Faculty of Engineering

Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering (2017)


Note: This course version applies only to students first enrolling in 2017.
WARNING: This course version is currently under review and is subject to change.


1. Overview

Course: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering (2017)
CP Required: 192
Min FT Duration: 4.00 Years
Min PT Duration: 4.00 Years
Faculty/School: Faculty of Engineering
Years Offered: 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015

2. Requirements

In summary the requirements are:

Students must complete 192 credit points as follows:

► 36 credit points of Engineering core units

► 108 credit points of Chemical stream core units

► A minimum of 6 credit points of Chemical Specialist Fundamental units

► A minimum of 12 credit points of Chemical Specialist Breadth units

► A minimum of 12 credit points of Chemical Specialist Depth units

► A maximum of 12 credit points of General (Free) Electives

The completion of a major is not necessary. If a student chooses to do a major, aligned majors can be completed within the 192 credit points described above.

The handbook rules governing this degree are as follows:

To qualify for the award of the Bachelor of Engineering Honours degree, a candidate must

(a) successfully complete 192 credit points, comprising: (i) A minimum of 36cp from the Engineering Core Table, including all required units; (ii) A minimum of 108cp from the CBE Stream Core Table, including all required units; (iii) A minimum of 48cp of additional units from the CBE Stream Specialist Table(s), including satisfying any additional requirements specified for the Specialist Table(s); and;

(b) have an EWAM of at least 65 immediately prior to the semester in which a thesis unit of study is first attempted; and

(c) have an EIHWAM of at least 65 at the completion of the degree; and

(d) complete the requirements within a time limit of 5 years for a single Bachelor of Engineering Honours degree or complete the requirements within a time limit of 6 years for a combined Bachelor of Engineering Honours combined degree.

Candidates who satisfy Clause (a) above, but who have not satisfied all each of Clauses (b), (c) and (d), will qualify for the award of the Bachelor of Engineering degree (i.e. the pass degree, awarded without Honours).

Advanced units in Maths and Science

Most units of study offered by the Science Faculty on the list of core requirements can be replaced by an equivalent advanced level unit; subject to prerequisite conditions (as required by the Faculty of Science) being met. Students considering doing advanced options should seek advice from their department before enrolling.

Study Abroad

Students undertaking Study Abroad in a particular year of their degree must enrol in the appropriate International Exchange Program units of study as an alternative to a semester`s standard units.

Permission from the relevant Head of School must be sought prior to enrolling in exchange units of study.

Faculty Resolutions

Details of relevant Faculty resolutions are available via the university handbook site at: http://sydney.edu.au/handbooks/

3. Semesters

Year 1 - Semester 1

Type CP CP From
3 Select from MATH1001: Differential Calculus


Note: This unit is discontinued from 2018. Replacement unit is MATH1021.
6 Select from CHEM1101: Chemistry 1A


Note: This unit is discontinued from 2018. Replacement unit is CHEM1111.
6 Select from CHNG1108: Introduction to Chemical Engineering
3 Select from MATH1002: Linear Algebra
6 Select from ENGG1801: Engineering Computing

Note: MATH1001/MATH1021 and MATH1002 may be replaced by advanced units MATH1901/MATH1921 and MATH1902.

Year 1 - Semester 2

Type CP CP From
3 Select from MATH1003: Integral Calculus and Modelling


Note: This unit is discontinued from 2018. Replacement unit is MATH1023.
6 Select from CHEM1102: Chemistry 1B


Note: This unit is discontinued from 2018. Replacement unit is CHEM1112.
6 Select from ENGG1111: Integrated Engineering 1
3 Select from MATH1005: Statistical Thinking with Data
6 Select from CHNG1103: Conservation of Mass and Energy

Note: ENGG1111 may be replaced by ENGG1061/ENGD1000 for approved students. MATH1003/MATH1023 and MATH1005 may be replaced by advanced units MATH1903/MATH1923 and MATH1905.

Year 2 - Semester 1

Type CP CP From
6 Select from CHNG2803: Heat and Mass Transfer
6 Select from CHNG2802: Chemical Engineering Modelling and Analysis
6 Select from CHNG2801: Fluid Mechanics
6 Select from CHEM2401: Molecular Reactivity and Spectroscopy
CHEM2404: Forensic & Environmental Chemistry

Year 2 - Semester 2

Type CP CP From
2 Select from ENGG2111: Integrated Engineering 2
6 Select from CHNG2804: Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics
6 Select from CHEM2402: Chemical Structure and Stability
CHEM2403: Chemistry of Biological Molecules
6 Select from CHNG2806: Separation Processes
6 Select from CHNG2805: Engineering for a Sustainable Society


Note: CHNG1106 replaces CHNG2805 from 2021.

Note: Eligible students may take one 6CP Advanced Engineering unit (ENGG2062, ENGG3062 or ENGG4064) in place of ENGG2111+ENGG3111+ENGG4111.

Year 3 - Semester 1

Type CP CP From
6 Select from AGEN3004: Food Processing and Value Adding
CHNG3808: Engineering Macromolecules & Nanocomposites
CHNG3809: Laboratory and Industrial Practice
or other units.

Note: The degree requires a minimum of 12 credit points (two units) from the `Breadth` units of study. These may be taken in either first or second semester.
2 Select from ENGG3111: Integrated Engineering 3
6 Select from CHNG3803: Reaction Engineering
6 Select from CHNG3802: Process Dynamics and Control
6 Select from CHNG3805: Particle Processing

Note: Eligible students may take one 6CP Advanced Engineering unit (ENGG2062, ENGG3062 or ENGG4064) in place of ENGG2111+ENGG3111+ENGG4111.

Year 3 - Semester 2

Type CP CP From
6 Select from CHNG3806: Risk Management for Chemical Engineering
6 Select from CHNG3801: Process Plant Design
6 Select from CHNG3804: Biochemical Engineering
6 Select from CHNG3807: Products and Value Chains [not running in 2020]
CHNG3809: Laboratory and Industrial Practice
or other units.

Note: The degree requires a minimum of 12 credit points (two units) from the `Breadth` units of study. These may be taken in either first or second semester.

Year 4 - Semester 1

Type CP CP From
2 Select from ENGG4111: Integrated Engineering 4
12 Select from Unit Block:
CBE Specialist - Depth
or other units.

Note: The degree requires a minimum of 12 credit points (two units) from the `Depth` units of study. These may be taken in either first or second semester.
6 Select from CHNG4811: Thesis A
0 Select from ENGG4000: Practical Experience
6 Select from CHNG4802: Chemical Engineering Design A

Note: Eligible students may take one 6CP Advanced Engineering unit (ENGG2062, ENGG3062 or ENGG4064) in place of ENGG2111+ENGG3111+ENGG4111.

Year 4 - Semester 2

Type CP CP From
6 Select from Unit Block:
CBE Specialist - Depth
or other units.

Note: The degree requires a minimum of 12 credit points (two units) from the `Depth` units of study. These may be taken in either first or second semester.
6 Select from CHNG4812: Thesis B
6 Select from CHNG4806: Chemical Engineering Design B

4. Pathways

48cp Majors

Type CP CP From

Note: From 2019 onwards, all engineering majors will be converted to the 48 credit point format, and several new majors will be introduced - details can be viewed in the 2019 degree structures.

You can find more information at https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/2806/pages/feit-your-studies-bachelor-of-engineering-majors

Alternate Thesis Pathway : Student Industrial Placement Scheme (SIPS)

Type CP CP From
Core
24 CHNG4203: Major Industrial Project

Note: SIPS students take CHNG4203 Major Industrial Project (24 credit points). This unit replaces regular Honours Thesis units (CHNG4811 and CHNG4812) along with ENGG4000 Practical Experience, CHNG4112 Foundation of Chemical Engineering Design A and 6 credit points of electives. Students are admitted to SIPS by school permission only. Applications are taken in third year of study.

5. Unit Blocks

Block 1 - Engineering Core (Min CP: 36,Max CP: 36)

Unit Code Unit Name CP Sessions Offered
AMME4010 Major Industrial Project 24 Semester 1
Semester 2
AMME4111 Thesis A 6 Semester 1
Semester 2
AMME4112 Thesis B 6 Semester 1
Semester 2
CHNG4203 Major Industrial Project 24 Semester 1
Semester 2
CHNG4811 Thesis A 6 Semester 1
Semester 2
CHNG4812 Thesis B 6 Semester 1
Semester 2
CIVL4022 Thesis A 6 Semester 1
Semester 2
CIVL4023 Thesis B 6 Semester 1
Semester 2
ELEC4712 Thesis A 6 Semester 1
Semester 2
ELEC4713 Thesis B 6 Semester 1
Semester 2
ELEC4714 Major Industrial Project 24 Semester 1
Semester 2
ENGG1061 Advanced Engineering 1 6 Semester 1
Semester 2
ENGG1111 Integrated Engineering 1 6 Semester 1
ENGG2062 Engineering Project: Business Plan 2 Adv 6 Semester 2
ENGG2111 Integrated Engineering 2 2 Semester 1
Semester 2
Int February
ENGG3062 Technology Education (Advanced) 6 Semester 2
ENGG3111 Integrated Engineering 3 2 Semester 1
Semester 2
ENGG4000 Practical Experience 0 Int January
Int February
Int March
Int April
Int May
Int June
Int July
Int August
Int September
Int October
Int November
Int December
ENGG4064 Advanced Engineering Design A 6 Semester 2
Int July
ENGG4065 Advanced Engineering Design B 6 Semester 2
ENGG4111 Integrated Engineering 4 2 Semester 1
MATH1001 Differential Calculus 3 Semester 1
Summer Main
MATH1002 Linear Algebra 3 Semester 1
Semester 2
Summer Main
MATH1003 Integral Calculus and Modelling 3 Semester 2
Summer Main
MATH1005 Statistical Thinking with Data 3 Semester 1
Semester 2
Int January
MATH1901 Differential Calculus (Advanced) 3 Semester 1
MATH1902 Linear Algebra (Advanced) 3 Semester 1
MATH1903 Integral Calculus and Modelling Advanced 3 Semester 2
MATH1905 Statistics (Advanced) 3 Semester 2

Note: Complete a minimum of 36cp including:

- ENGG4000 Practical Experience (0cp)

- Exactly 6cp from ENGG1111 Integrated Engineering 1 (6cp) OR ENGG1061 Advanced Engineering 1A (6cp) (see note 1)

- At least 2cp from ENGG2xxx Integrated Engineering 2 (2cp) OR ENGG2062 (see note 1)

- At least 2cp from ENGG3xxx Integrated Engineering 3 (2cp) OR ENGG3062 Technology Education (Advanced) (6cp) (see note 1)

- At least 2cp from ENGG4xxx Integrated Engineering 4 (2cp) OR ENGG4064 Advanced Engineering Design A (6cp) (see note 1) OR ENGG4065 Advanced Engineering Design B (6cp) (see note 1)

- Exactly 12cp of MATH1xxxx units: MATH1001 Differential Calculus (3cp) AND MATH1002 Linear Algebra (3cp) AND MATH1003 Integral Calculus AND Modelling (3cp) MATH1005 Statistics (3cp)

- A minimum of 12cp (see note 2) from either AMME4111-4112 Thesis A & B (6cp+6cp) OR CHNG4811-CHNG4812 Thesis A & B (6cp+6cp) OR CIVL4022-4023 Thesis A & B (6cp+6cp) OR ELEC4712-4713 Thesis A & B (6cp+6cp) OR AMME4010 Major Industrial Project (24cp) OR CHNG4203 Major Industrial Project (24cp) OR ELEC4714 Major Industrial Project (24cp)

Note 1. The Advanced Engineering units are only available to students who have been accepted into the relevant year of the Advanced Engineering program.

Note 2. All Thesis A units are mutually prohibited (meaning that only one can be completed), and all Thesis B units have the associated Thesis A unit as a pre-requisite. Students may undertake only the Thesis units relevant to their stream.

Block 2 - CBE Core (Min CP: 108,Max CP: 108)

Unit Code Unit Name CP Sessions Offered
CHEM1101 Chemistry 1A 6 Semester 1
Semester 2
Summer Main
CHEM1102 Chemistry 1B 6 Semester 1
Semester 2
Summer Main
CHEM1111 Chemistry 1A 6 Semester 1
Semester 2
Int January
CHEM1112 Chemistry 1B 6 Semester 1
Semester 2
Int January
CHEM1911 Chemistry 1A (Adv) 6 Semester 1
CHEM1912 Chemistry 1B (Adv) 6 Semester 2
CHNG1103 Conservation of Mass and Energy 6 Semester 2
CHNG2801 Fluid Mechanics 6 Semester 1
CHNG2802 Chemical Engineering Modelling and Analysis 6 Semester 1
CHNG2803 Heat and Mass Transfer 6 Semester 1
CHNG2804 Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics 6 Semester 2
CHNG2805 Engineering for a Sustainable Society 6 Semester 2
CHNG2806 Separation Processes 6 Semester 2
CHNG3801 Process Plant Design 6 Semester 2
CHNG3802 Process Dynamics and Control 6 Semester 1
CHNG3803 Reaction Engineering 6 Semester 1
CHNG3804 Biochemical Engineering 6 Semester 2
CHNG3805 Particle Processing 6 Semester 1
CHNG3806 Risk Management for Chemical Engineering 6 Semester 2
CHNG4802 Chemical Engineering Design A 6 Semester 1
CHNG4806 Chemical Engineering Design B 6 Semester 2
ENGG1801 Engineering Computing 6 Semester 1
Int January

Block 3 - CBE Specialist - Fundamentals (Min CP: 6,Max CP: 18)

Unit Code Unit Name CP Sessions Offered
BIOL1006 Life and Evolution 6 Semester 1
BIOL1007 From Molecules to Ecosystems 6 Semester 2
BIOL1906 Life and Evolution (Advanced) 6 Semester 1
BIOL1907 From Molecules to Ecosystems (Advanced) 6 Semester 2
BIOL1996 Life and Evolution (SSP) 6 Semester 1
BIOL1997 From Molecules to Ecosystems (SSP) 6 Semester 2
CHEM2401 Molecular Reactivity and Spectroscopy 6 Semester 1
CHEM2402 Chemical Structure and Stability 6 Semester 2
CHEM2403 Chemistry of Biological Molecules 6 Semester 2
CHEM2404 Forensic & Environmental Chemistry 6 Semester 1
CHNG1108 Introduction to Chemical Engineering 6 Semester 1
ENGG1800 Introduction to Engineering A 6 Semester 1
ENGG3800 Industry and Community Projects 6 Semester 1
Semester 2
Int February
Int July
Int August
Int October
MBLG1001 Molecular Biology and Genetics (Intro) 6 Semester 2
MBLG1901 Molecular Biology and Genetics (Adv) 6 Semester 2
PHYS1001 Physics 1 (Regular) 6 Semester 1
PHYS1003 Physics 1 (Technological) 6 Semester 2
PHYS1901 Physics 1A (Advanced) 6 Semester 1

Note: A maximum of 18 credit points may be selected.

MBLG1### codes will no longer be running from 2017.

Block 4 - CBE Specialist - Breadth (Min CP: 12,Max CP: 48)

Unit Code Unit Name CP Sessions Offered
AGEN3004 Food Processing and Value Adding 6 Semester 1
CHNG3807 Products and Value Chains [not running in 2020] 6 Semester 2
CHNG3808 Engineering Macromolecules & Nanocomposites 6 Semester 1
CHNG3809 Laboratory and Industrial Practice 6 Semester 1
CHNG5003 Green Engineering 6 Semester 2
CHNG5005 Wastewater Engineering 6 Semester 1
CHNG5603 Advanced Industrial Modelling and Analysis 6 Semester 1
CHNG5605 Bio-Products: Laboratory to Marketplace 6 Semester 2

Note: A minimum of 12 credit points must be taken.

Block 5 - CBE Specialist - Depth (Min CP: 12,Max CP: 48)

Unit Code Unit Name CP Sessions Offered
CHNG5001 Process Systems Engineering 6 Semester 2
CHNG5004 Mineral Processing 6 Semester 2
CHNG5006 Advanced Wastewater Engineering 6 Semester 2
CHNG5008 Nanotechnology in Chemical Engineering 6 Semester 2
CHNG5009 Digital Circular Economy 6 Semester 1
CHNG5601 Membrane Science 6 Semester 1
CHNG5602 Biophysics and Biosensors 6 Semester 2
CHNG5604 Advanced Membrane Engineering 6 Semester 2
CHNG5606 Advanced Food Processing 6 Semester 2
CHNG5607 Advanced Biochemical Engineering 6 Semester 1
ENGG5206 Exponential and Emerging Technologies 6 Semester 2

Note: A minimum of 12 credit points must be taken.

Block 6 - Engineering General Electives (Max CP: 12)

Note: Students may take 12 credit points of free general electives to complete the total number of credit points for their degree. Students may take the following units of study as free general electives, provided they satisfy any prerequisite, quota, departmental permission or any other requirements of the units, and the units are not essentially the same or prohibited units for any of the other units in their degree.

(1) Any units of study from the Faculties of: (i) Engineering and Information Technologies (ii) Science (iii) Arts (iv) Sydney Business School

(2) Any other units of study approved by the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies Courses Committee, which will be published in an appropriate place by the Faculty.

(3) Any units of study approved by the Dean (or his/her delegate in these matters), or by the relevant Head of School or Program Director, on a case by case basis upon application by the student.