Bachelor of Science in Chemical and Water Destillation

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Sharjah

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Chemical and Water Desalination Engineering at the University of Sharjah is a unique 4-year engineering degree that integrates traditional chemical engineering fundamentals with specialised training in water treatment and desalination technologies. It suits students aiming for careers in chemical processing, water treatment, environmental sustainability, energy and industrial sectors, with a focus on solving global water security challenges.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1

In the first year, students build foundational engineering knowledge and science skills through Introduction to Chemical and Water Desalination Engineering, General Chemistry I & II, Water Resources and Management, and Water Chemistry and Analysis, alongside basic mathematics, physics, and communication requirements that prepare them for advanced technical study.

Year 2

The second year deepens engineering fundamentals with modules such as Chemical Thermodynamics I & II, Applied Fluid Mechanics, Principles of Heat Transfer, and Mass Transfer and Separation Processes, enabling students to understand energy balances, fluid behavior and separation techniques central to chemical and desalination systems.

Year 3

In year three, students advance into specialist courses including Membrane Technology, Instrumentation Analysis for Chemical Engineering, Process Modeling and Simulation, and Principles of Water Treatment Technologies, alongside lab courses like Transport Processes Lab and Chemical Reaction and Membrane Tech. Lab, which build experimental and analytical competence in desalination-related technologies.

Year 4

The final year culminates with Plant Design and Cost Analysis, Process Control and Simulation, Membrane Separation Processes, professional training through Practical Training I & II, and a capstone Senior Design Project I & II, allowing students to integrate theory and practice in solving real-world engineering challenges.

Focus areas (in a string):

Chemical engineering fundamentals, water chemistry and treatment, desalination processes, membrane technology, separation processes, process design and simulation

Learning outcomes (in a string):

Apply chemical engineering principles to water and desalination systems, conduct experiments in labs safely, model and simulate processes, design treatment plants, and solve real-world engineering problems

Professional alignment (accreditation):

Accredited by the UAE Ministry of Education / Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA) and aligned with industry expectations for chemical and water engineers in the Gulf region

Reputation (employability rankings):

The University of Sharjah is a well-established UAE public university with recognised engineering programs; this specialised degree supports employability in chemical, water treatment, environmental and industrial sectors in the UAE and globally.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The program's applied learning is built on the following key components:

Specialized Chemical Engineering Laboratories: Students use core labs such as the Chemical Engineering Unit Operations Laboratory, Process Control and Instrumentation Laboratory, and the Chemical Reaction Engineering Laboratory.
Dedicated Water Desalination Laboratory: A central facility is the Water Desalination and Treatment Laboratory, which houses pilot-scale units for reverse osmosis (RO), multi-stage flash (MSF) distillation, multi-effect distillation (MED), and membrane-based desalination and wastewater treatment processes.
Industry-Standard Process Simulation Software: Students are trained in essential engineering software, including Aspen HYSYS or Aspen Plus for chemical process and desalination plant simulation, MATLAB/Simulink for control systems, and Water Treatment Plant Design software.
Capstone Senior Design Project: A major senior graduation project requires student teams to design an integrated chemical process or a complete water desalination/treatment plant, incorporating energy efficiency, economic analysis, and environmental impact assessment.
Mandatory Practical Training (Internship): Students must complete a summer Practical Training course, involving supervised work experience in industries such as desalination plants (e.g., DEWA, ADWEA), petrochemical refineries, chemical manufacturers, or environmental consulting firms in the UAE and GCC.

Progression & Future Opportunities

University of Sharjah's Bachelor of Science in Chemical and Water Desalination Engineering uniquely combines chemical engineering principles with specialized desalination technologies, preparing graduates for critical roles in UAE's water security and energy sectors through a 131-credit-hour curriculum. This addresses the nation's position as the world's second-largest desalinated water producer while meeting the shortage of qualified engineers for desalination plants.

Progression & Future Opportunities: The program delivers industry-ready expertise:

Two practical training courses (I: 1 CH seminars/field trips; II: 2 CH, 20+ hours/week over 16 weeks) provide real-world desalination plant experience.
Senior Design Projects I & II (6 CH total) develop complete plant design prototypes, research findings, and economic analysis using tools like ASPEN.
Core labs cover transport processes, unit operations, membrane tech, reaction engineering, and full desalination systems.
Technical electives (6 CH) like hybrid desalination, renewable energy desalination, membrane distillation, and process safety align with UAE's sustainability goals.
Career paths include oil/gas, petrochemicals, energy, water treatment, desalination operations, and plant design across government/private sectors.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates pursue MSc/PhD programs in chemical engineering, water desalination, environmental engineering, or renewable energy worldwide, leveraging advanced coursework in membrane separation, thermal system design, process modeling (MATLAB/HYSYS), and reaction engineering.