Chemical Engineering is the set of techniques and ideas used to transform unusable chemicals and raw materials into finished goods. It involves a number of processes and principles applied to convert raw materials/chemicals into useful products such as clothes, drinks, paint, fuel, etc. The field of Chemical Engineering is very promising and has a bright scope. Chemical Engineers are the ones who can make a difference in society by increasing food production, generating energy and protecting the environment. They also contribute to developing electronics and improving the environment.
Scope in Chemical Engineering is good and evergreen. Engineers with specialisation in the field are always in demand. Chemical engineers develop, design new processes, or improve existing processes to develop useful products. Chemical engineers are also responsible for managing resources and ensuring human health & safety. Along with it, chemical engineers are also involved in plant design operations and modelling. Chemical Engineering subjects include fundamentals from control engineering, chemical reaction engineering, nuclear engineering, biological engineering, etc.
Chemical Engineering Course Highlights
There are various courses offered under different levels in Chemical Engineering. Listed below are some of the major highlights of the course such as course structure, course level, examination type, average starting salary, top recruiters and top job profiles:
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Courses | BTech, BE, MTech, PhD, Integrated BTech-MTech |
| Course level | Diploma, Graduation, Post Graduation, Doctorate |
| Eligibility | Diploma: Class 10UG: Class 12 along with entrance examinationPG: BTech + GATEDoctorate: MTech |
| Duration | Diploma: 3 yearsUG: 4 yearsPG: 2 yearsPhD: 3- 6 years |
| Examination Type | Semester and Annual |
| Course Fee | Up to INR 7 lakh |
| Top Colleges | IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, DTU, Jadavpur University, Manipal Institute of Technology |
| Average salary | INR 3 to 6 lakh |
| Top Recruiting Companies | Bharat Petroleum, Essar group, Hindalco Industries, Hindustan Copper Limited, etc. |
| Entrance Exams | JEE Mains, JEE Advanced, GATE, VITEEE, BITSAT |
| Job Positions | Chemical Engineer, Site Engineer, Fire & Safety Officer, Technical Operator |
All About Chemical Engineering Course
Chemical Engineering course is offered in either diploma, undergraduate, postgraduate or doctorate levels. The course consists of core and elective subjects and candidates also undergo research or industrial training. The course aims at manufacturing and processing chemicals and applying them in various products such as fertilisers, food chemicals, adhesives etc.
Why Chemical Engineering Course?
Candidates who wish to establish a promising career in the field of using chemicals and other raw materials into finished products can pursue this course. Chemicals are utilised as raw materials for the production of various useful products that are applied in our daily lives such as food chemicals, fertilisers, adhesives, petrochemicals etc. Therefore, this course is popular amongst students after completing Class 12th.
Chemical Engineering Eligibility Criteria
Engineering colleges in India that offer Chemical Engineering have a set selection process and admission criteria for different programmes. Take a look at the eligibility criteria below:
| Type of Course | Eligibility |
|---|---|
| Diploma | A candidate must have completed Class 10 or equivalent examination with Mathematics and Science as mandatory subjects to pursue a Chemical Engineering diploma. |
| Undergraduate | Students must have passed Class 12 or equivalent exam scoring a minimum of 50% aggregate marks with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics as compulsory subjects.Students must have qualified for the entrance examination conducted by the universities or institutions to pursue a course in Chemical Engineering. |
| Postgraduate | Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree in the pertinent field and a valid GATE score or any other exam accepted by the institute/university.Students must have scored a minimum of 60% aggregate marks in their UG degree. |
| Doctoral | PhD course or candidates who have completed their post-graduation in Chemical Engineering with a minimum of 50% marks throughout the course duration. |
Specialisations in Chemical Engineering
During postgraduation or research programmes, one can specialise in various sub-domains under Chemical Engineering, namely Petroleum Engineering, Food Engineering, Ceramic Engineering, Crystal Engineering. As per the guidelines of AICTE, engineering courses are strictly offered in regular mode as it involves various practical lessons and hands-on training. Learners are motivated to participate in field and industrial exposure to learn the nuances of chemical engineering.
Benefits of pursuing Chemical Engineering Course
Chemical Engineering course has bright career opportunities in India as it is a booming market for fertilisers, petrochemical and food processing industry. Graduates and professionals work as Chemical Engineers, Graduate Trainee, Apprentice, Industry In-charge etc.
What is the admission process for Chemical Engineering Course?
- Admission to undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral courses are made on the basis of marks scored in top entrance exams such as JEE Mains, JEE Advanced, COMEDK, GATE etc. Candidates must fetch a good rank for being eligible for admissions.
- Merit list for admissions is prepared on the basis of marks scored in qualifying exams and entrance exam and on the basis of the performance in the interview, candidates are offered admission to top colleges.
- Counselling process takes place for selected candidates, wherein they lock colleges on the basis of their choice.
Chemical Engineering Entrance Exams 2023
Students are admitted to Chemical Engineering courses based on their marks in the entrance examination. Along with minimum qualifying marks in Class 12 as per the eligibility, students are supposed to clear the entrance examinations conducted at University, state, and national levels.
Colleges like IIT hold their own entrance examination i.e. JEE Main and JEE Advanced. However, few universities/institutes conduct their own exam and the rest are either state-level or national-level entrance exams. Only qualifying applicants can seek admission to the course. The list of the entrance examinations held across the country for seeking admission to a Chemical Engineering course is as follows:
| Exam | Exam Dates | Exam Schedule |
|---|---|---|
| JEE Main | JEE Main 2024 Exam Date Session 1-24 Jan ’24 – 1 Feb ’24JEE Main 2024 Exam Date Session 2-1 Apr ’24 – 15 Apr ’24 | JEE Main Schedule |
| JEE Advance | Jun ’24 (Tentative) | JEE Advanced Schedule |
| MHTCET | PCM and PCB- May ’24 (Tentative) | MHTCET Schedule |
| CUET | 15 May ’24 – 31 May ’24 | CUET Schedule |
| TS EAMCET | TS EAMCET 2024 exam for AM and Eng stream- May ’24 (Tentative) | TS EAMCET Schedule |
Top Chemical Engineering Colleges in India
Course fees and placement opportunities are two important factors which should be kept in mind before deciding a college for pursuing Chemical Engineering. The government and private colleges offering various courses in Chemical Engineering offer UG, PG as well as Doctorate level courses in Chemical Engineering. The colleges mentioned in the table are listed alphabetically and not in any order of ranking hierarchy.
Students Also Read: “Shiksha.com Mentioned Delhi Technological University when I Searched for Chemical Engineering,” says Sarthak
Top Government Colleges for Chemical Engineering
Some of the top government colleges for pursuing Chemical Engineering course includes various Central and State engineering universities which are popular for offering Chemical Engineering courses. Some of the popular government colleges for Chemical Engineering are as follows:
| Institute | Total Course Fees in INR |
|---|---|
| DTU – Delhi Technological University | 3-6 lakh |
| IIT Bombay | 1-10 lakh |
| IIT Delhi | 3- 8 lakh |
| IIT Kanpur | 20K- 8 lakh |
| IIT Kharagpur | 20K-10 lakh |
| IIT Madras | 10K-8 lakh |
| IIT Roorkee | 20K- 11 lakh |
| NIT Rourkela | 1-6 lakh |
| NITK Surathkal | 1- 5 lakh |
| NIT Trichy | 45K-5 lakh |
Note: The fee range given above is for all level Engineering courses such as UG, PG, PhD and Diploma.
Top Private Colleges for Chemical Engineering
Some of the private colleges include Deemed to be Universities as well as other autonomous engineering institutes. They provide excellent infrastructure and experts in the field of chemical engineering which makes these colleges popular for pursuing Chemical Engineering. Some of the popular private colleges are as follows:
| Institute | Average Annual Fee |
|---|---|
| Amrita School of Engineering, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham | 12 lakh |
| BITS Pilani – Birla Institute of Technology and Science | 9-20 lakh |
| Chandigarh University (CU) | 5-6 lakh |
| KIIT School of Engineering | 14 lakh |
| LPU – Lovely Professional University | 7-10 lakh |
| Manipal Institute of Technology | 2-13 lakh |
| SASTRA (Deemed to be University) | 3-8 lakh |
| SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai | 3-10 lakh |
| Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology | 2-12 lakh |
| VIT Vellore | 1-7 lakh |
Note: The fee range given above is for all level Chemical Engineering courses such as UG, PG, PhD and Diploma
Also Read:
- Top Engineering Colleges in Delhi
- Top Engineering Colleges in Bangalore
- Top Engineering Colleges in Hyderabad
- Top Engineering Colleges in Kolkata
Chemical Engineering Career, Scope & Job Profiles
In India, a fresher Chemical Engineer may get a salary of around INR 3 to 6 lakh per annum. Qualification and work experience are the two most prominent factors that would determine the salary of a candidate. Check below the list of Chemical Engineering jobs and the average salary offered to the respective job profiles. The salary data is according to the website Payscale.com. Please find below job description and salaries of some of the prominent roles offered to Chemical engineers:
| Job Profile | Job Description | Average Salary in INR |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical Engineers | Responsible for designing, developing and improving chemical processes. | 5- 7 LPA |
| Development Chemical Engineer | Responsible for designing, developing and implementing industrial processes involving chemicals. | 6- 8 LPA |
| Quality Manager | Ensures the quality of chemical products and services. | 5- 8 LPA |
| Materials Engineer | Study atoms and then use their properties for the required product or material. | 6- 8 LPA |
| Analytical Chemist | Responsible for obtaining and analysing data on various chemical substances. | 7- 8 LPA |
| Mining Engineer | Responsible for devising ways to extract gases, compounds, and elements from below the earth. | 7- 9 LPA |
| Energy Manager | Responsible for performing audit and analyse consumption of energy. Follow measures for effective energy conservation. | 6- 9 LPA |
Chemical Engineering Top Recruiters
Chemical Engineering professionals are required by a number of industries across the globe. Some of them are as follows:
| Top Recruiters for Chemical Engineering | |
|---|---|
| Plastic industry | Textiles industry |
| Rubber industry | Paper & Pulp industry |
| Food industry | Aerospace industry |
| Chemicals manufacturing industries | Cement industry |
| Petroleum industry | Fertilizer industry |
The top organisations from different sectors hire Chemical Engineers as per the requirement. Few of the renowned sector-wise Chemical Engineering recruiters are as follows:
Government/Public Sector
The list of some renowned government/public sector Chemical Engineering recruiters are provided in the below table:
| Company Name | Average Monthly Salary Offered (in INR) |
|---|---|
| Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) | 25,000 – 50,000 |
| Coal India Limited (CIL) | 20,000 – 46,000 |
| Gas Authority of India Ltd. (GAIL) | 25,000 – 50,000 |
| Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) | 25,000 – 50,000 |
| Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) | 20,000 – 46,000 |
| National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) | 25,000 – 50,000 |
Private Sector
The list of some renowned private sector Chemical Engineering recruiters are provided in the below table:
| Company Name | Average Annual Salary Offered (In INR) |
|---|---|
| Piramal Healthcare Limited | 5 to 6 lakh |
| Pfizer Inc. | 12 to 15 lakh |
| Schlumberger Limited | 15 to 20 lakh |
| GlaxoSmithKline | 7 to 9 lakh |