Sasol Limited
Five reasons to study chemical engineering in South Africa
By Monica Luwes, Manager: Graduate Centre and Development Programme at Sasol
South Africa needs bold, innovative solutions to challenges like the energy crisis, water scarcity, infrastructure decay and waste management. Among the professionals working to tackle these challenges are chemical engineers, who are in high demand across industries such as healthcare, manufacturing and energy.
Chemical engineers use the principles of chemistry, physics, mathematics, biology and economics to efficiently use, produce, design, transport and transform materials. At companies like Sasol, they play a key role in turning innovations into safe products and processes.
Here are five reasons that studying chemical engineering can help you build a rewarding career:
1. High employability
Graduates command attractive starting salaries because of their specialised technical skills and the demand for their expertise. In South Africa, where chemical engineers are on the critical skills list, this advantage is even more pronounced. What’s more, chemical engineering is in high global demand. Multinational companies recruit chemical engineers and offer opportunities to work across the world. If you’re ambitious, the career can take you anywhere.
2. Solving real-world challenges
Chemical engineers are developing green energy technologies, advancing sustainable manufacturing, managing water resources and addressing climate change. In South Africa, they are playing a key role in addressing the energy crisis and building the infrastructure the country needs.
In the words of Haneefah Malik, Process Engineer in Training at Sasol Synfuels: “Our country has so many problems waiting for solutions, the energy crisis, water scarcity, infrastructure and waste management. A career in STEM is an opportunity to help develop solutions to national and global challenges.”
3. Diverse career opportunities
A chemical engineering degree opens doors across sectors such as petrochemicals, mining and metals, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, water treatment, environmental management, and renewable energy. As materials innovation accelerates, new health and safety standards come into play and industries evolve towards greener technologies, demand for chemical engineers will only grow.
4. Challenge and stimulation
As a chemical engineer, you will get to put your critical thinking skills, analytical abilities and creativity to work. You will never be bored in your role because there are always multiple answers to any questions, new problems to solve and interesting ideas to explore. Haneefah says: “Since I started my journey as a first-year student till today, there has not been a single moment where I wasn’t required to utilise my brain power.”
5. Bursary and career support
Leading South African employers are investing in STEM skills via bursary and graduate development programmes. If you have the interest and the aptitude, securing a bursary can facilitate your journey from student to successful professional. Haneefah says her Sasol bursary covered her studies and accelerated her career through vacation work and the support the company offered when she joined their Graduate Programme.
“The Sasol Bursary is about investing in young South Africans who have the potential to become the engineers and scientists our country needs. We are not just funding degrees, we are building careers, communities, and the future of our industry,” says Monica Luwes, Manager: Graduate Centre and Development Programme at Sasol.
Applying for a Sasol bursary
Sasol is seeking high-achieving Grade 12 learners with a passion for STEM to apply for its all-inclusive undergraduate bursary. The closing date for applications is 17 May 2026. To be considered, applicants must have obtained at least 70% for Mathematics, 70% for Physical Science, and 60% for English in their 2025 final Grade 11 results.
Sasol offers bursaries across a range of STEM disciplines at Sasol-approved South African universities:
- Chemical Engineering
- Chemistry (Studies to Honours level required)
- Civil Engineering
- Data Science — Computer Science, Mathematics, Operations Research or Statistics
- Electrical Engineering
- Electronic Engineering
- Geology (Honours degree mandatory)
- Industrial Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Mining Engineering
- Metallurgical Engineering / Metallurgy (Studies to Honours level required)
- Mine Surveying (University of Johannesburg only)
To learn more and apply, visit www.sasolbursaries.com before the closing date on 17 May.
