Nuclear Energy MPhil, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge

09/05/2024

With just one week to go before the application deadline, take a look at our promo video and email us with any queries: [email protected]

15/04/2024

Interested in a career in clean energy? Apply to our Nuclear Energy Masters course? https://www.cnec.uk/programmes/masters
The deadline for applications is a month away. If you have any questions, just ask via email:
[email protected]

The MPhil in Nuclear Energy, sponsored by the Cambridge Nuclear Energy Centre, is a one year full-time nuclear technology and business masters for engineers, mathematicians and scientists who wish to make a difference to the problems of climate change and energy security, by developing nuclear power

20/02/2024

"Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination circles the world." Einstein's words welcomed us to the training centre during our recent visit to the Westinghouse Electric Company site at Springfields where we learned that an electric vehicle could circle the world 50 times with the electricity generated from a single Advanced Gas Reactor (AGR) fuel pin.

We were guided through the end-to-end manufacturing process for nuclear fuel, where the uranium pellets, resembling dark, cylindrical necklace beads, are used in both AGRs and LWRs (Light Water Reactors). But it was the passion and dedication of our guides, some of whom have worked at Springfields for their whole career, which brought the processes to life. They also embodied the characteristics that are a key strength of the nuclear industry - safety and security - with a focus across site on criticality control.

The Springfields site has been in use since the 1940s and cyclical periods of growth have mirrored the fortunes of the UK and global nuclear industry. In 2010, Springfields became a part of Westinghouse global nuclear business and after a period of steady state operation, the future looks bright for Springfields with new opportunities being actively pursued, including fuels for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) – potentially Westinghouse’s own AP300 SMR as well as other advanced fuel types. The site seems ready to undergo its own renaissance which can only be good for the local community and for the nuclear industry in the UK.

Thank you to our hosts

24/01/2024

We have had a busy time in the lead up to the start of the new Term squeezing in mock exams, visits and talks about Project choices.

Our thanks to colleagues at EDF's Sizewell B Visitor Centre staff for being such great hosts for our visit early on in January.

Report by student, Berenice, "We welcomed the new year by braving the snowy winds of the north sea to visit the UK's own and only pressurised water reactor in Sizewell.

As we entered the premises of the site, the cohort had the opportunity to exchange with the interactive activities dedicated to the wider public such as testing different shielding materials and their response to a small dose of radioactive material.

The visit then continued with an outdoor tour of the power plant, with a strong emphasis on the defence in depth safety systems put in place in Sizewell B. From the first outdoor steps, we were faced by a stone with EDF's prime mission : "safety is our priority".

Our enthusiastic and passionate tour guides then showed us to one of the most impressive parts of the visits (and not only because it was inside): the steam turbines. Armed with gloves, safety glasses and strong ear protection, we entered the room where around 2MW of the UK's national grid is produced. From the gigantic superconductors to the speed and vibrations of the turbine, the students had the opportunity to discover the materialisation of the nuclear electricity systems some of us first just encountered a few months ago. Thank you to our tour guides for such an informative visit."

21/11/2023

It was a great pleasure to welcome Abigail Luxton, our course alumna, now Head of Nuclear Technology at HM Treasury, her colleague Nick Glanvile, and Si Dilks from the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero at our Industry Club meeting.
The Government team provided a fascinating update on the necessarily ambitious plans, timelines and challenges for deployment of a variety of nuclear technologies. In this unique forum of the Government, industry and academia, we had incredibly useful discussions on how universities can help the country's efforts in achieving its climate and energy goals.
The meeting participants also had a chance to discuss their views on current and future job opportunities within the nuclear industry and civil service. Thank you Abi and all the participants for your contributions to the meeting!

25/09/2023

We are delighted to announce that Dr Nathaniel Read has been appointed the Nuclear Energy MPhil Course Director from the start of the 2023 academic year. Nathan joins us as Assistant Teaching Professor and has been a Research Associate in the Group so he already has a wealth of experience in teaching nuclear modules and has a particular passion for Space Reactors.

Nathan said “I am looking forward to taking over from Eugene Shwageraus and building upon my experience gained to date”.

12/09/2023

Having handed in their Dissertations, the students enjoyed an end of course lunch.

22/06/2023

Prof Eugene Shwageraus gave a talk this week on the current situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. We were very pleased to make this a hybrid event and the video can also be found here:

This June 2023 talk on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine was prompted by recent concerns in the media about the status of the cooling system an...

22/06/2023

Congratulations to our alumna, Sannah H.P van B***n for gaining the Cambridge - McKinsey Risk Prize Winner Award for the paper "Rethinking low-level radiation risks: The Linear Non Threshold (LNT) Model for radiation and its scientific validity."

15/05/2023

We are very grateful to colleagues at the Nuclear Medicine Department of Addenbrooke's Hospital for our tour last Thursday. To Daniel Gillett for organising our visit and to Rosy Crawford for her time and explanations. Thank you, we all found it so interesting and informative.

If you want to be a part of this course, you have up until 23:59 on 16 May to apply, before applications close: https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/directory/egegmpmne/apply

04/05/2023

Interested in a career in clean energy? Applications for our course close on 16 May, to apply: https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/directory/egegmpmne
Want more information ... https://www.cnec.uk/programmes/masters

The MPhil in Nuclear Energy, sponsored by the Cambridge Nuclear Energy Centre, is a one year full-time nuclear technology and business masters for engineers, mathematicians and scientists who wish to make a difference to the problems of climate change and energy security, by developing nuclear power

02/05/2023

We are very pleased to announce the completion of our Course Information Video – do take a look. With thanks to Eugene Shwageraus, Paul Cosgrove, Sannah H.P van B***n and Nathan Read and to Graham CopeKoga Photography for the production. If you would like to know more, please contact Jo Boyle on [email protected]

We are grateful to our Industry Club Members for supporting the course Jacobs, Urenco Global, Framatome, AWE, Westinghouse Electric Company, Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and CNPRI.

The demands of Net Zero and energy security have spurred significant interest and investment in nuclear energy. One of the greatest challenges to realising a...