Compare three-year diploma, four-year undergraduate, two-year postgraduate, certificate and doctoral timelines.
Biochemical Engineering Course Duration
| Programme | Typical duration |
|---|---|
| Certificate | A few weeks to one year |
| Diploma | Approximately one to three years |
| BE/BTech | Four years |
| Lateral-entry BTech | Usually three years |
| Integrated BTech–MTech | Five years |
| MSc | Usually two years |
| ME/MTech | Two years |
| PhD | Commonly three to six years or more |
Undergraduate structure
A four-year course generally includes eight semesters.
First year: Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, engineering fundamentals and communication.
Second year: Biochemistry, Microbiology, Thermodynamics, Material Balances, Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer.
Third year: Bioreactors, Fermentation, Mass Transfer, Downstream Processing, Instrumentation and Process Control.
Fourth year: Process Design, Scale-Up, Electives, Internship and Major Project.
Postgraduate structure
A two-year MTech may include:
- Advanced biochemical reaction engineering
- Advanced bioreactor design
- Process modelling
- Downstream processing
- Biopharmaceutical technology
- Research methodology
- Electives
- Dissertation
Does the course include laboratory work?
Yes. Laboratory and pilot-scale work are important because students must understand biological systems, process measurements, sterilisation, cultivation and product recovery.
Laboratory access varies by institution.
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Course at a Glance
- Course AreaApplied and Interdisciplinary Engineering
- Study PathwaysB.E./B.Tech, M.E./M.Tech, M.Sc. pathways, certificates and doctoral study
- Primary FocusBioprocess engineering, microbiology, enzyme technology, fermentation, bioreactors, transport, downstream processing, scale-up, control and safety.