Updated on Mar 23, 2025 12:15 IST
Vidhi Jain

Vidhi JainContent Writer

Chemical Engineering is a dynamic field that lays emphasis on the planning, analysis, design, and optimization of chemical processes and equipment for product manufacturing across work sectors. Chemical Engineering courses provide detailed knowledge to students about how raw materials can be transformed into valuable everyday products via new and safe chemical processes.

The Chemical Engineering syllabus includes important subjects like Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics, Chemical Engineering Operations, Industrial Chemistry and Reaction Engineering, Chemical Process Control, Material Technology, Chemical Process Equipment Design, etc.

The Chemical Engg syllabus taught in classes is a well-balanced coursework structure, including core subjects along with a lot of elective choices, lab training, informative workshops, internship programs, and a final year research project.

The Chemical Engineering subjects help students learn crucial skills, such as analytical aptitude, data analysis and statistical methods, computer-aided design and modeling, problem-solving, team work, and a collaborative spirit, etc. Students can even choose a particular subject from the B Tech Chemical Engineering syllabus and specialize in the same at the postgraduate level, such as Chemical Reaction Engineering, Biochemical Engineering, Energy Engineering, and Process Control and Instrumentation.

The Chemical Engineering subjects are structured according to the course level and the college offering the course.

Chemical Engineering Subjects (In Detail)

Here's the general Chemical Engg syllabus for the diploma, BTech, MTech, and PhD levels in the section below.

Diploma Chemical Engineering Subjects

Here's the basic Diploma Chemical Engineering syllabus in the table given below:

Semester 1

Engineering Mathematics - I

Engineering Chemistry - I

Engineering Physics

Computing Fundamentals

Semester 2

Engineering Mathematics - II

Engineering Physics - II

Fundamentals of Chemical Engineering

Engineering Chemistry - II

Semester 3

Chemical Process Principles

Fluid Mechanics

Polymer Technology

Environmental Science and Disaster Management

Semester 4

Environmental Engineering

Heat Transfer and Evaporation

Inorganic Chemical Technology

Petroleum & Energy Engineering

Semester 5

Industrial Management and Safety

Metallurgy and Materials of Construction

Organic Technology

Paper Making Technology

Semester 6

 

Mass Transfer Operations

Particle Technology

Biochemical Engineering

Final Project Work Phase

Note - This information is taken from external sites and may vary.

B Tech Chemical Engineering Subjects

The B Tech Chemical Engg syllabus is given in the table below for students’ reference:

Semester 1

Applied Mathematics - I

Structural Mechanics

Applied Chemistry

Engineering Graphics and Computer-Aided Drafting (CAD)

Semester 2

Applied Mathematics - II

Introduction to Chemical Engineering

Applied Physics

Material Balance and Energy Balance Calculations

Semester 3

Engineering Thermodynamics

Fluid Flow

Heat Transfer

Chemical Process Safety

Semester 4

Chemical Engineering Operations

Instrumentation and Process Dynamics

Industrial Chemistry and Reaction Engineering

Production Management

Semester 5

Chemical Reaction Engineering

Biochemical Engineering

Momentum Transfer

Elective - I

Semester 6

Chemical Process Control

Elective - II

Material Technology

Heat Transfer Equipment Design

Semester 7

Chemical Process Development and Engineering

Chemical Process Equipment Design and Drawing

Elective - III

Project Phase I

Semester 8

Elective - IV

Project Phase II and Viva-Voice

Note - This information is taken from external sites and may vary.

M Tech Chemical Engineering Subjects

Here's the M Tech Chemical Engg syllabus for your reference:

Semester 1

Advanced Chemical Engineering and Thermodynamics

Chemical Process Safety

Advanced Chemical Reaction Engineering

Elective - I

Semester 2

Advanced Separation Processes

Advanced Chemical Engineering Plant Design

Advanced Process Control

Elective - II

Semester 3

Elective - III

Elective - IV

Advanced Chemical Engineering Laboratory

Project Work (Phase-I)

Semester 4

Project Work (Phase-II) & Seminar

Viva-voce

Note - This information is taken from external sites and may vary.

Useful Links for GATE Chemical Engineering Syllabus:

GATE Marks vs Rank 2025: Know How to calculate Rank and Score, Expected Cutoff

GATE IIT MTech Cutoff 2025: Check Here Category Wise, Get Previous Years' cut off

PhD Chemical Engineering Subjects

Since the PhD Chemical Engg course duration is 3 to 6 years, students can find some important subjects covered in the course below:

PhD in Chemical Engineering Subjects

Transport Phenomena

Introduction to Polymer Physics

Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics

Multiphase Reactor Design

Chemical Reaction Engineering

Introduction to Molecular Simulations

Chemical Process Optimization

Advanced Biochemical Engineering

Polymer Processing

Research Methodology

Process Engineering Principles in Microfabrication

Final Thesis

Note - This information is taken from external sites and may vary.

Core and Elective Chemical Engineering Subjects

Though the Chemical Engineering syllabus varies depending on the course level and the institute offering the course, the coursework structure has some general core as well as elective subjects. The core subjects are mandatory for students to study in every semester as they give foundational knowledge of some key Chemical Engg concepts. This section talks about a few basic core and elective subjects that are a part of the vast Chemical Engineering syllabus.

Core Chemical Engineering Subjects

Here are some of the core Chemical Engineering subjects that are a part of the coursework.

Core Chemical Engineering Subjects

Chemical Engineering Subject Details

Chemical Reaction Engineering

This subject deals with the study and design of chemical reactors for industrial use and looking after the reaction rates and mechanisms, ensuring safe and effective chemical processes.

Chemical Process Safety

This subject gives an overview of the importance of understanding risk assessment and hazard management in chemical processes and coming up with ways to mitigate the same.

Chemical Engineering Operations

Students get to learn about the chemical plant unit operations and processes, including thermodynamics, heat transfer, mass transfer, and fluid mechanics.

Biochemical Engineering

This subject teaches how to apply the Chemical Engineering fundamentals to biological systems by using living cells or other biomolecules for production and product purification.

Chemical Process Equipment Design and Drawing

This subject focuses on the planning, design, and analysis of chemical process equipment like chemical reactors and storage vessels.

Note - This information is taken from external sites and may vary.

Elective Chemical Engineering Subjects

Here are some of the common and popular elective subjects in the Chemical Engineering syllabus are given in the table below:

Elective Chemical Engineering Subjects

Chemical Engineering Subject Details

Polymer Engineering

This subject gives an overview of the polymer structure and properties, including polymer technology, characterization, and processing techniques.

Materials Science

This subject provides knowledge about the application of chemistry and physics fundamentals to understand material structure, properties, and behavior to ensure effective and safe chemical processes.

Note - This information is taken from external sites and may vary.

Chemical Engineering Subjects: Popular Books and Authors

There are various books recommended for studying the Chemical Engineering syllabus. These textbooks serve as a trustworthy source of knowledge for the Chemical Engg coursework providing an insight into the field in a more engaging and informative manner. The books followed for the Chemical Engineering syllabus would differ on the basis of the course level and the college offering the course; however, students can go through some important textbooks to refer to for the Chemical Engineering subjects.

Chemical Engineering Subjects

Book Title

Author Name

Chemical Reaction Engineering

Chemical Reaction Engineering 

 

Octave Levenspiel

Chemical Process Safety

Chemical Process Safety: Fundamentals with Applications 

 

Joseph F. Louvar and Daniel A. Crowl

Biochemical Engineering

Biochemical Engineering Fundamentals 

J. E. Bailey and D. F. Ollis

Chemical Engineering Operations

Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering 

 

Warren L. McCabe and Julian C. Smith

Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics

Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics – Theory and Applications

R. Ravi

Note - This information is taken from external sites and may vary.

Top Colleges Chemical Engineering Subjects

There are more than 590 Chemical Engineering colleges in India that are popular for their coursework structure, research exposure, and placement records. The Chemical Engineering syllabus of each college would vary from the other, depending on the course level. The subjects might be similar, but the pattern and structure of the course would differ from college to college and on the basis of the course level. Here is a list of some of the best B Tech Chemical Engineering and MTech Chemical Engineering colleges in India along with their course syllabus:

Top Colleges B Tech Chemical Engineering Subjects

Here's the list of best 4 B Tech Chemical Engineering colleges along with their syllabus in the table given below:

Best BTech Chemical Engineering Colleges

BTech Chemical Engg Syllabus

IIT Bombay

B Tech_Syllabus

IIT Delhi

B_Tech_Chemical_Engineering_Syllabus

VIT Vellore

B_Tech_Chemical_Engineering_Syllabus

IIT Madras

B_Tech_Chemical_Engineering_Syllabus

Note - This information is taken from the official website and may vary.

Top Colleges M Tech Chemical Engineering Subjects

Here's the list of best 4 MTech Chemical Engg. colleges along with their syllabus in the table given below:

Best M Tech Chemical Engineering Colleges

M Tech Chemical Engineering Syllabus

NIT Rourkela

M_Tech_Chemical_Engineering_Syllabus

IIT Delhi

M_Tech_Chemical_Engineering_Syllabus

SRM Institute of Science and Technology

M_Tech_Chemical_Engineering_Syllabus

IIT Madras

M_Tech_Chemical_Engineering_Syllabus

Note - This information is taken from the official website and may vary.

Chemical Engineering Subjects FAQs

Q. Are the Chemical Engineering subjects same across all Indian colleges?

A. Not at all. The Chemical Engineering subjects differ on the basis of the college offering the course and the course level at which you're studying the course. The syllabus includes core subjects, elective subject choices, lab work, workshops, and a final year project. Though the Chemical Engineering syllabus varies from one college to another, the general concepts covered during the course duration are more or less similar.

Q. Does the Chemical Engineering syllabus focus more on theory or practical application?

A. The B Tech Chemical Engineering syllabus is set in such a manner that equal importance is given to both theoretical knowledge and practical application in labs. Students are taught abiut the basic and important concepts related to Chemical Engg. in the calsses and also get chance for hands-on training in laboratories. They preform various chemical experiemnts everyday under the guidance of their supervisors, which serves as a stepping stone for their career in the filed in the near future.

Q. What are the core B Tech Chemical Engineering subjects taught in classes?

A. Talking about the elective subjects, you can choose the ones you find intriguing and fun to study.

Some of the core subjects taught in the B Tech Chemical Engineering classes are given here:

·       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

Q. What are the elective BTech Chemical Engineering subjects? How to choose the right ones?

A. You must think about the skills can gain from those subjects and thei relevance in the present job market.

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

Q. Can I customize the B Tech Chemical Engineering syllabus according to my choices?

A. The B Tech Chemical Engineering syllabus is the perfect combination of core and elective subjects. As far as the core subjects are concerned, there is no scope of customization, as those subjects are a mandatory part of the coursework pattern and are designed in a manner as to give you thorough knowledge of all the important aspects of the Chemical Engineering field.

Coming to the elective subjects, you do get many choices where you can pick subjects according to your choices and understanding. So, you do have some scope for customizing your B Tech Chemical Engg syllabus there.

Q. Is the Chemical Engineering syllabus easy or difficult to study?

A. I guess it's subjective as it depends on person to person. Suppose you are passionate about chemical processing, creating a positive impact on the environment, ensuring safe and healthy food for people, and clean drinking water for society. In that case, you will thoroughly enjoy the entire Chemical Engineering syllabus pattern.

But if you are studying the course under some pressure or just for the sake of it, you might struggle to cope. The Chemical Engineering syllabus requires you to be determined so that you enjoy the curriculum and learn something new every day.

Q. Does the Chemical Engineering syllabus include internships, projects, or industrial training?

A. Absolutely, yes. The Chemical Engg syllabus includes internship programs, project work, and industrial training for students to get hands-on experience of the field, the intricacies involved, and become job-ready for the future. All you need is to stay focused, work hard, and gain as much knowledge as possible during the course duration.

Table of content
  • Popular Chemical Engineering Colleges in India
  • Popular Private Chemical Engineering Colleges in India
  • Popular Exams
  • Most Popular Courses
  • Popular Chemical Engineering UG Courses
  • Popular Chemical Engineering PG Courses

Popular Chemical Engineering Colleges in India

Following are the most popular Chemical Engineering Colleges in India. Learn more about these Chemical Engineering colleges (Courses, Reviews, Answers & more) by downloading the Brochure.
2 Courses
5.32 L - 7.4 L
4.4

#9 India Today

2 Courses
10.38 L - 20.76 L
16.15 LPA
4 Courses
2.71 L - 10 L
17.92 LPA

#1 India Today

2 Courses
1 L - 6.92 L
3.9
4 Courses
3 L - 13.2 L
4.53 LPA
2 Courses
3.2 L - 11 L
3.6

Popular Private Chemical Engineering Colleges in India

3.24 L - 12.59 L
3.9
2.49 L - 6.44 L
3.8
81.9 K - 12.36 L
7.5 LPA
2 Courses
1.26 L - 2.64 L
5.3 LPA
2.7 L - 5.13 L
4 Courses
3.09 L - 11.99 L

Popular Exams

Following are the top exams for Chemical Engineering. Students interested in pursuing a career on Chemical Engineering, generally take these important exams.You can also download the exam guide to get more insights.

Oct '25 - Nov '25

JEE Main 2026 Registration Session 1

TENTATIVE

Jan '26

JEE Main Admit Card 2025 Session 1

TENTATIVE

Dec '25 - Feb '26

MHT CET 2026 Application Form

TENTATIVE

Apr '26

MHT CET 2026 Admit Card

TENTATIVE

Mar '26 - Apr '26

AP EAMCET 2026 Application Form Dates

TENTATIVE

May '26

AP EAMCET 2026 Application form last date with la...

TENTATIVE

Popular Chemical Engineering UG Courses

Following are the most popular Chemical Engineering UG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these UG Courses by clicking the links below.

UG Courses

Popular Chemical Engineering PG Courses

Following are the most popular Chemical Engineering PG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these PG Courses by clicking the links below.

PG Courses

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Chandigarh University excels in both Chemical and Computer Engineering programs. Chemical Engineering provides solid foundations in process design, environmental engineering, and industrial applications. The programme includes practical labs and electives in petroleum and environmental engineering.

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MANVI KHOSLA

Contributor-Level 6

Answered a month ago

The Chemical Engineering department at Chandigarh University has a strong placement record. Students benefit from specialised labs like Mass Transfer, Heat Transfer, and Process Dynamics, which prepare them for real-world industry challenges. Companies such as Reliance Industries, Hindustan Unilever

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Vanya Shastri

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In terms of chemical engineering, Chandigarh University is an awesome place to study. The department owns some major, elegant laboratories for doing experiments to comprehend things happening in real time. 

Faculty members encourage students to write research papers and join mini-projects, encouragin

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Tanya

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Answered a month ago

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 s

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Vidhi Jain

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a month ago

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

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Vidhi Jain

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a month ago

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

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Vidhi Jain

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a month ago

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

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Vidhi Jain

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Answered a month ago

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

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Vidhi Jain

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Answered a month ago

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 compl

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Vidhi Jain

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a month ago

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 chem

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Vidhi Jain

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

The VITMEE syllabus of chemical engineering is as follows -

  • Law of thermodynamics
  • Law of conservation of mass and energy
  • Classification of fluids 
  • Introduction to particulate solids 
  • Fourier's law of heat conduction
  • Differential and integral method of analysis of rate data
  • Basic principles of unit operatio

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Bhumika Uniyal

Contributor-Level 7

Answered 2 months ago

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 a

...Read more

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Vidhi Jain

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

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

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Vidhi Jain

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

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 en

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Vidhi Jain

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

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 shif

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Vidhi Jain

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

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

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Vidhi Jain

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