The Department of Chemical Engineering, Universitas Indonesia was first established under the name of the Department of Gas Engineering, Universitas Indonesia in 1981. There were two study programs that were established almost simultaneously in 1981.

Initially, the Gas Engineering Study Program was established under the Department of Metallurgy to meet the needs of engineering graduates in the field of gas liquefaction. Gas Engineering students came from students from the Departments of Metallurgy, Machinery, Chemistry and Physics. Through cooperation with PERTAMINA, the Study Program received some assistance in the form of limited educational funds, teaching staff with industrial experience, on-the-job training for students and also visits to related industries.

In the same year, the Chemical Engineering Study Program was established under the Department of Mechanical Engineering. This Study Program was directed to meet the shortage of manpower in the development of the Chemical Engineering industry in Indonesia. In 1985, the two study programs were combined into the Department of Gas and Petrochemical Engineering, which offers a chemical engineering study program with an emphasis on courses in gas and petrochemical technology. Starting from the academic year 1985/1986, the Department of Gas and Petrochemical Engineering has accepted first semester students through the New Student Registration Selection (SIPENMARU).

The Department of Gas and Petrochemical Engineering was initially grouped into the Gas and Petrochemical Engineering Study Program in 1989, but was later grouped into the Chemical Engineering Study Program in 1996.

Based on the UI-BHMN Statute, the term study program was changed to department in 2003, and in 2006 the Department of Gas and Petrochemical Engineering changed to the Department of Chemical Engineering. Meanwhile, for the Postgraduate level, the Master’s Program in Chemical Engineering, the Master’s Program in Natural Gas Management and the Doctoral Program in Chemical Engineering were inaugurated in 2002, 2004 and 2007 respectively. The Department of Chemical Engineering, Universitas Indonesia has the address Department of Chemical Engineering UI, New Campus UI, Depok 16424, Indonesia.