Chemical Engineering

Overview

Chemical Engineering is a multi-disciplinary branch of engineering that focuses on using chemicals and materials to design sustainable processes. It involves the application of principles of chemistry, physics, mathematics, and engineering to create and optimize processes that transform raw materials into useful products. Chemical engineers are transforming the world we live in, including developing renewable energy such as solar, bioenergy and fuel cells.

This program provides students with the technical skills and problem-solving mindset required to tackle real-world engineering challenges.

Every student gains hands-on experience, with group projects where students work in teams to design chemical plants from scratch, including measuring environmental impact, safety and risk assessments, process control and economic viability.

Chemical Engineering at Lakehead is uniquely focused on training students by emphasizing industrial examples and practices through different courses.

Our student-centered program emphasizes learning the latest industrial software employed in the chemical industries combined with novel hands-on experiences through different modern laboratories and industry site visits.

Location

Thunder Bay Campus

Some of the courses you’ll take include:

Fluid Mechanics
Hydrocarbon Processes
Material and Energy Balances
Mass Transfer Separations
Plant Design Economics and Management
Chemical Reactor Design
Air Pollution Control Methods and Analysis
Fundamentals of Petroleum Recovery
Pulp and Paper Manufacture
Bioprocess Engineering
Mineral Processing
Laboratory Investigations in Mass Transfer Separations
Reactor Engineering and Process Control Laboratory

For the full list of courses please click here.

Employers where our Chemical Engineering graduates now work include:

PepsiCo
Aurora Cannabis
Samsung
Nova Chemicals
Resolute Forest Products
Shell
Algoma Steel
3M
Canadian Nuclear Laboratories

Student Q & A

Portrait of Marlies with Lake Tamblyn behind her

Marlies Chemical Engineering Student

Why did you decide to study engineering?

Growing up I loved math and science and I was always eager to learn more. Being able to understand the science behind how things work and using that understanding to solve problems is something that I have always strived for.

It only made sense to me to go into a field where I was able to continue to apply my skills to learn about (and create) new concepts and technologies. Finally, being able to call myself a woman in STEM and the fact that one day I will receive an iron ring is something I am proud of.

What made you choose your program?

Out of all the classes in high school, chemistry was my favorite. When I heard about chemical engineering, I was hooked. It sounded new, different, and exciting. As I am still unsure about exactly where I want to work in the future, I am reassured that chemical engineering is a degree with potential in many different fields such as mining, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, plastics, fertilizers, etc.

Why did you choose Lakehead?

As I was born and raised in Kenora, I always knew Lakehead was an option, but I never seriously considered the university until my Grade 12 year. During the application period, one of my high school teachers encouraged me to apply to Lakehead as he was a Thunderwolf Alumnus himself.

After doing some research, I found that Lakehead offered some of the best financial aid opportunities compared to other universities and was known for its small class sizes. Being able to talk directly to my professors is an important part of how I learn and was something that definitely influenced my decision.

What advice would you give to someone considering studying engineering?

If studying engineering is something you are interested in, please don’t hesitate to pursue it. I personally don’t think that you can find a more rewarding degree and I have enjoyed (almost) every second of it. It may be tough, but like anything else, if you put in the work, it’s very manageable.

What do you like doing when you’re not studying?

Last year, I was the Vice President Social for the Lakehead Engineering Students’ Society, so I spent a lot of time planning and running events for engineering students. This is a lot of writing and answering emails, but the event turnouts are always worth it!

Other than that, I love being active. I currently play hockey with the U22 Thunder Bay Queens and play intramural volleyball every Sunday.

Who inspires you most and why?

My parents. They have always been my biggest role models growing up and every time I make a decision, I think of what advice they would give me. They have taught me how to work hard, and most importantly, how to be a good person. I am proud to be their daughter.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

I am hoping to have my Bachelor of Engineering degree and be working towards my P. Eng somewhere in Canada. Eventually, I would like to return to school to pursue a master’s degree in biomedical engineering.

What do you believe is the biggest challenge humanity faces in the future?

I think the biggest challenge that humanity faces in the future is continuing to support our growing population in a sustainable way. The global population growth rate has been around 1% for the last few years and is not going to hit zero anytime soon. Being able to find a way to provide resources to everyone with the limited space we have, while minimizing pollution, imposes many difficulties. Even now, the amount of pollution and waste we are producing globally is unacceptable.

This is a challenge humanity has been facing for a while and it is only going to get bigger as time progresses. As engineers, it is our responsibility to develop more sustainable processes so future generations are able to experience the same opportunities as us.

Admissions

Admission Requirements

Slide for more

Required

General Admissions Requirements for Lakehead University

To be considered for admission as an Ontario High School student, you must be currently attending a high school in Ontario on a full-time basis or have recently graduated, and have not completed any post-secondary studies at another institution.

To meet the General Admission Requirements to Lakehead, you will need the following:

Completion of the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)
A minimum of 6 Grade 12U or M courses, or equivalent
A minimum 70% overall final average

Admission Requirements for Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical Engineering):

1 credit Grade 12 U in each of: Advanced Functions, Physics, Chemistry and English
2 additional Grade 12 U or M credits
Grade 12 U Calculus & Vectors is strongly recommended (students who have completed Ontario Grade 12 U Calculus & Vectors, with a minimum mark of 60%, will be exempted from MATH 1071 – Vectors and Matrices)

1 credit in Grade 12 U or M Math, Science or Technological Education is recommended
A 60% mark in Grade 12 U Advanced Functions is required

Students who do not meet all the admission requirements will be evaluated on an individual basis.

APPLY to any of our programs via the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC)

Applicants without admissions requirement can enter via our Pre-Eng (Common Year in Applied Science) program.

Required

Admissions Requirements for all post-diploma Bachelor of Engineering programs:

Applicants must have a diploma in engineering technology from a college, or the equivalent, with an average of at least 70% (GPA = 3.0 on a 4.0 point scale, B Grade) overall (or in the final year of the program) to be eligible for admission consideration.
Alternatively, applicants must have one or more years of relevant industrial experience acquired after the completion of a diploma in engineering technology from a community college or the equivalent, with an average* of at least 65% (GPA = 2.5 on a 4.0 point scale, C+ Grade) overall (or in the final year of the program) to be eligible for admission consideration.

Students who do not meet all the admission requirements will be evaluated on an individual basis.

If you attended an engineering technology diploma from a college outside Canada please contact us directly.

Applications are assessed on an ongoing basis.

APPLY to any of our programs via the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC) website

Once you have applied, please send official transcripts from your diploma program, and all other post-secondary institutions you have attended, directly to: docs.admission@lakeheadu.ca

High School transcripts are not required – unless we request them.

Required

General Admissions Requirements for Lakehead University

To be considered for admission as a High School student, you must be currently attending a high school in a Canadian province other than Ontario on a full-time basis or have recently graduated, and have not completed any post-secondary studies at another institution.

Completion of Grade 12 and the Secondary School Diploma
Program specific prerequisite courses
A minimum 70% overall final average

Admissions Requirements for Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical Engineering):

Alberta

English Language Arts 30-1, Chemistry 30, Math 30-1 with a minimum grade of 60%, Physics 30

British Columbia

English Studies 12 or English First Peoples 12, Chemistry 12, Physics 12, Pre-Calculus 12 with a minimum grade of 60%

Manitoba

English Language Arts (Comprehensive Focus, Literary Focus, or Transactional Focus) 40S, Chemistry 40S, Physics 40S, Pre-Calculus 40S with a minimum grade of 60%

New Brunswick

English Language Arts 121 or 122, Chemistry 121 or 122, Physics 121 or 122, Pre-Calculus A120 or B120 with a minimum grade of 60%

Newfoundland and Labrador

English 3201, Advanced Math 3200, Chemistry 3202, Physics 3204

Northwest Territories

English Language Arts 30-1, Chemistry 30, Math 30-1 with a minimum grade of 60%, Physics 30

Nova Scotia

English 12 or English 12 African Heritage, Chemistry 12, Physics 12, Pre-Calculus 12 with a minimum grade of 60%

Nunavut

English Language Arts 30-1, Chemistry 30, Math 30-1 with a minimum grade of 60%, Physics 30

Prince Edward Island

English 621A, Chemistry 621A, Physics 621A, Pre-Calculus 621B with a minimum grade of 60%

Quebec (CEGEP)

2 English (603 or 604), Chemistry (2 from: NYA, NYB, or NYC), Linear Algebra I (201-NYC, 201-105, or 201-106) with a minimum grade of 60%, Physics (2 from: NYA, NYB, or NYC)

Quebec (Private)

English (ENG4U), Advanced Functions (MHF4U) with a minimum grade of 60%, Chemistry (SCH4U), Physics (SPH4U).

Saskatchewan

English A30 and B30, Chemistry 30, Physics 30, Pre-Calculus 30 with a minimum grade of 60%

Yukon

English Studies 12 or English First Peoples 12, Chemistry 12, Physics 12, Pre-Calculus 12 with a minimum grade of 60%

Students who do not meet all the admission requirements will be evaluated on an individual basis.

APPLY to any of our programs via the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC)

Click here for more information on our Pre-Eng (Common Year in Applied Science) program.

Required

General Admissions Requirements for Lakehead University

To be considered for admission as an International Student, you must currently reside outside of Canada and you are not a Canadian citizen. To meet the General Admission Requirements to Lakehead, you will need the following:

Successful graduation from an academic secondary school program or equivalent (For most countries, the same academic preparation as is required for university entrance in that country is required for consideration)
Program-specific prerequisite courses completed at the senior level (e.g. Grade 12)
Equivalent of a minimum 70% overall final average (Canadian)

Admissions Requirements for Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical Engineering):

English, Chemistry, Math with a minimum grade of 60% (Canadian equivalent), Physics

Students who do not meet all the admission requirements will be evaluated on an individual basis.

APPLY to any of our programs via the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC)

Click here for more information on our Pre-Eng (Common Year in Applied Science) program.

Required

General Admissions Requirements for Lakehead University

To be considered for admission as a university transfer student, you must have completed university level studies since leaving high school. To meet the university transfer student general admission requirements, you:

Last attended a university where you completed course work (i.e. you have received grades),
Completed (or are completing) the program-specific prerequisite courses at the high school, college or university level, and
Achieved a minimum overall average of 60% based on your university studies.

Admissions Requirements for Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical Engineering):

1 credit Grade 12 U in each of: Advanced Functions, Physics, Chemistry and English
2 additional Grade 12 U or M credits
A 60% mark in Grade 12 U Advanced Functions is required
Grade 12 U Calculus & Vectors is strongly recommended
1 credit in Grade 12 U or M Math, Science or Technological Education is recommended

Students who do not meet all the admission requirements will be evaluated on an individual basis.

APPLY to any of our programs via the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC)

Click here for more information on our Pre-Eng (Common Year in Applied Science) program.

Apply

Join our engineering community

How to apply