Chemical Engineering (180 credits)
Job opportunities and the future
As Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, job opportunities include everything from research in laboratory environments to large-scale industrial manufacturing. Pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs, paper and paint are some of the business areas in which chemical engineers work. Other areas include water and energy plants, government agencies and consultancy companies who all need chemical engineers. Graduates of this course are currently working as product specialists, process engineers, environmental consultants, project managers, quality and environmental managers.
The programme
Project work is an important element of the chemical engineering course. Students learn how to solve problems in project groups, how to plan and move operations forward and how results are to be presented to the relevant people. Theoretical parts of the course are complemented with a number of practical exercises in the lab, on computers and in seminars. In the first year several chemistry courses are studied. Chemical engineering plays a dominant role in the second year while the third year consists of continuation courses in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Environmental Protection. Issues are dealt with in project form using real problems experienced by the relevant business/industry.
Specialisations
The elective courses allow specialisation that creates individual course profiles. Environmental, Energy, Biotechnology or Modern Materials are possible profiles while breadth can be obtained through courses in, for example, languages, economics, law or philosophy. On graduation an exciting professional life is waiting, or students may also choose to study at Master level in Sweden or abroad or carry on at KTH towards a Master of Science.
Year 1
Two weeks before ordinary class schedules begin, introductory courses in Mathematics and Chemistry are held. These courses review the most important school level knowledge and participation is voluntary. Generally older students attend these introduction courses.
The first course inYear1 is IT, Engineering and Engineering Methods (INFOMET) in order for students to learn something of the tools an engineer needs. Students work with computers, searching for information and presenting results. In the INFOMET course the basics of project working are also provided, projects being a work form very commonly used in working and academic life. Groups of students work together with a chemistry-related task while supervised by a teacher.
Mathematics will provide the basis necessary for the chemical engineering subjects. By students solving real problems with modern computer instruments, mathematics gains a practical, reality-based connection.
The course entitled General and Physical Chemistry expands and extends knowledge of chemistry and includes Stoichiometry, Thermodynamics and Chemical Equilibria. Students are tested on this course both with continual assessment and with various independent assignments. Laboratory exercises illustrate what is described in lectures.
In Organic Chemistry knowledge of how organic compounds react is studied. Laboratory exercises see students planning and implementing organic syntheses.
Within Analytical Chemistry, physical and chemical characteristics are utilised in order to find out how much of a substance is present in a sample. In the lab students become familiar with the different methods of analysis.
At the end of Year 1 the first course in Chemical Engineering is undertaken, an applied subject dealing with chemical manufacturing on a large scale. This first course covers flows and heat transport. Students learn, for example, to dimension pumps and heat exchangers for chemical processes.
Year 2
In Year 2 Chemical Engineering courses continue. What apparatus is necessary? How is the reactor to be designed? How much heat must be added? Students can answer all these questions after this course. During laboratory work students build up and study chemical processes on a small scale. Students also try out the larger-scale apparatus.
Mathematical Statistics provides a statistical foundation and explains how chemical engineers should set up their research projects in order to gain as much information as possible. Students apply their knowledge to experiment planning in the parallel laboratory course in Chemical Engineering.
It is vital for a chemical engineer to know how chemicals affect nature. The Role of the Chemical Engineer in Sustainable Development is a course that covers ecological sustainability, sustainable development and chemical health risks.
The Biotechnology course takes up the structure and function of cells, proteins and enzymes. The basics of how microorganisms are managed in a laboratory is also covered.
How to guide and regulate chemical processes is learned in the Electricity, Measurement and Automatic Control course. In laboratory exercises students work with some measurement applications.
The course in Business Studies deals with a company's finances, organisation and context. During this course students establish a business plan.
In Year 2 students begin to create their own educational profiles by choosing two elective courses.
Year 3
In the Environmental Technology course students learn about technical measures to prevent or reduce emissions to air, soil and water. Waste management and the opportunities of restoring polluted environments are also covered. A project is carried out in which environmental activities at a company are studied.
Analytical Chemistry 2 provides knowledge on the application of instrumental analysis methods and sampling. In the lab students make a special study of an analysis method in groups and design a lab exercise for other student groups.
In Chemical Engineering 3 there is further training in system thought which is one of the chemical engineer’s strongest aspects. A project aimed at solving problems from real companies will be undertaken this year covering technical, environmental and financial aspects.
In the course entitled Management, Group and Organisational Development students learn about leadership and organisations and how groups function. Experienced-based exercises with project groups are used in the parallel course in Chemical Engineering. Students gain access to tools necessary for their work and in order to lead change and improvement activities in companies.
In Year 3 there are another two elective courses.
Specialisations
During the course, 24 credits are reserved for elective courses in order to provide students with a chance to individually profile their qualifications. In-depth studies are available within any part of Chemistry or Chemical Engineering. It is also possible to broaden the course through studies of languages, economics or philosophy.
The range on offer at KTH is wide and it is also possible to study elective courses at other universities or university colleges. Some examples of elective courses that are popular among students include Hydrochemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Ecological Chemistry, Fuel Cells and Technical English.
Degree project
The programme is concluded with a degree project of 15 credits (equivalent of approximately 10 weeks of study). Normally students carry out their degree projects in pairs. The aim is for students to use and demonstrate the knowledge and skills they have acquired during their studies. This requires the students to be able to use good engineering practices and also to be able to report on their work in a professional manner. Students are themselves responsible for identifying suitable degree projects. The aim is that they carry out this project within business/industry or in the public sector. Students are afforded the opportunity to make valuable contacts and build up a network to use in their future professional careers. The degree project is generally experienced as fun as well as stimulating and brings many challenges and high level quality requirements from both the School and the employer. A good degree project provides the preconditions for success as an engineer.
Continued studies
Graduates enjoy several opportunities for continued studies. They may choose to continue their studies on a one or two-year Master programme (60-120 credits) – there are many to choose from at KTH. These are taught through the medium of English and are open to international students which enables exciting international contacts. Students may also choose to apply to join the final two years of a Master of Science in Engineering programme within the same or a closely-related engineering field (often this requires additional courses in order to qualify). Contact a student counsellor for more information. These courses normally cover 120-150 credits (2-2.5 years of study).
