IChemE: With You Every Step of Your Career Journey

IChemE
2nd October 2025

Article by Staff Writer

Free student membership gives you exclusive access to tailored support, expert guidance and career-building resources – designed to set you up for success from day one

AS A STUDENT MEMBER, you’re not just preparing for your future career, you’re stepping into a global network of changemakers. By engaging with all that IChemE has to offer, you’ll have the opportunity to build your credibility, connect with a diverse international community and contribute to shapping a more sustainable future. You’ll also help strengthen the collective voice of the profession, making sure it reflects the values and ambitions of your generation.

Student membership

Anyone studying an undergraduate degree in chemical, biochemical or process engineering, or a closely related subject can join IChemE for free and make the most of all the benefits that student membership offers. During your time as a Student Member, you will have access to the Student Hub (pictured below), a one-stop shop for news, events and resources to support your studies (including the indispensable Student Pocketbook, full of essential concepts, principles and formulae). You also have IChemE’s Knowledge Hub and the virtual library, Knovel, at your fingertips, plus online subscriptions to The Chemical Engineer and Loss Prevention Bulletin.

Member benefit: Knovel

Knovel is an online resource combining books, technical information, interactive equations and analytical tools. Members have free access to over 300 leading reference works and databases that enable you to:

quickly find answers to technical engineering questions
gain access to information hidden in complex graphs,
equations and tables using analytical and search tools,
access reference books across a range of chemeng topics including petroleum engineering, sustainability, design, process safety, water treatment, bioprocess and biotechnology, materials selection and safety compliance

See also: AccessEngineering,¹ McGraw-Hill’s award-winning engineering reference platform.

Member benefit: Special interest groups

You can join as many Special Interest Groups² as you like – explore topics that interest you, learn from experts through webinars and activities, and connect with a global network of chemical engineers via IChemE Connect (see below).

Member benefit: The Chemical Engineer

The Chemical Engineer is IChemE’s official magazine, offering news, technical insights and career guidance for professionals across the chemical and process industries. Available in print and online, it features expert commentary, industry updates, and resources to support professional development and community engagement. Recent student-related features include:

Member benefit: Sustainability Hub

The Sustainability Hub³ has a growing collection of on-demand training courses ready for you to further your knowledge and understanding around sustainable process engineering. Designed specifically for chemical engineers, they are delivered online, completed at your own pace, and allow you to learn interactively in bite-sized chunks.

Member benefit: YEAIS

The IChemE Young Engineer Awards for Innovation and Sustainability recognise and celebrate the rising stars of chemical engineering, honouring young IChemE members bringing creative solutions to real-world challenges.⁴

Member benefit: IChemE Connect

Designed and developed in collaboration with our members, IChemE Connect is a hub of knowledge, discussion and collaboration – a virtual home where our global community of members can engage in conversation, interact on topics, ask questions and share views, news and experiences. IChemE Connect provides dedicated spaces for member groups, special interest communities, students and EDI initiatives such as Women in ChemEng. Plus, gain support for your future career in the industry via Mentor Match, which connects mentors and mentees based on an individual’s personalised criteria.

Early career membership

Once you graduate and venture into the workforce your next step is to become an Associate or Affiliate Member of IChemE. The career guidance does not stop once you become an early career professional – IChemE provides support for members through National Early Career Groups based in the UK and Ireland, Malaysia and South East Asia, and Australasia.

The What’s On directory⁵ is a one-stop shop for all IChemE member events and opportunities – open to students, early career professionals and beyond. Here you’ll find local member group events and social gatherings; Special Interest Group events, seminars and webinars; our global conferences, awards and celebrations; professional learning opportunities and much more.

Professional recognition

Whether you’re pursuing Chartered status, Technician registration or something else, becoming professionally registered with IChemE boosts your career and earning potential – our latest salary survey proves it (see above). If you’re a student or early career professional, registration might feel far off, but starting early sets you up for success. IChemE offers clear, supported pathways to help you grow.

Wherever you are on your journey, IChemE is here for you – whether that be campus visits, workplace drop-ins or a quick chat with our friendly team. Find full guidance for Chartered membership and explore all registration routes on the IChemE website. Get recognised. Get registered. Get ahead.

To learn more about all the benefits of FREE IChemE Student Membership, log on to bit.ly/why-icheme

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