Master of Philosophy (Chemical Engineering)

2 Years On Campus Masters Program

Curtin University Perth

Program Overview

The Master of Philosophy (Chemical Engineering) at Curtin University is a two-year, full-time research degree designed for students who want to develop advanced research capability in chemical engineering through a substantial, independently conducted thesis. At least two-thirds of the program is research-based, with students working under academic supervision to investigate an original problem and produce a thesis that makes a substantial contribution to knowledge or understanding in their chosen field.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: The program is primarily centred on establishing and progressing an individual Chemical Engineering research project, rather than completing a conventional set of coursework units. Students identify a research topic and potential supervisor, develop their research direction, undertake the investigation and build the skills required to conduct independent research; Curtin does not currently publish a fixed list of Year 1 subject/module names for this MPhil.

Year 2: Students continue and complete their supervised research project, analyse and interpret their findings, and prepare the final research thesis for examination. The thesis must demonstrate the student's capacity to conceive, design and complete independent research and provide a substantial original contribution to chemical engineering knowledge; no fixed Year 2 coursework units are listed by Curtin.

Focus Areas

Chemical engineering research, independent research methodology, original investigation, process and engineering research, research analysis, thesis development and advanced scholarly research.

Learning Outcomes

Independent research capability, ability to conceive and design a research project, advanced investigation and analysis skills, capacity to contribute original knowledge to chemical engineering, and the ability to communicate research findings through a substantial thesis.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

Curtin states that professional membership eligibility may be available depending on the student's area of specialisation; the MPhil page does not state that the specific degree itself carries professional accreditation from Engineers Australia or IChemE.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

Curtin's WA School of Mines: Minerals, Energy and Chemical Engineering states that Curtin ranks in the global top 100 for Chemical Engineering in the Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2025, providing a strong research reputation in the discipline.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Master of Philosophy (Chemical Engineering) at Curtin University Perth is strongly research-focused, with at least two-thirds of the program dedicated to research and the main outcome being an original research thesis completed under the guidance of a supervisor and associate supervisor(s). Students can build hands-on research capability through Curtin’s Resources and Chemistry Precinct, which provides specialised laboratory and analytical facilities relevant to chemical, minerals, energy and resources research. Curtin also provides research students with access to digital research tools including MATLAB and Simulink, NVivo, Web of Science and research-data resources, while the university’s eResearch environment supports advanced computational and data-driven research. Key opportunities and facilities include:

Independent chemical engineering research: Students undertake a substantial research project culminating in a thesis that demonstrates the ability to conceive, design and complete independent research and make an original contribution to knowledge.
Resources and Chemistry Precinct: Curtin’s state-of-the-art chemistry facilities support research across chemical, minerals, energy and resources sectors, providing an important research environment for students working in related areas.
Analytical instrumentation: Available facilities include GC-FID, HPLC, ion chromatography, NMR spectroscopy, spectrofluorometry, atomic absorption spectrometers, CHN analysis and particle-size analysis, giving researchers access to advanced analytical techniques.
Computational research: Curtin provides campus-wide access to MATLAB and Simulink, with additional products from MathWorks and self-paced training available to students.
Research data and analysis tools: Research students can access NVivo, Web of Science, EndNote and other digital research resources for analysing information, managing references and supporting academic research.
High-performance computing: Researchers can access the Pawsey Supercomputing Centre, which provides supercomputing, cloud services, data, visualisation and training capabilities for computationally intensive research.
Research skills development: The Graduate Research Advanced Skills Program (GRASP) provides higher-degree research students with workshops, seminars, writing groups and online resources covering critical thinking, research, reading and academic writing.
Research collaboration: The Curtin-ChemCentre Alliance brings Curtin’s research expertise together with ChemCentre, with analytical laboratories housed within the Resources and Chemistry Precinct and collaborative research spanning areas including minerals, environmental contaminants and chemical science.
Library and research study facilities: The TL Robertson Library at Curtin Perth provides individual and group study spaces, computer areas, study rooms, large tables, booths and an assistive technology room.
Chemical research environment: Curtin’s chemistry facilities include specialised areas for chemical synthesis, computational chemistry, corrosion science, minerals and materials chemistry, spectroscopy and laser chemistry, creating opportunities for research across multiple chemical-engineering-related fields.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Master of Philosophy (Chemical Engineering) at Curtin University Perth is designed around independent research, giving graduates the opportunity to build advanced research, analytical and problem-solving expertise that can support careers in chemical engineering, industrial research and technology development. Because the research topic is developed with an academic supervisor, graduates can also position their expertise toward specialised areas of chemical engineering and industry-focused research. Curtin identifies Chemical Engineering career areas including chemical engineering, process engineering, production/operations engineering and risk and safety management.

Career opportunities include:

Chemical Engineer
Process Engineer
Production/Operations Engineer
Research and Development / Research Engineer

These opportunities are supported by Curtin's career and industry ecosystem:

Career support: Curtin's Careers, Employment and Leadership team helps students develop career skills, identify employment opportunities and connect with employers through employer events and professional-development programs.
Industry-connected research: Curtin's Science and Engineering research community works with industry, business and government, including collaborations with CSIRO, giving higher-degree research students an environment focused on solving real-world problems.
Research partnerships: Curtin's research partnerships provide access to specialised facilities, multidisciplinary research networks and opportunities for investment, licensing, mentoring and employment.
Chemical engineering industry links: Curtin's Curtin Corrosion Centre undertakes research and consultancy relevant to mining, defence, chemical processing, maritime and hydrocarbon industries, providing a strong industry-facing research environment relevant to chemical engineering.
Employment outcomes: Curtin reports that around 88% of its coursework postgraduate graduates were in full-time employment following graduation, according to the Good Universities Guide 2026. This is a university-wide postgraduate figure and is not specific to the Master of Philosophy (Chemical Engineering).
Salary information: Curtin's published 2025 Graduate Outcomes information reports a $77,000 median annual full-time salary for undergraduate graduates, but Curtin does not state an MPhil Chemical Engineering-specific salary figure on the official course page.
Professional recognition: Curtin states that, depending on the research specialisation, MPhil graduates may be eligible for membership of various professional organisations. The MPhil course page does not state a specific professional accreditation for the Chemical Engineering program.
Research-to-industry pathway: Curtin's research environment includes opportunities to translate university research into commercialisation outcomes, while its industry-linked research programs connect researchers with industry partners working on real-world problems.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the MPhil, students can progress to a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Chemical Engineering at Curtin University. The PhD provides a further research pathway for students who want to deepen their expertise and pursue advanced research or academic and industry research careers.