Chemical & Metallurgical Engineering

The role of the Metallurgical Engineer is to develop, design and operate processes that transform naturally occurring minerals and recycle materials to produce commercially valuable products such as mineral concentrates, inorganic chemicals and refined metals. It may sound like narrow and specialist profession but as you will find out the opposite is the case, there are a wide range of opportunities and challenges.

It’s a hands-on profession; all about putting scientific principles into industrial practice. For the practising engineer there is plenty of variety. You will need to solve problems using a combination of your knowledge and skills in the engineering sciences, an appreciation of economic realities, and ability to work with and manage people. 

What does the future hold?

Economic forecasts consistently point to long-term demand for metal and metal products from the booming economies of China and India. Australia’s own economy is forecast to continue to grow, so that the minerals industry will also be looking for skilled people for many years to come. 

Employment Opportuntites

The major employer of metallurgical engineers is the minerals industry. The minerals industry is global, which means that you can find work just about anywhere in the world as a UQ metallurgy graduate. A BE in Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering will give you even more flexibility to enable you to find a job that suits you in the minerals industry or as a chemical engineer, you will be able to change company you work for, the sector, location and the country.

Graduates are currently employed as:

• Process engineers in metallurgical engineering operations
• Design engineers in engineering companies
• Research and development engineers by large companies and research institutions
• Consultants to the minerals industry, stockbroking and banking firms
• Product sales engineers in supply and support companies (software development, reagent and equipment)
• Research engineers in research institutions and Universities
• Academic teaching staff in Universities

Starting salaries for graduates in the minerals industry very competitive and are amongst the highest paid of professional engineers. Metallurgical engineers are in short supply around the world, which means that there are excellent graduate career opportunities and vacation work openings with companies seeking to recruit future employees. 

Visit our Careers in Chemical Engineering page for further information.
 

Professional memberships

Institution of Engineers, Australia (EA)
Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM)
Institute of Chemical Engineers (IChemE, London) 

UQ Bonus Rank Scheme
 
The UQ Bonus Rank Scheme offers students who complete Year 12 in Australia a chance to improve their rank to gain entry to their preferred program.  For more information please click here.

Full program details and entry requirements

Credit for Previous Studies

Non-Award Enrolment
 
If you have the skills and background to enrol in individual courses, but you are not qualified to enter an award program, you may be eligible to enrol as a domestic non-award student on a fee-paying basis, for training purposes. This option is not available to international students.

The University's Enhanced Studies program allows students in selected high schools to enrol in first year level university courses, while completing their Year 12 studies.

Full list of BE courses 

On this site