Best Chemical Engineering Schools in the Philippines

James Ryan Jonas

Are you one of those students who enjoy studying Chemistry and Mathematics at the same time? While many students go through a love-hate relationship with either Math or Chemistry, there are some who find these two subjects interesting. 

If you belong to this type of students, a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering (BS Chemical Engineering) degree may just be what you are looking for.

Continue reading to discover what awaits you if you plan to pursue a career in chemical engineering. We also provide below information about the top schools offering BS Chemical Engineering in the Philippines.

Licensed Chemical Engineers in the Philippines

Take note of the following primary duties and responsibilities of licensed chemical engineers:

  • Conduct research and develop new methods of manufacturing chemicals
  • Test the efficacy and safety of initial product discoveries made by chemists
  • Design, implement, and evaluate safety procedures for employees working with potentially hazardous chemicals
  • Perform density, gravity, and pressure tests at various stages of production

Also in this line of work, chemical engineers are required to build on key skills, such as problem-solving and creative and critical thinking because the tasks listed above are just the start. Licensed chemical engineers work in various industries, including manufacturing, biotechnology, health care, energy, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, plastics, toiletries, and water treatment, and would require additional knowledge and specific competencies.

However, before you become a full-pledged chemical engineer, you need to ace first one of the most difficult licensure examinations in the Philippines, the Chemical Engineering Board Exam.

Chemical Engineering Licensure Exam

To be a licensed Chemical Engineer in the Philippines, you must:

  • 1. Be a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering or its equivalent in a school, institute, college or university recognized by the Government
  • 2. Pass the Chemical Engineering Licensure Examination, which is administered by the Board of Chemical Engineering under the supervision of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).

The Chemical Engineering Licensure Exam is given twice each calendar year, usually in May and November. To pass this exam, you must prepare well and study the following subjects which form the basic coverage of this licensure examination:

  • Physical and Chemical Principles
  • General Engineering
  • Chemical Engineering

Needless to say, the first step to learn these subjects is to enroll in a chemical engineering school that will prepare you well both for the licensure examination and for the practice of chemical engineering.

Top Chemical Engineering Schools in the Philippines

Get to know the best schools for chemical engineering in the Philippines based on their board exam performances! Presented below are the data about the average passing rates in previous Chemical Engineering Licensure Examination.

Schools ranked by Chemical Engineering Board Exam Passing Rate

RANKSCHOOLCITY / LOCATIONPASSING RATENUMBER OF PASSERSTOTAL NUMBER OF TAKERS
1University of the Philippines DilimanQuezon City97%158162
2University of San CarlosCebu City95%7073
3Ateneo de Davao UniversityDavao City93%2729
4University of the Philippines Los BañosLos Baños90%141156
4De La Salle UniversityManila90%8695
5Xavier UniversityCagayan de Oro88%4045
6Adamson UniversityManila81%86105
7Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng MaynilaManila80%2926
8University of the Philippines VisayasMiagao78%3646
9University of Santo TomasManila76%179235
10Mapua UniveristyManila73%76103
10Colegio San Agustin BacolodBacolod City73%2534
11Bicol University - Main CampusLegazpi City72%4765
12Saint Louis UniversityBaguio City71%99139
13Mindanao State University - Iligan Institute of TechnologyIligan City70%5477
14Batangas State University - Alangilan CampusBatangas City69%6492

Note: The table above only ranks the passing rates of First-time takers; repeaters are not included in the passing rate. All figures are based on the four (4) past Chemical Engineering Board Exams in November 2017, May 2017, November 2016, and May 2016.

Source: PRC Philippines (prc.gov.ph); Learn.org; Lawphil.net; Payscale.com

James Ryan Jonas teaches business management, investments, and entrepreneurship at the University of the Philippines (UP). He is also the Executive Director of UP Provident Fund Inc., managing and investing P3.2 Billion ($56.4 Million) worth of retirement funds on behalf of thousands of UP employees.