The Nuclear Engineering Doctorate is a four-year programme designed for engineers and physical scientists wishing to obtain a premium research qualification specifically oriented to industry. Through collaboration with industry, the EngD Nuclear programme aims to develop outstanding young nuclear engineers with intensive, broad-based training to equip them for senior roles within the nuclear industry.

The EngD Nuclear is delivered by a consortium of UK universities, led by the University of Manchester in partnership with Imperial College London, and supported by the universities of Surrey, Birmingham, Lancaster, Leeds, Sheffield and Strathclyde. The  programme is academically equivalent to a PhD, with one key difference – as a Research Engineers (REs) you will gain experience through working up to 75 per cent of your  time within an industrial research and development environment. Industrial partners include leading companies and organisations within the UK nuclear sector such as AWE plc, NEXIA solutions, SERCO Assurance, British Energy, the National Nuclear Laboratory, Corus and Rolls Royce.  

You will return to the University for modules designed to develop specialist technical knowledge and exceptional business skills. All EngD Nuclear students are required to take a Diploma in Enterprise Management (run through the Dalton Institute at the University of Manchester) as part of the EPSRC consortium agreement. You will also undertake a further three courses of study at the University of Surrey, which are project specific and will be decided in consultation with the academic and industrial-based supervisor.

Research Engineers emerge from the programme as highly employable experts in their field, with valuable industrial experience along with academic and commercial knowledge and skills.