Nuclear engineering courses

Within this field of engineering, demand for talented graduates is high, roles are varied and jobs are well paid. Discover more about the nuclear engineering courses that kick-start your career in this vital part of the UK's energy sector

What is nuclear engineering?

Nuclear power plants supply the country with electricity, and it's the job of nuclear engineers to maintain and develop these energy plants.

'Nuclear engineering is concerned with the practical application of nuclear processes and covers a range of fields including energy, defence, medicine, research and security,' says Dr Samuel T Murphy, director of studies for nuclear engineering at Lancaster University.

'By studying nuclear engineering, students will gain the knowledge and skills that will enable them to design, develop, build, operate and then decommission nuclear facilities in a safe and environmentally sustainable way.'

Nuclear engineering degrees

The majority of nuclear engineers are educated to degree level. Some begin their career with an engineering or science-based degree, such as chemical, electrical or mechanical engineering or physics, before specialising in nuclear engineering with a postgraduate qualification.

However, if you're set on a career in the nuclear industry, a number of institutions provide undergraduate courses. To find out more, visit Nuclear Institute (NI) - Universities.

Courses take three years to complete full time (four with a placement year), and require A-level mathematics and a physical science subject.

For example, to study the three-year Nuclear Engineering BEng at Lancaster University you'll need to have achieved ABB at A-level. Tuition fees are £9,250 per year for 2024/25.

During the first year you'll gain a general understanding of the fundamentals of engineering. In the second year you can choose to specialise in:

decommissioning and sustainability
electromagnetics and RF engineering
instrumentation and control
nuclear engineering
power engineering.

In the final year you'll apply your skills to an individual project.

'All undergraduates take the same first year providing them with experience of a range of engineering disciplines, as well as developing their ability to work within an interdisciplinary team,' explains Dr Murphy.

'Specialisation begins in the second year with our nuclear engineering module, which provides an introduction to essential concepts and definitions associated with nuclear physics and technology. Students learn the fundamentals of reactor design and the nuclear fuel cycle, as well as the chemistry essential to support the reprocessing of nuclear materials.'

Masters courses

While a Masters degree isn't essential, studying for a postgraduate qualification will increase your knowledge, help you to gain industry contacts and could make you stand out from the competition when applying for jobs.

It's possible to combine undergraduate and postgraduate study by completing an MEng.

For the four-year MEng Mechanical with Nuclear Engineering at Imperial College London, you'll need two A* and an A at A-level for entry - or an A* and three As.

During the course you'll cover a range of core and optional modules, as well as specialist units in:

nuclear energy
nuclear chemical engineering
nuclear materials
thermodynamics
nuclear reactor physics.

For entry onto a postgraduate course you'll typically need a 2:1 or above, usually in an engineering or science discipline, although some programmes will accept a 2:2.

This is the case if you'd like to study for the one-year MSc Nuclear Science and Technology at the University of Sheffield.

You'll cover decommissioning and nuclear technology, environment and safety by studying modules such as:

nuclear waste immobilisation and disposal
nuclear fuel cycle
reactor physics, criticality and design
radiation shielding.

The Nuclear Decommissioning and Waste Management MSc at the University of Birmingham is the only course of its kind in the UK. It offers modules in:

nuclear radiation, dosimetry and shielding and the nuclear fuel cycle
processing, storage and disposal of nuclear waste
site decommissioning and environmental management.

You'll be assessed through a combination of laboratory exercises, written coursework, presentations and exams.

In 2024/25, the one-year course cost £10,530 for UK students.

Search postgraduate courses in nuclear engineering.

You can also explore postgraduate funding.

Graduate careers in nuclear engineering

The demand for talented graduates is set to increase as the government builds new reactors.

For example, the two nuclear reactors being built by EDF Energy at Hinkley Point C in Somerset will:

power six million homes
avoid nine million tonnes of CO2 being created each year
employ around 22,000 people
deliver around £24million in investment.

There are also plans to decommission around 17 existing sites across the UK, the most high-profile of which is Sellafield in Cumbria.

A variety of jobs are available, both in the nuclear and non-nuclear sectors as engineering is a highly transferable skill.

'Within the nuclear sector graduates could find themselves designing or operating new fission or fusion reactors, decommissioning the large number of existing facilities, delivering life saving diagnosis or treatment in a hospital, exploring the solar system by developing power sources for deep space probes or working on the world's largest particle accelerator the Large Hadron Collider,' says Dr Murphy.

International travel could be a feature of your career as many employers are global companies.

Alternatively, you could continue to study for a PhD and work in academia or research.

Discover how to become an engineer and consider the full range of graduate engineering jobs.

Degree apprenticeships

If university isn't for you, consider working and studying towards a degree apprenticeship. This is an excellent way to gain relevant skills and qualifications, all while earning a wage.

A number of leading organisations run nuclear engineering degree apprenticeship programmes, including:

The National Nuclear Laboratory also offers degree apprenticeships in a range of areas, from clean energy and environmental restoration to health and nuclear medicine. For these roles you'll earn a starting salary of £20,400.

Read about other engineering apprenticeships and discover how to apply for an apprenticeship.

Find out more

Gain an insight into the energy and engineering sectors.
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