What is Chemical Engineering?: Fees 2025, Subjects, Top Colleges, Admissions

Chemical Engineering is the branch of engineering that deals with chemical production and the manufacturing of products through chemical processes. This includes designing equipment, systems and processes for refining raw materials and for mixing, compounding and processing chemicals to make valuable products.

The duration of BE/ BTech Chemical Engineering is of four years in total and includes eight semesters, each of a span of six months. Students have to undergo training in their final semester and study elective subjects. Students need to score the minimum credits to qualify the course. The course consists of various theory papers as well as practical papers which gives exposure to the students about the important processes and techniques related to Chemical Engineering.

Here you can find some top Chemical Engineering books you can refer to complete your course syllabus:

• Chemical Reaction Engineering by Octave Levenspiel
• Chemical Process Safety: Fundamentals with Applications by Joseph F. Louvar and Daniel A. Crowl
• Biochemical Engineering Fundamentals by J. E. Bailey and D. F. Ollis
• Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering by Warren L. McCabe and Julian C. Smith
• Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics – Theory and Applications by R. Ravi

New Chemical Engineering subjects are regularly added to the curriculum to keep pace with the evolving industry which is full of new technologies like nanotechnology and green chemistry, to look after environmental concerns and promote healthy living.
In industries ranging from pharmaceuticals and energy to food processing and manufacturing, chemical engineers are needed everywhere, and hence the colleges make sure to provide you with the best possible knowledge, learning resources, and practical exposure to stay updated about industry trends and the evolving modern chemical engineering landscape.

There are around 540 full-time colleges in India where you can study Chemical Engineering at the UG, PG, diploma, and PhD levels in India. The colleges are popular for their learning environment, faculty, infra, labs, and placements. Some of the top student choices for Chemical Engineering colleges in India include the top IITs, VIT Vellore, DTU, BITS Pilani, SRM IST Chennai, LPU, NIT Trichy, and Chandiagrh University.

You can check the entire college and programme brochure for Chemical Engineering on the respective college websites where you wish to apply to make the right choice as the college academic years can truly shape your career.

After completing the BTech Chemical Engineering course, you have a plethora of earning options available with you. Recruiters across work sectors offer decent salary packages to skilled graduates. Some of the common job profiles that you can explore after completing your graduation in Chemical Engg. are:

• Chemical Engineer
• Quality Control Engineer
• Petrochemical Engineer
• Nuclear Engineer
• Biotechnologist
• Environmental Engineer
• Food Scientist
• Energy Manager
• Petroleum Engineer

The level wise Chemical Engineering salary in India differs on the basis of experience, job role, recruiter, company location and skill set.

As a college fresher you can easily earn around INR 4 LPA to INR 6 LPA while mid-level Chemical Engineering job profiles like Project Manager or Quality Control Executive make around INR 7 LPA to INR 10 LPA. After you've got years of experience in the industry and are promoted to senior-level jobs your earning potential will increase to around INR 10 LPA and above.

Have a look at some basic steps on how to become a chemical engineer after 12th grade:

• You must opt for a full fledged course in Chemical Engineering, be it a B.E/BTech degree or Diploma course for which you should have at least 50 to 60% marks in Class 12 board exams and give relevant entrance exams.
• You should focus on your coursework and take up future relevant elective subjects and complete practical laboratory courses with dedication.
• Pursue internships and take part in projects to get hands-on knowledge of the workings of the field and put that on your resume.
• A strong resume is the key to an excellent career graph, which must have internship experience and project work listed to stand out in front of the recruiter. Extra skill-based certifications could be a cherry on top.
• You can either go for a job directly after graduation in Chemical Engineering or explore higher study options to get into advanced research.

If you want to study the BTech Chemical Engg. course, you should have at least 50 to 60% marks in the PCM subjects in Class 12 board exams. Further, you need to give relevant entrance tests for getting a seat at a top-ranked college.

There are several colleges that also give admission on the basis of Class 12 board exam marks for which you need to check the college websites of the institutions you're targeting for accurate info. Interestingly, if you have a 3 year Diploma in Chemical Engg or a related field with 50% marks you are also eligible for lateral entry admission into the 2nd year of the BTech Chemical Engineering course.

For getting admission to the BTech Chemical Engineering course, you should start with the most basic step of checking the eligibility criteria for the course, which is usually having at least 50 to 60% marks in the PCM subjects in Class 12. After that, you need to give relevant entrance exams and secure excellent marks in the same.

It is very important to fill out the college application forms before the last date to ensure a smooth admission process. After the exam results are out and you've got your seat, you need to apply for the college counseling process via the college portal.

The counseling process is meant for seat allotment on the basis of your marks and rank in the exam so you must attend the counseling process at the college. After getting the seat, you need to go to the college and pay the BTech Chemical Engineering fees after which you can start attending classes as per the schedule.

You can find the list of documents to be carried for admission to the BTech Chemical Engg. course given here:

• Class 12 Mark Sheet with at least 50 to 60% marks (75% marks in the case of the IITs)
• Provisional Mark Sheet (if the original is not issued by the college yet)
• Class 10 Mark Sheet
• Entrance Exam Scorecard and Admit Card Copy (if applicable)
• A Valid Identity Proof like Aadhar Card, PAN, Passport, etc.
• Reserved Category Certificate (if applicable)
• College Migration and Character Certificates (may be needed)
• Recent Passport-Size Photos

Almost all of the top colleges offering the BTech Chemical Engineering course release the application forms in the online mode, where you have to fill out all the details correctly, submit the scanned copies of the important documents, and pay the application fee, which is around INR 500 to INR 3,000, based on the college to which you apply. The registration window is open for a limited time period, so make sure you apply before it gets closed to avoid any last-minute hassle.

The admission process for the BTech Chemical Engg. course can easily take around 3 to 5 months to complete because each college abides by its individual guidelines for giving admission that include entrance exams, college application forms, result release, cutoff lists, college counseling, seat allotment, and fee payment.

For merit-based admissions to BTech Chemical Engineering, you may also have to give the GD or PI rounds for final selection. So, it is always good to check the official college websites for their admission guidelines to be on the safer side.

Helpful Link: Chemical Engineering Admission Process

You can easily get lateral entry admission to the BTech Chemical Engineering course after completing a 3 year Diploma after Class 10 or a 2 year Diploma after Class 12 with at least 50 to 60% marks. The lateral entry provision enables students to directly enter the 2nd year of the BTech Chemical Engineering programme and complete their undergraduate course in 3 years instead of the usual 4 years. A few colleges where you can get lateral entry admission to BTech in Chemical Engineering are LPU, Institute of Engineering and Technology (Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University), and Chandigarh University.

There are various entrance exams that serve as a gateway for admission to the BTech Chemical Engg. course at top colleges in India. You can check the number of colleges accepting various exam scores in the below table and then decide wisely as to which exams to prepare for:

Note: Some colleges accept multiple entrance exam scores.

It is not compulsory to give an entrance exam for getting admission to the BTech Chemical Engineering course. There are more than 80 colleges in India that admit students on the basis of Class 12 merit and usually take extra rounds like the PI or GD.

Having said that, it is always better to give the entrance test and score good marks in the same to keep both the options available with you. Top colleges like the IITs and NITs in India strictly consider the entrance test marks for giving admission to the course. Rest, the choice is completely yours.

To study the BTech Chemical Engineering course at top-ranked colleges, you should prepare well for the entrance exams. You can find some important exam preparation tips given here:

• Go through the exam syllabus thoroughly and note down all the topics carefully in a notepad.
• Prepare a weekly schedule where you assign at least 2-3 topics to be covered each day. This practice makes it easy to keep pace with the syllabus and avoid any possibility of early burnout and feeling overwhelmed.
• Practice last year's question papers and attempt mock test papers available on the official exam websites to check your preparation status and plan your next move accordingly.
• Ask for help from seniors or professors to make sense of the difficult exam topics.
• Plan a revision time table for the last 1-2 months to brush up the important, high-marks-weightage topics.

You should start your exam preparation as early as possible so that you have a good amount of time to go through the entire exam syllabus, cover each section, and touch all the important high-weightage topics at least. Generally, 8 to 10 months' time is considered ideal for entrance test preparation. Plus, you can also practice last year's question papers and mock tests to check your preparation status and go confidently to the exam hall on the final day.

The entrance exams for BTech Chemical Engg. are generally considered moderately challenging and competitive, as it is one of the in-demand engineering specializations offered across popular colleges in India. There is usually high competition for admission to the course, which means you need to work extra hard to not only pass but also get excellent marks and rank in the entrance test to get admission to premier institutes, like the IITs.

Some of the key advantages of pursuing the BTech Chemical Engineering course are mentioned below:

Increasing Demand: At present, the emphasis placed on sustainability and eco-friendly practices is leading to innovation in chemical processes, requiring engineers with expertise in these areas. As per a recent report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment opportunities for Chemical Engineering graduates are expected to increase around 10% in the next ten years, with more than 1,400 vacancies, on average, every year.

Promising Career Prospects: Students with a Chemical Engineering degree get exposed to a lot of earning opportunities in different work sectors like oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, fertilizers, petrochemicals, food processing, biotechnology, energy sector, etc. In addition, the salary packages offered are quite decent because of the increasing shift towards safe and environment-friendly chemical processes, which require more skilled engineers in this field.

Innovative Future Trends: There are various exciting upcoming trends in the field of Chemical Engineering that will give students an opportunity to innovate and further explore such a vast field. A shift towards nanotechnology, sustainability, chemical processes optimization, bioengineering practices, and product optimization gives this degree a high meaning score.

Respected Profession: Chemical Engineering degrees are very much respected. A lot of business owners and hiring managers love to hire people with a degree in this field. The skills and expertise acquired by students during the course duration make them an asset for many private and government organizations.

See, if you look at the current market situation and shift towards safe and energy-efficient trends, the future of Chemical Engineering looks quite promising. After pursuing a BTech degree in this field, you can easily get a job in oil refineries, the fertilizer industry, food processing, and energy production sectors, along with other industries. Recent employment reports suggest that the scope for chemical engineering students will prosper in the times to come.

If you are very passionate and interested in this field and have good analytical and problem solving skills, you can consider taking up the degree course. Rest; it depends on your interests and career plans.

The BTech Chemical Engineering course teaches you various important skills that can help you when you enter the professional world and handle real-world challenges. You can learn these skills through lab classes, internships, workshops, and taking up industrial projects. Some of the important skills are given here:
• Knowledge of Chemical Processes and Equipment
• Chemical Manufacturing and Testing
• Research and Data Collection
• Computer Proficiency
• Problem-Solving and Analytical Aptitude
• Data Analysis and Statistical Methods
• CAD Software
• Safety and Risk Analysis

Well, if you're somebody who enjoys playing with chemicals (with caution, of course) to come up with safe and effective chemical processes for turning raw materials into valuable products and has a strong hold over mathematics and Science subjects, you can definitely pursue the BTech Chemical Engineering course.

You must be able to think systematically, solve potential problems with patience, be versatile, and have a strong interest in research and innovation to be able to sail through this 4-year academic ride.

Rest; it completely depends on your interests and passions and future goals. You should indulge in some self-introspection, research the course and the college curriculum, understand the course expectations, and only then take any final decision.

If you have a lot of interest in the Chemical Engineering and want to get specialised research knowledge you can take up an MTech degree in Chemical Engineering or related fields like Biochemical Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, Environmental Engineering etc. or an MS degree abroad.

You can also switch to an MBA degree if you wish to transition into managerial roles within the tech field. Also PhD in Chemical Engineering could be a good fit for those interested in research and development and academia.

The BTech in Chemical Engg. course syllabus strikes a perfect balance of core and elective subjects. The core subjects are compulsory for you to study in every semester because they give you a strong hold of the Chemical Engineering field knowledge in general, which can serve as the stepping stone for your career later. Coming to the elective subjects, you can choose the ones you like and find interesting.

Some of the main subjects taught in the BTech Chemical Engineering classes are as follows:

• Applied Chemistry
• Applied Mathematics
• Structural Mechanics
• Introduction to Chemical Engineering
• Material Balance and Energy Balance Calculations
• Engineering Thermodynamics
• Heat Transfer
• Chemical Engineering Operations
• Chemical Reaction Engineering
• Material Technology
• Chemical Process Control

The BTech Chemical Engg. course syllabus includes various elective subject choices for you to choose from. You can pick the subjects you find interesting, easy to grasp, and fun to study. For choosing the right subjects, you must think about your future career goals, the direction you want to head towards, and the particular industry or area of expertise you would like to step into. You must think about the skills you'll learn from those subjects and their industrial relevance.

After having some sort of clarity in mind, you can go on and choose the elective subjects that are designed in such a manner as to give your career a direction. Some popular elective subject choices given to the students are:

• Organometallic Chemistry
• Green Chemistry and Catalysis
• Momentum, Heat and Mass Transfer
• Engineering Aspects of Manufacturers of Organic Chemicals
• Electrochemical Engineering
• Mathematical Methods in Chemical Engineering
• Heat Transfer Equipment Design
• Petroleum Reservoir Engineering
• Refinery Science and Engineering
• Advanced Biochemical Engineering
• Polymer Engineering
• Fuels Engineering

The BTech Chemical Engineering coursework surely includes internships, research projects and hands on lab classes to give you an excellent learning experience during the course duration. All of these components combined help you gain technical skills and problem-solving aptitude that are very helpful to do well in the professional space.
Useful Link: Chemical Engineering Syllabus

Nope, the syllabus for the BTech Chemical Engg course is not the same for all colleges. Each college follows a certain set of coursework guidelines that generally include core subjects, specialised programme electives, internships, project work and lab classes. While the core subject topics might share similarity the electives offered at all the colleges vary.

The BTech Chemical Engineering syllabus is different for every college on the basis of their syllabus guidelines and unique coursework approach. The syllabus usually has core subject modules, specialised program electives, lab classes, project work and internships.

When it comes to the mandatory core subjects there is no such scope for customization because of the foundational knowledge they provide but you can choose the elective subjects on the basis of your interests and passions allowing some room for customization.

There are more than 115 government BTech Chemical Engineering colleges in India where you can study the course. It is very important to check for the course fee structure and placement records of the college before taking the final call and finalizing your seat at the college. Other factors to look out for include course structure, faculty experience, practical exposure, research opportunities etc.

Some of the popular government BTech Chemical Engg. colleges include IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Madras, DTU, NIT Trichy, IIT Kharagpur, Jadavpur University, and NIT Surathkal. The average BTech Chemical Engineering course fee at these govt. colleges is between INR 50,000 and INR 8 lakh.

There are more than 230 private BTech Chemical Engg. colleges in India where you can pursue the course. Before coming to any conclusion regarding the best college to study, you must check the fee structure and placement records of the college. Also, you should go through the course structure, teaching faculty, practical lab experience, research opportunities, internships and workshops at the college.
Some popular private BTech Chemical Engineering colleges include VIT Vellore, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, BITS Pilani, Thapar University, Chandigarh University, LPU, and SASTRA University. The average BTech Chemical Engineering fees at these private colleges is between INR 3 lakh and INR 15 lakh.

The average tuition fee for the BTech in Chemical Engineering course is around INR 3 Lacs to INR 15 lakh, which differs on the basis of the college where you're pursuing the course, the college location, All India ranking, infrastructure, and placements. Apart from the tuition fee, you also need to pay extra charges for hostel facilities (if you're an outstation student and staying in the college hostel), college application, semester exam fee, backlog fee (if applicable), lab fee, student welfare fund, caution money and other miscellaneous charges.

You can find the detailed fee structure for BTech Chemical Engineering available at college websites for better clarity.

The college ranking plays a very important role when it comes to the college selection for the BTech Chemical Engineering course. A solid ranking in charts speaks volumes about the college's academics, faculty, infrastructure, and networking opportunities. However, it should not be the sole deciding factor.

You should look for the course fees, practical lab work, industrial exposure, placement records, and alumni feedback to take the final call.

Yes, top colleges do provide excellent placement opportunities to BTech in Chemical Engg. graduates who have the right set of skills and knowledge of the field. Top recruiters visit the college campuses every year in the months of January to May to hire a bunch of talented students who can drive them profits with their innovative and fresh approaches. There are placement drives and annual fairs where students participate in large numbers, give interviews, and try their best to prove their merit.

Chemical Engineering graduates can attract healthy salary packages from recruiters across sectors like pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, food processing, oil and gas, nanotechnology and renewable energy. You can check a few top recruiters for Chemical Engineering graduates given here:

• Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited
• Essar Group
• Hindalco Industries
• Schlumberger Limited
• Shell India
• Nirma
• Pidilite
• Tata Chemicals Limited

Some sectors are witnessing boom in the recent time and witnessing growth due to domestic and international demand. They are generating employment opportunities for engineers and apprentices. Some of these common sectors where Chemical Engineers can find themselves working at are:

• Fertiliser Companies
• Coal Companies
• Oil & Gas Exploration Companies 

While it is not mandatory to have extra certifications to get a decent paying job after a Chemical Engineering degree, additional certificates for skill-based learning definitely give you an edge over other potential candidates, as you become an asset for the recruiter. Today, when the focus is shifting towards sustainability and a healthy living environment, it is important to upskill yourself to stay relevant and enjoy good salary packages.
Skill based certificate courses in Chemical Process Design and Simulation, Environmental Safety and Management, and Chemical Reaction Engineering can prove to be an excellent move on your part to climb the ladder of career success in the field.

The average salary offered to a fresh Chemical Engineering graduate is somewhere between INR 5 LPA and INR 7 LPA. As you climb the ladder of experience, you will get an increment in your salary package because of the skills and expertise gained during the early years of learning.

The salary in this field depends a lot on the availability of projects, current market demand and of course, your skill set that matters the most, as you are literally playing with chemicals every day to come up with something innovative and beneficial for the society at large. Rest assured, looking at the current industry trends and demand, there are ample opportunities for you in this engineering field.

PSUs offer INR 25,000 to INR 50,000 approximately (monthly) to the candidates selected as Chemical Engineers. PSUs offer many perks and allowances such as Dearness Allowance, HR Allowance, Travel Expenses, Medical Reimbursements. Candidates wishing to enter PSUs must work hard to avail the benefits as well as establish a promising career in Chemical Engineering.  

Chemistry is all about the scientific knowledge of matter at a molecular level, making sense of their reactions for the creation of new products, while Chemical Engineering focuses on applying that very knowledge for the design and optimization of industrial chemical processes and products like chemicals, drugs, and foods. In simple words, Chemistry deals with the Science behind the products, while Chemical Engineering focuses on how to produce those products on a large scale.

Yes. A strong hold over the Math subject is very important in Chemical Engineering for process design and modeling, chemical process optimization and data analysis. Mathematical concepts like calculus, linear algebra, statistics, and other numerical methods are all used to understand and solve complex problems and interpret relevant data for chemical process designs.

You can definitely get admission to the BTech Chemical Engineering course without giving the entrance test as there are several good colleges that take in students considering their Class 12 board exam marks and often take extra rounds like the GD or PI. Out of the 360 colleges offering the course, there are more than 85 colleges that solely take into account the Class 12 scores for admission.

Yes. Chemical Engineering colleges ask you to pay a college application fee at the time of admission that needs to be submitted along with the duly filled application form to confirm the form submission status. The average Chemical Engineering application fee is between INR 500 and INR 3,000, which depends on the specific college you're applying to, its entity type, and its college ranking.

There are around 360 colleges in India where you can pursue the BTech Chemical Engineering course, out of which around 232 are private colleges, 117 are owned by the government, and the remaining are public-private. Several entrance exams can be undertaken for admission to the course, and the JEE Main entrance tops the list, with almost 188 colleges accepting the respective exam score.

The competition is quite high for the course, and Lacs of applicants give the JEE Main exam every year. So, it is very important for you to prepare really well and get excellent marks there.

Chemical Engineering is considered the evergreen field. It is likely that the demand for chemical engineers in the coming years may grow by 6%. The field is witnessing a boom especially in the fertilisers, textiles and petroleum industries. Therefore, chemical engineers have great career opportunities in this field. 

Here are some of the top certifications for Chemical Engineers in India:

Professional Engineer (PE) License: Directly relevant to leadership assignments and approving engineering works.
Six Sigma Green Belt: Strengthens the problem-solving and improvement of business processes.
Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM): Expert in dealing with dangerous goods in shipment in a safe manner.
Certified Process Safety Auditor (CPSA): Specializes in accounting and enhancing risk reduction in the process industries.
Other options: Other forms of certification to look for are those that are specific to your niches and these include; Certified Water Professional (CWP) and Certified Energy Manager (CEM).

There is lot of job opportunities for the aspirants after completing BTech in Chemical Engineering. Chemical engineers are required in petroleum refineries, fertilizer plants, food and agricultural products, in glass and plastic industry, various treatment plants, pharmaceutical firms etc. The work of engineers with B.Tech in chemical engineering involves design, development, operation, and management of various processes in industries. They work as chemists, material engineers, or as industrial engineers. There are openings in both public sector and private sector companies for graduates in chemical engineering.

No doubt, the oil and gas industries are among the top recruiting sectors for Chemical Engineering graduates but that is not all. Chemical engineers work across a plethora of fields like pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, food processing, nanotechnology and renewable energy. The only aim is to come up with useful chemical products and processes starting from medicines and food to alternative energy sources.