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PhD Nuclear Engineering / Application and selection

Year of entry: 2024

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How to apply

Apply online

In your application you’ll need to include:

• The name of this programme
• Your research project title (i.e. the advertised project name or proposed project name) or area of research
• Your proposed supervisor’s name
• If you already have funding or you wish to be considered for any of the available funding
• A supporting statement (see 'Advice to Applicants' for what to include)
• Details of your previous university level study
• Names and contact details of your two referees.

Advice to applicants

• Identified the specific research project, CDT or dual-award you'd like to apply for or, if you already have funding, determined your own research project and title and discussed this with a supervisor.
• Contacted the project supervisor and spoken to them about your suitability for the project.
• Browsed funding you are eligible for and discussed this with your supervisor, if you don't already have your own funding.  
• Supporting statement: A one or two page statement outlining your motivation to pursue postgraduate research, the area(s) of research you’re interested in, why you want to undertake postgraduate research at Manchester, any relevant research or work experience, the key findings of your previous research experience, and techniques and skills you’ve developed.
• Certificates and transcripts: Certificates and final transcripts of any completed university-level qualifications and interim transcripts for qualifications in progress. If your transcripts are in a language other than English, you must provide an official English translation. If your current weighted average mark or GPA is not included on these documents, please also include an official document from your university verifying this information.
• CV: Summarising your academic record and highlighting experience that demonstrates your potential to conduct research.  
• English language proof: A certificate or evidence demonstrating your English language ability and proficiency. Applications can be considered without this evidence but any offer would be conditional on meeting minimum requirements.  
• Referees: Names and contact details of two academic referees who we can get in contact with and will support your application.

Interview requirements

It is normally possible to defer entry to another entry point within the academic year, with the approval of your supervisory team and funder (if applicable).

You can request a deferral by contacting the Doctoral Academy Admissions Team by emailing [email protected] .  If you request deferral for entry in a subsequent academic year you may be required to re-apply.

Nuclear science and engineering

Nuclear energy is a key component of the UK’s energy mix and critical to our transition to a low carbon energy future which is secure and cost effective. While the current generation of UK civil nuclear power plants (NPP) are now at, or near, their end of life, there is a new generation of NPP planned.

Hinkley Point C in Somerset will be the first new NPP built in the UK since the 1980s, representing the latest technology. In addition, the UK Government has started a programme of investment in research and development (R&D) on the next generation of NPP and fuel cycle facilities. The research challenges of managing the decommissioning of existing plant, building and operating the current generation and developing the next generation are considerable. Worldwide, investment in this area is expected to top £1 trillion in the decades ahead.

The University is one of the UK’s leading centres for engineering focused research in the nuclear fuel cycle, and has a long track record of research partnerships with academia and industry and across the UK’s civil nuclear sector.

For example, we host the Sludge Centre of Expertise with Sellafield Ltd (the UK’s largest nuclear site operator). Read a case study about work by the Sludge Centre of Expertise to find ways to manage nuclear waste safely .

Our new state of the art MULTIForm (Multiphase Fluid Flow In Nuclear systems) facility will enable researchers to understand the turbulence, heat transfer characteristics and the impact of gas injection on liquid mobility in bubbly reactor flows, and critically, future salt reactors. Our facility will provide top-of-the-range instrumentation for high-fidelity validation of computational fluid dynamics models in order to predict performances in a variety of nuclear reactors, transportation or separation units.

We also lead the multimillion pound TRANSCEND project  and ATLANTIC research  consortiums in decommissioning and accident tolerant fuels.

For more information, please see the Nuclear Engineering Group .

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Postgraduate Courses in Nuclear Engineering in the United Kingdom - 13 Courses

University of aberdeen school of medicine, medical sciences and nutrition.

• Medical Physics MSc

University of Birmingham School of Physics and Astronomy

• Nuclear Decommissioning and Waste Management MSc Postgraduate Diploma - PgDip
• Physics and Technology of Nuclear Reactors MSc

University of Strathclyde Electronic and Electrical Engineering

• Electronic and Electrical Engineering MSc

University of Surrey FEPS - Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences

• Nuclear Science and Applications MSc
• Nuclear Science and Radiation Protection MSc

University of Bristol Physics

• Nuclear Science and Engineering MSc

University of Cambridge Engineering

• Nuclear Energy Master of Philosophy - MPhil

University of Manchester Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering

• Nuclear Engineering Doctor of Philosophy - PhD Master of Philosophy - MPhil

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A career where anything is possible.

We’re looking for graduates to work on cutting-edge projects alongside world-leading experts; to drive discoveries that protect the environment and change society for the better.

Our 2025 Graduate vacancies will open in September.

For a career where you can make a difference now and for future generations, join us.

Why start your career at NNL?

When you join our Graduate Development Programme, you’ll spend two years working on challenging and exciting projects, constantly learning from industry experts. You’ll solve real-world problems, push the boundaries of science and discovery and undertake a planned programme of activities that will grow your skills and empower you to reach your full potential.

As a member of our early careers community, you’ll receive support every step of the way, with a development plan that’s tailored to your needs and ambitions. You’ll also be employed on a permanent contract. So, after the graduate scheme, you’ll be supported to seamlessly transition into your next role.

Key benefits

You’ll start in early September 2024 on a salary over £36,000.

You’ll also receive a great package of additional employment benefits including:

• Company Bonus scheme
• Support toward professional institute membership
• Cycle to work scheme

£36k+ starting salary

Meet our graduates.

I got into software development by starting with a general interest in technology and then trying out various things within IT and Computing.

My role as a software engineer means that I develop software for people to make their jobs easier.

After University, working in the nuclear industry had never occurred to me – and now the best part about my job is getting to do the role I enjoy, but whilst learning a whole new industry that is completely unrelated to my field of study.

“The NNL Graduate Scheme allowed me many more opportunities than I could have imagined, and I am regularly encouraged to step outside of my comfort zone.

I am confidently progressing within my technical role as a Radiological & Chemotoxic Safety Assessor, due to the consistent mentorship and training that I’m provided.

I am also involved with the Equality, Diversity & Inclusion group at NNL demonstrating NNL’s commitment to ensuring all employees feel valued.”

“The Scheme enabled me to complete unique technical work such as designing components to monitor nuclear waste canisters and modelling fuel for new reactors.

It also provided me with opportunities to develop my business skills, assessing the possibility for the nuclear industry to recycle electric vehicles, and management of a workstream in the knowledge management programme.

More generally the cohort of graduates I joined with have been incredibly supportive – we meet up regularly despite being spread across the UK.”

“I joined NNL in 2021 as a Graduate Operational Research Analyst. I chose NNL because the nuclear sector is such a rapidly growing industry that is becoming increasingly more significant in working towards clean energy solutions.

The best bit about working with NNL has been the opportunity to start working on actual projects from the start of my career, so that whilst the training is ongoing alongside this, I feel like I am already contributing in a positive way.”

“The NNL Graduate Scheme allowed me to significantly develop my technical skills as a Radiological & Chemotoxic Safety Assessor, whilst providing numerous opportunities to advance my behavioural and professional skills.

What stood out was the immense support provided by Early Careers and my technical team, despite working from home, ensuring that I have the best learning, development, and experience.”

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Home Careers Graduate Scheme

Graduate Scheme

Make it big with a cavendish graduate scheme.

The Nuclear Industry is currently undergoing a period of transformational change from decommissioning legacy facilities at Dounreay, Magnox, and Sellafield to building the UKs first new nuclear power plant in over 20 years and supporting Fusion research.

As the UK’s leading nuclear services company, we are at the forefront of this change delivering complex projects across the whole of the nuclear lifecycle. We are at the heart of innovation. With ambitious plans for growth at home and abroad, we are looking for new graduates to bring their technical and interpersonal skills to the table. Joining a wide range of current graduates, there has never been a more exciting time to join the team.

Our Graduate Schemes

Our graduate programme is 4 years long for our engineering and science graduates and 2 years for our Commercial graduates.

Over the first 2 years of the programme you will undertake a range of placements of around 3-6 months, across the business. This could mean working in Bristol, Leicester, Warrington, Cumbria and London or on any of our many power stations up and down the country! You will be assigned a home location but expect to move around as this is the only way to gain experience and kick start your career with Cavendish Nuclear. There could also be opportunities to move around the wider Babcock Group. You will gain practical experience alongside some true experts and learning valuable technical skills. The placements that you undertake are designed to help you meet the competencies required by the various professional institutes to ensure you are continuously learning and building your breadth of experience.

At Cavendish Nuclear we have a set of eight principles which outline the behaviours that we expect from all our employees. We are looking for graduates that demonstrate these in everything they do:

• Respect  people and value their diversity
• Always strive to  deliver
• Build great relationships based on  trust
• Thrive on  complexity
• Challenge  ourselves and each other
• Safeguard customers’  reputations
• Trust our people to  deliver
• Never compromise on Safety

Read About Some of Our Graduate Schemes:

Engineering graduates.

You could be involved in anything from design and planning of new plant, through operations and maintenance of power plant, decommissioning, waste management, fuel handling to Nuclear new build. Civil engineering graduates could be designing cutting edge structures that help to push forward the boundaries of the UK’s Nuclear Industry.

Science graduates

As a Physics graduate you could be providing radiological instrumentation, safety hazard analysis or specialist measurements of on-site nuclear material.

Procurement graduates

Our Procurement and Supply Chain function is accountable for managing and governing external spend within our supply chain. Cavendish Nuclear work with suppliers who share our commitment to health, safety and quality standards and we expect that products and services are delivered in ways that support these high standards and maintain our excellent reputation with our customers. The function takes a strategic approach to delivering the business objectives and deliverables having to constantly adapt to varying customer requirements, responding to changes in the market and satisfying additional influencing factors, requires a flexible and dynamic team. If you enjoy working in an environment that is varied, challenging and integral to business operations, then this Graduate scheme is the perfect opportunity for you.

Commercial graduates

As part of the Commercial Graduate programme you will complete a series of nine month placements: Business Winning, Commercial, Commercial Projects and Procurement and Supply Chain, with optional short placements in; Finance, Legal and Trade Controls. This will be complemented by the Graduate Development programme and enrolment with the International Association of Commercial and Contract Management (IACCM). The programme  is designed to give you maximal exposure within the business and develop you into a future leader.

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Uk call for 2024 european nuclear society phd award nominees.

Do you know someone who has recently completed a PhD in nuclear science and engineering?  

The European Nuclear Society (ENS) organises an annual Award to recognize an outstanding PhD thesis work. The ENS High Scientific Council (HSC) acts as the Selection Committee, and the Nuclear Institute, as the UK Member of the ENS, nominates the UK candidate for this prestigious award. 

UK candidates will be assessed by an NI team headed by Professor Laurence G Williams OBE FREng FNucI, a member of the ENS High Scientific Council. 

The successful candidate will become the UK Nominee for the HSC PhD award. A UK nominee has won the award in recent years. The winner of the UK competition, as well as going on to the European final, will be awarded a one-year free Associate Membership of the Nuclear Institute, as well as an invitation to the NI/NIA Annual Dinner in London in December 2024.

You are invited to nominate a candidate for 2024 competition.

ENS HSC PhD Award Criteria

• The competition is open for candidates, who have obtained a PhD in the field of nuclear science and engineering from a UK University.
• Only candidates who obtained a PhD degree after April 2022 are eligible for the competition.

Documents to be provided (in English)

-           CV, including a contact email and phone number of the candidate.

-           A copy of the Ph.D. Diploma/Certificate showing the date it was awarded.

-           A recommendation letter from the person who is nominating the candidate. The letter should introduce the PhD work and highlight its significance in the research field, its originality, its importance and the impact of the results of the PhD.

-           An extended summary of the PhD thesis.

-           A copy of any accepted publication directly related to the candidate’s PhD studies.

UK Nomination Process

-           Nominations open from 1 October 2023 with deadline of 9 February 2024.

-           Nominations should be sent to Professor Laurence G Williams OBE FREng via [email protected] and copied to [email protected]

-           The NI will submit a successful UK candidate to the HSC in Spring 2024.

-           In April 2024 the ENS HSC will select four shortlisted candidates.

-           In October 2024 the four shortlisted candidates will present their PhD thesis’ results to the HSC in Brussels, Belgium. The HSC will apply commonly accepted selection criteria in the selection process.

- The winner of the prestigious ENS HSC PhD Award will be offered a publication in the Open Access Journal EPJ-N and a prize money of €2000.  An Award ceremony will be organised in conjunction with an ENS Member Society conference.

Note: candidates are expected to personally attend the audition in Brussels; the NI will support the travel expenses of the UK candidate should he/she make it to the last four.

UK Nomination 2022 

The winner of the 2022 competition was Dr Matthew Lukacs of Imperial College London. Matthew’s PhD was on the Development of a Regulatory Framework for the Licensing of a Fusion Power Plant. He is now working for the UKAEA of fusion power plant safety.  

A very close runner up was Dr Megan Owen of Bangor University, now a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Imperial College London. Megan’s PhD was on the Role of alloying Elements on Grain Boundary Complexions in Nuclear Materials.

Third was Dr Ben Reant, who is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at The University of Manchester. Ben’s PhD was on the Synthesis and Characterisation of f-Block Silanide Complexes. 

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• Department of Materials Science and Engineering

Nuclear Engineering

Nuclear energy provides over a third of the world’s low-carbon electricity. Our research is working on ways that we can continue to generate power this way safely, securely and sustainably. We look at the materials used in power generation, emerging generation methods and nuclear waste disposal.

Our nuclear engineering research is divided into three sub-themes:

Advanced Nuclear Materials

Waste development and characterisation, geological disposal, research centres and groups , immobilisation science laboratory.

A University Research Alliance set-up by BNFL to address the decline in the nuclear science knowledge base.

Cements@Sheffield

Innovative advanced and non-traditional cement and concrete technology.

Visit the website

The next generation of reactor technology, whether fission or fusion, requires advanced materials capable of tolerating extremes in temperature, pressure, corrosion and radiation. The group at Sheffield is working on advances accident tolerant reactor fuel, and the next generation of fuel understanding the effects of radiation damage and fission gas bubble formation on stability. At the same time the group is focused on manufacturing next generation materials using advanced techniques such as additive layer manufacturing, spark-plasma synthesis and others. The combined aim is the development of new materials from initiation to manufacture.

Key contacts for Advanced Nuclear Materials:

• Professor Neil Hyatt
• Professor Russell Hand
• Professor Mark Rainforth
• Professor Derek Sinclair
• Professor Iain Todd
• Dr Günter Möbus
• Dr Amy Gandy
• Dr Hajime Kinoshita
• Dr Karl Travis

The safe immobilisation of radioactive nuclear waste is paramount in the expansion of nuclear power generation. Here in Sheffield we focus on both the next generation of waste from nuclear reactors, while at the same time resolving issues linked with historical problematic waste sources. Example research includes, waste volume minimisation using advanced fabrication technologies, low temperature routes to immobilisation and novel glass/ceramic compositions.

In our  Cements@Sheffield  group, we are also researching development, characterisation and use of advanced and traditional cementitious materials to enable the safe long-term storage and eventual disposal of wastes resulting from the nuclear fuel cycle.

Case study: Recreating the Chernobyl Elephant Foot in the lab

Key contacts for Waste Development and Characterisation:

• Professor John Provis
• Professor Fergus Gibb  (Emeritus Professor)
• Dr Claire Corkhill
• Dr Martin Stennett

The long-term storage of nuclear waste links with the choice of waste forms and is of equal importance, for example the methods use for storage impact on the materials chosen for immobilisation. The group at Sheffield leads in the development of deep borehole technologies for long-term storage, while at the same time is developing new approaches for traditional vault based geological storage.

Key contacts for Geological Disposal Research

• Professor Fergus Gibb  (Emeritus Professor)

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The University's cross-faculty research centres harness our interdisciplinary expertise to solve the world's most pressing challenges.

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UCL Energy Institute

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Fully funded PhD studentship on the future role of UK refineries in a net zero transition

22 April 2024

Applications are now open for a studentship 'The future role of UK refineries in a net zero transition' available to UK students, to be awarded by the UCL EPSRC DTP.

About the project

Project title:  The future role of UK refineries in a net zero transition Project supervisor:   Professor Paul Dodds Industry partner:  Fuels Industry UK Project ID: 2228cc1445 (You will need this ID for your application)

Oil refineries manufacture a wide range of products from fossil fuels. Demands for some refinery outputs, such as diesel, are expected to greatly during the 2030s.

The six UK refineries could change the way their units operate or invest in new equipment to change the proportions of each petroleum product that is produced. Low-carbon hydrogen and carbon capture and storage could reduce the lifecycle emissions of their products, in line with the UK strategy for decarbonising industrial clusters. For example, offshore wind could power electrolysers to produce hydrogen for manufacturing synthetic jet fuel. The aim of this PhD is to investigate potential options for oil refineries to contribute to net zero, particularly through the use of low-carbon hydrogen. You will work with UCL researchers in the EPSRC HyRES hydrogen research centre.

The primary analysis tool will be the UK TIMES energy system model, which the UK Government used to generate scenarios for the UK’s Net Zero Strategy (2021). You will use the model to explore decarbonisation pathways for sectors using petroleum products. You will develop a much more sophisticated representation of the six oil refineries and their options for future developments, to understand how they might adapt to changing demands in the future and whether existing refineries might be adapted to use and low-carbon hydrogen and biomass-derived fuels to produce lower-carbon petroleum products.

Fuels Industry UK, a trade association that represents refineries, is sponsoring this PhD. You will benefit from the substantial technical knowledge within Fuels Industry UK about the UK’s oil refineries and will have the opportunity to visit the refineries.

The project is ideally suited to a quantitative individual with a chemical or process engineering background who is motivated to work on problems that can have a real-world impact in supporting the transition to a decarbonised energy system.

This studentship will have an enhanced stipend.

About the Supervisory Team

Professor Paul Dodds , Professor of Energy Systems in the UCL Energy Institute, will be the principal supervisor. Paul specialises in engineering and technoeconomic modelling. He created and leads the development of the UK TIMES energy system model in partnership with the UK Government, who have adopted it as their principal in-house energy system model. He has been PI of 14 research projects, including three large UKRI projects. Dodds is a Co-I of a number of major research centres including the UK Energy Research Centre. He has supervised five PhD students to completion.

Key information

Funder:   UCL ESPRC DTP-CASE studentship  - This project involves industrial collaboration. Industrial partner: Fuels Industry UK Value:  Fees, Stipend (at least £21,622 per year, plus a £3500 enhancement) Duration:  Up to 4 years (thesis to be submitted within funded period) Eligible Fee Status:  Home (UK) Study Mode:  Full or Part time (at least 50% FTE) Primary Selection Criteria:  Academic merit Project ID: 2228cc1445 (You will need this ID for your application) Application Deadline: 6 May 2024

How to apply

Before applying, all applicants must read the full eligibility criteria and application guidance on the  UCL EPSRC DTP website . 

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