Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)(Chemical Engineering) / Arts

5 Years On Campus Dual-bachelors Program

University of New South Wales

Program Overview

University of New South Wales’s Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Chemical Engineering) / Arts is a dual-degree program that combines advanced chemical engineering training with the breadth of humanities, languages, or social sciences. It is ideal for students who want to develop strong technical engineering expertise while also gaining broader critical thinking, communication, and global perspective skills.

Students study chemical engineering systems, thermodynamics, and process design alongside arts disciplines such as humanities, social sciences, or languages, preparing for diverse and interdisciplinary career pathways.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1

In the first year, students build foundational knowledge in both engineering and arts disciplines through subjects such as Chemistry for Engineers, Engineering Mathematics, and introductory Arts courses in humanities or social sciences. This stage develops core scientific understanding, analytical thinking, and communication skills while introducing engineering principles and broader academic perspectives.

Year 2

Year two focuses on strengthening core chemical engineering knowledge while continuing Arts study. Engineering subjects such as Fluid Mechanics, Thermodynamics, and Engineering Design are combined with Arts units that develop critical thinking, writing, and contextual analysis skills. Students begin to integrate technical and human-centred approaches to problem-solving.

Year 3

In the third year, students advance into more specialised chemical engineering topics including Reaction Engineering, Separation Processes, and Materials Science, while continuing Arts studies in chosen disciplines. The combination enhances both technical depth and interdisciplinary understanding of engineering in global and societal contexts.

Year 4

Year four focuses on advanced chemical engineering systems and professional development through subjects such as Process Control, Transport Phenomena, and Engineering Design Project, alongside continued Arts electives. Students engage in more complex engineering analysis and interdisciplinary learning experiences.

Year 5

In the final year, students complete a major Chemical Engineering Thesis or Capstone Project and advanced Arts coursework. This year emphasises independent research, engineering innovation, and the integration of technical and humanities perspectives to solve complex real-world problems.

Focus Areas

Chemical engineering systems, process design, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, reaction engineering, materials science, humanities, social sciences, communication, interdisciplinary engineering, systems thinking.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates will be able to design and analyse chemical engineering systems while also applying critical thinking and communication skills from arts disciplines. Students develop strong problem-solving, interdisciplinary reasoning, research capability, and the ability to address complex engineering and societal challenges.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

This dual degree is aligned with pathways toward professional engineering accreditation in Australia, preparing graduates for accredited engineering practice through further postgraduate or professional engineering qualifications.

Reputation (Employability & Rankings)

University of New South Wales is consistently ranked among the world’s top engineering universities and is widely recognised for excellence in both engineering and humanities education. Its graduates are highly regarded for their technical expertise combined with strong communication and interdisciplinary thinking skills.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At University of New South Wales, the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Chemical Engineering) / Arts integrates intensive engineering practice with interdisciplinary learning, giving students strong real-world exposure to both technical and social dimensions of engineering. Students build practical capability through laboratory experimentation, engineering design studios, industry-informed projects, and arts-based critical inquiry, all within a research-active and innovation-driven university environment. The program is structured to help students apply chemical engineering knowledge while also developing communication, ethical reasoning, and global awareness through hands-on and collaborative learning experiences:

Chemical Engineering Teaching Laboratories : Students conduct experiments in thermodynamics, reaction engineering, fluid mechanics, and separation processes to understand real industrial chemical systems.
Engineering Design and Capstone Projects : Team-based projects simulate real-world chemical engineering and product/system design challenges, integrating technical and creative problem-solving.
Arts and Humanities Learning Environments : Students engage in discussion-based classes, writing workshops, and critical analysis tasks that develop communication, ethical reasoning, and contextual thinking.
Advanced Engineering Simulation Software : Students use industry-standard modelling tools for process design, chemical system simulation, and engineering analysis.
Interdisciplinary Project Work : Combined engineering and arts projects encourage students to solve complex global and societal problems using both technical and human-centred approaches.
Industry-Informed Engineering Practice : Learning activities are aligned with real chemical engineering and professional practice expectations through applied project work and design thinking.
Research-Active Learning Environment : Students are exposed to cutting-edge engineering and humanities research, particularly in sustainability, systems engineering, and global development contexts.
Collaborative Group Learning : Students work in multidisciplinary teams, building leadership, teamwork, and communication skills essential for modern engineering careers.
Digital Learning Platforms and Academic Resources : Access to engineering databases, arts research materials, scientific journals, and online learning systems supports both disciplines.
Engineering and Arts Libraries and Resources : Extensive academic collections support both technical engineering study and humanities-based research and analysis.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Chemical Engineering) / Arts at University of New South Wales are uniquely positioned for careers that combine technical engineering expertise with strong communication, critical thinking, and global awareness. This dual-degree structure opens pathways into both traditional chemical engineering roles and broader interdisciplinary careers in policy, consulting, sustainability, and international industries.

Graduates commonly pursue roles such as Chemical Engineer, Process Engineer, Sustainability Consultant, Policy Analyst (technical sectors), or Engineering Project Coordinator across energy, manufacturing, government, and global development organisations:

UNSW Engineering & Arts Career Support Services : Students access tailored career counselling, internship placement support, employer networking events, CV/interview preparation, and professional mentoring across both disciplines.
Industry-Connected Engineering Education : Engineering learning is closely aligned with real-world chemical engineering practice through design projects and industry-informed problem solving.
Strong Graduate Employability Reputation : UNSW graduates are highly regarded by employers in Australia and internationally for their technical strength combined with communication and analytical skills.
Professional Engineering Accreditation Pathway : The engineering component provides a pathway toward accredited professional engineering qualifications required for chartered engineering practice in Australia.
Global and Interdisciplinary Career Advantage : The combination of engineering and arts strengthens adaptability for careers in international organisations, consulting, and policy-driven technical roles.
Research and Innovation Environment : Students benefit from exposure to research-led teaching in engineering systems, sustainability, and social impact of technology.
Industry Partnerships Across Engineering and Public Sectors : UNSW’s strong connections with engineering, energy, government, and global organisations support applied learning and professional development.
Transferable Leadership and Communication Skills : Graduates develop advanced communication, critical thinking, and teamwork skills valuable across technical and non-technical careers.

Salary outcomes vary depending on industry and role, but engineering graduates with interdisciplinary qualifications generally benefit from strong employability and long-term career flexibility in both technical and strategic sectors.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing this degree, graduates may progress into Master of Engineering (Chemical), Master of Engineering Science, Master of Environmental Engineering, or other accredited postgraduate engineering qualifications required for professional engineering registration in Australia. Students may also pursue research pathways such as a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) or PhD in Chemical Engineering, Sustainability, Public Policy, or interdisciplinary engineering fields.