(‘The Right Choice’ is a series by The Indian Express that addresses common questions, misconceptions, and doubts surrounding undergraduate admissions. You can read the stories here.)
– Chinar Banga
Engineering has always been a prominent choice for a lot of students in India. In the past, there were 5–6 core areas in the field from which students could choose. However, now there are more than 40 kinds of engineering degrees available, with different specialisations that allow students to choose the right one for them based on their aspirations.
BTech in Chemical Engineering has been offered in India since 1921. However, BTech in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering is a very niche course and has been introduced keeping in mind the rising demand for interdisciplinary courses. Both programmes rely on the core foundation of chemistry, mathematics and process engineering. They attract students who prefer problem-solving and process-driven learning. However, what they differ in is their specialisation, applications and future prospects.
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Chemical Engineering centres on designing and scaling industrial processes that convert raw materials into useful products. Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, however, blends chemical principles with biology, where students can work on bio-based reactions used in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and environmentally responsible production.
BTech in Chemical Engineering vs Chemical and Biochemical Engineering: What are these?
Chemical Engineering focuses on industrial processes including fluid mechanics, plant design, mass transfer, process control and reaction engineering. Students learn how to scale up reactions, optimise process efficiency and design safe and sustainable systems for large-scale production. This primarily involves dealing with non-living materials and conventional chemical reactions.
The other field of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering integrates the processes of chemical engineering with biological sciences. The curriculum includes microbiology, enzymology, fermentation science, metabolic engineering and bioprocess design. Students are trained to work with living systems, thus preparing for biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, food technology and other bio-based industries. The focus is on processes where a biological agent is essential for producing the final product.
BTech in Chemical Engineering vs Chemical and Biochemical Engineering: Differences between the two
Chemical Engineering develops skills in process modelling, equipment design, scale-up, simulation and safety engineering, where students deal with reactors, distillation units and heat exchangers. Biomolecular analysis, microbial cultivation, bioreactor design and downstream processing are some of the skills developed through the other course. The operations take place with living or biological systems that require sterility and controlled conditions.
BTech in Chemical Engineering vs Chemical and Biochemical Engineering: Career prospects
Chemical Engineering graduates can work in petrochemicals and refineries, fertilisers and agrochemical industries, polymers, materials and plastics industries, consumer goods industries, energy gas processing and food processing industries. Their job roles include process engineer, production engineer, plant engineer, operations specialist and safety engineer.
On the other hand, Chemical and Biochemical Engineering graduates have opportunities in biopharmaceuticals and vaccine production, fermentation industries (biofuels, enzymes, beverages), environmental biotechnology and bioremediation, research labs and biotech start-ups. Common roles include bioprocess engineer, upstream/downstream associate, Quality Control/Quality Assurance analyst, fermentation scientist, R&D assistant and regulatory specialist.
Although this field has more futuristic career prospects, a Chemical Engineering degree is often seen as a more versatile course, as it helps graduates pivot to IT, consulting or finance roles more easily, in addition to core engineering jobs.
BTech in Chemical Engineering vs Chemical and Biochemical Engineering: Placement opportunities
Companies recruiting Chemical Engineering graduates include Reliance Industries, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), GAIL, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), Tata Chemicals, L&T and major manufacturing firms. These organisations require professionals skilled in industrial operations, process control, scaling and optimisation.
Recruiters for Chemical and Biochemical Engineering graduates include Biocon, Dr Reddy’s, Novozymes, Syngene, Sanofi and bio-manufacturing or fermentation-based companies. With increasing investment in biotechnology, opportunities for biochemical engineers have grown significantly in India and globally.
BTech in Chemical Engineering vs Chemical and Biochemical Engineering: Who should choose
One can choose Chemical Engineering if they prefer math-heavy subjects and industrial-scale problem-solving. If working with equipment, plants and large-scale processes that include the application of physics and thermodynamics is exciting, then opt for Chemical Engineering.
In case one enjoys biology along with chemistry, then Chemical and Biochemical Engineering is something they may want to pursue. If research-driven roles are your passion, go ahead and take a plunge into this course. Both these courses are offered by notable universities in India and abroad. IITs, NITs, the Institute of Chemical Technology, VIT, etc., are some of the institutes in India that offer these courses. Outside the country, the UK, USA, Netherlands and Switzerland are some countries that have these courses on offer.
Ultimately, the idea is to make an informed choice that rests on personal aptitude and the career goals one has carved out.
(The author is the head of senior years at Shiv Nadar School, Faridabad)
BTech in Chemical Engineering vs Chemical and Biochemical Engineering: What is the right choice? (Representative image/ Pexels) 
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