The nuclear debate is ongoing. Irrespective of the outcome of ‘new build’ proposals in the Western world, there is an existing portfolio of reactors that require maintenance, servicing, operation and eventually decommissioning. There is waste to be managed and there is a fuel cycle that requires servicing and handling. They all necessitate engineers with an understanding of the unique environment experienced at nuclear sites.

In addition, many countries are assessing nuclear energy programmes as one of a number of mechanisms to provide secure, low-carbon energy, and some have embarked on national nuclear build programmes. Such programmes are raising many global challenges, not least due to proliferation concerns and environmental security.

The long-term needs of the nuclear engineering field are clear and many nations have long-term commitments to nuclear engineering including conventional power generation, radiological applications in medicine and healthcare, and proliferation monitoring and control. There is an ageing workforce in the sector and ample opportunities for nuclear engineering graduates.

Hence there is a strong need for a new generation of nuclear-conversant engineers. The development of nuclear engineering skills is a timely opportunity for engineering graduates. The aim of the Nuclear Engineering stream is to educate and inform engineering graduates in the underpinning theory behind nuclear engineering techniques, technologies and processes, and provides a stream that allows engineering graduates, from traditional engineering disciplines, to prepare themselves for a career in nuclear engineering. The stream aims to produce graduates capable of embarking on a nuclear engineering career and contributing to the nuclear debate from a knowledgeable standpoint.

The stream will have contributions from national and international experts in the Nuclear Engineering sector including staff from the Centre for Nuclear Engineering at Imperial College, London, and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) in Australia.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Students need a recognised four year Bachelor degree in a relevant discipline of engineering with a minimum 65% average in one of the following:

NOTE: The minimum average required for entry is as determined by the UNSW Postgraduate Entry Score Calculator. Students from a non-211 university in China need a minimum 70% average. For entry details (particularly for South Asian students) please click here.

The stream requires completion of 96 Units of Credit. The following are the guidelines.

Disciplinary Courses: 24-30 UOC

24-30 UOC Disciplinary courses are selected from relevant disciplines such as Maths, Physics, Electrical, Mechanical, Civil, Mining on approval of the program authority. Up to 12 UOC foundational disciplinary courses may be taken to provide necessary background and only with program authority approval.

Sample list for an electrical engineer:

Advanced Disciplinary Courses: 24-30 UOC

Core courses (18 UOC)

Choose ONE of:

And ONE of:

Plus

Plus choose 6-12UOC advanced electives from the following list:

OR

Note:
Students may substitute:

for GSOE9010 Eng PG Coursework Res Skills if they have advanced standing for their undergraduate research project.

Electives: 24 UOC

At least 6 UOC Engineering and Technical Management (ETM) to be chosen from the approved ETM list.

The remainder of electives may be chosen from disciplinary or advanced disciplinary courses from this specialisation, or another specialisation within the Master of Engineering Science program subject to students being sufficiently prepared by way of prior learning.

Exemptions and advanced standing rules for the stream follow the program rules. A student may apply for exemptions. Students with a four year honours degree (for example in Electrical Engineering) may obtain a maximum of 48 UOC of exemptions. Full details are noted on the program handbook page.

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