Engineering and Pharmaceutical Science - E3008

Combining chemical engineering with pharmaceutical science, this double degree is unique in Australia and rare worldwide.

Chemical engineers can design, run and troubleshoot production facilities, but their training typically excludes the skills to develop pharmaceutical and related products. Similarly, formulation scientists can invent and test new products such as pharmaceuticals, food and cosmetics, but they lack the know-how to manage the product process beyond the laboratory stage.

This double degree produces professionals capable of covering the full spectrum of the pharmaceutical product design and development process.

This course leads to two separate degrees:

  • the Bachelor of Chemical Engineering (Honours), and
  • the Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science.


You will gain all the benefits of each degree course (see Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)/Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science) and be fully equipped to pursue a career in either field or both in combination.


Pharmaceutical engineers work in all aspects of the design and development process, from experimenting with innovative formulations to manufacturing commercialized products. A pharmaceutical engineer might:

  • Design, develop and improve industrial processes and equipment for large scale chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing.
  • Plan and test methods of manufacturing.
  • Develop methods for the treatment of by-products.
  • Devise production processes that are safe, efficient, profitable and environmentally sound.
  • Research naturally occurring chemical reactions and copy these processes for society's benefit.
  • Develop and implement cleaner production technologies.
  • Design, develop and use new materials.

This course requires students to complete a total of 420 hours of continuous professional development, in order to graduate. This professional development may be in the form of 12 weeks of relevant vacation employment or an equivalent combination of approved professional development and/or engineering employment, taken throughout the duration of the course. Students are required to submit a series of reflections on their experience, with particular reference to development of each of the key Engineers Australia Stage 1 competencies.

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At a glance

Course Details

Location
  • On-campus at Clayton: Full time
Note:

Students undertake Chemical Engineering subjects at Clayton and Pharmaceutical Science subjects at Parkville.

Duration
  • 5 years (full time)
Start date
First Semester (February)
Course Handbook

View details specific to degree:

Please select a specialisation for more details:

Please select a specialisation for more details:

“I loved chemistry as a high school student, and studying chemical engineering allowed me to combine an engineering degree with the heavily chemistry-based pharmaceutical science.”

Lucy Leveke, Bachelor of Chemical Engineering (Hons) and Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science

Become a fully-qualified and accredited engineer in four years and play a vital role in solving the world's greatest challenges. Learn about our specialisations, double degree options, our Co-operative Education Program and our world-leading student teams.

Entry Requirements

Entry Requirements (International students)

You need to satisfy all of the following requirements to be considered for entry into this course.

At the time of enrolment in a course at Monash University, you must be at least 17 years of age.

View all minimum age requirements.

All Monash undergraduate courses require you to have successfully completed a minimum of an Australian Year 12 qualification (or equivalent) and achieve the required academic entry score. Most Monash faculties generally use your most recent studies for admission however other guidelines may apply where your prior qualification may be considered.

Entry requirements for each qualification level are as follows:

All Monash undergraduate courses require you to satisfy English entry requirements in one of the following ways:

If your English test does not meet the above scores you may want to consider Monash English. Some Monash courses however do not accept Monash English.

The English measures outlined above must be completed within 3 years prior to the Monash course commencement date (other time limitations may apply as outlined in the Admission to Coursework Courses and Units Procedure). If you have completed several measures of English proficiency over a period of time, the highest valid measure will be accepted.

Monash University reserve the right to ask students to complete an English test to meet English course requirements upon request.

Further information can be located at English language requirements.

International students applying for a visa need to satisfy English requirements set by the Department of Home Affairs where these requirements and acceptable English tests differ from Monash University.

All Monash University undergraduate courses require you to have previously studied and achieved required Australian level standards in specific subject known as prerequisite subjects.

You must satisfy the following prerequisite subject requirements for this course:

*If you have completed an Australian Year 12 qualification you will be required to meet the prerequisite subject requirements that are equivalent to the VCE prerequisite subject requirements specified above.

You must satisfy the following additional requirements for this course:

Selection requirements
Extra requirements

Inherent requirements

To complete your degree, you will need to demonstrate that you have the abilities, knowledge, and skills to achieve specific core learning outcomes, these are called inherent requirements.

Find out more about inherent requirements for this course.

Courses with maths and science prerequisite subjects

If the course you are applying for requires maths and/or science as prerequisite subjects, you can meet the requirements in the following ways:

  • Australian Year 12 or International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme:

    You must meet the maths and/or science prerequisite subject required for your chosen course as specified above (if applicable).

  • Other qualifications recognised by Monash:

    If you have completed maths and/or science subjects in the relevant discipline at the required grade level, it is assumed that you have knowledge equivalent to the Australian Year 12 (VCE equivalent) prerequisite subject required for your chosen course. It is strongly recommended that you check that you have covered the assumed knowledge required for your course by completing the Assumed Knowledge Skills Analysis.

    This online activity includes multiple-choice questions based on your prior studies and helps you identify areas for revision, so you can start your course feeling confident and prepared. Once you accept your Monash offer and set up your student account you can complete the Assumed Knowledge Skills Analysis before starting your course.

These guidelines do not apply to the Bachelor of Medical Science or Doctor of Medicine, or to courses that require a tertiary-level Physiology unit: Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) (Graduate Entry), and Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) and Master of Pharmacy (Graduate Entry).

Alternative pathways

If you don't satisfy the requirements for direct entry consider these pathway options.

Entry requirements for Monash University are subject to change.

The course structure and progression map can be viewed in the Handbook.

Making the application

Future students

Semester one (February)

Students currently studying an Australian Year 12 or the International Baccalaureate in Australia, should apply online through VTAC etc.

Apply through VTAC

All other applicants apply directly to Monash using course code E3008

Apply

Current Monash students

You may apply to transfer from another Monash course. Transfers are a competitive process. You may apply mid-year for available courses however consideration will be given as to whether you will be able to follow your course progression.

Please note that if you apply for a course transfer, you should still enrol in your current course as if you were continuing so as not to jeopardise your enrolment in the Faculty if your transfer application is unsuccessful. More about Course Transfer.

Self assess for credit eligibility

Check for study credit using the "Credit search" link on the Credit for prior study page.

Fees

Fees are subject to change annually.

International fee

Fees are per 48 credit points which represents a standard full-time course load for a year. The fees for 2026 are:

A$59,600

Scholarships

We offer over 360 types of scholarships, valued at up to $280,000. Some scholarships offer one-off payments while others continue for the length of your course. Learn more about Monash Scholarships.

Other fees

The Student Services and Amenities Fee applies to some students each calendar year.

Enrolment Obligations

International students enrolling in a CRICOS-registered course can study no more than one third (33%) of their course by distance and/or online learning. Students must enrol in at least one unit that is not by distance and/or online in each compulsory study period unless the student is completing the last unit of their course. See standard 8.19 and 8.20 of National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2018.

CRICOS code: 058485F

International course guides

If you are an international student and wish to find out more about our courses, entry requirements, studying at Monash and more, please download our international course guides below.

International Study Grants

International study grants

International Study Grants valued at up to $10,000