The Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical and Materials Engineering Program (CHME) is a four-year undergraduate degree program structured in accordance with the guidelines of the Bologna Accords and based on the ABET accreditation requirements to educate engineers in the field of CHME. This is achieved by providing a solid foundation and understanding of the fundamental principles of mathematics, science, and chemical engineering, at the same time offering unique courses and specialization in the emerging field of materials engineering. In its implementation, the program:
1) Makes use of student-centered learning concepts, in order to develop the skills and practices that enable life-long learning and independent problem-solving;
2) Strives to maintain a balance between theoretical knowledge and practical skills with a focus on current industrial practice, including research and development;
3) Provides students with experience in learning and applying modern tools (e.g. software simulators and modern analytical equipment) to solve open-ended CHME problems;
4) Entails field trips in the context of courses so that students familiarize themselves with industrial processes and the reality of the workplace;
5) Emphasizes research-based learning so as to actively develop students’ independent research skills and provide students with opportunities to put these skills into practice.

On successful completion of the program, graduates will be able to:
1) Identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
2) Apply the engineering design process to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration for public health and safety, and global, cultural, social, environmental, economic, and other factors as appropriate to the discipline.
3) Develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
4) Communicate effectively with a range of technical and public audiences to sell their ideas and products
5) Recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
6) Recognize the ongoing need to acquire new knowledge, to choose appropriate learning strategies, and to apply this knowledge.
7) Function effectively as a member or leader of a team that establishes goals, plans tasks, meets deadlines, and creates a collaborative and inclusive environment.

To learn more about the specific selection criteria for admissions, visit the Nazarbayev University Admission Department for detailed information. Here you can find requirements for academic qualifications, application processes, and other key factors in the admissions process.

The BEng in Chemical and Materials Engineering program is designed with due reference to the General and Specific learning outcomes which are in accordance with the ABET requirements for engineering programs. The program intends to seek ABET accreditation. In coordination with the School, the Department will appoint an Accreditation Committee to design, develop and monitor the progress of the program implementation and the evolving compatibility of the program with the ABET criteria.

In order to graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical and Materials Engineering, students are required to fulfill the following:
• Earn 248 ECTS by passing all the courses as defined in the program specifications (note: the passing requirements for courses can be different);
• Obtain at least C- grade in the Capstone course;
• Obtain a cumulative GPA greater than or equal to 2.0

The BEng program in CHME is designed to prepare students for diverse professional practice, such as:
1. Employment in local and international companies with various business profiles.
2. Self-employed entrepreneurs who can build and run their own companies.
3. Research careers in higher education institutions and research centers.
4. Government service at national and regional levels.

Data provided by the NU Career and Advising Center show that a total of 34% of the graduates of the previous Bachelor in Chemical Engineering program pursued careers in industry, while 48% opted for graduate degrees.

Particularly, CHME is the engineering discipline which makes extensive use of physico-chemical transformations, in addition to materials science, in order to achieve added value. Because all manufacturing processes involve physico-chemical transformations and processing of materials in one way or another, chemical and materials engineers are employed in virtually all manufacturing industries, from the basic chemical, materials, energy, food, pharmaceutical, biomedical and microelectronics industries to the myriad consumer products industries, as well as in petrochemical industry, which is particularly strong in Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan is building up rapidly its physical and industrial infrastructure. While the oil and gas sectors have formed, and still form, the basis of its industrial development, downstream processing, including petrochemicals and minerals, is seen as the natural next phase in this process. Chemical and materials engineers play a central role in downstream processing. Many international companies have active operations in Kazakhstan, and it is anticipated that they will continue employing chemical and materials engineers. Other major sectors in the country are pharmaceutical products and foods, which are potential industries for the employment of our graduates. Based on our records, recent graduates of the current chemical engineering program either pursue advanced degrees or enter into the relevant professions shortly after graduation. In addition, changes in the political, social, economic and educational systems in Kazakhstan since its independence from the Soviet Union have created the need for a new generation of entrepreneurs, technocrats and managers with a sound knowledge of modern management principles and engineering operations.

The Strategy 2050 for Kazakhstan specifically addresses educational vision in its item 4 as below:
4. Knowledge and professional skills are key landmarks of the modern education, training and retraining system
1. Our priorities in education:
1) Developing engineering education system;
2) Developing system of social responsibility in education;
3) Modernization of teaching methods;
2. New innovative research development policy:
1) Technology transfer;
2) Cooperation of science and business;
3) Roadmap of development prospective national clusters;
3. Appeal to the youth.

In order to achieve this vision, the development of advanced and novel higher education programs, which are designed based on leading scientific and pedagogical theories, is an essential prerequisite. The proposed program in CHME is designed to assist in this direction.

NU is afforded a unique position among Kazakhstan universities, being able to offer a high-quality range of academic and research opportunities that apply traditional chemical and materials engineering principles and modern science to solve some of today's most pressing problems. For example, we are designing medical devices to improve human health, as well as energy storage and generation systems which can provide renewable energy in remote locations. We are using novel experimental methods and advanced scientific computing to understand nanoparticles, macromolecules, complex fluids and active surfaces. Understanding their behavior allows us to design new catalysts, polymers, electrodes and other highly specialized materials, which are all areas of high added value.

The Oil & Gas industry, especially its downstream operations, is naturally a high priority (and a top employer) of the program. As the chemical and petrochemical industries in Kazakhstan are in the early stages of developments, the program is designed so that it will be able to respond to the developing demands in those industries, specifically addressing fundamentals of chemical engineering and design, process safety, advanced scientific computing, energy markets, renewable energy sources etc. In addition, Kazakhstan is still to attract new foreign and domestic investment in the field of high technology products including pharmaceuticals, specialty products, fine chemicals, etc. Therefore, the materials component of the proposed BEng program is expected to make a significant contribution in the growth of the nation.

The program aims to capitalize on the leading position of the current Department of Chemical Engineering in the area of development of novel materials for energy applications, by offering several related courses (core and electives). It is further guided by the growing global realization of the importance of environmental protection, sustainability and life-cycle analysis; thus, offering several environmental courses (air, water and soil) mainly as electives as well as several environmental and energy-related research opportunities. Such courses help the students to understand issues of current importance, monitor them, and design processes to respond to such modern challenges.

In summary, the proposed BEng program in CHME will:
1) Meet the demands for expertise in the petrochemical, energy, chemical, materials, pharmaceutical, healthcare and food industries taking also into account environmental protection and sustainability.
2) Enable interdisciplinary research in areas such as materials, biomedical, energy and environment, also involving other NU departments
3) Prepare students for further advanced studies as well as for careers in applied research