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Master of Chemical Engineering (Leuven)

Master of Science
The chemical sector is one of the most important economic sectors in Belgium. It provides approximately
90,000 direct jobs and more than 150,000 indirect. Your master’s journey will equip you with a solid
background in classical chemical engineering while covering also the environmental, safety and economic
aspects.
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Location
Leuven
Master of Chemical Engineering (120 ECTS)
Ects + duration
120 ECTS (2 years full-time)

Educational level
Master’s
Education
Academic calendar
1st semester: end of September -> end
What's the programme all about? of January (exams in January)
The Master of Chemical Engineering guarantees you a solid chemical engineering background while also opting for a
2nd semester: half of February -> end of
contemporary view on product intensification, energy-efficient processing routes, product engineering and biochemical
June (exams in June)
processes.
KU Leuven academic calendar
You will learn to think in a process-oriented way and prepared to grasp the complexity of physicochemical systems.
Furthermore, you will learn of processes at the nano and micro scale, which are increasingly fundamental for the Applying
development of new products and technologies. Application deadline 2020-2021

Programme outline 1 March (for non-EEA citizens)

1 June (for EEA citizens)
The programme consists of a core curriculum, specialisation courses and general courses drawn from a pool of non- How to apply
technical supporting skills. www.kuleuven.be/application
The core curriculum builds on knowledge obtained at the bachelor’s level and covers the foundations of chemical Tuition fee 2019-2020
engineering. You will concentrate on both the classical and the emerging new trends. €938.80 for EEA students
During the second year, the generic core is strengthened further. You opt for one of three specialisations: product, process €6,000 for non-EEA students
or environmental engineering. The areas covered in the programme are designed to prime you for the major challenges
within related industries. Most recent information
on www.kuleuven.be/tuitionfees
In the final phase of the master’s programme you will undertake your master's thesis. You are assigned master’s thesis
topics and select 5 preferred topics from a comprehensive list of relevant research areas.
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Strengths Student Ambassadors

Open days
While the classic petrochemically based technologies and products still have their value, our master’s programme focuses
Meet us in Belgium
more on the current trends of process intensification and the circular (biobased) economy.
Meet us abroad
The master’s programme values interactions with the chemical industry and some courses are taught by guest professors
from within the industry. The department was the first to establish an Industrial Advisory Board, drawn from the expert Brochure
commercial sphere. Download the brochure
Request the brochure
At the Faculty of Engineering Science, students are given the opportunity to complete one or two semesters of their
degree within the Erasmus+ programme at a European university, or a university outside Europe. The Chemical
Faculty website
Engineering master programme has, e.g., a yearlong successful (dual degree) collaboration with Delaware University (US)
and Ecole Polytechnique in Montréal (CA) Faculty of Engineering Science

Application deadline for 2020-2021

1 March 2020 (for non-EEA citizens)

1 June 2020 (for EEA citizens)

KU Leuven uses an online application system. You can submit your application form via www.kuleuven.be/application.
Students with a Flemish degree can consult www.kuleuven.be/inschrijven.

Tuition Fee 2019-2020

The current tuition fee is €938.80 for EEA students and € 6,000 for non-EEA students. The tuition fee for the 2020-2021
academic year will be determined in the spring of 2020. Please consult the website for the most recent
information: www.kuleuven.be/tuitionfees.

Master Mind

Excellent students who are eligible for a Master Mind Scholarship are invited to submit their application before 1
February 2020.
 Profile

Is this the right programme for me?

You possess bachelor’s knowledge of thermodynamics, transport phenomena, physical and mechanical separation
processes, reactor engineering, polymer engineering and analytical chemistry (embedded in a strong scientific basis of
mathematics, chemistry and physics).
You are passionate for chemical engineering, product engineering, process intensification and/or (bio)reactor
engineering.
You have excellent knowledge of the English language encompassing its understanding, speaking and writing.

Admission requirements

Admission requirements master of Chemical Engineering (Leuven)

Objectives

1. Competent in one or more scientific disciplines

- The graduates possesses an advanced and active (i.e. application-oriented) knowledge in chemical engineering, in
addition to and as a deepening of the chemical engineering package of the Bachelor of Applied Science and Engineering.
- And possesses, depending on the selected option, specialized knowledge in one of the following areas of chemical
engineering:
o Chemical and biochemical process engineering;
o Environmental engineering;
o Product engineering.
- The graduate can apply, expand, deepen and integrate knowledge from the various fields of chemical engineering.

2. Competent in conducting research

- Can actively participate in research in order to acquire new knowledge and insight from the applied current methods and
techniques.
- Can independently perform a complete research; develop a hypothesis, gather information and develop, plan, execute
and evaluate a research plan.
- Can carry out a risk analysis.
- Is able to conduct advanced experiments and interpret their results in a sufficiently profound manner.

3. Competent in designing
- Is able to formulate clear research questions based on a complex design problem within the field of chemical
engineering.
- The student is able to solve problems; this includes defining a problem, gathering information, processing information
independently (analyse, evaluate and select), formulating a solution or solution method, developing and implementing a
solution, and evaluating the results.
- Can come to an integrated process or product based on knowledge of the individual sub-steps and their relationship.
- Can actively modify the process of designing when changing external circumstances or new insights require so.

4. A scientific approach
- Has a systematic approach, critical attitude and understanding of the specificity of science and technology
- Is able to find, process and evaluate literature and technical manuals.
- Can critically examine existing theories, models or interpretations.
- Is proficient in developing, using and validating models, and uses the adequate simulation software and design tools.
- Demonstrates academic integrity in thought and action.
- Independently keeps up with the latest developments in the field of chemical engineering.

5. Basic intellectual skills

- Can form an opinion based on objective evidence.
- Can formulate a reasoned opinion in the case of incomplete or irrelevant data, taking into account the way in which these
data have been gathered.
- Can independently reflect critically and constructively on their own thinking, decision making and actions.
- Has a critical and constructive approach to developments in their field.
- Is capable of abstract and structural thinking.

6. Competent in collaboration and communication

- Can communicate orally and in writing about his or her field in Dutch or English with laymen and specialists.
- Can efficiently work in groups, carry team roles, and deal with social dynamics.
- Can handle deadlines through an independently drawn work schedule.

7. Takes the temporal and social context into account

- Can take into account the various aspects of the corporate culture and industrial structure he/she will be part of.
- Has insight into the broader context of engineering (financial, legal, economic, sociological, cultural, political, technical-
industrial context).
- Is familiar with aspects of environment, safety and sustainability in procedures and in product development.
- Is aware of their social, ethical and environmental responsibility and acts accordingly.
 Career perspectives

After Houston in the United States, the Antwerp Harbour region is the world’s second most important chemical cluster, and
therefore employment prospects are very promising.

As a chemical engineer, you will predominantly work in industrial branches involved in the production of bulk and speciality
chemicals. Professional activities in the sector include design, planning and building of installations (project engineer),
monitoring and optimisation of existing processes (process engineer), design/formulation and optimisation of products
(product engineer).

Start your career, during your studies

During your bachelor's and master's programme you can already shape your own profile by choosing a certain
specialisation, studying abroad (Erasmus), doing a work placement, or starting your own business.

The Student Career Centre is happy to put you on the right track towards your first work experience. The centre also
coaches you in the search for an interesting job and helps you with job interviews. For students wanting to start their own
business KU Leuven also has Lcie, the KU Leuven community that encourages students with innovative and
entrepreneurial ideas.

Don’t know where to start? The Student Career Centre's databases contain offers for jobs, volunteer work, innovation
projects and student jobs. You can also visit one of the events organised by the Career Centre.

Contact

Faculty of Engineering Science

Administrative office
Kasteelpark Arenberg 1 bus 2200
3001 HEVERLEE
tel. + 32 16 32 13 50

Programme director
Prof. Ilse Smets

e-mail

Visit the faculty website

Questions about student life in Belgium and life at KU Leuven? Ask our students

Direct:
Master in de ingenieurswetenschappen: logistiek en verkeer (Leuven)
Master of Engineering: Logistics and Traffic (Leuven)

When allowed:
Master of Welding Engineering (Sint-Katelijne-Waver)

Admission requirements

Master of Chemical Engineering (Leuven)

In the context of the wellbeing law certain data must be stored for each student and they must be informed timely on the
subject of:

the risks to which the student is exposed during the study programme (practicals, traineeships, master's theses,…)
the associated preventive measures for each risk, such as medical follow-up, personal protective equipment and
instructions.
The risks and preventive measures are collected in the HSE-file for students. Through this link you can consult the HSE-
file. The HSE-file will be used for traineeships and/or master’s theses. For more information about traineeships, we refer to
the following site: traineeship.. For questions, please contact the HSE Department.

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