The Department of Chemical Engineering at Stellenbosch University has a rich history of innovation and excellence, established in 1969, 25 years after the Faculty of Engineering was founded. Under the leadership of our first professor and Chair, Prof Nico Louw, the department quickly became a cornerstone of engineering education at Stellenbosch.

In 1977, we introduced a specialisation in Extractive Metallurgy, allowing students to pursue either a BEng in Chemical Engineering or a BEng in Chemical Engineering with a specialisation in Extractive Metallurgy. This expansion led to the creation of a separate Department of Metallurgical Engineering in 1985. However, the departments merged once again in 1994, forming the Department of Chemical Engineering.

In the early 2000s, we rebranded as the Department of Process Engineering to reflect our evolving focus, but also to reflect the function of a chemical engineer in industry. In 2023, after careful consideration of recent advancements and experiences in the field, we proudly returned to our original name, the Department of Chemical Engineering, affirming our commitment to the discipline’s core principles and innovations.

Initially housed in the old Engineering Building on Victoria Street (now the Visual Arts Building), with laboratories in the current Polymer Science Building, the department relocated to the present Engineering Building in 1979. By 2011, our growing student body necessitated the addition of the Annexe.

Today, our department boasts over 500 Master’s graduates, more than 130 PhD graduates, and 7 DEng graduates. We currently have approximately 100 Master’s students and 45 PhD students actively pursuing their degrees, alongside around 400 students enrolled in our undergraduate BEng Chemical Engineering programme. The record-high intake of first-year students in 2024 underscores our continued success in educating future leaders in the field.

Since the 1980s, postgraduate education and research have played an increasingly significant role in our department. The first MEng degree was awarded in 1983, followed by the first PhD awarded to Jannie van Deventer in 1985. Over the years, we have gained international recognition for our work in minerals processing and extractive metallurgy, bioresource engineering, separation technology, intelligent process systems, water technology, and waste valorisation.

Our department remains committed to advancing the field of chemical engineering through cutting-edge research, world-class education, and a dedication to developing sustainable solutions for the challenges of the modern world.