BEng in Chemical Engineering

The Department of Chemical Engineering at Stellenbosch University takes pride in training and delivering well-rounded, highly-skilled chemical engineers. We offer an Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) accredited professional degree in Chemical Engineering, which means that it takes four years minimum to complete, and you can apply to register as a Professional Engineer with the ECSA after acquiring the relevant experience in industry.

Our team of 20 full-time lecturers are dedicated to providing an engaging and enriching learning experience, whilst developing curious engineers with a solid scientific foundation who can solve problems with creativity and innovation. We aim to inspire a love for learning and stimulate a passion for science and engineering. Watch this video to find out more about the Department and to see what our facilities look like.

What is chemical engineering?

BEng in 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 modern society, be it in the form of basic consumables or commodities.

Processes designed and operated by chemical engineers are also important for the 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 the 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.

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, and 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 the industry.

Students will be trained to manage large engineering projects as members of a team of engineers from different disciplines. Undergraduate studies will culminate in the design of a chemical, biochemical or metallurgical plant through the application of all the theories learnt up to that point. A final-year research project will be completed that investigates an engineering problem to arrive at a suitable solution through independent learning and application of chemical engineering principles.

Year 1

First Semester

• Applied Mathematics B
• Engineering Chemistry
• Engineering Mathematics
• Engineering Physics
• Intercultural Communication (Eng)
• Probability Theory and Statistics
• Engineering Drawings

Optional supplementary modules:

• Engineering Chemistry
• Engineering Drawings

Second Semester

• Applied Mathematics B
• Computer Programming
• Data Science
• Electrotechnique
• Engineering Mathematics
• Strength of Materials

Engineering:

• Chemistry C
• Electronic Engineering
• Engineering Physics
• Industrial Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Mechatronic Engineering

Year 2

First Semester

• Applied Mathematics B

• Chemical Engineering

• Chemistry C

• Engineering Mathematics

• Practical Workshop Training

• Thermodynamics A

Second Semester

• Chemical Engineering

• Chemical Engineering

• Chemistry C

• Engineering Mathematics

• Engineering Statistics

• Numerical Methods

Year 3

Both Semesters

• Internship (Eng)

• Internship (Eng)

First Semester

• Chemical Engineering

• Chemical Engineering

• Chemical Engineering D

• Complementary Studies (Eng)

• Heat Transfer A

• Particle Technology

• Philosophy and Ethics

Second Semester

• Chemical Engineering

• Chemical Engineering

• Chemical Engineering

• Chemical Engineering D

• Mineral Processing

• Vacation Training

Year 4

Both Semesters

• Final-year Project (C) 478

First Semester

• Chemical Engineering 424

• Chemical Engineering 426

• Environmental Engineering 414

• Mineral Processing 415

• Project Management 412

Second Semester

• Design Project 488