Chemical Science and Engineering (300 credits)

Job opportunities and the future

Chemical Science is a broad operational area as chemical competence is of vital importance within many different business areas. Masters of Science in Chemical Science often work with research and development of new products, for example the development of new pharmaceuticals. Graduates may work with everything from molecular design in order to develop an active substance that "cures" without side-effects, to the production of the actual medicine. Material development and environmental issues are other examples of important and interesting fields. In their professional roles, students will cooperate with people from different technical areas, as well as from other professional groups such as economists and marketers. After a few years at work, positions such as Development Manager, Production Manager, Quality Manager or consultant product specialist are possible for graduates.

The programme

The course provides good levels of knowledge in chemistry and natural science subjects as a basis for chemical engineering applications. During the programme students come into contact with KTH research in a different manner. Laboratory work and project tasks could be part of a larger research project and most teachers are also researchers. Masters of Science also need other types of knowledge and students may also choose elective courses such as languages, economics, sustainable development or international affairs. The final two years of the programme will be spent on one of the specialisations available.

Year 1

Year 1 is dominated by courses specific to the Chemical Science programme and by mathematics courses that are common to many of KTH's other programmes. In the first two weeks of the programme there are also voluntary courses in chemistry and mathematics in which school knowledge is reviewed and refreshed. Below are the areas in which courses belong: Chemistry, Chemical engineering, Mathematics and Mechanics.

Introductory Chemistry is the first chemistry course students meet with exciting examples from different parts of chemistry. In the lab students learn to carry out simpler syntheses and analyses in order to gain laboratory routine for future courses and for their future professional lives. This course is intended to provide an overall orientation on the various parts of chemistry and the links between the different chemical science areas. Chemical Equilibria will provide basic knowledge in chemical equilibria theory and also practical experience of using computers for calculations. Organic Chemistry 1 is an introduction to organic chemistry when students learn the answers to such questions as "When does a reaction occur and when does it not occur?” In the lab section basic techniques and the connections between theory and practice are covered.

Introduction to Chemical Engineering provides an overview of this field and of the tasks of a chemical engineer. Through a project students gain insight into the role of a graduate of this course in this professional field as well as training in the independent analysis of problems and evaluation of results.

The Mathematics courses in Year 1 Numbers and Functions, One-variable Analysis, Linear Algebra and Multi-variable Analysis. These provide an introduction to the rest of the mathematics courses as well as knowledge within linear equation systems, vectors, matrix calculation, derivation and integration of one or several variables.

This course provides knowledge on basic, classical mechanical laws and makes the segway between natural sciences and engineering extremely clear. Why do bodies move as they do and what is necessary for them to be in equilibrium?

Year 2

Year 2 is still dominated by the basic courses in chemistry together with other natural scientific subjects and mathematics. Students study Chemistry, Mathematics and Data, Physics and Chemical Engineering.

Chemical Thermodynamics brings basic knowledge of thermodynamics and its applications within chemistry, chemical engineering and biological systems. In Molecular Structure experimental and theoretical methods for determining the structure and characteristics of molecules are covered. Chemical Dynamics explains time-dependent phenomena within chemistry. Much of what the students study in these three courses will be useful in later chemical engineering courses. Organic Chemistry 2 is a direct continuation of the course in Year 1 and deals with the chemical reactions and subject classes that were not covered there.

In Mathematics students learn different methods of solving differential equations. These are used in all real chemical engineering calculations, including when calculating the speed of different chemical reactions.

The Programming Technique and Numerical Methods courses are aimed at providing computer skills so that computers and an understanding of programming becomes a natural part of working. Students also gain knowledge on how computers can be used to formulate and solve different calculation problems.

The Physics course is entitled Electromagnetism and Wave Theory and deals with electrical and magnetic fields, waves and optics.

Courses in Transport Processes and Energy Transformation give an introduction to two basic areas of vital importance to chemical engineering: transport processes i.e. the transfer of impulses, heat and matter, and energy transformation, that deals with the application of the first and second laws of thermodynamics within chemical engineering.

Year 3

In Year 3 students take the last basic courses in the field: Biotechnology, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Sustainable Development and a specific course in Polymer Technology as well as carrying out a Bachelor degree project.

Reaction and Separation Technology provides, together with the courses on Transport Processes and Energy transformation from Year 2, knowledge on how process systems are constructed. Issues discussed include: How long does the reaction take? Which catalysts to choose? How great will the heat loss be or is heat generated so that cooling is necessary? How is the system to be dimensioned for the best results? Last but not least are the essential environmental and economic aspects.

The Biotechnology course brings introductory knowledge of biochemistry, cell biology and an introduction to the role of biotechnology in industrial applications. Microorganisms play a major role in the environment and affect everything. Here students learn about the structure of cells and the chemical composition of living organisms. In addition students read about the structure and function of proteins and on how enzymes can be used as catalysts. Students gain insights into the tools and applications of genetics in, for example, the medical field.

Chemical Measurement Techniques is an integration of analytical-chemical measuring methods with statistical methods for the processing of data. In this course students learn how to plan experiments in order to be able to interpret results in the correct manner. As almost no measurements are totally secure, methods of careful calibration of instruments must be learned. No results can be used unless their level of insecurity is known; consequently knowledge within this area is vital to the work of chemists or chemical engineers. In the Inorganic Chemistry course students learn the most important principles of modern inorganic chemistry – how chemistry uses this knowledge in order to understand what is happening around us, or in our own bodies, where many metal ions carry out important functions.

Polymer Technology with Cellulose Technology is a course that provides knowledge on the characteristics of polymers and overview of paper and cellulose-based materials. It gives an orientation on polymer chemistry – materials characteristics and their connections with molecular structure and material construction and the factors that affect choice of materials in constructions, apparatus and facilities. In this course a great deal of what has been studied in previous years is now applied

Technology for Sustainable Development is a new course that further develops knowledge in chemistry and chemical engineering in order to be able to discuss alternatives aimed at promoting sustainable development. The principles of green chemistry will be used to reduce the use of, or formation of, hazardous substances when designing, manufacturing or using chemical products.

The Bachelor degree project is the final part of Year3. Included in this will be certain teaching hours concerning information searching or method design.

Years 4-5

In Years 4 and 5 students take the Master programme they have selected. At KTH in all Master of Science programmes it is possible to take out a Bachelor of Science degree of 180 credits after three years of study. Students may choose to continue to the Master of Science degree 300 credits within one of the programme's masters courses or take another one or two-year Master degree.

Here students gain the opportunity to learn considerable amounts about molecules and their specific characteristics, everything from theoretical models to development and categorisation of specific molecules, functional material and surfaces. Students gain knowledge on the structure of chemical and biological subjects, for example how and why they function as they do. For specialists in this field there are fairly obvious examples of future employers within the pharmaceutical and medical industries, classical chemical companies as well as energy-related companies especially those working with new methods of energy transformation.

Here students have the chance to develop their ability to select, design and optimise chemical and chemical engineering processes taking into consideration raw materials, quality, economics and, not least, their effects on the environment so that the final product is the best possible. A chemical engineering process may be, for example, the manufacture of shampoo or of environmentally-friendly fuel for cars. Specialists within this field are of interest to energy-related companies, the vehicle industry, companies working with recycling, traditional chemical companies as well as government agencies working with extensive, environment-related issues. In addition a growing labour market within environmental technology is anticipated.

Here students learn all about the development and characterisation of macromolecular materials and products. Students also develop the ability to be able to see the connection between chemical structures and material characteristics. If a mobile telephone, the covering of a penicillin tablet or durable paper is to be developed than it is vital to select the correct material. Specialists within this area are extremely interesting to a broad spectrum of industries, both nationally and internationally, to industries such as paper and forestry and the modern timber industry, the pharmaceutical and medical engineering industries as well as all types of specifically chemical companies.

Master programmes and the Erasmus Mundus

Degree project

The programme is completed with a degree project. This project works as proof positive that the student has fulfilled the requirements of the Master course. Students will apply all the knowledge they have acquired during their period of study at KTH. The degree project is carried out in connection to the Master Programme, most often during Year 5 and is aimed at providing experience of, under realistic conditions, independently planning, implementation and documentation of a task according to good engineering practice. This project may be carried out at KTH, at a company or abroad. Select your degree project carefully – it may be extremely useful when you are applying for your first job!