Chemical Engineering Courses: Admission 2025, Fees, Syllabus, Entrance Exams, Top Colleges, Career & Salary

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.

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 information. 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 2^nd 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

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.

GATE exam is conducted only once a year to offer admissions to master's and PhD programs at top institutions, such as IITs and NITs. Qualifying GATE exam also paves the way for technical jobs in in PSUs. This year, IIT Roorkee conducted the GATE 2025 exam on Feb 1, 2, 15, and 16, 2025 in two sessions - morning and afternoon. 

You have to apply on the official TNEA website. Engineering colleges in the state of Tamil Nadu offer admission based on the results of the Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions TNEA exam.

1. The Tamil Nadu Directorate of Technical Education is in charge of conducting this exam. Following the exam, seats are assigned in engineering colleges through the TNEA counselling process.
2. After the results are released, you must register on the official TNEA website in order to take part in TNEA counselling.
3. On the TNEA website, you have to fill out the application form, pay the counselling fees, and list your choices. 4. After the application process is finished, the TNEA will publish a list of seats allocated according to ranks.

The syllabus of MHT CET is all covered in NCERT textbooks of class 11 and 12. NCERT books are considered the best to clear exam like MHT CET. NCERT books have easy to understand language and a lot of solved questions which make it the best fit to begin MHT CET preparation. Also, many previous year toppers and subject-matter experts have advised to use NCERT books.

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 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

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 are more than 120 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 5 Lacs 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 5 Lacs and INR 15 lakh.

The average fee for admission to the BE/BTech Chemical Engineering is around INR 7 lakh. It depends upon the respective institute in which a student is enrolled. Private colleges charge around INR 5-10 lakh whereas the government engineering colleges charge INR 50,000-2 lakh. The Chemical Engg. course fee for the IITs and NITs is obviously higher.

Many private colleges offer scholarships based on the performance in the entrance examinations. These colleges also give merit scholarships based on the performance in the subsequent semesters. Therefore, students can avail these opportunities to reduce their cost of studying Chemical Engineering courses.

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.

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 

A BTech degree in Chemical Engineering will open up a wide range of employment avenues for you. You could go into manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, health care, pulp and paper, design and construction, petrochemicals, food processing, polymers, biotechnology, environmental health and safety, energy, electronics, nanotechnology, advanced materials and many other fields. Chemical Engineers work in laboratories, plants, and offices. There are jobs available in research, design, development, manufacturing, optimization, teaching, and consulting. The earning potential is quite high.

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.  

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 average salary offered to a fresh Chemical Engineering graduate is somewhere between INR 4 LPA and INR 6 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.

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.