Bachelor of Design (Industrial Design)/Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Chemical and Sustainable Process)

5 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Queensland University of Technology

Program Overview

This double degree at Queensland University of Technology blends creative industrial design thinking with advanced chemical and sustainable engineering, preparing you to design real-world products and also engineer the processes that bring them to life sustainably. It’s a strong fit for students who want to combine innovation, problem-solving, and environmental impact into one career pathway.

You’ll study across QUT’s two main Brisbane campuses — Gardens Point (Engineering) in the CBD and Kelvin Grove (Design) — giving you exposure to both industry-focused engineering labs and world-class creative studios.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1

In the first year, you build a foundation in both design thinking and engineering science. You’ll explore how products are conceptualised, modelled, and manufactured, while also developing core scientific understanding in chemistry, physics, and mathematical methods relevant to engineering systems. Studio-based design work runs alongside introductory engineering principles, helping you immediately connect creativity with technical feasibility.

Year 2

Year 2 deepens your technical and creative capability. You move into more structured engineering studies such as thermodynamics, materials science, and process fundamentals, while continuing industrial design studios focused on product development and user-centred design. This is where you start linking how materials behave with how users interact with designed products.

Year 3

In Year 3, your studies become more advanced and applied. Engineering coursework shifts toward chemical process systems, reaction engineering, and sustainability-focused design of industrial processes, while design studios challenge you to develop more complex, market-ready product solutions. You begin working on integrated projects that combine engineering efficiency with design innovation.

Year 4

This year focuses heavily on real-world application. You engage in advanced chemical and sustainable process engineering topics alongside professional-level industrial design projects, often involving industry-style briefs. You’ll also begin working on larger integrated projects that simulate professional engineering and design environments, strengthening your ability to manage complex systems and user needs together.

Year 5

In your final year, you complete capstone projects in both design and engineering. These projects typically involve solving real industry problems — from sustainable manufacturing systems to innovative product design solutions. You graduate with a strong portfolio that demonstrates both technical engineering capability and creative design expertise.

Focus Areas

Sustainable chemical processes, industrial product design, materials engineering, systems thinking, product innovation, environmental engineering, and human-centred design integration.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates are equipped to design sustainable products and engineer efficient chemical processes, combining creativity with advanced technical problem-solving. You’ll develop the ability to work across design and engineering disciplines, preparing for roles in innovation-driven industries focused on sustainability and product development.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The engineering component is aligned with Australian engineering accreditation standards through Engineers Australia, ensuring graduates meet professional requirements for engineering practice in Australia and internationally.

Reputation (Employability & Rankings)

Queensland University of Technology is widely recognised for its strong industry connections, applied learning model, and graduate employability outcomes, particularly in design and engineering fields. It consistently performs well in global rankings such as QS World University Rankings for employer reputation and graduate outcomes.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At Queensland University of Technology, this double degree is built around hands-on, industry-connected learning from the very first year. You won’t just study theory — you’ll actively design products, test materials, and work with real engineering systems across QUT’s engineering precinct at Gardens Point Campus and design studios at Kelvin Grove Campus. The program integrates advanced labs, prototyping spaces, and sustainability-focused engineering environments so you graduate with real, job-ready capability in both design and chemical process engineering:

Design Studios (Kelvin Grove Campus) : Purpose-built creative studios where you develop industrial design concepts, refine user-centred products, and build professional design portfolios through iterative studio projects.
Engineering Laboratories (Gardens Point Campus) : Chemical and process engineering labs where you work with thermodynamics systems, reaction testing setups, and sustainable process simulation equipment.
Prototyping & Fabrication Spaces : Hands-on makerspaces with 3D printing, CAD/CAM tools, laser cutting, and rapid prototyping equipment used to turn design concepts into functional models.
CAD & Digital Engineering Tools : Industry-standard software such as computer-aided design and modelling tools used for product development, simulation, and engineering analysis.
Sustainability & Process Engineering Facilities : Access to systems focused on chemical process design, energy efficiency, and sustainable manufacturing research environments.
Interdisciplinary Project Work : Collaborative group projects combining engineering and design students to solve real-world problems such as sustainable product systems and industrial process optimisation.
Industry-Linked Projects & Capstones : Final-year integrated projects often developed in partnership with industry, focusing on real product innovation and chemical engineering challenges.
Research Centres & Institutes : Engagement with QUT research environments such as the Institute for Future Environments and engineering research facilities supporting sustainability and advanced manufacturing.
Libraries & Learning Resources : Access to QUT’s modern library system supporting engineering databases, design research, technical standards, and innovation resources.

This combination of studio creativity, lab-based engineering, and industry collaboration ensures you graduate with both a strong design portfolio and deep technical engineering experience.

Official facilities information: Queensland University of Technology (QUT) Facilities Overvie

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the Queensland University of Technology Bachelor of Design (Industrial Design) / Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Chemical and Sustainable Process) are well-prepared for careers that sit at the intersection of innovation, sustainability, and advanced manufacturing. You’ll be equipped to work across both creative and technical industries, moving confidently between product design and chemical engineering environments.

Typical career pathways include industrial designer, process engineer, sustainability engineer, and product development engineer.

With this dual expertise:

QUT Career Services & Support: Dedicated career development programs, resume and interview preparation, and employer networking events help students transition directly into industry roles.
Work Integrated Learning (WIL): Embedded internships, industry projects, and real client briefs give you direct exposure to engineering and design workplaces before graduation.
Industry Partnerships: QUT maintains strong connections with engineering firms, manufacturing companies, and design studios across Australia, supporting project collaborations and graduate employment pathways.
Professional Recognition (Accreditation Value): The engineering honours component is aligned with Engineers Australia requirements, strengthening long-term global employability as a qualified engineer.
Graduate Employability Outcomes: QUT is widely recognised for strong graduate employability in Australia, with engineering and design graduates consistently entering roles in high-demand technical and creative industries.
Salary Outlook (Australia – indicative ranges): Graduates in chemical/process engineering and industrial design typically enter roles ranging from approximately AUD $65,000–$95,000+ per year, with higher growth potential as experience and specialisation increase (varies by role and industry).

Further Academic Progression:
After completing this double degree, graduates can pursue advanced study such as a Master of Engineering, Master of Design, Master of Sustainable Systems, or specialised postgraduate research (PhD). This opens pathways into advanced research roles, innovation leadership, and highly specialised engineering or design careers.