From September 2023, all students taking the MSc and PG Diploma MUST complete TWO of the THREE core course units available in order to complete their chosen programme. For students registering for the PG Certificate ONE of the THREE compulsory course units must be taken.
The three core units to choose from are:
- N03 – Radiation and Radiological Protection
- N10 – Processing, Storage and Disposal of Nuclear Waste
- N11 – Radiation Shielding
Elective Units
- N01– Reactor Physics, Criticality & Design
- N02 – Nuclear Fuel Cycle
- N04 – Decommissioning, Radioactive Waste and Environmental Management
- N06 – Reactor Materials & Lifetime Behaviour
- N07 – Nuclear Safety Case Development
- N08 – Particle Engineering in the Nuclear Industry
- N09 – Policy, Regulation & Licensing
- N12 – Reactor Thermal Hydraulics
- N13 Criticality Safety Management
- N15 – Severe Accidents
- N16 – Chemical Aspects of Nuclear Technology
- N31 – Management of the Decommissioning Process
- N32 – Experimental Reactor Physics
Due to unforeseen exceptional circumstances, the N07 – Nuclear Safety Case Development course unit will not be available in 2023-24
The qualifications offered below are available on a full-time or part-time basis.
Part-time MSc taken over 3 years:
Year 1: 4 course units (Successful completion attains Postgraduate Certificate)
Year 2: 4 course units (Successful completion attains Postgraduate Diploma)
Year 3: Project & Dissertation (Successful completion attains MSc)
Part-time MSc taken over 2 years:
8 course units are taken over the two year period with the project and dissertation also being completed in the second year.
Full-time MSc taken over 1 year:
8 course units are taken over a period of approximately 9 months. The project and dissertation then follows over the summer (June – Sept)
Other programme options:
Part Time PG Diploma: 8 course units over 2 years
Full Time PG Diploma: 8 course units over 9 months
Part Time PG Certificate: 2 course units per year
Full Time PG Certificate: 4 course units in 1 year
Short course attendance
Any course unit may be taken for Continuing Professional Development purposes. Students attending a a single course unit will be given an appropriate certificate but will not achieve a formal qualification from the institution presenting the course unit. Students successfully completing an individual course unit may transfer to the PG Cert, PG Diploma or MSc subject to acceptance by their chosen university.
Course Unit Selection.
Each course unit will accrue 15 credits, requiring approximately 150 hours application by the student.
NOTE: There is a possibility of overlap in material.
Course unit format
The core of each course unit is one week’s direct teaching at the institution delivering the course unit. This may include some group exercises which require the students to work together, undertake research and make a presentation to the course unit leader and the rest of the cohort.
Prior to the concentrated week of teaching, students undertake approximately 20 hours of pre-course unit preparation & pre-reading. The purpose of this is to enhance the effectiveness of the direct taught week by bringing students, who may be from varying academic backgrounds and disciplines, up to the same basic level of knowledge.
A post-course unit assignment follows the taught week, is based upon the subject matter of the direct taught element, and is undertaken at the student’s place of work or home. The assignment is gauged to require approximately 70 hours’ input by the student and is assessed and marked. It is submitted approximately 8 weeks after completion of the taught week if there is an exam, or approximately 12 weeks after if there is no exam.
If a course unit examination is incorporated, this is taken in the January or June exam periods.
Pass marks
The pass mark is 50% for all course units and is the same for students taking an MSc, PG Diploma, or PG Certificate.
Course units may be withdrawn if insufficient students register to attend.