About

Chemical engineers – also known as process engineers – are practical chemists who solve problems or create useful products. They research, design, and develop chemical processes and equipment while seeking to reduce our impact on the environment.


Quick facts
  • Four year degree
  • Full-time program
  • You can enter this program directly from high school
  • You can begin this program off-campus

What you will learn

What is first-year Engineering really like?

Starting your degree

We've redesigned first-year engineering at USask to help you succeed and make engineering more fun. We call the new first year RE-ENGINEERED. It’s the only program of its kind in Canada. It will get you excited and inspired about engineering.

In RE-ENGINEERED, instead of high-stakes exams, you will do more assignments and quizzes so you can improve your mark if you stumble early. Daily tutorials are part of the schedule so you can get help when you need it. And instead of final exams, you will explore the different branches of engineering in hands-on courses.

You will choose your engineering specialty – known as your major, or discipline – at the end of your first year. This is the area you will study in-depth in your upper-years classes. 

RE-ENGINEERED: The new first year program

In RE-ENGINEERED, your first-year classes will be shorter and more intensive so you can learn a broader range of material. These essential skills will form the strong foundation you need for the rest of your degree.

Course Description
Introduction to Engineering
Mechanics (Dynamics and Statics)
Design
Engineering Mathematics
Electrical Circuits
Engineering Communication
Additional first-year courses
Computer Science
Natural sciences and their connection to engineering
Process Engineering
Hands-on experiences in the engineering disciplines

* These are elective courses. You'll have a number of courses to choose between.

The Course and Program Catalogue has the complete and official listing of required classes and their descriptions for this program. 

Here are just a few of the classes you might take while you complete this degree:

CHE 220: Introduction to Process Engineering
The lectures and problems will illustrate the use of energy and material balances in chemical and biochemical engineering processes.

CHE 323: Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics
Topics include the treatment of vapour-liquid equilibria at high pressures, expansion and compression of fluids, steam power-plant cycles, liquefaction of gases and refrigeration.

CHE 326: Plant Design Project
Students will work in teams and perform a detailed design of a chemical engineering process including plant layout, Process Flow Diagram (PFD), material and energy balances, simulation, equipment sizing, costing, safety, and economics. Each student will act as team manager for a specific phase of the project. Projects will be provided by the course instructor.

Inside USask's Chemical Engineering Lab

Experience RE-ENGINEERED

Our new first-year program is designed to help you succeed. We don’t want our first years to simply survive, we want you to thrive.

Your school day will start and end at the same times each day. And all first years have the same lunch-hour so you have time to join a club with your friends or fit in a workout. 

Learn by doing

You will use state-of-the-art technology in the lab to learn, experiment and test your ideas. From our wind tunnel to our anechoic chamber, our students gain experience using equipment and software first-hand, rather than by watching demonstrations.

Get the academic help you need

Daily tutorials are built in to the RE-ENGINEERED schedule so you can get the help you need as soon as possible.

Our strong team of academic advisors is passionate about their work. You can book a one-on-one academic advising appointment to plan your degree and get your questions answered.

Join our community

You will be part of a welcoming community where you are noticed and supported. Our students cheer for each other and help each other succeed. We seek to be a place where students of any gender, race, ethnicity, religion, identity or background can work hard and achieve their goal of becoming an engineer.

Make an impact outside the classroom

Our student groups are well-established and successful.

You can use what you’ve learned in the classroom and develop leadership and team-building skills. Our design groups work on projects ranging from ¼-scale tractors, to steel bridges, to cube satellites. 

Careers

With a degree in chemical engineering, you can have an exciting career in many areas, including the following:

  • designing clean energy systems
  • devising innovative fuel and biological fuel cells
  • solving environmental and pollution problems
  • producing pharmaceuticals within the biotechnology sector
  • devising technologies to extract and refine metals and minerals
  • improving food, beverage and drug processing
  • designing and operating petroleum and petrochemical plants
  • developing enhanced oil recovery systems and carbon-capture processes
  • building software to simulate chemical and biochemical systems and process

Tuition estimates

Canadian students International students
Tuition $11,354 $54,954
Student fees $1,121 $1,121
Books $1,500 $1,500
Total $13,975 $57,575

Tuition will vary depending on the type and number of classes you take in a year. This estimate reflects a typical amount you could expect to pay in your first year if you enroll in a full course load, the maximum number of courses allowed (2024-2025 Canadian dollar rates).
Student fees are used to fund specific student benefits, including health, vision and dental coverage, a bus pass, recreational programs and fitness centre access.
The cost of books and supplies varies widely depending on the courses you choose. It is recommended that you budget between $1,500-$2,500 per year.

Program options

Admission requirements and deadlines

Deadlines

Start term Application DeadlineInternational Deadline
Fall
September 2025
May 1, 2025
Documents due: Jun 1, 2025
May 1, 2025
Documents due: Jun 1, 2025

Ready to apply?

A non-refundable application fee of $90 CAD is required before your application will be processed.

Explore related programs

If you are looking for graduate level (Master or Ph.D.) programs please consult our graduate students' website.

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