"Mining engineers can be involved at the very beginning of a project to identify and quantify the location of mineral deposits. They are responsible for designing and planning new mines, and overseeing operations of existing mines."
- Program:
Are you open to adventure? Do you like to travel? Do complex technical challenges fascinate you? Are you interested in using your knowledge and skills to make a tangible difference in our world?
If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions, mining engineering could be for you.
Mining engineers play a crucial role in creating a greener and more sustainable future for our communities and our planet.
The electrification of transportation systems and the shift to renewable energy simply cannot happen without critical minerals and metals, from cobalt and lithium to copper and rare earth elements.
Howard's Mining Engineering Journey
What is mining engineering?
Mining engineering is everything to do with the extraction of mineral resources from the earth. It encompasses removing the ore, processing it in a plant to produce a metal or concentrate, and managing and disposing of any waste materials. Doing this successfully requires a vast knowledge of physics and chemistry and basically every engineering discipline.
Mining engineers can be involved at the very beginning of a project to identify and quantify the location of mineral deposits. They are responsible for designing and planning new mines, and overseeing operations of existing mines.
They must design processes that are economically viable while maximizing efficiency, meeting the highest standards of safety and minimizing any potentially negative impacts. Mining engineers are also working at the edge of technical innovation, with many mine sites incorporating automation, advanced machinery and data analytics.
“Mining engineers need to have very strong technical skills that extend across multiple areas of engineering,” says Tonia Welch, Assistant Professor of Teaching in Mining Engineering.
“But mining engineering is about so much more than solving complex technical problems, which is why mining engineers also need to have strong communication and leadership skills.”
Mining Engineering at UBC Tonia Welch
What can I do with a degree in mining engineering?
Mining engineers can work at mine sites, where they could be involved in planning, designing or maintaining the equipment, systems or operations within the mine, the processing plant or the waste management facilities.
Mining engineers can also work in the offices of mining companies, engineering consulting companies and provincial/federal regulators, where they could be involved in setting long-term goals and strategies.
They might design a new mine, conduct feasibility studies of implementing new technologies at a mine site, review potential acquisitions, develop or optimize safety programs, explore ways to decrease energy and water use at mine sites, explore ways to maximize the social and economic impacts of a mine on local communities and reduce any potential negative impacts.
Mining engineering intersects with many other areas of engineering, so there are lots of opportunities to work in areas that you’re particularly passionate about. Some mining engineers might design equipment, others might focus on environmental impact mitigation, others dive into data analytics and others might be involved in coming up with ways to automate certain processes to ensure safety.
“As a mining engineer, you can be highly specialized or you can be a jack of all trades,” says Ms. Welch. “There are so many pathways for your career.”
What broader industry trends are shaping the demand for mining engineers?
The demand for metals and minerals is already high – and it’s growing quickly. Copper, for example, is essential to the electrification of many industries, yet the current annual global production of copper must basically double by 2035 to meet the demand for copper in clean energy and electrification applications. The story is even more acute for lithium and other metals.
This skyrocketing demand is driving incredible innovations in the industry as mining engineers seek ways to extract materials as efficiently and sustainably as possible.
As Ms. Welch notes, “long gone are the days of relatively straightforward and easily accessible deposits – many new deposits are at lower depths or in challenging environments where innovation is needed to access the ore safely, sustainably and economically.”
What’s it like to study mining engineering at UBC?
UBC is world-renowned for its strengths in mining engineering, consistently ranking as one of the top schools in Canada and internationally. Students in our program benefit by being taught by faculty who are globally respected for their contributions to the field.
After completing the foundation year (where you will take courses in math and physics, as well as engineering courses where you will learn how to start solving engineering problems) you will begin your education in mining engineering.
Foundation Year at UBC Program Curriculum
Your second-year courses will focus on the key principles of mining and mineral processing and you’ll also take courses in solid and fluid mechanics. In third year and fourth year, you’ll deepen your understanding in all areas of mining engineering, from rock mechanics and surface and underground mine design to engineering economics and mine waste management. Technical electives provide opportunities to specialize in different areas.
“The camaraderie of our student cohort is definitely a defining feature of our program,” says Ms. Welch. “For example, every year, upper-year students organize a grad trip to travel to a country to tour mines and meet industry leaders. In recent years, the group has travelled to Chile and Australia.”
Vancouver is a global mining hub, with many leading companies headquartered in the city. Mining students who participate in co-op are highly sought after by industry for work term positions and for full-time positions after graduation.
Interested?
Learn more about mining engineering:
- Watch a video to learn what it’s like to study mining engineering at UBC
- Explore our program
- Check out our scholarship opportunities
- Take a look at the final year capstone projects by filtering your search for “mining engineering”
- Read profiles of current mining engineering students and alumni by filtering your search for “mining engineering.”
