This article shares the list of Best Chemical Engineering Colleges in the World as of 2022. Let's get started
As a student, the toughest and the most confusing decision you will probably make is deciding the college/university to get into among the many good ones present. And this is no surprise! Anybody serious about pursuing higher education has been in that phase of life and knows how challenging this “college hunt” can get.
To make your already difficult life a little bit easier, in this article, we have listed out the 10 topmost Chemical Engineering colleges (not just in your country but the entire world) that will make sure to provide you with the best of this degree.
So… what are you waiting for? Read along to find out!
What does ‘Chemical Engineering’ have to offer you in 2022?
The degree in Chemical Engineering is an interdisciplinary area and combines the principle subjects of mathematics, chemistry, biochemistry, physics, biology, microbiology, and economics.
The courses offered by the colleges/universities are made up of not only lectures, tutorials, and seminars, but also computer practice sessions, practical laboratory work, and both individual as well as group work. Site visits and regular classes by industry professionals also form a part of these courses.
Most of the courses even include work placements and ‘a year in industry’ so that graduates are equipped with the tools required to succeed in the industry.
In the past, the degree of Chemical Engineering was known to only cover ’oil refining’ and/or ‘petrochemical production’. This is not the case today as the industry is constantly progressing and therefore, its study will also be influenced by advancement in the field.
New and improved materials are always being developed and the practical work provided by these courses will help students in getting the opportunity to learn about nanotechnology, fabric development, fuel cells, mineral processing, and also bioengineering.
10 Best Chemical Engineering Colleges in the World (as of 2022)
Here’s a list of 10 of the best Chemical Engineering colleges in the world. Note that these are in no particular rank of order.
#1 Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Massachusetts, United States)
The first one in our list HAS to be MIT. Ranking #1 in North America and the United States, this is among the most popular and prestigious institutes for science in the world. This is a top private, not-for-profit institute with an Acceptance Rate of only 7%.
It offers a wide variety of courses that are widely distributed among the Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral degrees here. The Admission Requirements are - Recommendations, SAT/ACT, Secondary school record, College-preparatory program, Secondary school GPA, and TOEFL.
A few of the many notable alumni are - Buzz Aldrin (American former astronaut, engineer, and fighter pilot), John Forbes Nash Jr. (American mathematician who made fundamental contributions to game theory, differential geometry, and the study of partial differential equations), Benjamin Netanyahu (Israeli politician who served as the 9th prime minister of Israel from 1996 to 1999 and from 2009 to 2021), Avram Noam Chomsky (American linguist, philosopher, cognitive scientist, historical essayist, social critic, and political activist).
#2 Stanford University (California, United States)
Founded in the year 1891, Stanford University is again one of the top private universities in the United States and also in the world. Today, there are more than 9,000 students enrolled in Master’s and Ph.D. programs. Stanford’s seven graduate schools are: engineering; earth; business; energy and environmental sciences; humanities and sciences; education; law and medicine.
Notable Alumni - Larry Page (American business magnate, computer scientist and internet entrepreneur, best known for co-founding Google with Sergey Brin), Reese Witherspoon (American actress and producer), Tiger Woods (one of the greatest golfers of all time and is one of the most famous athletes in modern history).
#3 Tsinghua University (Beijing, China)
Tsinghua University ranks #1 in Asia and in China for Chemical Engineering. It offers a variety of courses spread across Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D. programs. Founded in 1911, this is a non-profit university with a public-private partnership. The major languages are Chinese and English.
The Acceptance Rate here is 27%, with a Student to Staff ratio of 18:1.
A few of the many prominent alumni of Tsinghua University are - Xi Jinping (Chinese politician serving as General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) since 2012), Hu Jintao (retired Chinese politician who served as General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from 2002 to 2012), Chen-Ning Yang (Chinese theoretical physicist).
#4 University of California, Berkeley (Berkeley, United States)
Founded in the year 1868, University of California, Berkeley (UCB) is a public research university. It is also the flagship institution of the ten research universities that are affiliated with the University of California system.
Berkeley started out with only a little more than 40 students. However, being the first full-curriculum university in California, it quickly gained its ground and by the early 1940s, it had grown significantly and was ranked second only to Harvard.
The fields of study in this university includes - Journalism, Architecture, Art, Social Welfare, Business administration, Computer Science, Mathematics, Electrical Engineering & Computer Sciences, Education, Law, and Urban Design.
Prominent alumni include - Stephen Wozniak (American electronics engineer, computer programmer, inventor, philanthropist, and technology entrepreneur), Chris Pine (American actor).
#5 University of Cambridge (Cambridge, United Kingdom)
Yet another mention-worthy institute for Chemical Engineering, studying at Cambridge is the dream of many young students with big academic aspirations. This university employs a collegiate system, which means that one will have to apply to a chosen college rather than the university itself.
University of Cambridge offers 30 undergraduate programs covering more than 65 subject areas that span all the way from chemical engineering to English, mathematics, medicine, and even classics.
Founded in the year of 1209, this has earned its name as one of the oldest universities in the world. The competition here is very high and the Acceptance Rate is 21%.
Notable Alumni - Sir Isaac Newton (English mathematician, physicist, alchemist, astronomer, theologian, and author), Sylvia Plath (American poet, novelist, and short story writer), William Harvey (English physician who made influential contributions in anatomy and physiology)
#6 National University of Singapore (Singapore City, Singapore)
Founded in 1905, it ranks #4 in Asia and #1 in Singapore. This is a non-profit, public-private funded university. The primary language here is English. The acceptance rate here is 46%. Student to Staff ratio is 12:1.
Admission Requirements - “Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education (GCE) with Advanced ('A') level or equivalent” (Source - edurank.org). This university provides a plethora of courses spread all over Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral degrees.
Notable Alumni - Mahathir bin Mohamad (Malaysian politician, author, and physician serving as Malaysia's fourth and seventh prime minister), Halimah Yacob (Singaporean politician, 8th and current president of Singapore. She is the first female president in the history of the country).
#7 Nanyang Technological University (Singapore City, Singapore)
Founded in 1955, this ranks #6 in Asia and #2 in Singapore. With an Acceptance Rate of 44%, the primary language here is English. This is a non-profit, public-private funded university with a Student: Staff ratio of 19:1.
Admission requirements - “2 General Certificate of Education (GCE) at Advanced ('A') level or equivalent. Candidates who have obtained relevant diplomas from any of the Polytechnics in Singapore may also apply for admission. International students with equivalent qualifications may also apply” - (Source - edurank.org)
Notable alumni - Dato' Sri Ang Tjoen Ming (Indonesian billionaire, a banking and property magnate, and founder of the Mayapada Group), Stefanie Sun (Singaporean singer-songwriter), Joanne Peh (Singaporean actress and host).
#8 University of Oxford (Oxford, United Kingdom)
Founded in the year 1096, Oxford offers 48 undergraduate degrees spanning a wide range of disciplines, from the traditional sciences to humanities, law, fine art, and languages. Students also have the opportunity to study joint honors programs such as Archaeology and Anthropology, and Philosophy and Theology.
Despite not having a quota for international students, around 17% of applicants are international citizens.
Notable Alumni include - Tony Abbott (former Prime Minister of Australia), Sir Grantley Adams (former Premier of Barbados and Prime Minister of the West Indies), Samira Ahmed (journalist and presenter), Diran Adebayo (author).
#9 University of Tokyo (Tokyo, Japan)
Ranked #9 in Asia and #1 in Japan for Chemical Engineering, this was founded in 1877. It has an Acceptance Rate of 35% and is a non-profit, public-private funded institute. Although the dominant language here is Japanese, English may also be offered for certain programs and courses.
The compulsory Admissions Requirements are “High school diploma or equivalent and entrance examination” (Source - edurank.org). The Student:Staff ratio is 6:1. It provides Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral degrees.
Few of the notable alumni are - Ryūnosuke Akutagawa (Japanese writer active in the Taishō period, also known as "father of the Japanese short story"), Yukio Mishima (Japanese author, poet, actor, playwright, Shintoist, nationalist, and founder of the Tatenokai).
#10 Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (Zürich, Switzerland)
One of the top public universities in Zürich, it was established in 1855 as the Swiss Federal Polytechnic School. For UnderGraduate programs, the main teaching language is German, while most Master's and Doctoral Programs are in English.
This has 16 departments that offer not only academic education but also conducts scientific research in subjects ranging from engineering and architecture to chemistry and physics.
Notable Alumni - Albert Einstein (German-born theoretical physicist), John von Neumann (Hungarian-American mathematician, physicist, computer scientist, engineer and polymath).
The Final Word
We hope you found this curated list and this article helpful and informative.
Chemical engineers are in high demand today as many industries rely on their work and discoveries. A large number of industries rely on the synthesis and processing of chemicals and materials. Traditional careers for a chemical engineer are found in the chemical, energy and oil industries, whereas the less traditional spheres include biotech, pharmaceuticals, device fabrication, and environmental engineering!
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