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Curtin University
Courses Handbook 2014

This handbook contains information for courses and units at Curtin in 2014.
Information for the previous year's courses and units is available at Courses Handbook 2013.

302154 v.2 Master of Chemical Engineering

MChemEng(Curtin)

Course CRICOS Code: 038786C
Registered full-time Duration for International Onshore Students on student visas: 1.5 Years


Course Overview

Master degrees (coursework) prepare students to apply advanced knowledge for professional practice, scholarship and further learning corresponding to AQF level 9 qualifications.


This course provides an advanced professional qualification for graduates particularly in engineering or applied science disciplines (not usually for graduate chemical engineers). Chemical engineering graduates, especially those with honours, should consider enrolling in the Master of Engineering (Chemical Engineering) by research.


Additional Course Expenses

Students may be expected to purchase a number of textbooks and other essential study materials.



Course Entry and Completion Details

Applicants are required to meet University academic and English language entry standards; details are provided at http://futurestudents.curtin.edu.au. Subject to the duration of the course applicants usually require a bachelor degree or equivalent (and may require relevant work experience), bachelor honours degree, graduate certificate or graduate diploma.


Specifically, applicants require a recognised degree in engineering or applied science at honours level, or a recognised degree in engineering, or applied science without honours, but with relevant experience. Applicants without an honours degree will be accepted at the discretion of the Head of Department. Applicants with relevant engineering or a science degree can be accepted at the discretion of the Head of Department, but will be required to complete up to 16 full units over one and a half years of full-time study (or part-time equivalent). Transferring from the Graduate Diploma in Chemical Engineering to this course is allowable subject to the approval of the Head of Department.


Credit for Recognised Learning

Applications for credit towards a course are assessed on an individual basis. Credit reduces the amount of learning required to complete the course and may be granted for formal education qualifications, non-formal learning from non-award programs of study and informal learning through work experiences. Further information can be found at http://futurestudents.curtin.edu.au.


Intermediate Awards

A student who has successfully completed the requirements of an approved intermediate award may apply for graduation in that award subject to approval of Head of School/Department. Fees apply. Intermediate awards approved for this course:


Graduate Diploma in Chemical Engineering


Pathway to Further Study

Graduates may qualify for entry to doctoral degrees. For further details, see the University website http://curtin.edu.au.



Course Organisation

Master degrees (coursework) contain a series of units in a specialised area of study which may include compulsory (core), optional or elective units to cater for student preferences. They may also contain a range of majors/streams for students to choose from.


Units taken will depend upon availability within a particular year, and student enrolment is subject to the approval of the study plan by the Head of Department. The research project may be studied in the summer break and could reduce the course duration to one year.



Duration and Availability

This fee paying course is three semesters full-time or equivalent part-time study. Part-time students are required to complete the course within three calendar years of initial enrolment. Each student will be advised of their individual study plan, which will be subject to the availability and sequencing of units within the program. Two intakes are offered each year in March and August.


Location and delivery Mode


Year Location Period All* Internal Partially Online Internal^ External Fully Online#
2014 Bentley Campus Semester 1   Y      
2014 Bentley Campus Semester 1         Y
2014 Bentley Campus Semester 2   Y      
2014 Bentley Campus Semester 2         Y

The information displayed above refers to study periods and locations where the course is available for first time entry. Students are normally only offered or admitted to a course once.

* The course itself may not be available either solely internally or externally but individual units may be offered in either or both of those modes. Prospective students should contact the Course Coordinator for further information.

^ Course and associated units are offered in this mode permitting International Onshore student enrolment.

# Course and associated units are offered in this online only mode and DO NOT permit International Onshore student enrolment.




Course Structure Hrs/Wk Credit
Year 1 Semester 1
  SELECT OPTIONAL UNITS TO THE TOTAL VALUE OF:   100.0
  100.0
Year 1 Semester 2
302222 v.3   Process Design Project 599 12.0 50.0
  SELECT OPTIONAL UNITS TO THE TOTAL VALUE OF:   50.0
  100.0
Year 2 Semester 1
302226 v.3 *   Research Project 593 5.0 25.0
  OR  
302223 v.3 **   Research Project 591 20.0 100.0
  OR  
302225 v.3 *   Research Project 592 6.0 25.0
  OR  
302227 v.3 *   Research Project 594 5.0 25.0
  OR  
302228 v.3 *   Research Project 595 5.0 25.0
  25.0
Optional Units (No Year Level Specified) Hrs/Wk Credit
302195 v.3   Process Heat Transfer 511 6.0 25.0
302196 v.3   Fluid Mechanics 512 6.0 25.0
302197 v.3   Fluid and Particle Processes 513 5.0 25.0
302198 v.3   Process Control 514 5.5 25.0
302199 v.3   Reaction Engineering 515 8.0 25.0
302200 v.2   ChE 516 Mass Transfer Operations 6.0 25.0
302201 v.3   Risk Management 541 5.0 25.0
302202 v.2   ChE 542 Advanced Separation Processes 5.0 25.0
302208 v.3   Mineral Processing 552 2.0 12.5
302209 v.3   Petroleum Processing 553 3.0 12.5
302214 v.2   ChE 558 Advanced Process Control 3.0 12.5
304767 v.3   Process Plant Engineering 518 5.0 25.0
305374 v.2   Process Economics and Management 519 6.0 25.0
310248 v.2   Mass and Energy Balances 521 5.0 25.0
310755 v.2   Fundamentals of Air Pollution Control 522 3.0 12.5
311183 v.2   Wastewater Treatment 502 3.0 12.5
310754 v.1   ChE 523 Advanced Particle Processes 3.0 12.5
309301 v.2   Special Topics Bioprocessing 571 3.0 12.5
312175 v.2   Thermodynamics 520 2.0 25.0
313617 v.3   Corrosion and Corrosion Prevention in Liquids 500 4.0 25.0
313983 v.2   Corrosion Chemistry 500 3.0 25.0
311335 v.2   Separation Processes 543 4.0 25.0

*    ChE 592, ChE 593, 594, 595 Research Projects must all be completed if one is completed

**    Enrolment is only permitted if 100 credits have been successfully completed




Further Information

For more information about the course, please contact the Faculty of Science and Engineering on telephone (08) 9266 4600, email ssse@curtin.edu.au, or visit our website: http://scieng.curtin.edu.au


Course Structure Disclaimer

Curtin University reserves the right to alter the internal composition of any course to ensure learning outcomes retain maximum relevance. Any changes to the internal composition of a course will protect the right of students to complete the course within the normal timeframe and will not result in additional cost to students through a requirement to undertake additional units.




Handbook Disclaimer

The online handbook is the repository of Curtin University of Technology (“Curtin”) course information. While Curtin makes all reasonable endeavors to keep its online courses handbook up-to-date, information within this website is subject to change from time to time. Curtin reserves the right to change the contents and/or the method of assessment, to change or alter tuition fees of any unit of study, to withdraw/any unit of study or program which it offers, to impose limitations on enrolment in any unit or program, and/or to vary arrangements for any program without notification via the website.

For course overviews and enrolment information please visit our future students website.