Postgraduate study in Chemical and Materials Engineering

Postgraduate students in Chemical and Materials Engineering gain a deeper understanding of how things work, with the potential to develop new technologies. Areas of interest include:

• Advanced and nanomaterials research, which involves in-depth studies into properties, performance, processing, microstructure, and industrial applications
• Chemical and process engineering, including aluminium smelting technology, heat exchange, iron and steel making, food processing, high-pressure sterilisation, and more
• Energy and the environment, including biodiesel, oil and gas processing, thermal management, air flow and heat transfer, and clean technologies
• Food and bioproduct processing, with a focus on value-added food products and cost-effective technologies
• Materials engineering, with studies in novel materials design, manufacturing and processing. Specialist areas are light metals, nanomaterials and biomaterials
• Separation and reaction engineering, specialising in green process engineering
• Surface and materials science, from the nano to large-scale

Important requirements for international students

• All international applicants should ensure that they meet all the programme’s entry requirements. You should only proceed with your application if your GPA matches or exceeds the requirements listed for your country. Please do not apply if your GPA is below the minimum entry requirements, but consider the alternative study options that may be offered as a pathway into your preferred programme, such as the Postgraduate Certificate in Engineering.
• You are strongly advised to consider visa application times. Please be aware of the student visa processing times in your home country and submit the documentation needed well ahead of the Faculty of Engineering's programme application deadlines. For processing times, contact the New Zealand High Commission/Embassy or your education agent.
• If you are applying for your second masters degree, you need to be aware that additional assessment requirements will take extra time. The Faculty of Engineering is required to assess your previous masters degree courses to ensure that they do not overlap with the courses in the University of Auckland programme that you have expressed interest in. You must therefore allow more time for your application to be processed, and be aware that further documentation may be required. Submit your application well in advance of the deadline if this is your situation, as you may also need to take visa application times into account.

Postgraduate Certificate in Engineering

There are distinct study tracks available for the PGCertEng in Chemical and Materials Engineering focusing on Food Engineering, Bioprocess Engineering and Biomaterials Engineering. Find out more.

Master of Engineering

120-point option

• Completion of CHEMMAT 796 ME Thesis (120 points)

180-point option

• Completion of CHEMMAT 796 ME Thesis (120 points)  
• At least 60 points from courses listed in the following Master of Engineering Studies in Chemical and Materials Engineering schedule

 

Master of Engineering Studies (taught)

120-point programme:

At least 45 points from the following:

No more than 45 points from CHEMMAT 787-789, 795

Semester One

• CHEMMAT 713 Advanced Chemical Engineering (15 points)
• CHEMMAT 721 Advanced Materials (15 points) not offered 2023
• CHEMMAT 724 Advanced Materials Characterisation (15 points)
• CHEMMAT 752 Process Dynamics and Control (15 points)
• CHEMMAT 753 Biomaterials and Applications (15 points)
• CHEMMAT 772 Advanced Food Process Engineering (15 points)
• CHEMMAT 787 Project X (15 points)
• CHEMMAT 788 A&B Project Y (30 points) 2 semesters
• CHEMMAT 789 Project Z (30 points) 1 semester
• CHEMMAT 795 A&B Research Project (45 points) 2 semesters

Semester Two

• CHEMMAT 713 Advanced Chemical Engineering (15 points)
• CHEMMAT 754 Materials Performance Enhancement (15 points) not offered in 2023
• CHEMMAT 755 Materials for Energy and Environmental Applications (15 points) not offered in 2023
• CHEMMAT 758 Resource Recovery Technologies (15 points)
• CHEMMAT 771 Advanced Food Process Technology (15 points) not offered in 2023
• CHEMMAT 773 Food Process Systems Engineering (15 points)
• CHEMMAT 787 Project X (15 points)
• CHEMMAT 788 A&B Project Y (30 points) 2 semesters
• CHEMMAT 789 Project Z (30 points) 1 semester
• CHEMMAT 795 A&B Research Project (45 points) 2 semesters

 

Choose up to 75 points from the following:

Semesters One

• CHEMMAT 712 Directed Study in Chemical Eng (15 points)
• CHEMMAT 722 Directed Study in Materials (15 points)
• CHEMMAT 723 Industrial Materials Engineering (15 points)
• CHEMMAT 756 Food Processing Engineering (15 points)
• CHEMMAT 760 Advanced Microbial Technology in Bioprocess Engineering (15 points)
• ENERGY 721 Energy Resources (15 points)
• ENGGEN 732 Systems Thinking and Project Business Case (15 points)
• ENGGEN 769 Research Methods for Engineers (15 points) Auckland Online
• FOODSCI 703 Food Processing (15 points)
• MECHENG 743 Composite Materials (15 points)

Semester Two

• CHEMMAT 712 Directed Study in Chemical Eng (15 points)
• CHEMMAT 720 Materials and Design Processing (15 points)
• CHEMMAT 722 Directed Study in Materials (15 points)
• CHEMMAT 725 Advanced Functional Materials (15 points)
• CHEMMAT 757 Engineering Biotechnology (15 points)
• CHEMMAT 759 Industry 4.0 for Chemical Engineering (15 points)
• ENGGEN 769 Research Methods for Engineers (15 points) On-campus
• ENVSCI 711 Assessing Environmental Effects (15 points)

Or up to 45 points from appropriate 600 and 700 level courses offered at this University, subject to approval by the Head of Department.

For course descriptions, please refer to the University of Auckland Calendar.

For general student enquiries, please contact the Student Hubs. If you would like further academic information, you can contact a Postgraduate Adviser.