engineering overlaps with materials engineering, you'll also look at how materials behave under heat, pressure and corrosion, and how to choose and test them for industrial use.

How the degree is structured

This is an Australian master's degree at AQF level 9, usually delivered over four semesters (two years full-time). You complete units of study, each worth a set number of credit points, and you need a defined total to graduate. The final part of the degree is typically a capstone design project or a research thesis where you tackle a real process problem, sizing equipment, running simulations, costing a plant, or testing a material. Some students take a professional placement or industry-based project instead, working with a company on a live engineering issue. Assessment mixes exams, lab reports, design submissions and team presentations.

What you'll learn

You'll gain the skills to design, operate and troubleshoot chemical processes safely and economically. That means mass and energy balances, process simulation software, hazard analysis, and the ability to read and write engineering documentation. You'll also build the professional judgement to weigh cost, safety, environmental impact and community expectations. Group projects are common, so you'll practise working in multidisciplinary teams the way engineers do on site.

Who it suits

This course suits engineering graduates who want to specialise or change direction, and science graduates with a strong chemistry or materials background who want to move into professional engineering. It also works for international students seeking an Australian qualification and post-study work rights. While you study, a Student visa lets you work up to 48 hours per fortnight. After graduating, you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream. English requirements vary: IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall is common for coursework postgraduate courses, but confirm the exact score and accepted equivalents on the official page. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register. Always check the official course page for current structure, credit points and admission details.

• Chemical engineer, designing and optimising processes in oil and gas, mining, chemicals, food and beverage, or pharmaceuticals.
• Process engineer, monitoring and improving plant performance, troubleshooting, and running safety and efficiency studies.
• Materials engineer, selecting, testing and developing metals, polymers, ceramics and composites for manufacturing, mining or energy.
• Production or plant engineer, managing day-to-day operations, maintenance and quality control on industrial sites.
• Environmental or water engineer, working on wastewater treatment, emissions reduction and resource recovery.
• Project engineer, coordinating technical teams, budgets and schedules for new plants or upgrades.
• Research and development engineer, developing new products or processes in industry or research organisations.

Australian employers include mining and resources companies, chemical and materials manufacturers, energy utilities, food and beverage producers, pharmaceutical firms, engineering consultancies, and government water and environment agencies. Many graduates also work in research organisations such as CSIRO or in university labs.