Wuhan Institute of Technology Training Program for International Master’s Degree Students (Chemical Engineering 

and Technology)

Discipline Category: Engineering First-Level Discipline Code: 0817

First-Level Discipline Name: Chemical Engineering and Technology

Second-Level Discipline Codes:081701, 081702, 081703, 081704, 081705, 0817Z1, 0817Z2, 0817Z3 Second-Level Discipline Names:Chemical Engineering, Chemical Technology, Biochemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry, Industrial Catalysis, Applied Microbiology, Pharmaceutical Engineering, Industrial Engineering

Training Objectives

This discipline aims to cultivate high-level scientific and technical professionals in the field of Chemical Engineering and Technology who possess a strong sense of social responsibility, sound moral character, and academic integrity; who have a solid theoretical foundation and systematic professional knowledge; who are capable of independently engaging in engineering practice and scientific research; and who demonstrate strong innovation ability, teamwork spirit, and a broad international perspective. Graduates are expected to be physically and mentally healthy and achieve all-round development in moral, intellectual, physical, and aesthetic dimensions.

Discipline Overview and Research Directions

The first-level discipline of Chemical Engineering and Technology at our University is a Key Discipline of Hubei Province. In 2008, the University was approved by the Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council as an authorized institution to confer master’s degrees in Chemical Engineering and Technology, and in 2013 it was further approved to confer doctoral degrees in this discipline. This discipline has been recognized by Hubei Province as the only dominant discipline in this field. In addition, Chemistry, Materials Science, and Engineering at our University have all entered the top 1% worldwide in the ESI rankings. At present, the first-level discipline of Chemical Engineering and Technology comprises eight second-level disciplines, namely Chemical Engineering, Chemical Technology, Biochemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry, Industrial Catalysis, Applied Microbiology, Pharmaceutical Engineering, and Industrial Engineering.

Chemical Engineering

Chemical Engineering primarily focuses on scientific, engineering, and technological issues related to chemical transport processes, chemical thermodynamics, separation engineering, and chemical reaction engineering. It aims to develop new theories, methods, and technologies in process engineering science to guide process development, equipment design, and plant modification in the chemical industry. This discipline places equal emphasis on experimental research and the application of computational simulation techniques. The main research directions include:

(1) Chemical reactors and process intensification technologies;

(2) Separation processes and technologies;

(3) Resource chemical engineering and technologies;

(4) Chemical process equipment and applications.

Pharmaceutical Engineering

Pharmaceutical Engineering is an engineering and technological discipline concerned with the large-scale research, development, and industrial manufacture of pharmaceuticals, it focuses on the industrial realization routes for drugs with specific therapeutic functions. Research in this field covers engineering and technological issues throughout the entire lifecycle of pharmaceuticals, including drug design, synthesis, screening or preparation, pharmaceutical processes, pharmaceutical plant design and construction, pharmaceutical machinery, and dosage forms (including the design, synthesis, and application of pharmaceutical polymer materials and excipients). The resolution of these issues relies on the integration and collaboration of pharmaceutical sciences, chemical engineering and technology, and biological sciences.

The main research directions include:

(1) Drug process development and engineering design: From the perspective of chemical reaction engineering, this direction elucidates the principles of integration and intensification of unit operations, providing theoretical and practical foundations for the design, installation, and operation of equipment and facilities for drug synthesis;

(2) Chemical pharmaceutical processes and engineering: Based on internationally recognized Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP), this direction investigates the micro- and macro-scale laws governing mass and energy transfer and transformation at different production scales, providing theoretical and practical support for the design, installation, and operation of pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities compliant with cGMP requirements;

(3) Formulation processes and pharmaceutical polymer materials: From the perspective of pharmaceutical formulation engineering, this direction reveals the powder properties, compressibility, and mobility of pharmaceutical polymer materials, thereby providing theoretical and practical bases for the engineering design, installation, and operation of formulation equipment and facilities.

Training Mode

In accordance with the training objectives, postgraduate education consists of two main stages: coursework and thesis research. To enhance students' scientific literacy and professional competence, research activities, professional internships, and practical training are integrated throughout both stages.

A personalized training plan must be formulated within one week of enrollment. Under normal circumstances, all required coursework credits should be completed during the first academic year. The mid-term assessment and teaching practice components should be completed in the fifth semester.

Academic System and Study Duration

The standard duration of study for full-time academic master’s degree students is three years, including one year devoted to coursework. Students who are unable to graduate on time due to special circumstances shall submit an application for an extension of study, which shall be subject to the approval of the supervisor, review by the School, and final approval by the Graduate School. Each application for an extension shall generally not exceed one year. During the extension period, students shall no longer be eligible for financial support provided by the school and the University. The maximum period of study for full-time academic master’s degree students is six years.

Exceptionally outstanding master’s degree students who complete all required coursework, teaching practice, and thesis writing ahead of schedule and meet the graduation requirements may, upon personal application and with the consent of the supervisor and the Degree Evaluation Committee, and subject to approval by the Graduate School, apply for an early thesis defense and early graduation. The period of early graduation shall not exceed one year.

Training Components

1. Academic Norms and Ethics Education:

In accordance with the requirements of Document No. 1 [2019] issued by the Department of Education, a compulsory course entitled “Academic Norms and Ethics Education” is offered (6 class hours, non-credit). Graduate students are required to attend lectures on academic norms and ethics organized by the University and the School at the beginning of their enrollment. This component forms part of the orientation program for new students.

2. Thesis Topic Selection:

After completing the required coursework and prescribed academic activities, students shall determine their research direction and conduct literature review and review writing in accordance with the supervisor’s requirements. Graduate students are required to participate in the thesis proposal defense in the first semester of the second academic year and submit a printed thesis proposal report (Semester 3).

3. Academic Activities (Including Innovation and Entrepreneurship Practice):

Academic activities shall be carried out in accordance with the Regulations on the Administration of Graduate Academic Activities of Wuhan Institute of Technology. The total required credits for academic activities are 2 credits, of which 1 credit may be obtained upon completion of half of the required activities. Students must obtain 1 academic activity credit prior to the thesis proposal defense and the remaining 1 credit before applying for the thesis defense. During the period of study, students are required to attend no fewer than six academic lectures (Semesters 2–5).

4. Practical Training:

Under the guidance of the supervisor, students shall engage in various forms of practical activities, including research assistance, teaching assistance, scientific and technological innovation, and social practice, and submit a practice report. The required credits are not less than 2. During their period of study, students are required to deliver at least one academic presentation at a University- or School-level academic forum (Semesters 3–5).

5. Mid-term Assessment:

The mid-term assessment shall be conducted six to ten months after approval of the thesis proposal. Students shall carry out a self-evaluation and submit a summary report. The supervisor and the School shall conduct a comprehensive evaluation, provide specific feedback, and submit the results to the Graduate School for review and record. Only students who pass the mid-term assessment may proceed with their degree thesis research. The School assessment panel shall conduct a comprehensive examination of the progress of the student’s thesis work. Graduate students are required to participate in the thesis mid-term assessment organized by the University and the School and submit a summary report. Credit: 1 (Semester 5).

Curriculum and Credit Requirements

The minimum total number of credits required for master’s degree students in this program is 36 credits, including a minimum of 29 coursework credits, comprising 11 credits for public compulsory courses, 10 credits for core discipline courses, and no fewer than 8 credits for discipline elective courses. In addition, students are required to obtain 2 credits for the thesis proposal, 2 credits for academic activities, 1 credit for the mid-term assessment, and 2 credits for practical teaching/training components. Students must also pass the HSK Level 3 examination.

Degree Thesis

Graduate students pursuing a master’s degree shall, in accordance with the training plan, complete all required credits, fulfill all training components, and complete the writing of the master’s thesis. Upon submission of an application by the student, with the approval of the supervisor and successful expert review of the thesis, the student shall participate in the master’s thesis defense in accordance with the Implementation Rules for the Regulations on the Conferment of Master’s Degrees of Wuhan Institute of Technology.In addition, during the period of study, graduate students must meet one or more of the following academic achievement requirements before being eligible for degree evaluation in accordance with the above-mentioned regulations:Publish at least one academic paper in a publicly recognized academic journal in this discipline; or publish one paper at a major international academic conference in this discipline that is indexed by SCI or EI (with the graduate student as the first author, or the supervisor as the first author and the graduate student as the second author); or obtain one authorized invention patent (with the graduate student as the first inventor, or the supervisor as the first inventor and the graduate student as the second inventor).

Note: All of the above academic achievements must list the School of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Engineering of Wuhan Institute of Technology (or the Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Processes, Ministry of Education, or the Hubei Key Laboratory of Novel Reactors and Green Chemical Processes, or the Institute of Pharmaceutical Research) as the first affiliation. In cases of multiple first authors, only the first-listed author shall be recognized; in cases of multiple supervisors, only the first supervisor shall be recognized.

Curriculum Structure – Public Compulsory Courses

Training Phase