Bachelor of Engineering Honours Chemical and Bachelor of Business

5 Years On Campus Dual-bachelors Program

University of Newcastle

Program Overview

This double degree at the University of Newcastle is a great choice if you want to combine engineering expertise with business skills—a mix that employers really value. You’ll learn how to design and improve chemical processes while also understanding how organisations run, make decisions, and grow.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1 – Getting the Basics Right
You’ll build a strong foundation in chemistry, maths, and engineering, while also starting with business subjects like accounting and economics. It’s all about understanding both the technical and commercial sides from the beginning.

Year 2 – Core Engineering + Business Understanding
You’ll move into key topics like thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer, alongside subjects such as management and business law. This is where you start connecting engineering work with how businesses operate.

Year 3 – Deeper into Processes & Strategy
You’ll study areas like reaction engineering and separation processes, while also learning finance and leadership. You begin to see how engineering projects are planned, funded, and executed.

Year 4 – Advanced Learning & Innovation
This year focuses on process design, sustainability, and more advanced systems, along with entrepreneurship and innovation. You’ll start thinking like both an engineer and a strategist.

Year 5 – Real-World Application
In your final year, you’ll work on major projects and apply everything you’ve learned in practical, industry-relevant settings—bringing together both your engineering and business knowledge.

Focus Areas (in a string):

Thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, heat and mass transfer, reaction engineering, process design, sustainability, accounting, finance, management, entrepreneurship

Learning Outcomes (in a string):

Design and optimise chemical processes, solve real-world engineering problems, combine technical and business decision-making, manage projects and teams, create efficient and sustainable solutions

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

Accredited engineering qualification aligned with global professional standards, supporting pathways to becoming a recognised professional engineer

Reputation (Employability Rankings):

Highly regarded for strong graduate employment outcomes, with engineering graduates achieving high employability and competitive starting salaries across industries

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

What really makes this degree at the University of Newcastle stand out is how practical it is. You won’t just learn theory—you’ll spend time in engineering labs, pilot-scale plants, and business simulation spaces, applying what you learn to real-world situations. You’ll also be exposed to current industry challenges through research centres focused on areas like energy, sustainability, and advanced manufacturing.

As you move through the program, your experience becomes more hands-on and closely aligned with industry expectations:

Chemical Engineering Pilot Plant & Labs: Work with industrial-style equipment to understand fluid flow, heat transfer, reaction engineering, and separation processes
Process Control & Automation Labs: Learn how to operate and monitor systems similar to those used in real plant control rooms
Advanced Analytical Equipment: Use tools to study material properties and chemical processes in detail
Engineering Software & Tools: Gain experience with industry-relevant software like process simulation tools, MATLAB, and design platforms
Business Simulation Spaces: Use financial and market simulation tools to build decision-making and strategy skills
Research Centres & Institutes: Learn in environments connected to energy and resources research, with access to large-scale demonstration facilities
Group Projects & Design Work: Collaborate on team-based projects that combine engineering design with business strategy
Integrated Learning Spaces: Study in modern campuses like NUspace, designed for interactive and collaborative learning

By the time you graduate, you won’t just understand concepts—you’ll have already applied them in realistic settings, which makes a big difference when stepping into your first job.

Progression & Future Opportunities

By the time you graduate, you’ll have a rare mix of engineering and business skills, which gives you a real edge in the job market. You’ll be ready to step into roles like Chemical Engineer, Process Engineer, Project Engineer, or Business/Operations Analyst, with the flexibility to grow into both technical and leadership positions over time.

What really supports your career journey at the University of Newcastle is everything built around employability:

Dedicated career support: You’ll get help with CVs, interview prep, and access to job opportunities through the university’s career services
Strong graduate outcomes: Newcastle graduates are known for solid employment rates and competitive starting salaries, especially in engineering
Industry-relevant learning: Your degree includes practical projects and is shaped by industry input, so you graduate with skills that employers value
Industry exposure: Through connections with companies in energy, resources, and business sectors, you’ll gain insight into real-world work environments
Globally recognised qualification: Your accredited engineering degree is respected internationally, giving you long-term career flexibility
Wide career scope: You’re not limited to one path—you can work in engineering, consulting, management, or even business strategy roles

Further Academic Progression:

If you want to specialise further or move into senior roles, this degree sets you up well for postgraduate study. You could go on to a master’s in chemical engineering, engineering management, business analytics, or even an MBA. It also opens doors to research pathways like a PhD, or careers in consulting and entrepreneurship if that’s where your interests take you.