With almost a third of South Africa's chemical engineering graduates coming from UCT and with the largest national research programme, the Department of Chemical Engineering is at the forefront of excellence in education and research. 

The Department of Chemical Engineering at UCT aims to educate students in modern process engineering principles and prepare them for lifelong professional growth and a dynamic range of careers.

Our approach is to integrate the fundamentals of science and the principles of process engineering into multi-disciplinary teaching and research programmes aimed at producing world-class graduates and internationally competitive research.

Undergraduate and postgraduate programmes promote student learning and development, with staff providing a caring and supportive environment. Our programmes are fully accredited with the Engineering Council of South Africa. As a result, our graduates are highly sought after and occupy key positions in leading companies.

Our multi-disciplinary postgraduate research programmes are aimed primarily at benefiting the process industries, specialist technology firms, business and service sectors. Industrial partners are a part of our team, contributing to bursaries, commissioning research and serving on our Advisory Board.

The Department is committed to maintaining world-class standards of academic excellence and to preserving our core values of scholarship, professionalism and integrity. We firmly believe that our profession must continue to find ways to improve the quality of life of all South Africans.

Goals of the Department

• Producing highly trained graduates for the process industries, specialist technology firms, business and service sectors

• Being preferred provider of research for our stakeholders by conducting multidisciplinary research programmes within an integrated research portfolio

• Employing quality staff who reflect the diversity of our country

• Providing first-rate facilities for education and research

• Promoting our programmes and achievements