Nuclear Engineering

Overview

This field has a continuous need for professionals to oversee nuclear power plants, including reactors, power conversion systems, and safety systems, taking into consideration and putting into practice advances in science and technology.

Nuclear power is a key component in the transition towards clean and feasible energy systems. Nuclear power has an excellent track record in providing abundant and dispatchable clean electricity for the electrification of the society. Nuclear heating and nuclear propulsion are emerging as new applications. In all applications, nuclear power must be safe.

At LUT, nuclear engineering research and education focus on three aspects: nuclear power plant engineering, nuclear safety, and reactors for new applications – including next generation technologies.

You will learn how to design nuclear reactors. Nuclear power plant engineering focuses on how different components in nuclear power plants work together, what specific requirements apply to components used in nuclear power plants, how to design for radiation protection, and how to consider the life cycle of power plants, including fuel and waste management.

Nuclear safety focuses on preventing accidents and on how a plant is operated safely if accidents happen. Research on next generation reactors focuses on small modular reactors.

Your studies will emphasise light water reactors, but you will also learn the basic principles of other reactor types, including fast reactors and heavy water and gas cooled reactors.

Career prospects

To ensure the safe and reliable long-term operation of existing plants and to facilitate the construction of new plants in the future, there is a constant need for new professionals in nuclear engineering.

Our graduates have a clear understanding of what is required of safe nuclear power systems and how nuclear power is utilised to change the overall energy system towards cleaner processes.

Graduates from the Nuclear Engineering programme from LUT University work in every field related to nuclear power: in power production, in research and development, for nuclear industry subcontractors, for regulatory authorities, for companies building nuclear power plants, and for companies providing fuel and waste management and other services to nuclear operators.

Graduates have versatile professional capabilities. They may work as project engineers, designers, analysts, developers, and managers, eventually even achieving top management positions. LUT graduates typically deal with power plant systems or components, company work processes, safety and regulations, etc.