Chemical engineering is a profession which provides a link between scientific knowledge and manufactured products. The chemical engineer relies on science, experience, creativity and ingenuity to produce these materials economically. From raw materials such as minerals, coal, petroleum and agricultural products, chemical engineers create versatile intermediate and commodity chemicals, high performance fuels, new materials for construction, pharmaceuticals, high performance foodstuffs, synthetic textiles, plastics, solid state electronic components and dozens of other engineered materials.  The chemical engineer’s influence has been important in the development of catalysts, fuel cells, automatic controls, biochemical processes, artificial kidneys, tissue engineering, nuclear energy, medical instruments and devices as well as in the development of air and water pollution control systems. Many new and equally exciting challenges await the practising chemical engineer of the future.

The profession of chemical engineering embraces a wide variety of activities including research, process development,  product development, design, manufacturing supervision, technical sales, consulting and teaching.  The chemical engineer can be behind a desk, in a laboratory, in an oilfield, offshore oil  platform, in a petroleum  or paint company,    in a manufacturing plant or engaged in nation-wide and worldwide travel. Successful chemical engineers find chemistry, biological sciences, mathematics and physics to be interesting and exciting. The curriculum in chemical engineering includes continued study of chemistry, mathematics and physics an intensive as well as intensive study in the engineering sciences such as chemical reaction engineering, thermodynamics, mass transfer, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, system analysis and process synthesis and design.

Those who have passed SPM/STPM with good grades in mathematics, physics and chemistry could obtain a degree  in  chemical engineering from any of the public or private universities in Malaysia or from any   recognized foreign  universities.   Students planning to pursue studies abroad should check with the  Public Service Department (JPA) about foreign universities that are recognized. 

The cost for undertaking an undergraduate course in chemical engineering in a public  university in Malaysia would be about  RM 15,000 and the cost of it in a foreign or  local private institution of higher learning would be  approximately t RM 50,000.  However, it must be noted that the cost would very much depend on  prevailing circumstances.