MSc Chemical and Bioengineering
Some key aspects of the programme
- One compulsory subject each in the core fields of engineering to get uniform advanced knowledge.
- Extensive research project, case study and Master´s thesis to become familiar with the departments research activities.
- Freedom to choose from a long list of electives and therefore a possibility of specialization.
- Elective category “Economics and Technology Management” to promote competences in the field of economy, leadership, coaching and project management.
- Optional industry internship instead of the research project to strengthen link to industry.
Scope
Chemical engineering and bioengineering inhabit an exclusive position at the interface between engineering and molecular science. Intimately connected to the basic sciences such as chemistry, biology and physics – and in association with engineering disciplines such as mechanical engineering, materials science, electrical engineering and computer science – chemical engineering and bioengineering aim to develop new processes and methods for the design, production, transformation and application of existing and novel materials. The basic mission of chemical and bioengineers is to develop new applications of molecules and biomolecules that will improve the quality of life, and to produce them in quantities and at a cost that allows them to be accessible to all.
Structure
Students of the Master's degree programme usually complete their studies in three semesters. Compulsory lectures are offered in the core subject areas of Biochemical engineering, Product and Materials, Process Design, Catalysis and Separation. Core lectures are supplemented by an extensive variety of elective lecture courses. In addition to lectures, a significant amount of time is spent in the laboratory where theoretical concepts are applied to real-world problems in the form of both experiments and simulations. First hand experience of world-leading research is obtained through a seven-week research project or an industry internship, case studies in process design and a five-month Master's thesis. Each are performed in one of the various research groups that reside within the Institute of Chemical and Bioengineering.
A significant number of our graduating students continue their studies towards a doctoral degree, with the vast majority of those remaining taking up industrial positions (mainly in the chemical and biotechnology sectors).
Introduction
The main objective of the degree programme is to provide students with comprehensive training in all those aspects of chemical engineering which will enable them to work independently in this field. The programme qualifies its graduates to assume responsible positions in academia, industry and public services.
Subject-specific knowledge and understanding
Graduates with a Master’s degree in Chemical and Bioengineering
- possess in-depth knowledge of the fundamental principles and most modern methods and goals of scientific research in chemical and bioengineering, particularly in the areas of thermodynamics, separating processes, transport phenomena, catalysts, reaction engineering, polymers and colloids, biotechnology, process design and simulation and control;
- possess in-depth knowledge regarding the development of mathematical models to stimulate and understand physicochemical processes;
- understand the mathematical models relevant to scaling up suitable laboratory experiments into production processes;
- are familiar with safety and environmental aspects and are able to implement approaches to them;
- are familiar with interdisciplinary approaches and able to deploy them in a targeted manner;
- are able to work independently, in a structured manner and according to scientific standards.
Skills
a. Analytical skills
Graduates with a Master’s degree in Chemical and Bioengineering are able to
- recognise, comprehensively analyse, and precisely and understandably document scientific and practical problems related to subject-specific research and development;
- statistically analyse, interpret and represent scientific data in a correct manner;
- understand the scientific literature, familiarise themselves with the latest developments, and critically evaluate the latter.
b. Development skills
Graduates with a Master’s degree in Chemical and Bioengineering are able to
- formulate a hypothesis on the basis of their scientific understanding and an analysis of current data, and to propose and develop methods for experimental testing of this hypothesis;
- evaluate a practical problem in the area of chemical engineering research and development, to develop approaches for addressing it, and to implement these approaches;
- optimise chemical and biotechnology processes sustainably by improving use of raw materials, deploying renewable base material and minimising energy consumption and effects on the environment;
- estimate the economic viability and feasibility of production processes for chemicals, pharmaceutical products and bioproducts;
- recognise and build upon important research developments.
Personal and social competences
Graduates with a Master’s degree in Chemical and Bioengineering are able to
- clearly and precisely present and describe scientific data orally and in writing for both a specialist and a lay audience;
- collaborate with specialists from their own and from neighbouring disciplines in an open and constructive manner;
- recognise important environmental protection aspects and the social relevance and ethical dimensions of their activities, and act with consequent responsibility and care.
The total number of 90 credits necessary to obtain the Master’s degree must be acquired within three years.
Categories of course units
Students have to obtain credits in the following categories:
- Core subjects: 24 credits
- Compulsory elective subjects: 23 credits
- Research project or industry internship, case studies: 16 credits
- Master's thesis: 25 credits
- Science in Perspective (SiP): 2 credits
Description of the categories
Core subjects
Core subjects areas are «Biochemical Engineering», «Products and Material», «Process Design», and «Catalysis and Separation». Students have to take at least one course from each area.
Compulsory elective subjects
Compulsory elective subjects include a broad spectrum of advanced topics in biochemical engineering, environment and energy, systems and process engineering, modeling and simulations and economics and technology management. Students may also take as compulsory elective subjects core subjects as long as they have not taken them as such.
Research project or industry internship
Students have to carry out a research project or an industry internship in a core subject area or in an elective subject. Students are free to choose the area.
Case studies in process design
Investigation of an industrial process in a teamwork project with simulation, cost calculations, sensitivity analyses and optimizations.
Master's thesis
The Master's thesis is carried out under the supervision of a professor in a research group of the Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, usually at the Institute of Chemical and Bioengineering. Students are free to choose the area. The duration of the Master's thesis is 20 weeks.
Electives in humanities, social and political sciences - Science in Perspective (SiP)
All students must collect credits in courses offered by the Department of Humanities, Social and Political Sciences.
Subjects of the Master's programme in Chemical and Bioengineering
The links take you to extracts from the ETH Course Catalogue.
- The Course catalogue is available in separate versions for the Autumn semester (1st semester) and for the Spring semester (2nd semester).
- Further links in blue colour
- The view «Course units» gives an overview of all courses
- The view «Catalogue data» shows detailed information
- Printout is possible in both views (Icon in top right corner)
The Master’s programme uses a credit system which is based on the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). Credits are a measure for the total labour required from the students to reach the educational goal. Calculations are based on a total of 1500 to 1800 working hours per year, equivalent to 60 credits. Therefore, 1 credit corresponds to 25 to 30 hours of total work.
Credits are allocated after the performance assessment intended for the course has been passed. Upon application by the student the Master's title is awarded when a total of 90 credits is reached.
Credits are allocated after the performance assessment has been passed. A performance assessment not passed can be repeated once. Exams and the Master's thesis are rated with a grade between one (lowest) and six (highest). In order to pass, a grade of four must be achieved. Other performance assessments may also be rated with passed/not passed.
Forms of performance assessments
Performance assessments are in the form of exams, or of a semester performance. The course catalogue lists for each course the form and mode of the performance assessment. Exams are held in examination sessions during the last weeks of the semester breaks.
Admission to performance assessments
Admission to the performance assessments normally requires that the Bachelor's studies are completed. Exceptions are specified individually for the various categories below.
Core subjects
- Performance assessments in this category are in the form of exams.
- At least one exam must be taken in each of the four core subjects areas «Biochemical Engineering», «Products and Materials», «Process Design», and «Catalysis and Separation».
- Students who do not pass an exam in a core subject in two attempts get one further chance with another core subject offered in the same area.
- Students enrolled in the Bachelor's programme in chemical engineering of ETH are admitted to examinations in core subjects of the Master's programme on condition that they have to acquire no more than 11 credits in the category 'compulsory subjects' for their Bachelor's diploma.
- Students who were admitted to the Master's programme with the requirement to acquire credits from the ETH Bachelor's programme are admitted to examinations in core subjects on condition that they have to acquire no more than 11 of the required credits.
Compulsory elective subjects
- Students enrolled in the Bachelor's programme in chemical engineering of ETH are admitted to examinations in compulsory elective
subjects of the Master's degree programme on condition that they have passed the examination block I and the compulsory lab courses of the ETH Bachelor's degree programme's second year. - Students who were admitted to the Master's programme with the requirement to acquire credits from the corresponding ETH Bachelor's programme are admitted to examinations in compulsory elective subjects on condition that they have to acquire no more than 11 of the required credits.
Research project, industry internship and case studies
- Performance assessments in these categories are based on semester performance. The specific requirements to pass are published by the Department.
- Students enrolled in the Bachelor's programme in chemical engineering of ETH are admitted to the research project or industry internship of the Master's programme on condition that they have to acquire less than 60 credits for their Bachelor's diploma. (see next section)
Master's thesis
Details on the Master's thesis are laid down in the «Directives for Master's Theses». The Master's thesis cannot be started before the Bachelor's programme is completed. (see section Master's Thesis)
Early electronic enrolment in myStudies is mandatory
The Master's programme in Chemical and Bioengineering includes a research project or an industry internship and case studies in process design.
Subjects and supervision
The research project is carried out under the supervision of a professor in a core subject area, or in an elective subject. The director of studies is responsible for the industry internships. Exceptions will be clarified by the student's administrator.
More details in the Download directives for research projects and industry internships. (PDF, 60 KB)
Research project or industry inernship done during the Bachelor's degree programme
Students enrolled in the Bachelor's programme in Chemistry of ETH are admitted to the research project or the industry internship before graduation from the Bachelor's programme on condition that they have to acquire less than 60 credits for their Bachelor's degree.
Who must submit a request?
Students who wish to carry out an industry internship (always counts as external) or their research project
- in a subject area other than a core subject area or a compulsory elective subject, or/and
- externally (outside of the curriculum according to the course catalogue or of D-CHAB)
must submit a request at least four weeks ahead of the scheduled start using the official Download application form (PDF, 117 KB).
Please fill out the shaded fields in this form online.
List of Download research areas (PDF, 382 KB) available for research projects
Case studies: Case Studies in Process Design (529-0459-01L)
Subjects and supervision
The Master's thesis is carried out under the supervision of a professor in one of the core subject area, or in an elective subject. Students are free to choose the area.
Registration for the thesis in myStudies before starting is mandatory!
List of Download research areas (PDF, 382 KB) available for Master's theses
The duration of the Master's thesis is 20 weeks.The thesis cannot be started before the Bachelor's degree programme is completed.
To whom must the thesis be submitted?
- Please submit the thesis to the supervisor.
- Check with the respective secretary whether the institute/laboratory wants to receive a copy for its files.
- The department does not get copies of Master's theses!
Who must submit a request?
Students who wish to carry out their Master's thesis outside D-CHAB must submit a request at least four weeks ahead of the scheduled start using the official Download application form (PDF, 90 KB).
More details in the Download directives for the Master's thesis (PDF, 64 KB)
When the number of credits in the individual categories as defined in the paragraph "Programme outline" has been acquired students can submit a request for degree conferral to the director of studies via the student administration. This has to be done no later than three years after the start of the master's programme. The request must itemize the study achievements which should be listed in the final academic record. The maximum number of credits that can be taken into account is 100.
External academic achievements are those not acquired from the D-CHAB course offerings (LE 511-/529-/535-. Master´s thesis, projects and internship have their one rules, see corresponding sections). The director of studies decides on their crediting.
Students with ETH Zurich Bachelor's degree:
Students may spend one semester during their Master‘s Programme in Chemical and Bioengineering at another university. A study programme for this semester abroad has to be compiled in advance in cooperation with the mobility advisor of the Department. Credits can be obtained externally in the categories research projects and industry internship, compulsory elective subjects, and Master's thesis up to a total maximum of 30 credits.
Students without ETH Zurich Bachelor's degree:
Students are not allowed to participate in exchange programmes of ETH Zurich. Individual mobility is possible but without recognition of examinations/credits. Only a Master's thesis carried out externally can be recognised. Or, if the thesis is done at D-CHAB a maximum of 13 credits in the category electives, research project or industry internship can be recognised from outside of the curriculum (according to the course catalogue) or of D-CHAB.
Exceptionally talented and qualified students can directly apply for a doctoral position within the direct doctorate programme in chemical and bioengineering.
The direct doctorate programme is always associated with a Master’s degree programme in chemical and bioengineering. Application proceeds online via the application portal for Master’s degree studies.
For a successful application, a written confirmation of a D-CHAB professor for the financing of the Master's degree programme and subsequent doctoral studies in his or her research group is required in addition to the regular Master´s application.
The details regarding the direct doctorate are regulated in a directive of the rector and the appendix of the Master´s degree programme regulations (in German only).