Engineering Nuclear Engineering vs Mechanical Engineering

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the decision between pursuing a Master's in Nuclear Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) with a research assistantship or a Master's in Mechanical Engineering at Stanford University without financial support. The participant expresses concerns about the reputation of the Nuclear Engineering department at UIUC and the implications of obtaining a degree in Nuclear Engineering as a non-US citizen for future academic and job opportunities. Responses indicate that the Nuclear Engineering department at UIUC is reputable and that many foreign students successfully navigate academic and professional paths in the U.S. after completing their degrees.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
  • Familiarity with U.S. higher education systems and visa regulations
  • Knowledge of academic career paths in engineering disciplines
  • Awareness of the reputation and research opportunities in Nuclear Engineering
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the reputation and faculty of the Nuclear Engineering department at UIUC
  • Investigate the job market for Nuclear Engineering graduates in the U.S.
  • Explore the implications of U.S. citizenship on academic and job opportunities in engineering
  • Learn about the application process for research assistantships in U.S. graduate programs
USEFUL FOR

Prospective graduate students in engineering, particularly those considering Nuclear or Mechanical Engineering, as well as international students navigating academic and professional opportunities in the U.S.

Suhas Jain
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I have a bachelor degree in Mechanical Engineering and I am interested in CFD. I have an admit offer for MS in Nuclear Engineering at UIUC with RA and MS in Mechanical Engineering at Stanford without any assistantship. Which one is a better option to choose considering the fact that I am not a US citizen and that I want to become a professor in future in a good university in US.

I am happy with any university since the topic of research is what I want in both the places. But I don't know the reputation of Nuclear dept. at UIUC and I am worried if a MS and PhD degree in Nuclear without US citizenship, will allow me to apply for scientific jobs in labs or professorship at universities.

Any views on this is welcome and thanks in advance :)
 
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I would almost say go for the mechanical studies based purely on the fact that the developed world (especially the US) is not investing in its nuclear infrastructure.
 
Suhas Jain said:
I am happy with any university since the topic of research is what I want in both the places. But I don't know the reputation of Nuclear dept. at UIUC and I am worried if a MS and PhD degree in Nuclear without US citizenship, will allow me to apply for scientific jobs in labs or professorship at universities.
No worries. There are numerous foreign students who study nuclear engineering in the US. My previous company hired various foreigners, including a PhD student who came from China. The individual came to the US on a student visa, and only obtained permanent residency after my company hired him. He is very skilled in computational analysis.

UIUC NE department is quite good. In fact, I advised a foreign student here some years ago. However, he decided to return to his native country.
 

Thread 'Career Prospects (outside of academia)'

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