If you enrolled before the 2025/2026 academic year, consult the list of Programmes and Regulations available on your School website.
The information provided about the programme refers to the academic year 2025/26 and may be subject to change in the academic year 2026/27.
Contacts
Chair of the Study Programme: Prof. Marco Derudi
MSc in Chemical Engineering
The Master’s Degree in Chemical Engineering educates engineers capable of designing, optimizing, and innovating processes that transform matter and energy, addressing major global challenges such as decarbonization, energy transition, and the circular economy. In a world that increasingly demands sustainable, safe, and efficient technologies, chemical engineers play a central role in modern production systems, from hydrogen and renewable energy technologies to advanced materials, from complex plant design to innovative pharmaceutical and biotechnological manufacturing.
The programme is delivered in English and provides advanced, interdisciplinary training strongly oriented toward both industrial innovation and applied research.
Admission to the Master’s Degree requires a first-level (Bachelor’s) degree or higher qualification. Applicants undergo an evaluation process aimed at verifying the coherence of their academic background with the educational objectives of the Master’s programme, the quality of their academic performance in terms of weighted average and duration of studies, compliance with the “corrected” admission threshold defined in the Regulations, and possession of an English language certification.
Admission is decided by an Evaluation Committee appointed by the Study Programme Board, which may also require curricular integrations if the previous academic background is not fully aligned with the programme objectives.
Applicants holding a degree obtained abroad must possess a qualification equivalent to a first-level Bachelor’s degree. Admission is subject to verification of degree comparability and assessment of the consistency of the academic background with the objectives of the Master’s programme. A solid preparation in the core areas of Chemical Engineering is required, together with proof of English language proficiency, as the programme is delivered primarily in English.
If necessary, the Evaluation Committee may assign curricular integrations prior to enrolment.
During the first year, students strengthen their advanced foundations in Chemical Engineering through courses that develop competencies in chemical and catalytic reaction engineering, advanced transport phenomena, applied physical chemistry, process systems engineering, and chemical plant design and management. The aim is to provide analytical and methodological tools to describe, model, and design complex processes operating from the molecular scale up to the industrial scale.
In the second year, students can orient their studies toward specific professional and scientific interests. The Environment & Energy track focuses on technologies for energy transition, catalysis for energy and the environment, carbon-neutral thermochemical processes, and life cycle assessment. The Process Design track emphasizes advanced plant design, process control, simulation, and techno-economic sustainability. The Biochemical & Pharma track concentrates on pharmaceutical and biotechnological manufacturing, formulation engineering, and nanomedicine. The Research & Development for Industrial Applications track is oriented toward applied research, advanced kinetics and catalysis, separation technologies, and mathematical modeling.
Graduates of the Master’s Degree in Chemical Engineering are highly versatile professionals capable of operating with autonomy and technical responsibility in complex and innovation-driven industrial environments. The acquired competencies enable them to design and manage chemical and process plants, develop and optimize new products and technologies, improve energy efficiency and environmental sustainability, manage industrial safety and risk analysis, and contribute to research and development activities.
Career opportunities span chemical, energy, pharmaceutical, materials, and food industries, engineering and consulting firms, public and private research centres, and environmental and safety consultancy. The degree also grants access to PhD programmes, second-level Master’s programmes, and professional engineering practice subject to passing the State Examination.
Know more about the programme through a current student’s experience. Book your online one-to-one meeting through #Askastudent – Our voice for your choice project.
For information on the Programme:
Programme Coordinator: Prof. Marco Derudi (marco.derudi@polimi.it)
Secretary of the Programme: Prof. Matteo Pelucchi (matteo.pelucchi@polimi.it)
Study Plan Coordinator: Prof. Lidia Castoldi (lidia.castoldi@polimi.it)
Orientation Coordinator: Prof. Matteo Pelucchi (matteo.pelucchi@polimi.it)
Career Evaluation and Admission Coordinator: Prof. Carlo Giorgio Visconti (carlo.visconi@polimi.it) and Prof. Alberto Cuoci (alberto.cuoci@polimi.it)
For information on enrollment and student careers:
School of Industrial and Information Engineering
Administrative Office Teaching - Chemical Engineering: segreteria-didattica-dcmc@polimi.it
Student Representatives: rappresentativestudenti-ccschimica@polimi.it