Nuclear Engineering: PhD & Job Prospects

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the prospects of pursuing a PhD or job in nuclear engineering for individuals with a background in nuclear physics. Participants explore the transition from nuclear physics to nuclear engineering, the relevance of specific courses, and the job market for graduates in these fields.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant is considering a master's in nuclear physics and questions the job prospects in nuclear engineering with that degree.
  • Another participant, an undergrad in nuclear engineering, suggests that job prospects are good but notes that some with PhDs in physics have switched to nuclear engineering due to job difficulties.
  • There is a discussion about the possibility of obtaining a master's in nuclear engineering after completing a master's in nuclear physics, with concerns about lacking engineering background.
  • Some participants mention the need for prerequisite courses to transition from physics to engineering, with specific courses like Thermal Hydraulics and Heat Transfer being highlighted.
  • Participants express uncertainty about the specific courses required for the transition and seek information on typical prerequisites for nuclear engineering master's programs.
  • There is a mention of a postgraduate program that may not cover nuclear fusion, raising questions about available options in Europe for further studies in fusion engineering.
  • Some participants discuss the idea that a master's in physics should allow for entry into a nuclear engineering master's program, with only a few undergraduate courses needed to bridge the gap.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the job market and the transition from nuclear physics to nuclear engineering. There is no consensus on the specific courses required or the overall feasibility of this transition.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the admission requirements for master's programs can vary and that specific courses may be applicant-specific, leading to uncertainty about what is necessary for a successful transition.

eXorikos
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Hi,

As I've posted in a few other topics I'm choosing my masters for next year. I'm choosing between nuclear physics and biophysics.

What are the chances of finding a PhD or job in nuclear engineering with a nuclear physics degree? Have any of you done so?

Kind regards
 
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I'm an undergrad nuclear engineering student and I can say that the job prospects for me are good. However I've talked to my advisor before and he told me that people with PhDs in physics have come to the department to get a nuclear engineering degree because they where unable to find a job.
 
If I do a master in nuclear physics, I can get a master-after-master in nuclear engineering in one year. Will I have any benefit of this? I will have a master in nuclear engineering but I won't be a real engineer, because of my limited engineering background...

http://onderwijsaanbod.kuleuven.be/opleidingen/e/SC_51016778.htm
 
I think you're suppose to take the prereqs for the masters program in Nuclear Engineering before you can take the masters level courses.
 
Yes, but in 30credits you can't change a physicist into an engineer... The admission requirements say 25 to 30 credits.
 
The programdirector isn't responding to my e-mails and after my exams I plan to go to his office. But for the moment do any of you have an idea what might be typical courses that might come up in those 30 credits? My first thought is systemtheory, Control theory, material science, ...Also, does anybody know a good postgraduate (after having done my masters) programme on nuclear fusion in Europe?
 
Last edited:
Heres the thing, most nuclear engineering undergraduate degrees and master degrees aren't focused at Nuclear Fusion.

You will see this as your basic masters:

Nuclear Reactor Theory
Nuclear Dynamics and Controls (Basically the systems that control a reactor or I&C)
Nuclear Fuel Cycle (If you're focused at this)
Thermal Hydraulics
-Heat Transfer
-Two Phase Flows
Radiation Protection
Material Science

This is primarily if you're focusing on reactors or field whether it's Fusion or Fission.
 
crazyisraelie said:
Heres the thing, most nuclear engineering undergraduate degrees and master degrees aren't focused at Nuclear Fusion.

You will see this as your basic masters:

Nuclear Reactor Theory
Nuclear Dynamics and Controls (Basically the systems that control a reactor or I&C)
Nuclear Fuel Cycle (If you're focused at this)
Thermal Hydraulics
-Heat Transfer
-Two Phase Flows
Radiation Protection
Material Science

This is primarily if you're focusing on reactors or field whether it's Fusion or Fission.

The idea is that the programme mentioned in previous posts is a postgraduate programme for engineers. I will have a master of physics before starting this, but for us there is supposed to be a programme of around 30 credits to get us up to speed. Those 30 credits aren't listed and said to be applicant specific. I would like to have an idea which courses might have to be taken as prerequisites, so I can take them already in my master of physics.

Fusion is indeed not covered in the postgraduate nuclear engineering programme at my university, so I would like to know what universities in Europe do offer such postgraduate programmes.

The plan is not to do a complete undergrad/grad programme in nuclear or fusion engineering, because I will already have my master next year (or maybe the year after).

Also I'm from Europe and on a scholarship and the States is probably not an option due to a rather poor application. Grades aren't very good but sufficient. Letters of recommendation shouldn't be a problem, I think.
 
  • #10
eXorikos said:
The idea is that the programme mentioned in previous posts is a postgraduate programme for engineers. I will have a master of physics before starting this, but for us there is supposed to be a programme of around 30 credits to get us up to speed. Those 30 credits aren't listed and said to be applicant specific. I would like to have an idea which courses might have to be taken as prerequisites, so I can take them already in my master of physics.

Fusion is indeed not covered in the postgraduate nuclear engineering programme at my university, so I would like to know what universities in Europe do offer such postgraduate programmes.

The plan is not to do a complete undergrad/grad programme in nuclear or fusion engineering, because I will already have my master next year (or maybe the year after).

Also I'm from Europe and on a scholarship and the States is probably not an option due to a rather poor application. Grades aren't very good but sufficient. Letters of recommendation shouldn't be a problem, I think.

Those topics should be covered in any masters or PhD program even for students with an undergraduate in Nuclear Engineering.
 
  • #11
crazyisraelie said:
Those topics should be covered in any masters or PhD program even for students with an undergraduate in Nuclear Engineering.

Those topics are covered in the postgraduate programme. There is no bachelor/master programme in nuclear engineering at my university, so the engineers will have no knowledge of any of the topics you just mentioned, besides Thermal Hydraulics, Heat Transfer, Material Science and depending on what speciality they chose Two Phase Flows. Maybe reread my previous post, because you're missing what I'm trying to ask.

The programme I'm talking about is here: http://onderwijsaanbod.kuleuven.be/opleidingen/e/SC_51016778.htm
 
  • #12
eXorikos said:
Those topics are covered in the postgraduate programme. There is no bachelor/master programme in nuclear engineering at my university, so the engineers will have no knowledge of any of the topics you just mentioned, besides Thermal Hydraulics, Heat Transfer, Material Science and depending on what speciality they chose Two Phase Flows. Maybe reread my previous post, because you're missing what I'm trying to ask.

That's odd.
 
  • #13
Why is that odd? Do you get the situation this time? If not I will try to change the explanation.
 
  • #14
eXorikos said:
Why is that odd? Do you get the situation this time? If not I will try to change the explanation.

Sorry I was reading it wrong. By postgraduate do you still mean a masters degree after getting an initial one in Physics?
 
  • #15
crazyisraelie said:
Sorry I was reading it wrong. By postgraduate do you still mean a masters degree after getting an initial one in Physics?

I mean a one-year masters degree like the programme from my initial link (which is a programme of the university where I'm doing my master in Physics).

So I will have a master degree in nuclear physics and I'm thinking of going into nuclear engineering. I want some options in fusion and fission that doesn't include having to take a whole bachelor/master (undergrad/grad) in nuclear engineering.
 
  • #16
eXorikos said:
I mean a one-year masters degree like the programme from my initial link (which is a programme of the university where I'm doing my master in Physics).

So I will have a master degree in nuclear physics and I'm thinking of going into nuclear engineering. I want some options in fusion and fission that doesn't include having to take a whole bachelor/master (undergrad/grad) in nuclear engineering.

You really shouldn't have an issue just getting a nuclear engineering masters after a terminal masters in physics. You will probably only have to make up two or three courses from undergraduate.
 
  • #17
And what would those courses be? The courses you mentioned earlier like:
Thermal Hydraulics
Heat Transfer (I've only had one course in themodynamics)
Two Phase Flows
Material Science
 
  • #18
eXorikos said:
And what would those courses be? The courses you mentioned earlier like:
Thermal Hydraulics
Heat Transfer (I've only had one course in themodynamics)
Two Phase Flows
Material Science

I have no idea about European programs but in the states it's usually only these courses:

Nuclear Reactor Theory (Undergraduate)
Thermal Science (If lacking in Thermal Physics and covers the basics of Heat Transfer and Thermal Hydraulics)
Nuclear Physics

This is after you have entered the program. If you want to get some courses out of the way for masters before you enter try these courses. Such as:

Heat Transfer (Mechanical Engineering)
Fluid Dynamics (Mechanical Engineering)
Nuclear Physics
Material Science (If the program requires as a base requirement, again this depends on your thesis adviser)
 
  • #19
Well since I'm doing a nuclear physics degree, I think they will let me skip the nuclear physics course. :p
 
  • #20
eXorikos said:
Well since I'm doing a nuclear physics degree, I think they will let me skip the nuclear physics course. :p

I would hope so! You shouldn't have much to worry about it. I image going from Nuclear Physics masters to Nuclear Engineering would be a easy transition.

Also, if you are interested in going the PhD route consider some college in the States. It's very possible you'll get payed as a research assistant or teaching assistant at most of the schools that offer it.
 
  • #21
I'm not sure I would qualify as a PhD candidate. As said earlier my grades aren't that awesome, my research projects are very good though. Do I need to take some test before applying for a PhD position is the US if I have already completed my master of physics? I heard from a postDoc that at the end of his grad he had to take some big exam and if he failed he would have gotten his master degree and he passed so he could do a PhD.

Most important what are good universities to apply? Not the top universities, because I will never get into those. As a foreigner I will be competing with the rest of the world for a handful of positions...
 
  • #22
eXorikos, What are you interested in the fields of Nuclear Engineering?

Also, please get away from the idea that Nuclear Engineering is the same as Physics in terms of selectivity. It's very possible to get into a good university of your subinterest with previous research and publications under your belt.

What is your GPA (if on a scale of 4.0)? If you don't want to say publicly you can pm me.
 
  • #23
Some good programs:
University of Illinois
Texas A&M
Georgia Tech
Some impossible programs to get into:
MIT
Cal Berkeley
 
  • #24
I'm just drawn by the idea of nuclear reactors and energy. This also feels like a good career where I will use nuclear physics. I will probably try applying for a PhD in nuclear physics and keep nuclear engineering as a back-up. But as said, I want to make sure that I can get into a decent programme and graduate fully (with programme for prerequisites) in maximum two years.

I have no idea how to convert my scores into GPA scale...
 
  • #25
eXorikos said:
I'm just drawn by the idea of nuclear reactors and energy. This also feels like a good career where I will use nuclear physics. I will probably try applying for a PhD in nuclear physics and keep nuclear engineering as a back-up. But as said, I want to make sure that I can get into a decent programme and graduate fully (with programme for prerequisites) in maximum two years.

I have no idea how to convert my scores into GPA scale...

I would suggest you contact a few graduate programs in the Europe or the States about your interest. I have contacted several already about various questions and they are extremely responsive to questions. I'd recommend the "undergraduate or graduate advisors" because they are more likely to respond vs. professors.
 
  • #26
Some good European programmes?
 
  • #27
eXorikos said:
Some good European programmes?

I have heard the French programs are pretty good. I can't site any specifically. You might try asking Astronic
 
  • #28
crazyisraelie said:
You really shouldn't have an issue just getting a nuclear engineering masters after a terminal masters in physics. You will probably only have to make up two or three courses from undergraduate.

But I have credits left for taking those courses in my masters. That's why I'm asking which courses.
 
  • #29
eXorikos said:
But I have credits left for taking those courses in my masters. That's why I'm asking which courses.

The issue is that you can't take those courses if your university lacks a proper program to offer them.
 
  • #30
crazyisraelie said:
The issue is that you can't take those courses if your university lacks a proper program to offer them.

I'm talking about the engineering courses and those are offered plenty. I know Thermal Hydraulics, Heat Transfer, Two Phase Flows and Material Science are given in the engineering department. I might consider taking one of those.

All the courses you named are given at my uni, but the rest of them is included in de master-after-master programme nuclear engineering.
 

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