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Home Study Undergraduate Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical Engineering), Bachelor of Science (Extractive Metallurgy)
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BB-CENEXM

Chemical Engineering and Extractive Metallurgy

Bachelor double degree

Extractive metallurgists are involved in plant design, development, operations and control, management and research. This course will provide you with sound training in minerals processing, hydrometallurgy and pyrometallurgy.

This offering version is phasing out and no longer taking applications. You may be able to apply for a later version.

See full course structure
  • ATAR
    Guaranteed ATAR 80
  • Qualification
    Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical Engineering), Bachelor of Science (Extractive Metallurgy)
  • Duration
    5 years full-time
  • Credit
    1000
  • CRICOS
    043753C
See full course structure
See full course structure

Why study Chemical Engineering and Extractive Metallurgy at Curtin?

Top 1 %

Curtin is ranked in the top one per cent of universities worldwide.

Academic Ranking of World Universities 2022.

Get the Curtin edge

Access to leadership programs, specialist facilities and industry placements give you a competitive edge in the job market.

Global education

You’ll have access to a range of international study opportunities.

Outline

Outline

This information is relevant for students commencing study in 2019. If you plan to commence study in 2020, please view the planned offering.

Chemical engineering uses chemistry, physics and mathematics to convert raw materials or chemicals into more useful or valuable forms. You’ll explore the development, design and operation of processes for the extraction, conversion and recovery of materials. Throughout your studies, you’ll specialise in biosystems engineering, chemical engineering or oil and gas.

Extractive metallurgists are involved in plant design, development, operations and control, management and research. This course will provide you with sound training in minerals processing, hydrometallurgy and pyrometallurgy. You will also cover environmental considerations and mine finance and management.

In your first year you will complete the Engineering Foundation Year (EFY). The EFY builds a solid base of the fundamental concepts common to all areas of engineering. The EFY was developed in partnership with industry to create a curriculum that is reflective of engineering practice.

Studying for two semesters in Kalgoorlie will give you first-hand experience and contact with the minerals industry and its personnel, providing you with a level of knowledge and awareness which is unavailable elsewhere. You will learn from highly qualified and experienced staff, and also industry experts who visit to lecture on specialist topics. To ensure a well-rounded and fully hands-on education, you will undertake field trips and at least 12 weeks of professional experience prior to graduation.

To satisfy professional requirements, students must complete at least 12 weeks or equivalent of exposure to professional engineering practice. This requirement can be met by appropriate work experience or through a combination of technical and non-technical activities. Students must demonstrate that they have met these requirements by using a formal Log Book to record their professional experiences during the period of their degree study.

Please refer to the handbook for additional course overview information. 

  • Metallurgist
  • Chemical Engineer

What you'll learn

  • apply scientific, process and metallurgical engineering principles to process engineering design and development, including sound risk management, environmental and occupational health and safety practice
  • think critically and creatively to generate innovative and optimum solutions
  • identify, evaluate and synthesise information from a range of sources to optimise process engineering design and development
  • communicate effectively in ways appropriate to the discipline, audience and purpose
  • use appropriate information, process and metallurgical technologies (recognising their advantages and limitations) in the design and development of sustainable process systems
  • engage in continuous education, training and research, and take control of their own learning and development
  • recognise and apply international standards and best practice in process and metallurgical engineering
  • demonstrate respect for cultural diversity
  • be ‘career ready’ for the process engineering profession, demonstrate leadership qualities, and work ethically and professionally both within a team and independently

Professional recognition

Upon graduation and after four years of approved experience, you will be eligible to become a Corporate Member of Engineers Australia and the Institution of Chemical Engineers.

After graduation and 12 weeks of appropriate and recorded work experience, you will also be eligible for membership of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.

Admission criteria

What you need in order to get into this course. There are different pathway options depending on your level of work and education experience.

Select an option that best suits you:

You’re considered a high school leaver if you:

  • Completed year 12 in Australia or overseas in the past two years, or
  • Completed TAFE or VET studies in the past two years.

ATAR pathway

  • Guaranteed ATAR 80

    This course has a guaranteed ATAR of 80

  • Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites)

    Mathematics: Methods ATAR and at least one of the following courses: Physics ATAR, Chemistry ATAR or Engineering Studies ATAR, or equivalent.

  • Desirable WACE subjects

    Mathematics: Specialist ATAR, or equivalent.

Please see our correlation comparability for previous TEE subjects, WACE courses and WACE ATAR courses.

StepUp Entry

Successful StepUp Entry and StepUp Equity Adjustment Admission Pathway (StepUp Bonus) applicants will be eligible to be considered for admission into this course.

Alternative pathways

  • STAT entry

    Not accepted.

English requirements

Curtin requires all applicants to demonstrate proficiency in English. Specific English requirements for this course are outlined in the IELTS table below.

You may demonstrate English proficiency using the following tests and qualifications.

IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System)

Writing

6.0

Speaking

6.0

Reading

6.0

Listening

6.0

Overall band score

6.5

Find your pathway to Curtin

Think you don’t have the marks or qualifications to study at Curtin? We have several pathways to help you meet admission. Use our pathway finder to find your best way to studying with us.

Pathway finder tool

How others gained admission

View the ATAR breakdown to see the low, median and high ATAR scores of students who started studying this course recently.

To see the other pathways students have taken, see the pathway breakdown.

Other requirements and notes for this course



In addition to the course-specific admission criteria listed above, please read our general admission criteria. Our general admission criteria apply to all courses at Curtin University.

In certain cases, the need to complete special units may extend the duration of your studies.

You’re considered someone with work and life experience if:

You have left secondary education more than two years ago (i.e. who are not classified as recent secondary education applicants) and have not undertaken vocational education training (VET) or higher education study since then.

How we define ‘experience’
‘Experience’ includes a combination of factors sufficient to demonstrate readiness for higher education such as mature-age entry, professional experience whether completion of the Special Tertiary Admission Test (STAT) is required or not, community involvement or work experience. Applicants may have undertaken non-formal programs that have helped prepare them for tertiary education or are relevant to the proposed higher education field of study.

Pathways

  • STAT entry

    Not accepted.

ATAR pathway

  • Guaranteed ATAR 80

    This course has a guaranteed ATAR of 80

  • Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites)

    Mathematics: Methods ATAR and at least one of the following courses: Physics ATAR, Chemistry ATAR or Engineering Studies ATAR, or equivalent.

  • Desirable WACE subjects

    Mathematics: Specialist ATAR, or equivalent.

Please see our correlation comparability for previous TEE subjects, WACE courses and WACE ATAR courses.

English requirements

Curtin requires all applicants to demonstrate proficiency in English. Specific English requirements for this course are outlined in the IELTS table below.

You may demonstrate English proficiency using the following tests and qualifications.

IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System)

Writing

6.0

Speaking

6.0

Reading

6.0

Listening

6.0

Overall band score

6.5

Find your pathway to Curtin

Think you don’t have the marks or qualifications to study at Curtin? We have several pathways to help you meet admission. Use our pathway finder to find your best way to studying with us.

Pathway finder tool

Other requirements and notes for this course



In addition to the course-specific admission criteria listed above, please read our general admission criteria. Our general admission criteria apply to all courses at Curtin University.

In certain cases, the need to complete special units may extend the duration of your studies.

You’re considered someone who studied at TAFE or have done an apprenticeship if:

Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study are those whose highest level of study since leaving secondary education is a VET course. This includes study at a public TAFE or other VET provider, whether a qualification was completed or not. Applicants with VET study may have other qualifications such as a Year 10 or Year 12 secondary school certificate.

Pathways

  • TAFE entry

    TAFE Advanced Diploma of Engineering (2 years); or Curtin College Diploma of Engineering AND satisfied the prerequisites: Maths Methods, and Physics/Chemistry. The Maths Methods prerequisite can be met with: Maths Methods ATAR; or MATH1013 Introductory Mathematics or MATH1005 Pre-Calculus, and MATH1014 Foundations of Calculus. The Physics prerequisite can be met with: Physics ATAR; or PHYS1006 Foundations of Physics. The Chemistry prerequisite can be met with: Chemistry ATAR; or CHEM1003 Introduction to Chemistry.

  • STAT entry

    Not accepted.

ATAR pathway

  • Guaranteed ATAR 80

    This course has a guaranteed ATAR of 80

  • Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites)

    Mathematics: Methods ATAR and at least one of the following courses: Physics ATAR, Chemistry ATAR or Engineering Studies ATAR, or equivalent.

  • Desirable WACE subjects

    Mathematics: Specialist ATAR, or equivalent.

Please see our correlation comparability for previous TEE subjects, WACE courses and WACE ATAR courses.

English requirements

Curtin requires all applicants to demonstrate proficiency in English. Specific English requirements for this course are outlined in the IELTS table below.

You may demonstrate English proficiency using the following tests and qualifications.

IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System)

Writing

6.0

Speaking

6.0

Reading

6.0

Listening

6.0

Overall band score

6.5

Find your pathway to Curtin

Think you don’t have the marks or qualifications to study at Curtin? We have several pathways to help you meet admission. Use our pathway finder to find your best way to studying with us.

Pathway finder tool

Other requirements and notes for this course



In addition to the course-specific admission criteria listed above, please read our general admission criteria. Our general admission criteria apply to all courses at Curtin University.

In certain cases, the need to complete special units may extend the duration of your studies.

You’re considered someone who has recently left university if:

Applicants with higher education are those whose highest level of study since leaving secondary education is a higher education course, such as a university degree. This may include applicants who are currently studying a higher education course at another education provider and want to transfer to Curtin University, or applicants who are currently studying at Curtin but want to switch to a different course. It may also include applicants who have completed past study with university and non-university higher education providers.

Curtin course switcher criteria

To switch into this course, you need to have:

  • attained an ATAR of 80 and met the prerequisites; or
  • if you have studied Maths Applications or equivalent:
    • completed 75 credits within one semester with a semester weighted average (SWA) of 70%; or
    • completed 100 credits within one semester with an SWA of 65% or higher, plus any unit/s assessed as comparable to Maths Methods ATAR, and Physics ATAR or Chemistry ATAR; or
  • if you have studied Maths Methods or equivalent:
    • completed 75 credits within one semester with an SWA of 65%; or
    • completed 100 credits within one semester with an SWA of 60% or higher, plus any unit/s assessed as comparable to Maths Methods ATAR, and Physics ATAR or Chemistry ATAR.

The Maths Methods prerequisite can be met with:

  • Maths Methods ATAR; or
  • MATH1013 Introductory Mathematics or MATH1005 Pre-Calculus (12.5 credits); and
  • MATH1014 Foundations of Calculus.

The Physics prerequisite can be met with:

  • Physics ATAR; or
  • PHYS1006 Foundations of Physics.

The Chemistry prerequisite can be met with:

  • Chemistry ATAR; or
  • CHEM1003 Introduction to Chemistry.

Higher education course switcher criteria

To switch into this course from another higher education course, you need to have:

  • attained an ATAR of 80 plus any unit/s assessed as comparable to Maths Methods ATAR, and Physics ATAR or Chemistry ATAR; or
  • if you have studied Maths Applications or equivalent:
    • completed 75 credits within one semester, with a semester weighted average (SWA) of 70%; or
    • completed 100 credits within one semester, with an SWA of 65% or higher, plus any unit/s assessed as comparable to Maths Methods ATAR, and Physics ATAR or Chemistry ATAR; or
  • if you have studied Maths Methods or equivalent:
    • completed 75 credits within one semester, with an SWA of 65%; or
    • completed 100 credits within one semester, with an SWA of 60% or higher, plus any unit/s assessed as comparable to Maths Methods ATAR, and Physics ATAR or Chemistry ATAR.

ATAR pathway

  • Guaranteed ATAR 80

    This course has a guaranteed ATAR of 80

  • Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites)

    Mathematics: Methods ATAR and at least one of the following courses: Physics ATAR, Chemistry ATAR or Engineering Studies ATAR, or equivalent.

  • Desirable WACE subjects

    Mathematics: Specialist ATAR, or equivalent.

Please see our correlation comparability for previous TEE subjects, WACE courses and WACE ATAR courses.

English requirements

Curtin requires all applicants to demonstrate proficiency in English. Specific English requirements for this course are outlined in the IELTS table below.

You may demonstrate English proficiency using the following tests and qualifications.

IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System)

Writing

6.0

Speaking

6.0

Reading

6.0

Listening

6.0

Overall band score

6.5

Find your pathway to Curtin

Think you don’t have the marks or qualifications to study at Curtin? We have several pathways to help you meet admission. Use our pathway finder to find your best way to studying with us.

Pathway finder tool

Other requirements and notes for this course



In addition to the course-specific admission criteria listed above, please read our general admission criteria. Our general admission criteria apply to all courses at Curtin University.

In certain cases, the need to complete special units may extend the duration of your studies.

Unsure what option suits you?

We’re here to help you navigate the complexities of university admission. Choose the support you need from the options below.

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Find your pathway to Curtin

Think you don’t have the marks or qualifications to study at Curtin? We have several pathways to help you meet admission. Use our pathway finder to find your best way to studying with us.

Pathway finder tool
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