Studying a graduate course in chemical engineering offer you a firm professional basis with the opportunity for you to diversify into a multitude of commercial and industrial sectors. As a graduate chemical engineering student, there is a world of opportunity open to you in career options. If you already have a good first degree in a chemical or engineering background you should consider taking your learning further with a graduate program in chemical engineering. Chemical Engineering graduates are amongst the highest paid in the engineering field so study a graduate program and get on the road to success!

What do Chemical Engineers do?

The chemical engineering profession is traditionally viewed as the domain of the petrochemical, oil and gas and pharmaceutical industries, but in today’s society, chemical engineers can be found in such diverse fields as food technology, water, mining and environmental protection. With increased concern of processed foods, the lack of clean drinking water in poor areas and the need for more environmentally friendly fuels, chemical engineering graduates are needed to develop solutions to these problems and indeed, bring about change. The expansion of these industries has also ensured a growth in the need for this generation of young people to study graduate courses in chemical engineering on a worldwide scale.

The work of chemical engineers can be loosely explained as finding out the best way to produce, extract, mix, separate and manipulate and that is why they can be found in such a diverse selection of industries. They design the best way or 'process' by which a raw material is transformed into a product, whatever it may be. However, manufacturing is not the limit to a chemical engineer’s career. Currently, the development of nanotechnology, alternatives to fossil fuels and reduction in damage to the ozone layer are the concerns of specialist chemical engineers.

Which Graduate Chemical Engineering Course?

Studying a graduate program in chemical engineering is a valuable step to an exciting career. To gain admission to university, you will normally need a good first degree in a science or engineering subject but some universities or colleges may ask for specific courses of study to have already been covered. If you want to study a graduate program in advanced chemical engineering then think carefully about the areas in which you would like to specialise, as universities and colleges will vary in their course bias. Some graduate programs in chemical engineering will be orientated towards the design and development of products whereas others will focus on clean technologies, energy conservation and environment management.

A good chemical engineering graduate course should equip you for a career in industry. You should acquire skills in design, problem solving, numeracy and analysis skills, 'transferable skills', such as communication and teamwork. Studying a graduate program in chemical engineering will enhance your employability whatever your choice of industry or profession. Graduate courses in chemical engineering give you the opportunity to embark on a number of varied careers. From research to business and finance, pollution control to education, safety analysis to product design and marketing management to economic analysis, the employment prospects for graduates is endless. However, due to high salaries, many chemical engineering graduates often stay within the profession.

When choosing your graduate course in chemical engineering, you should check to see if the external body for chemical engineering in that country accredits your course. In the UK, for example, this body is The Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE). A course that has been accredited will have a high quality and it’s teaching and resources matched against strict criteria. An accredited graduate program in chemical engineering will ensure that you get the best opportunities from an excellent course and its independent standard demonstrates the quality of your qualification wherever you are in the world.

Career Options

Once you have completed your graduate studies and are working as a chemical engineering, the external body for chemical engineering in the country in which you are working should independently assess you. In the UK, you can achieve 'Chartered Chemical Engineer' status awarded by IChemE, which is an internationally recognised, professional benchmark that demonstrates you are serious about chemical engineering and the related responsibilities. Becoming a chartered chemical engineer is a universal qualification revered by employers, professionals and academics from around the world.

The diversity of the chemical engineering field allows for career specialisations that can take you all over the world. Studying a graduate program in chemical engineering will give you more options and accelerate your career progression. For more information on accreditation of courses and how best to choose a graduate course in chemical engineering, visit the IChemE’s website www.icheme.org

IChemE
Institution of Chemical Engineers
www.icheme.org