How much harder is Chem Engineering than Chemistry REALLY?

Current A-Level student. I've looked into both Chemical Engineering and Chemistry courses and they book seem super interesting to me!

I know job prospects and pay are generally better with Chemical Engineering than Chemistry, but I'm worried about how hard Chemical Engineering is made out to be and so I'm considering just getting a Chemistry degree instead -- I know Chemistry isn't particularly "easy" but people make Chemical Engineering sound awful.

How much harder is Chemical Engineering than Chemistry REALLY, if at all?

Reply 1

Nitrotoluene

Original post

by HonestParachute7

Current A-Level student. I've looked into both Chemical Engineering and Chemistry courses and they book seem super interesting to me!
I know job prospects and pay are generally better with Chemical Engineering than Chemistry, but I'm worried about how hard Chemical Engineering is made out to be and so I'm considering just getting a Chemistry degree instead -- I know Chemistry isn't particularly "easy" but people make Chemical Engineering sound awful.
How much harder is Chemical Engineering than Chemistry REALLY, if at all?

My advice:
Don't choose based on perceived difficulty — you'll work hard either way. Instead, ask yourself: do you want to understand what happens at the molecular level (chemistry) or learn how to build systems that use chemistry on a large scale (chemical engineering)? Which excites you more when you imagine your third-year projects?
If you're not put off by the maths and you're interested in the applied side, Chemical Engineering is absolutely manageable. The horror stories usually come from people who went in expecting "chemistry with better pay" rather than understanding that it's a genuine engineering discipline.
Ciao,
Sandro

Reply 2

5hyl33n

Volunteer Section Leader, Clearing and Applications Advisor

Original post

by HonestParachute7

Sandro has given you some excellent things to think about. I have some further thoughts:

What's your primary area of interest?

I ask because chemical engineering is largely an engineering degree - it focuses mostly on maths and physics, with only a little amount of chemistry. If your primary interest is chemistry, then a chemistry degree is really the best choice.

(edited 1 month ago)

Reply 3

mnot

Universities Forum Helper

Original post

by HonestParachute7

Current A-Level student. I've looked into both Chemical Engineering and Chemistry courses and they book seem super interesting to me!
I know job prospects and pay are generally better with Chemical Engineering than Chemistry, but I'm worried about how hard Chemical Engineering is made out to be and so I'm considering just getting a Chemistry degree instead -- I know Chemistry isn't particularly "easy" but people make Chemical Engineering sound awful.
How much harder is Chemical Engineering than Chemistry REALLY, if at all?

It’s not that one is harder, they are fundamentally different subjects studying entirely different things.

Whilst chemical engineering sounds like it naturally very similar subject, it might be better to think of it as a chemical & process engineering.