Why Study Chemical Engineering
Chemical Engineering is more than a degree
Chemical Engineers are at the forefront of scientific and technological developments. They design, construct and operate processes to create products that we all depend on and are often tackling some of the world’s most urgent problems. Almost everything in the world has gone through a Chemical Engineers’ hands at some point.
Chemical engineering is all about turning raw materials into everyday products. The food and drink we consume, the energy we use in our homes and cars to the medicines we take, all depend on the technical know-how and ingenuity of chemical engineers.
Chemical Engineering draws on a wide variety of skills and knowledge. In fact, the problem-solving and numeracy skills of chemical engineers are highly sought after by employers and help to explain why chemical engineers top the scales of all the major engineering professions. It’s no wonder its the 3rd hardest degree to obtain!
Here are the main reasons why you should be studying Chemical Engineering.
Excellent Graduate Opportunities
Chemical Engineering is one of the most employable subjects in the world. The degree opens up opportunities to not only work in the lab but alternatively out in the field or in scientific management. Graduates can do anything from groundbreaking scientific research to working as a field engineer or having a senior management position. Take a look at the current graduate jobs available at Gradcracker
Chemical engineers have many career opportunities. A graduate might perform groundbreaking scientific research, work as a field engineer, or occupy a senior management position. Graduates employed by multinational companies often travel all over the world.
Top Paid Engineers
Chemical Engineers are amoung the highest paying degrees across the world. According to The Complete University Guide, Chemical Engineers earn the highest salary for graduates compared to 67 other degrees. The only exception being highly skilled doctors who earn slightly more – but not much more.
According to Salary Explorer, the average salary is £68,400 with top earners over £100,000 a year! This is of course based on the company and location. However, as a general rule, graduates should expect these kinds of figures. Pretty cool right?
Real World Impact
Chemical engineers work to improve the quality of people’s lives. Most items used by people everyday have needed chemical engineers to produce them. Chemical engineers are helping to end starvation, disease and poverty. They are working to save the environment by developing alternative technologies to combat acid rain, lead pollution and the greenhouse effect.
Sustainable Long-term Industry
Despite what people may say that Chemical Engineering is a dying market and is becoming redundant; this couldn’t be further from the truth.
Chemical Engineering at its core is adaptable and it teaches every graduate how to problem solve and innovate. This idea is predicated only towards the energy sector however, this dying degree couldn’t be further from the truth.
The shift to renewables is just getting started, which means there is massive potential for new technology to be designed and commercialised. This opens the job market tenfold and can have amazing financial benefits to future Chemical Engineers.
How Do You Study Chemical Engineering?
Studying chemical engineering can be as easy or as difficult as you want it to be. Granted it is a very challenging degree to obtain, but there are ways you can make your life considerably easier when embarking on studying this immense subject. Check out our complete guide on how to study effectively.
Like most degrees, there is a general amount of effort required in order to pass. When it comes to chemical engineering, you need to raise the bar considerably higher. When studying chemical engineering it’s important to remember that you are forming a link between an engineer and a scientist (not just a chemist). Therefore, you need to have knowledge within both areas!
It helps to have a heads-up when it comes to studying. Based on my experience, if you want to achieve a 1st class degree, these are the topics you MUST know!
- General advanced mathematics
- Mass & Energy Balances
- Heat Transfer
- Reactor Design
- Process Modelling
- Fundamentals of Chemistry
- Distillation Principles
All of these topics form the backbone of the entire course, so ensuring you are fully confident in these areas will certainly help you on your learning journey.
Taking additional classes that your university offers would be highly recommended, as your professors/lecturers will see your commitments and will more than likely provide you extra support when you need it most.
Enrolling on free or paid courses can provide you new learning material, fresh perspectives, and maybe a different approach to solving a series of questions. Having these sites as a reference point can be invaluable, especially if you choose a reputable instructor. While we recommend looking at a wide range of sites, check out our post on why learning with us here at The ChemEng Student is something you should seriously consider.
We offer both paid and free courses, with lifetime support throughout your learning journey. It’s important to us that we provide the utmost for our students, which is why all our learning material is university regulated and relevant to the global chemical engineering curriculum as instructed by the IChemE! Check out our amazing courses today!
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