Nuclear engineering courses

Within this area of engineering, demand for talented graduates is high, roles are varied, and jobs are well paid. Discover more about the nuclear engineering courses that can 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 sites.

'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 Murphy, senior lecturer in nuclear materials and 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.'

How to qualify as a nuclear engineer

Nuclear engineering qualifications

Most nuclear engineers are educated to Bachelors level - see our guide to qualifications.

Some begin their career with an engineering or science-based degree, such as:

After achieving a relevant degree, you can specialise in nuclear engineering with a postgraduate qualification. However, if you're set on a career in the nuclear industry from the outset, a number of institutions provide undergraduate courses in the subject.

To see the complete list of what's available, visit Nuclear Institute (NI) - Nuclear courses.

Gaining work experience while at university through an internship or completing a degree apprenticeship in the nuclear industry would also provide valuable experience and give you the technical knowledge required.

Essential skills of a nuclear engineer

You'll need technical ability as well as soft skills to work in this field, including:

a good grounding in the principles of engineering, maths and nuclear physics
strong analytical and problem-solving ability
an in-depth understanding of safety regulations and radiation protection
excellent communication and teamworking skills
meticulous attention to detail
proficiency in using computer-aided design (CAD) and data analysis software.

Work in a range of nuclear engineering roles

Engineering skills are highly transferable and can be used in various jobs in the nuclear and non-nuclear sectors.

Dr Murphy suggests that within the nuclear sector, graduates could go on to:

design or operate new fission or fusion reactors
decommission the large number of existing nuclear facilities
deliver lifesaving diagnosis or treatment in a hospital
explore the solar system by developing power sources for deep space probes
work on the world's largest particle accelerator, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC).

Nuclear engineering degrees

Bachelors courses typically 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 BEng Nuclear Engineering at Lancaster University, you'll need to have achieved ABB at A-level. Tuition fees for home students are 拢9,535 per year (2025/26). International students will be expected to pay 拢29,820.

During the first year, you'll gain a general understanding of the fundamentals of engineering.

'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.

In the second year, you can specialise in:

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

Dr Murphy explains, 'specialisation begins in the second year with our nuclear engineering module, which introduces 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.'

You'll apply your skills to an individual project in the final year.

Masters courses

While a Masters degree isn't essential, studying for a postgraduate qualification will:

increase your knowledge
help you to gain industry contacts
make you stand out from the competition when applying for jobs.

Master of Science (MSc)

For entry onto a one-year MSc degree, 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 want to study for the MSc Nuclear Science and Technology at The University of Manchester.

The programme includes course units set out by the Nuclear Technology Engineering Consortium (NTEC), a group of universities training students to meet the UK's nuclear skills requirements.

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

chemical aspects of nuclear technology
radiation and radiological protection
reactor materials and lifetime behaviour.

In 2025/26, the one-year full-time course costs 拢13,500 for home students. International students, including those from the European Union (EU) will pay considerably more at 拢33,500.

The MSc Nuclear Decommissioning and Waste Management at the University of Birmingham is the only course of its kind in the UK, offering 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:

laboratory exercises
written coursework
presentations
exams.

Full-time fees for the course are set at 拢10,900 for those from the UK. Fees vary for international students depending on their home country.

Explore postgraduate funding, including scholarships and bursaries.

Search postgraduate courses in nuclear engineering.

Master of Engineering (MEng)

It's also possible to combine undergraduate and postgraduate study by completing an MEng, typically over four years. These longer programmes usually expect you to have high A-level grades.

For instance, to gain entry to 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.

Lancaster University also offers the longer postgraduate programme with its MEng Nuclear Engineering, asking for AAA.

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

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

For UK students, tuition fees for both courses are set at 拢9,535 per year. International students would pay 拢29,820 and 拢43,300 per year at Lancaster and Imperial, respectively.

Graduate careers in nuclear engineering

The demand for talented graduates will increase as the government builds new reactors. For example, the two nuclear reactors being built by EDF Energy at Hinkley Point C in Somerset are expected to:

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

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

International travel could be a feature of your career, as many employers are global companies - see working abroad.

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.

Find out more

Explore general engineering courses.
Consider engineering graduate schemes.
Gain an insight into the energy and engineering sectors.