Curriculum

Programme provision

In order to obtain the MSc degree in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, the student must fulfil the following requirements: 

• Have passed general competence courses adding up to at least 30 ECTS points, subject to distribution requirements stated in the Curriculum section; 
• Have passed technological specialization courses adding up to at least 30 ECTS points; 
• Have completed a master thesis work of at least 30 ECTS points within the field of the general program; 
• Have passed a sufficient number of elective courses to bring the total number of ECTS points of the entire study up to at least 120.  

General competence points in excess of 30 do not count as technological specialization points, but count as electives. Technological specialization points in excess of 30 count as electives.

Curriculum

See the Study programme tab, menu item Study plan examples for examples of how to combine courses in study plans.

General Competence Courses

The MSc programme's three aspects of general competence are subject core, synthesis, and generalist point of view. These aspects are addressed, singly or combined, in the following seven courses, which provide a close bond between Chemical and Biochemical Engineering core and broader engineering skills. However, since three different aspects of competency should be covered, at least one course from each of groups a and b, and at least 10 ECTS from group c, subject to restricted choices, must be included in any study plan, and a minimum of 30 ECTS points must be earned in total among the seven courses listed below.

General competence points in excess of 30 do not count as technological specialization points, but as electives.

a) Model-based analysis is an important element in most of the technological specialization courses in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering and in research and development work. Therefore at least one of the following core courses must be passed:

b) Design within Chemical and Biochemical Engineering synthesizes different engineering disciplines and at the same time requires close attention to the needs of both customer and society. Therefore at least one of the following courses, combining general engineering and synthesis aspects, must be passed:

c) In the innovation and design of chemical and biochemical processes innovative, chemical, and biochemical insight is combined with knowledge about construction and working of process equipment. Both customer's and society's requirements of safe, clean, innovative, economical and socially responsible production should be satisfied. Thus it is necessary that an education in chemical and biochemical engineering includes courses in which the technological core is put into perspective in relation to externally generated requirements.Therefore at least 10 ECTS, subject to restricted choices, must be passed among the following courses:

Mandatory (subgroup c1):

Note: Students satisfying mandatory prerequisites for courses 42502, 42503 and 42505 may substitute either of those for 42500, 42501 or 42504.

At least one of (subgroup c2):

Additional possibility (subgroup c3):

Note: Either 28855 or 28857 is mandatory for the specialization Fermentation Based Manufacturing (FBM).

Technological Specialization Courses

General competence points in excess of 30 do not count as technological specialization points, but count as electives. Technological specialization points in excess of 30 count as electives.

The complete list of technological specialization courses is shown below. A minimum of 30 ECTS points should be earned by taking courses from the list. See the description of focus areas, study plan examples, and the course catalog for guidance on how courses are related.

Note for students following the Fermentation Based Manufacturing (FBM) study line: Courses 27455 and 28455 are mandatory and courses 27410, 28233, and 28345 are strongly recommended.

Elective Courses

Any course classified as MSc course in DTU's course base may be taken for credit as an elective course. This includes general competence and technological specialization courses in excess of the minimal requirements. Master students may choose as much as 10 credit points among the bachelor courses at DTU and courses at an equivalent level from other higher institutions.

Electives should be chosen carefully to complement the technological specialization and research project of the education. In particular DTU Chemical Engineering and DTU Bioengineering courses may be of interest. General recommendations are to expand the mathematics and natural science basis of the BSc education and/or to include elements of innovation, economics, management, organization, and entrepreneurship. Electives may have prerequisites outside the programme.

It is possible to aim for special jobs and career opportunities by using the electives in a well-considered way when setting up the individual study plan. It is especially noteworthy that the electives allow qualification for jobs requiring a substantial insight in professional areas that are otherwise not included in traditional chemical engineering educations. An example may be the use of electives to get what amount to one half year's full-time supplementary education in innovation, economy, management and organization.

MSc students should note that, subject to approval by the teacher, PhD courses may be taken as special courses as part of the MSc studies. The PhD courses offered  by the Dept. of Chemical Engineering (289xy) and a few of the PhD courses offered by the Dept. of Bioengineering (278xy), Dept. of Chemistry (269xy), and Dept. of Health Technolology may be of interest and provide excellent opportunities for concentrated study and work on subjects preparing students for their MSc research project and thesis. 

Examples of elective courses are shown in connection with the description of focus areas and in connection with the study plan examples on DTU's education home pages.