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.
This programme consists of traditional process engineering fundamentals combined with chemistry, advanced biochemistry and microbiology. It provides an excellent basis for a career in the bioprocess, food and pharmaceutical industries focusing on developing highly valuable products. 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
NCEA Level 3 Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics with Calculus. Some first-year papers have specific prerequisites so check the paper list carefully.Planning Your Degree
All of the Bachelor of Engineering (BE) 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
Our Subjects
