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Professional Recognition

Course code Y50

Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical) Honours

Creative thinkers made here.

Creative thinkers made here.

Why ECU?

About this Course

The chemical engineering discipline is principally concerned with the application of knowledge of how materials and chemicals interact, or can be converted in some way to a more useful form, as part of a processing, production or refining process.

Chemical engineers work in a wide range of domains from mineral processing, mining, and oil and gas through to industries associated with clothing, food, packaging, fertilisers, pharmaceuticals and many other manufacturing and biological processes.

The program focuses on the development of knowledge and skills relevant to professional engineering practice and along with a sound theoretical base, includes strong elements of practical problem solving, team-work and project development. As a result, graduates will gain strong analytical skills, and have the ability to lead complex projects as well as having multiple technical and transferable skill competencies.

The course provides a sound basis in mechanics, mathematics, and the principles of engineering design in the first two years of study, along with core areas of engineering science including chemistry and materials science, fluid mechanics, process systems and thermodynamics. In the final two years of study, a range of more specialist chemical engineering topics are covered including process design, operations and control, to prepare students to enter their chosen profession with relevant knowledge and skills.

The first year of this course includes a set of eight units that are common across all engineering honours courses. This allows students the opportunity to develop a better understanding of the various engineering disciplines on offer and the flexibility, if desired, to switch to another engineering discipline/course without penalty after the first year of study.

Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level

This course has been accredited by ECU as an AQF Level 8 Bachelor Honours Degree Award.

Course code Y50

Entry requirements

80 Indicative ATAR

ECU admission and English language requirements apply.

See Course Entry for further information.

Fees

Commonwealth supported - estimated 1st year indicative fee AUD $7,850

See Fees and Scholarships for further information.

Duration

4 years full-time or part-time equivalent

See Course Details for further information.

Availability & Campus

Location Semester 1 Semester 2
Joondalup FT PT FT PT
Mount Lawley
South West
Online
*FT = Full-time study PT = Part-time study

About this Course

The chemical engineering discipline is principally concerned with the application of knowledge of how materials and chemicals interact, or can be converted in some way to a more useful form, as part of a processing, production or refining process.

Chemical engineers work in a wide range of domains from mineral processing, mining, and oil and gas through to industries associated with clothing, food, packaging, fertilisers, pharmaceuticals and many other manufacturing and biological processes.

The program focuses on the development of knowledge and skills relevant to professional engineering practice and along with a sound theoretical base, includes strong elements of practical problem solving, team-work and project development. As a result, graduates will gain strong analytical skills, and have the ability to lead complex projects as well as having multiple technical and transferable skill competencies.

The course provides a sound basis in mechanics, mathematics, and the principles of engineering design in the first two years of study, along with core areas of engineering science including chemistry and materials science, fluid mechanics, process systems and thermodynamics. In the final two years of study, a range of more specialist chemical engineering topics are covered including process design, operations and control, to prepare students to enter their chosen profession with relevant knowledge and skills.

The first year of this course includes a set of eight units that are common across all engineering honours courses. This allows students the opportunity to develop a better understanding of the various engineering disciplines on offer and the flexibility, if desired, to switch to another engineering discipline/course without penalty after the first year of study.

Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level

This course has been accredited by ECU as an AQF Level 8 Bachelor Honours Degree Award.

Course code Y50

CRICOS code 083336M

Entry requirements

ECU admission and English language requirements apply.

See Course Entry for further information.

Fees

International students - estimated 1st year indicative fee AUD $38,950

See Fees and Scholarships for further information.

Duration

4 years full-time

See Course Details for further information.

Availability & Campus

Location Semester 1 Semester 2
Joondalup FT FT
Mount Lawley
South West
Online
*FT = Full-time study PT = Part-time study

Course Entry

Admission requirements you'll need to meet for this course.

  • The following course-specific admission requirements are mandatory and must be satisfied by all applicants. These requirements are in addition to or supersede the minimum requirements outlined within the Academic admission requirements band section below.

    All applicants are required to have Mathematics: Methods ATAR, with equivalents considered, and Physics ATAR or Engineering Studies ATAR or Chemistry ATAR or Mathematics: Specialist ATAR, with equivalents considered.
    It is desirable that all applicants have Chemistry ATAR and either Physics ATAR or Engineering Studies ATAR, with equivalents considered, students without Chemistry ATAR or either Physics ATAR or Engineering Studies ATAR may need to take bridging unit(s) in the first year of their studies.

    All applicants must meet the academic admission requirements for this course. The indicative or guaranteed ATAR is as published (where applicable) or academic admission requirements may be satisfied through completion of one of the following:

    • AQF Diploma or equivalent;
    • Undergraduate Certificate;
    • Successfully completed 0.5 EFTSL of study at bachelor level or higher at an Australian higher education provider (or equivalent);
    • Special Tertiary Admissions Test;*
    • University Preparation Course;*
    • Indigenous University Orientation Course; or*
    • Aboriginal University Readiness Assessment.*

    * Further information can be found on the Study course entry page.

    For international students, requirements include your secondary school results.

  • English competency requirements may be satisfied through completion of one of the following:

    • Year 12 English ATAR/English Literature ATAR grade C or better or equivalent;
    • Special Tertiary Admissions Test;*
    • IELTS Academic Overall band minimum score of 6.0 (no individual band less than 6.0);
    • Successfully completed 1.0 EFTSL of study at bachelor level or higher in the UK, Ireland, USA, NZ or Canada;
    • University Preparation Course;
    • Indigenous University Orientation Course;*
    • Aboriginal University Readiness Assessment;*
    • AQF Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree;
    • Successfully completed 0.375 EFTSL of study at bachelor level or higher at an Australian higher education provider (or equivalent); or
    • Other tests, courses or programs defined on the English Proficiency Bands page.

    * Further information can be found on the Study course entry page.

Applications for this course are not accepted through ECU's Experience Based Entry Scheme.

Course Entry

Admission requirements you'll need to meet for this course.

  • The following course-specific admission requirements are mandatory and must be satisfied by all applicants. These requirements are in addition to or supersede the minimum requirements outlined within the Academic admission requirements band section below.

    All applicants are required to have Mathematics: Methods ATAR, with equivalents considered, and Physics ATAR or Engineering Studies ATAR or Chemistry ATAR or Mathematics: Specialist ATAR, with equivalents considered.
    It is desirable that all applicants have Chemistry ATAR and either Physics ATAR or Engineering Studies ATAR, with equivalents considered, students without Chemistry ATAR or either Physics ATAR or Engineering Studies ATAR may need to take bridging unit(s) in the first year of their studies.

    All applicants must meet the academic admission requirements for this course. The indicative or guaranteed ATAR is as published (where applicable) or academic admission requirements may be satisfied through completion of one of the following:

    • AQF Diploma or equivalent;
    • Undergraduate Certificate;
    • Successfully completed 0.5 EFTSL of study at bachelor level or higher at an Australian higher education provider (or equivalent);
    • Special Tertiary Admissions Test;*
    • University Preparation Course;*
    • Indigenous University Orientation Course; or*
    • Aboriginal University Readiness Assessment.*

    * Further information can be found on the Study course entry page.

    For international students, requirements include your secondary school results.

  • English competency requirements may be satisfied through completion of one of the following:

    • Year 12 English ATAR/English Literature ATAR grade C or better or equivalent;
    • Special Tertiary Admissions Test;*
    • IELTS Academic Overall band minimum score of 6.0 (no individual band less than 6.0);
    • Successfully completed 1.0 EFTSL of study at bachelor level or higher in the UK, Ireland, USA, NZ or Canada;
    • University Preparation Course;
    • Indigenous University Orientation Course;*
    • Aboriginal University Readiness Assessment;*
    • AQF Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree;
    • Successfully completed 0.375 EFTSL of study at bachelor level or higher at an Australian higher education provider (or equivalent); or
    • Other tests, courses or programs defined on the English Proficiency Bands page.

    * Further information can be found on the Study course entry page.

Applications for this course are not accepted through ECU's Experience Based Entry Scheme.

Course Details

Semester availability

Semester 1: Study full-time at Joondalup

Semester 1: Study part-time at Joondalup

Semester 2: Study full-time at Joondalup

Semester 2: Study part-time at Joondalup

Course Structure

Students are required to complete 31 Core units, 1 Elective unit and a Practicum unit.

Year 1 - Semester 1
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
ENS1154Introduction to Engineering15
ENS1115Materials and Manufacturing 115
ENM1102Engineering Drawing and Computer Aided Design15
MAT1250Mathematics 115
Year 1 - Semester 2
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
ENS1101Engineering Mechanics15
ENS1180Introduction to Energy and Resource Engineering15
ENS1253Electrical Engineering Fundamentals15
MAT1251Mathematics 215
Year 2 - Semester 1
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
SCC1111General Chemistry15
ENS2120Engineering Systems15
ENM3218Fluid Mechanics15
ENS2115Process Engineering Fundamentals15
Year 2 - Semester 2
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
SCC2310Physical Chemistry15
ENS2160Thermodynamics15
ENS2116Process Systems Analysis15
ENS3553Signals and Systems15
Year 3 - Semester 1
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
CSP2151Programming Fundamentals15
ENS2159Engineering Innovation and Ethics15
ENS5556Heat and Mass Transfer15
ENS5253Control Systems15
Year 3 - Semester 2
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
ENS3111Chemical Thermodynamics15
ENS3113Reaction Engineering15
ENS5240Industrial Control15
Elective Unit15

Note: Students who receive a WAM of 70 per cent or above at the end of their third year of study will be invited to complete a graded Honours degree by taking the two Honours Thesis units in place of the standard project units in their fourth year. Students below this cut-off, or who decline the offer to undertake the Honours Thesis, will graduate with an ungraded Honours degree.

Year 4 - Semester 1
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
ENS5111Engineering Practicum
ENS5161Environmental and Process Risk Management15
ENS5561Minerals and Solids Processing15
ENS3115Unit Operations and Process Design Fundamentals15
ENS4152 ^Project Development15
Or
ENS5145 ^Engineering Honours Thesis 115

Note: Students undertaking the graded Honours pathway should enrol into ENS5145 Engineering Honours Thesis 1 in place of ENS4152 Project Development.

Year 4 - Semester 2
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
ENS5543Engineering Management15
ENS5270Engineering Process Design15
ENS5209Process Control15
ENS4253 ^Engineering Project15
Or
ENS5146 ^Engineering Honours Thesis 215

Note: Students undertaking the graded Honours pathway should enrol into ENS5146 Engineering Honours Thesis 2 in place of ENS4253 Engineering Project.

RECOMMENDED ELECTIVES
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
ENM2104Instrumentation and Measurement15
ENS2170Principles of Industrial Maintenance15
SCC2211Organic Chemistry15
ENS3301Reservoir Thermodynamics and Fluid Properties15
ENS5133Environmental Engineering 115
ENS3105Mechanical Design and Development15
ENS5261Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Systems15
ENS2270Reservoir Petrophysics and Formation Evaluation15
ENS5162Drilling Engineering15
ENS5216Advanced Thermofluids15
SCC1250Inorganic Chemistry15

Note: Electives chosen from outside this list must be approved by the Course Coordinator.

^ Core Option

Y50|9

For more detailed unit information for this course take a look at our Handbook. To organise your life for next semester visit the Teaching timetable.

Student handbook

Course notes

Important course notes

  • Students are required to undertake a minimum of 12 weeks practical work experience in an engineering industry environment. This will normally be undertaken during a vacation period.

Course learning outcomes

  1. Demonstrate advanced knowledge of the underpinning natural and physical sciences and in depth understanding of specialist bodies of knowledge within the chemical engineering discipline.
  2. Think critically, and apply established engineering methods and research skills to complex chemical engineering problem solving.
  3. Apply systematic engineering synthesis and design processes to conduct and manage engineering projects, with some intellectual independence.
  4. Demonstrate conceptual understanding of the mathematics, numerical analysis, statistics and computer and information sciences which underpin the chemical engineering discipline and fluently apply engineering techniques, tools and resources.
  5. Demonstrate clear and coherent oral and written communication in professional and lay domains.
  6. Demonstrate a global outlook and knowledge of contextual factors impacting the engineering discipline, including respect for cultural diversity and indigenous cultural competence.
  7. Demonstrate effective team membership and team leadership to implement engineering projects according to relevant standards of ethical conduct, sustainable practice and professional accountability.
  8. Demonstrate responsibility for own learning, professional judgement and an understanding of the scope, principles, norms, accountabilities and bounds of contemporary engineering practice.

Professional Recognition

Course

Accredited by: Engineers Australia

Course Details

Semester availability

Semester 1: Study full-time at Joondalup

Semester 2: Study full-time at Joondalup

Course Structure

Students are required to complete 31 Core units, 1 Elective unit and a Practicum unit.

Year 1 - Semester 1
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
ENS1154Introduction to Engineering15
ENS1115Materials and Manufacturing 115
ENM1102Engineering Drawing and Computer Aided Design15
MAT1250Mathematics 115
Year 1 - Semester 2
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
ENS1101Engineering Mechanics15
ENS1180Introduction to Energy and Resource Engineering15
ENS1253Electrical Engineering Fundamentals15
MAT1251Mathematics 215
Year 2 - Semester 1
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
SCC1111General Chemistry15
ENS2120Engineering Systems15
ENM3218Fluid Mechanics15
ENS2115Process Engineering Fundamentals15
Year 2 - Semester 2
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
SCC2310Physical Chemistry15
ENS2160Thermodynamics15
ENS2116Process Systems Analysis15
ENS3553Signals and Systems15
Year 3 - Semester 1
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
CSP2151Programming Fundamentals15
ENS2159Engineering Innovation and Ethics15
ENS5556Heat and Mass Transfer15
ENS5253Control Systems15
Year 3 - Semester 2
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
ENS3111Chemical Thermodynamics15
ENS3113Reaction Engineering15
ENS5240Industrial Control15
Elective Unit15

Note: Students who receive a WAM of 70 per cent or above at the end of their third year of study will be invited to complete a graded Honours degree by taking the two Honours Thesis units in place of the standard project units in their fourth year. Students below this cut-off, or who decline the offer to undertake the Honours Thesis, will graduate with an ungraded Honours degree.

Year 4 - Semester 1
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
ENS5111Engineering Practicum
ENS5161Environmental and Process Risk Management15
ENS5561Minerals and Solids Processing15
ENS3115Unit Operations and Process Design Fundamentals15
ENS4152 ^Project Development15
Or
ENS5145 ^Engineering Honours Thesis 115

Note: Students undertaking the graded Honours pathway should enrol into ENS5145 Engineering Honours Thesis 1 in place of ENS4152 Project Development.

Year 4 - Semester 2
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
ENS5543Engineering Management15
ENS5270Engineering Process Design15
ENS5209Process Control15
ENS4253 ^Engineering Project15
Or
ENS5146 ^Engineering Honours Thesis 215

Note: Students undertaking the graded Honours pathway should enrol into ENS5146 Engineering Honours Thesis 2 in place of ENS4253 Engineering Project.

RECOMMENDED ELECTIVES
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
ENM2104Instrumentation and Measurement15
ENS2170Principles of Industrial Maintenance15
SCC2211Organic Chemistry15
ENS3301Reservoir Thermodynamics and Fluid Properties15
ENS5133Environmental Engineering 115
ENS3105Mechanical Design and Development15
ENS5261Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Systems15
ENS2270Reservoir Petrophysics and Formation Evaluation15
ENS5162Drilling Engineering15
ENS5216Advanced Thermofluids15
SCC1250Inorganic Chemistry15

Note: Electives chosen from outside this list must be approved by the Course Coordinator.

^ Core Option

Y50|9

For more detailed unit information for this course take a look at our Handbook. To organise your life for next semester visit the Teaching timetable.

Student handbook

Course notes

Important course notes

  • Students are required to undertake a minimum of 12 weeks practical work experience in an engineering industry environment. This will normally be undertaken during a vacation period.

Course learning outcomes

  1. Demonstrate advanced knowledge of the underpinning natural and physical sciences and in depth understanding of specialist bodies of knowledge within the chemical engineering discipline.
  2. Think critically, and apply established engineering methods and research skills to complex chemical engineering problem solving.
  3. Apply systematic engineering synthesis and design processes to conduct and manage engineering projects, with some intellectual independence.
  4. Demonstrate conceptual understanding of the mathematics, numerical analysis, statistics and computer and information sciences which underpin the chemical engineering discipline and fluently apply engineering techniques, tools and resources.
  5. Demonstrate clear and coherent oral and written communication in professional and lay domains.
  6. Demonstrate a global outlook and knowledge of contextual factors impacting the engineering discipline, including respect for cultural diversity and indigenous cultural competence.
  7. Demonstrate effective team membership and team leadership to implement engineering projects according to relevant standards of ethical conduct, sustainable practice and professional accountability.
  8. Demonstrate responsibility for own learning, professional judgement and an understanding of the scope, principles, norms, accountabilities and bounds of contemporary engineering practice.

Professional Recognition

Course

Accredited by: Engineers Australia

Fees and Scholarships

Fees

  • AUD $7,850 - Commonwealth supported estimated 1st year indicative fee 1

Note

1 The 'estimated 1st year indicative fee' is provided as a guide only, based on a typical enrolment of students undertaking the first year of this course. At ECU, you pay for the individual units you enrol in, not an overall course fee, so the total cost of your course will vary, depending on what units you choose. An indicative fee will be provided with your course offer, however you can use our Course Fee Calculator to estimate the actual amount you'll need to pay. ECU fees are adjusted annually.

Some units require the payment of a fee for incidental goods or services required to complete those units. For more information and the full list of incidental fees for courses and units, visit What are Incidental Fees.

Scholarships

ECU has a scholarship program that provides many opportunities each year to students undertaking studies here.

Find a scholarship

Career Opportunities

Chemical engineers work in a wide range of domains from mineral processing, mining, and oil and gas, through to industries associated with clothing, food, packaging, fertilisers, pharmaceuticals and many other manufacturing and biological processes. In Western Australia, many chemical engineers find career opportunities in the extensive mining, mineral processing, and oil and gas industries that dominate the industrial profile of the state. Chemical engineers play a central role in both the production, refining and down stream processing in these important resource-based industries.

Possible future job titles

Chemical Engineer, Process Engineer, Design Engineer, Plant Engineer, Petrochemical Engineer

Similar courses to consider

  • Bachelor of Technology (Engineering)
    Applicants who do not meet the entrance requirements for this Engineering course should consider applying for a Bachelor of Technology course as a pathway. Bachelor of Technology students who successfully complete their first year of study can expect to gain entry into the Bachelor of Engineering courses with advanced standing for all non-bridging units completed.
  • Bachelor of Engineering Honours/Bachelor of Commerce
  • Bachelor of Technology (Motorsports)
    Applicants who do not meet the entrance requirements for this Engineering course should consider applying for a Bachelor of Technology course as a pathway. Bachelor of Technology students who successfully complete their first year of study can expect to gain entry into the Bachelor of Engineering courses with advanced standing for all non-bridging units completed.

Fees and Scholarships

Fees

  • AUD $38,950 - International students estimated 1st year indicative fee 1

Note

1 The 'estimated 1st year indicative fee' is provided as a guide only, and has been calculated based on a typical enrolment of students undertaking the first year of this course. At ECU, you pay for each individual unit you enrol in, not an overall course fee, so the total cost of your course will vary, depending on what units you choose. An indicative fee will be provided with your course offer, however you can use our Course Fee Calculator to estimate the actual amount you'll need to pay. ECU fees are adjusted annually.

Some units require the payment of a fee for incidental goods or services required to complete those units. For more information and the full list of incidental fees for courses and units, visit What are Incidental Fees.

Scholarships

ECU has a scholarship program that provides many opportunities each year to students undertaking studies here.

Find a scholarship

Career Opportunities

Chemical engineers work in a wide range of domains from mineral processing, mining, and oil and gas, through to industries associated with clothing, food, packaging, fertilisers, pharmaceuticals and many other manufacturing and biological processes. In Western Australia, many chemical engineers find career opportunities in the extensive mining, mineral processing, and oil and gas industries that dominate the industrial profile of the state. Chemical engineers play a central role in both the production, refining and down stream processing in these important resource-based industries.

Possible future job titles

Chemical Engineer, Process Engineer, Design Engineer, Plant Engineer, Petrochemical Engineer

Similar courses to consider

  • Bachelor of Technology (Engineering)
    Applicants who do not meet the entrance requirements for this Engineering course should consider applying for a Bachelor of Technology course as a pathway. Bachelor of Technology students who successfully complete their first year of study can expect to gain entry into the Bachelor of Engineering courses with advanced standing for all non-bridging units completed.
  • Bachelor of Engineering Honours/Bachelor of Commerce
  • Bachelor of Technology (Motorsports)
    Applicants who do not meet the entrance requirements for this Engineering course should consider applying for a Bachelor of Technology course as a pathway. Bachelor of Technology students who successfully complete their first year of study can expect to gain entry into the Bachelor of Engineering courses with advanced standing for all non-bridging units completed.

Need some help deciding what to study?

Our future student events include a mix of on-campus and online sessions designed to help you decide what to study at ECU.

Experiences

Facilities

Chemical Engineering Laboratory

Chemical Engineering Lab

Experiences

Facilities

Chemical Engineering Laboratory

Chemical Engineering Lab

Student stories

Sean Johnson

ECU Chemical Engineering student

The lecturers at ECU are very approachable

Chemical Engineering student Sean Johnson says the first year of Engineering gives you the opportunity to consider which discipline is right for you, and there is the option to change.

He also talks about the practical nature of assignments in his course, particularly a recent one where he focused on beer brewing, applying his chemical engineering knowledge and process design and criteria to the task.

Quick guide to uni-speak

    • The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) is the national regulator of qualifications in the Australian education and training system. The AQF defines the essential characteristics, including the required learning outcomes, of the different types of qualifications issued across the higher education systems in Australia.

    • ATAR is the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank, the primary criterion for entry into most undergraduate university courses in Australia. The ATAR is a percentile score which denotes a student's ranking relative to their state-wide peers upon completion of their secondary education.

    • CRICOS is the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students. A CRICOS code is allocated to education institutions (like ECU) who are approved to recruit, enrol and deliver education to overseas students. Courses with a CRICOS code are available to international students who meet the entry requirements.

    • A major, or unit set, is your chosen area of in-depth study in an undergraduate course. It usually involves 8 units of study, or one-third of the units in a 3-year degree. Talk to your Student Information Office if you need help choosing a major subject.

    • Minors include between 4 and 6 study units in a specific discipline. Not all courses require you to complete a minor. Your minor subject doesn't appear on your printed degree (parchment), but is part of your academic transcript.

    • If you're enrolled in 3 or more units in a semester this is considered full-time study. To complete most 3-year degrees studying full-time you'll need to complete 4 units per semester, i.e. 24 units over 3 years.

    • If a course is available to study part-time you can generally expect it to take twice as long to complete as it would in full-time mode. Part-time students are enrolled in 1 or 2 units maximum per semester.

      Note: International students who hold a student visa can only choose the full-time study option for our courses. This is to ensure the course is completed within the duration of the student visa.

    • Most courses start in Semester 1 each year, usually in the last week of February. Some courses can be started in Semester 2 (we call this mid-year). There's a week of Orientation before each semester to help you get used to uni life.

    • A lot of our courses start in Semester 2 each year, usually in the last week of July. We call this mid-year. There's a week of Orientation beforehand to help you get used to uni life.

    • We use a points system to make it easier for you to understand your study progress. Most Bachelors degree study units are allocated 15 credit points. If you're studying a 3-year full-time degree you'll need to successfully complete 360 credit points - that's 24 units x 15 points per unit.

    • These are compulsory units you have to successfully complete as part of your course.

    • An elective is a unit you choose to study that counts towards your course requirements, but isn't compulsory. For some courses we recommend elective units. In some situations, a course coordinator may approve an elective unit as a replacement for a compulsory one.

Quick guide to uni-speak

    • The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) is the national regulator of qualifications in the Australian education and training system. The AQF defines the essential characteristics, including the required learning outcomes, of the different types of qualifications issued across the higher education systems in Australia.

    • ATAR is the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank, the primary criterion for entry into most undergraduate university courses in Australia. The ATAR is a percentile score which denotes a student's ranking relative to their state-wide peers upon completion of their secondary education.

    • CRICOS is the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students. A CRICOS code is allocated to education institutions (like ECU) who are approved to recruit, enrol and deliver education to overseas students. Courses with a CRICOS code are available to international students who meet the entry requirements.

    • A major, or unit set, is your chosen area of in-depth study in an undergraduate course. It usually involves 8 units of study, or one-third of the units in a 3-year degree. Talk to your Student Information Office if you need help choosing a major subject.

    • Minors include between 4 and 6 study units in a specific discipline. Not all courses require you to complete a minor. Your minor subject doesn't appear on your printed degree (parchment), but is part of your academic transcript.

    • If you're enrolled in 3 or more units in a semester this is considered full-time study. To complete most 3-year degrees studying full-time you'll need to complete 4 units per semester, i.e. 24 units over 3 years.

    • If a course is available to study part-time you can generally expect it to take twice as long to complete as it would in full-time mode. Part-time students are enrolled in 1 or 2 units maximum per semester.

      Note: International students who hold a student visa can only choose the full-time study option for our courses. This is to ensure the course is completed within the duration of the student visa.

    • Most courses start in Semester 1 each year, usually in the last week of February. Some courses can be started in Semester 2 (we call this mid-year). There's a week of Orientation before each semester to help you get used to uni life.

    • A lot of our courses start in Semester 2 each year, usually in the last week of July. We call this mid-year. There's a week of Orientation beforehand to help you get used to uni life.

    • We use a points system to make it easier for you to understand your study progress. Most Bachelors degree study units are allocated 15 credit points. If you're studying a 3-year full-time degree you'll need to successfully complete 360 credit points - that's 24 units x 15 points per unit.

    • These are compulsory units you have to successfully complete as part of your course.

    • An elective is a unit you choose to study that counts towards your course requirements, but isn't compulsory. For some courses we recommend elective units. In some situations, a course coordinator may approve an elective unit as a replacement for a compulsory one.

Do you have any questions about the Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical) Honours?

The Important Things

Things you should know about if you're thinking about studying here.

Course Entry

There's more than one admission pathway into an ECU course. It depends on what you've studied already, or your work or life experience.

Fees & Scholarships

Course tuition fees can change, but we can give you an estimate of your costs. If you're eligible, a scholarship or student loan can help too.

Applying

Applying for a course is a fairly simple process, especially if you have scanned copies of qualifications, your resume or other paperwork, ready to upload.

ECU Experience

Starting a course is an exciting and sometimes daunting time, so we make a massive effort to ensure you get all the support you need to have a positive experience.