# Study guide

**Source**: https://studiekiezer.ugent.be/2026/en/afstudeerrichting/EMCHEM
**Parent**: https://www.ugent.be/ea/en/education/study-programmes

# Master of Science in Chemical Engineering

By taking the Master of Science in Chemical Engineering you will learn how to implement a chemical reaction at a large scale. Circularity, sustainability, safety and the environment, e.g., the optimal usage of the energy required in a chemical production process, are key aspects. Graduates find jobs in the chemical industry which is very well represented in Belgium, as well as in scientific research and public services.

EUR-ACE® Master (EURopean ACcredited Engineering Master)

The EUR-ACE label was accredited to this programme by the Commission des titres d’ingénieur (CTI), under the auspices of the European Network for Accreditation of Engineering Education (ENAEE).

EUR-ACE® is a framework and accreditation system that provides a set of standards that identifies high-quality engineering degree programmes in Europe and abroad.

[www.enaee.eu](https://studiekiezer.ugent.be/2026/en/afstudeerrichting/www.enaee.eu)

2026-2027
2025-2026
2024-2025
2023-2024
2022-2023
2021-2022
2020-2021

[Enrol](https://oasis.ugent.be/oasis-web/registratie?target=inschrijven&aj=2026&arCode=EMCHEM)

Master's Programme

2 year 120 credits

Faculty of Engineering and Architecture

English

[download](https://studiekiezer.ugent.be/infobrochure/en/EMCHEM/2026) 
brochure

[contact](https://studiekiezer.ugent.be/2026/en/afstudeerrichting/EMCHEM/starten#contactgegevensOpleiding)

About the programme

Programme summary

Find out more

Off to a good start

After graduation

## What

Starting from a fundamental understanding of the reaction itself, the transport phenomena and physico-chemical properties, production processes are designed, constructed and optimised. The scope of the Chemical Engineering programme ranges from the micro-scale of the chemical reaction, and the mesoscale of the reactor and separation units to the macro scale of the entire process. Through electives, our students are given the chance to tailor the curriculum to their interests, either by means of a broadening or a deepening scope. Course units are either taught by recognised researchers in their field or by guest lecturers from the industry, introducing the necessary practical insights, particularly in chemical process design and process safety.

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## Remarks

The Faculty of Engineering and Architecture (FEA) offers most of its Engineering programmes at Master’s level in English. This underlines the international ambition of the faculty, as well as the importance of an international education and multiple language skills for students.
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## For whom

The admission requirements may vary. Depending on your prior education, you can either enrol directly or there may be additional requirements.

Take a look at the admission requirements

## Structure

The Master of Science in Chemical Engineering comprises two years (120 ECTS). General mandatory course units (72 ECTS) focus on the key aspects of the programme, such as:

- Chemical Reactors
- Chemical Kinetics
- Unit Operations
- Chemical Process Design
- Polymer Reaction Engineering
- Process Safety and Control

Elective course units of a deepening and broadening nature (36 ECTS) allow the students to tailor their curriculum to their own interests. Work placements (both in academia as well as in industry) can be recognized as an elective. Pending approval by the Programme Committee, any course unit available in Ghent University’s education portfolio can be taken as an elective. The Master’s dissertation (24 ECTS) concludes the programme and exposes the student to the ongoing research and innovation at Ghent University.

## Labour Market

As a Chemical Engineering graduate, you typically find employment in the chemical process industry. In addition, there are various career opportunities in the polymer, textile, food, pharmaceutical and environmental sanitation industry, where chemical transformations are implemented in the manufacturing process. Our graduates typically supervise a team responsible for (chemical) production and focuses on the improvement and innovation of processes and products. Other opportunities arise in engineering companies where you will be responsible for the design, construction and start-up of new production units. Furthermore, equipment design and construction companies employ many chemical engineers. Last but not least, universities and research institutes also recruit chemical engineers for academic positions. In short, our graduates awaits a bright future in the modern, diverse and international chemical industry which is strongly anchored in (the extended vicinity of) our region.

#### [Study programme quality](#kwaliteitszorg_collapsible)

## Quality Assurance

At Ghent University, we strive to educate people who dare to think about the challenges of tomorrow. For that purpose, we provide education that is embedded in **six strategic objectives**: *Think Broadly, Keep Researching, Cultivate Talent, Contribute, Extend Horizons, Opt for Quality.
\*Ghent University continuously focuseson quality assurance and quality culture. The Ghent University's **quality assurance system** offers information on each study programme’s unique selling points, and on its strengths and weaknesses with regard to quality assurance.

**More information:**

[Ghent University's Education Objectives](https://www.ugent.be/en/ghentuniv/principles/educational-strategy/education-vision)

[Quality Assurance at Ghent University](https://www.ugent.be/en/ghentuniv/principles/educational-strategy/qualityassurance.htm)

## Unique Selling Points

The Education Quality Board has recognized that the view of the work field, the alumni and international peers is firmly and structurally embedded in the program. Through a range of recurrent initiatives and processes, the program succeeds in involving external stakeholders in education (policy) and educational quality assurance.
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Among others, the above is based on the following points highlighted by the programme committee:

1. **Program**: a wide range of opportunities to build knowledge and/or skills in different fields according to the student's interests and needs.
2. **Good contacts with industry**: company visits, professors with industrial background, company project and master's theses.
3. **Well-equipped infrastructure**: a variety of bench and pilot-scale labs for steam cracking, catalysis, polymers and analytical techniques and a strong computing infrastructure (both in-house and access to supercomputer).
4. M**ultidisciplinarity**: around a core carried by professors from the MaTCh department, there is an input of expertise from other fields by professors from other departments.
5. **Final competencies**: strong fundamental mathematical and scientific basis to problem-solve thinking, making the students highly desired in both industry and research institutes.

## Strengths

The Education Quality Board recognized:

- the commitment to acquiring high-level scientific and academic knowledge, skills and attitudes;
- the input of the working field into the educational programme
- the focus on sustainability and addressing social challenges in the renewed program

In line with the above, the programme committee highlights the following points:

1. **Assessment**: students appreciate being well-informed about the form and content of assessments so they know clearly what to expect while studying.
2. **Subject experts**: classes are taught by internationally renowned professors in their respective fields.
3. **Student-teacher interaction**: connection with students through representation of student association MaChT on the program committee, providing additional contact opportunities between students and those who support the program. This provides initial, faster feedback on top of formal teaching evaluations.
4. **Master thesis supervision**: each master thesis student is provided with all the necessary experimental and computational infrastructure and a personal supervisor who is a specialist in the subject.
5. **Room for project work and practical experience**: the program alternates between lectures, project work, exercise classes and lab work.

## Challenges

The Education Quality Boardmainly confirmed the working points as identified by the programme committee, e.g.,:

1. **Internationalization**: increase visibility to potential foreign students for the English-language master's program, further optimization of the procedure for incoming and outgoing students.
2. **Continuity of practical courses**: A point of attention are the practical courses taught by professors with main activity in industry, with a maximum appointment for three years.
3. **Balance between industry and research**: maintain the balance between expansion of industry practice-oriented topics (e.g., increased focus on process safety and design) and research techniques necessary for academic careers.

## Accreditation

This study programme is accredited by the Accreditation Organization of the Netherlands and Flanders (Dutch: NVAO). Accreditation was extended following the positive outcome of the institutional review in 2022. Programme quality was validated by a quality review, i.e. a screening of the Education Monitor by the Education Quality Board. The Quality Assurance Resolution (in Dutch) can be found [**here**](http://www.borgingsbesluiten.ugent.be/EA/Borgingsbesluit Chemical Engineering.pdf).

This information was last updated on 14/02/2023.
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In case of questions or suggestions with regard to the publicly available information, please contact the study programme.