The degree program

Process Engineering (bachelor's degree, full-time, cooperative)

• What is Process Engineering?

  From raw material to high-quality end product

  Process engineering deals with all processes in which basic materials - raw materials such as crude oil, natural gas or iron ore, crops such as wheat or hops, animal products such as milk or meat - are changed in their composition or properties or are converted into fuels, plastics, food or medicines. This includes all processes in technology and business in which new, high-quality products are manufactured from raw materials. The list of process-engineered products is long, and the list of processes and equipment required to produce them is even longer. In bio plants, for example, algae are converted into fuels, food, or medicines by biological, chemical or physical processes. Depending on the process, a distinction is made between the sub-areas of mechanical, thermal, chemical or bioprocess engineering.

  Process engineering is typically characterized by its continuous nature. The materials "flow" through the plants in large quantities. A walk through a process plant, e.g. for the production of plastics or sugar, reveals a multitude of piping and cleaning systems, stainless steel tanks, dosing and conveying systems, as well as pumps and other apparatus. Of course, this also includes modern process control and automation technology.

  Anyone who sees their professional future in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, in environmental technology, the food industry or in brewing beer should be familiar with processes and the equipment for pumping liquids or for crushing, mixing and separating solids.

• What does the degree program entail?

  The 7-semester (210 credits) degree program in Process Engineering includes scientific as well as technical modules. The bachelor's program is practice-oriented and prepares students for careers in the technical field. In addition, students receive scientific training. The program is divided into core and advanced modules.

  A special feature of the degree program in Food Technology at Anhalt University of Applied Sciences is the joint core curriculum at Department 7 in the first 2 to 3 semesters. This joint core curriculum includes foundations in engineering and science and offers an insight into all degree programs of the department. This experience allows students to make a well-founded decision between the 4 different degree programs in Biotechnology, Food Technology, Pharmaceutical Engineering or Process Engineering, and thus offers students maximum flexibility in specializing for their future career.

  Later in the degree program, program-specific modules are included, such as: Chemical, Mechanical and Thermal Process Engineering, Process and Energy Engineering as well as Apparatus and Plant Engineering. Based on elective modules (including Instrumentelle Analytik, Ingenieurethik, Mikrobiologie, Projektmanagement, Misch- und Rührtechnik), students can discover and/or deepen their interests.

  The practice-oriented bachelor's degree program in Process Engineering includes a project and a 12-week internship. After 7 semesters, the program is completed with a 10-week bachelor’s thesis (see examples below):

  • Untersuchung an einem Hydrozyklon zur Abscheidung von Partikeln aus dem Prozesswasser der Steinwolleherstellung
  • Konzeption einer Hyaluronsäuregelentgasungsstation bei der Merz Pharma GmbH & Co KGaA
  • Experimentelle Untersuchung zur Gaspermeation mittels mikroporöser Membranen
  • Identifizierung, Analyse und Regeneration von potentialinduzierter Degradation an kristallinen Photovoltaikmodulen
  • Numerische Untersuchungen zum Wärmeübergang am beheizten Rührer
  • Leitfaden zur Berechnung von Sicherheitsventilen im Unternehmen Dow
  • Untersuchung der Druckveresterung von n-Octanol und n-Hexanol zu n-Octylchlorid bzw. n-Hexylchlorid
  • Trinkwasserinhaltsstoffe und ihre Grenzwerteinhaltung unter besonderer Berücksichtigung von Uran
  • Untersuchungen zum Einfluss der Enzymaktivität auf die Biogasbildung
• What are my career opportunities?

  After completing a bachelor's degree in Process Engineering, students can enter many different careers, expand their technical focus in a master's degree program, and/or prepare for a possible doctorate.

  The process engineer is also known as the "Swiss army knife" among engineers. Because the knowledge and expertise of the process engineer are not specific to one industry, there are a variety of entry-level opportunities. The chemical, pharmaceutical, and food industries as well as apparatus and plant engineering offer young professionals a wide range of opportunities to find a job after graduation and to change jobs later if necessary. Taking a closer look, the range of industries utilizing process technology for production is enormous: Biotechnology, environmental and waste disposal technology, recycling, paper, cellulose and cement industry, etc.