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Table of Contents
1. What is Chemical Engineering?
Chemical Engineering is the branch of engineering that deals with turning raw materials into useful products like fuel, food, and medicine. It combines knowledge of chemistry, physics, mathematics, and biology to design processes and equipment to produce at scale.
Key Applications of Chemical Engineering:
- Converting raw materials into valuable products
- Designing large-scale manufacturing systems
- Managing waste treatment and pollution control
- Innovating sustainable and renewable energy processes
Why It Matters To The World?
These are just a handful of scenarios of how chemical engineers are solving big problems in the world:
- Chemical engineers fight climate change by creating cleaner technologies. They work on building technology that scale up the systems to remove CO₂ from the air, build technology that produces biofuels from waste materials and renewable energy systems like hydrogen power.
- Clean water is a scarce resource in the world, and chemical engineers are finding smart ways to clean and reuse it. They design filters, systems to turn seawater into drinking water and better ways to treat dirty water.
- Chemical engineers help produce medicines and vaccines for the masses in large quantities safely. They design drug production systems and ensure everything meets safety standards. Case in point, the production of vaccines during the COVID-19 crisis.
- Chemical engineers are also involved in the production of smarter materials and energy solutions. It’s easy to create an electric battery but it is a whole other level to design a process that produces thousands while accounting for cost factors, quality of production, waste management, safety standards.
Watch this video for a deeper understanding of how Chemical Engineering is applied to various industries and the difference between the study of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry.
2. Where To Study Chemical Engineering Courses In Malaysia?
Here are 10 best universities to study Chemical Engineering courses in Malaysia.
- #1 Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP)
- #2 Heriot-Watt University Malaysia
- #3 Monash University Malaysia
- #4 University Of Nottingham Malaysia
- #5 Taylor’s University
- #6 Swinburne University Of Technology Malaysia
- #7 UCSI University
- #8 Sunway University
- #9 Xiamen University Malaysia
- #10 SEGI University
- BONUS #1 — Universiti Malaya (UM)
- BONUS #2 — University Sains Malaysia (USM)
3. Chemical Engineering Course Pathways & Entry Requirements
There are 2 pathways one can consider to qualify for a career in the Chemical engineering field.
Pathway 1: SPM/O-Levels ➔ Pre-University/Foundation ➔ Chemical Engineering Degree
The more common pathway is to enter a Pre-University course (A-Level, SACE, STPM) or a Foundation course offered by the university of your choice.
As an SPM / O-Level leaver, the entry requirement is 5 credits including Mathematics and a Science subject (Physics/Chemistry/Biology) to enter Pre-U or Foundation, preferably Chemistry for Chemical Engineering.
A Pre-University course or Foundation in Engineering / Science typically takes 1 to 2 years to complete and will qualify you to enter into a Degree in Engineering.
An Engineering Degree will usually take 3 to 4 years to complete based on whether your degree is a BEng or MEng qualification. Here are the general requirements to enter with qualifications from popular pre-university courses or a foundation course:
| Qualifications | General Requirements |
| A-Level | 2D |
| AUSMAT/SACE | ATAR 65 |
| CIMP | 65% |
| STPM | 2C |
| UEC | 5B |
| Foundation | CGPA 2.0 |
Note: Actual minimum requirements will differ between different universities. Generally, these qualifications also require you to have Mathematics and a relevant Science subject taken and achieve the minimum results.
In total, this pathway takes 4 to 5 years to complete.
Difference Between MEng and BEng
BEng (Bachelor of Engineering)
- A 3-year undergraduate degree that qualifies students to work as aerospace engineers.
- Requires additional work experience and exams for professional engineering certification.
- Can be upgraded to an MEng through further studies.
MEng (Master of Engineering)
- A 4-year course that integrates both undergraduate and master’s level studies.
- Provides advanced technical knowledge and research opportunities.
- Often preferred for leadership or research roles in the aerospace industry.
Pathway 2: SPM/O-Levels ➔ Diploma ➔ Chemical Engineering Degree
Another possible pathway is to secure a Diploma qualification first before pursuing a Degree. However, this route is less popular due to its longer duration to complete.
As an SPM / O-Level leaver, the entry requirement is 3 credits including Mathematics and a relevant Science subject to enter Diploma.
A Diploma in Chemical Engineering normally requires 2.5 years to complete.
However, having only a Diploma qualification will limit your career progression as an engineer as you are not able to sign-off or lead major projects. Thus, most graduates will eventually continue their studies towards a Degree.
Continuing a Degree course will require an additional 2 to 3 years depending on your pursuit of a BEng or MEng qualification.
You need a minimum of CGPA 2.0 to enter into an Engineering Degree.
How Can Uni Enrol Help?
Uni Enrol’s experienced counsellors help you compare the pros and cons of studying a Chemical Engineering Course at different universities and different locations.
4. Accreditations For Chemical Engineering In Malaysia
To gain your status as a professional or certified engineer in Malaysia, you must:
- Graduate with a MEng or Master from a recognised university;
- 3 years of practical working experience; and
- Pass the Professional Assessment Examination by BEM.
BEM is the authoritative body in Malaysia that regulates engineering practices including controlling engineering services, conforming to professional ethics and international best practices in ensuring public safety in Malaysia.
Additionally, be on the lookout for Engineering courses that are recognised under the Washington Accord.
The Washington Accord allows graduates to pursue a professional engineering career in any of the member countries (e.g. Australia, Canada, China, Taipei, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Singapore, United Kingdom, and the United States) without the need for re-qualification.
5. What You Learn In A Chemical Engineering Course
Courses in Chemical Engineering typically cover both theoretical knowledge and hands-on applications in labs and real-world projects.
- Engineering Mathematics
- Chemical Process Principles
- Organic Chemistry
- Inorganic Chemistry
- Engineering Thermodynamics
- Fluid Mechanics
- Process Heat Transfer
- Mass Transfer
- Reaction Engineering
- Process Control and Instrumentation
- Separation Processes
- Process Design
- Environmental Engineering
- Biochemical Engineering
- Industrial Safety & Health
- Material Science
- Computational Methods
- Chemical Engineering Lab
- Wastewater Treatment
- Engineering Ethics & Management
- Plant Design Project
- Engineering Drawing
- Transport Phenomena
- Physical Chemistry
- Energy & Sustainability
- Petroleum Refining
- Corrosion Engineering
- Nanotechnology Applications
6. Why Should I Study Chemical Engineering?
Chemical Engineering is one of the most versatile and impactful engineering disciplines. Here’s why you should:
- Relevant Industries For Chemical Engineers – Malaysia’s oil & gas, manufacturing, pharmaceutical and palm oil industries are some of the main economic contributors of the country and are in need of chemical engineers.
- Global Opportunities – With a Washington Accord-recognised degree, you can work in top economies worldwide. Your skills are transferable but you first have to build your experience and research which industries have higher growth opportunities based on where you plan to work.
- Innovation-Driven Work – The field is dynamic and involves real-world problem-solving and developing sustainable solutions.
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7. RIASEC Compatibility To A Chemical Engineering Course
The John Holland Theory of Career Choice states that in choosing a career, people will choose one similar to their personality to ensure job satisfaction, job performance, and career success. The test generates 6 different personality types:
- Realistic (R)
- Investigative (I)
- Artistic (A)
- Social (S)
- Enterprising (E)
- Conventional (C)
With the RIASEC Test, the 6 personalities can generate up to 720 combination possibilities to provide career compatibility. You can try the test yourself here.
For Chemical Engineering, the most relevant personality traits are:
INVESTIGATIVE
- Chemical engineers apply chemistry, physics, and mathematics to solve complex problems. They conduct research, analyze chemical reactions, and develop efficient industrial processes.
REALISTIC
- The field requires hands-on work with lab equipment, chemical plants, and industrial machinery. Engineers must be comfortable working with real-world applications, from designing reactors to optimizing production lines.
CONVENTIONAL
- Chemical engineering involves following strict protocols, safety regulations, and industry standards. Precision, attention to detail, and structured problem-solving are crucial to ensure efficiency and safety in chemical processes.
8. Career Opportunities For Chemical Engineering
Chemical Engineering offers one of the most diverse and in-demand career pathways. Here’s a breakdown:
| Area of Opportunities | Types of Roles |
| Petrochemical & Oil & Gas | Process Engineer, Production Engineer, Safety Engineer |
| Pharmaceuticals | Validation Engineer, Quality Control Engineer, R&D Chemist |
| Food & Beverage | Food Process Engineer, QA/QC Executive, Packaging Specialist |
| Environmental Engineering | Waste Treatment Engineer, Environmental Consultant |
| Water Treatment | Water Resource Engineer, Process Designer |
| Manufacturing | Plant Engineer, Materials Engineer, Operations Manager |
| Energy & Renewables | Biofuel Engineer, Solar Process Engineer, Green Technology Analyst |
| Consultancy & Project Management | Project Engineer, Engineering Consultant |
| Academia & Research | Lecturer, Research Scientist, Lab Technologist |
| Entrepreneurship | Engineering Consultancy, Chemical Engineering Solution Provider |
Recommended Course Guides
Looking for other related courses? Here are various engineering-related course guides you should check out:
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About the Author:
Ken Hoong is the co-founder of Uni Enrol and a contributing writer. Drawing on his close work with Uni Enrol’s counsellors, he brings keen insight into Malaysia’s evolving private higher education landscape and the shifting preferences of students in learning and career choices.
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