Chemical & Biological Engineering
Chemical & Biological Engineering is concerned with producing and processing biochemicals and related materials, including the design and operation of bioreactors and bioseparation processes.
The programme combines the traditional discipline of chemical engineering with the new and emerging discipline of biological engineering to produce graduates who are better equipped to solve the world's sustainability challenges. Chemical and biological engineers are 'think big' professionals who work in co-operation with others to bring about the large scale benefits of advances in chemistry, biotechnology, and materials. In the next decade and beyond, contributions from chemical and biological engineers will be vital in creating and producing new medicines, nutritious foods, novel materials, new energy sources, better waste treatment methods and a sustainable global future.
This programme has full IPENZ accreditation, meaning it is both nationally and internationally recognised.
Career Opportunities
- Biochemical Engineer
- Biotechnologist
- Food Technology Engineer
- Manager
- Pharmaceutical Engineer
Potential Employers
- Biotechnology Industries
- Food and Dairy Industries
- Forestry Sector
- Pharmaceutical Industry
Chemical and biological engineering is a rapidly growing field using advances in genetics, microbiology, biochemistry and chemical engineering to create products, processes and services that are useful to mankind.
Ice cream, artificial kidneys, blood oxygenators, penicillin, insulin, aspirin, Viagra, human growth hormone, artificial heart/valves, nutritional foods and vitamins, essential oils, composite materials, new medicines, treatments and cures for AIDS, HIV, cancer, Alzheimer's or Parkinson's diseases, miniature analysers or reactors and nanomaterials are all examples of biochemical engineering.
Chemical and biological engineering blends knowledge in:
- Engineering Science (mass and heat transfer, fluid control, material properties, kinetics and reaction engineering, process control, systems modelling, commercial, regulatory, safety, reliability issues)
- Process (metabolic pathways, industrial manufacturing, protein purification, fermentation, design, economics)
- Biology (small chemical molecules, proteins and biochemistry, microbiology, supra-molecule assemblies, genetics, whole cells, tissues and organisms)
- Systems (individual cells, enzyme systems, genetic modifications, whole processing plants)
School subjects required
You must gain University Entrance, including a minimum of 16 credits in NCEA at Level 3 in Calculus, and at least 14 credits in both Chemistry and Physics at Level 3. Some first-year papers have specific prerequisites so check the paper list carefully.
Planning Your Degree
All of the Bachelor of Engineering with Honours (BE(Hons)) specified programmes have full IPENZ accreditation, making them nationally and internationally recognised qualifications.
Chemical & Biological Engineering has a core of process engineering along with a set of papers specific to one of four streams: biological, chemical, materials or environmental processing.
Below is a list of a standard papers taken in each year under this subject. Please note, this is indicative only and may differ depending on each student's individual situation.
Our Qualifications
Find out more about the available Science & Engineering qualifications
