Master of Science in Nuclear Engineering

Master of Science in Nuclear Engineering

A joint program by EPFL and ETH Zurich, two of Europe's leading science and engineering schools.

Clean, affordable and reliably available energy is of paramount importance for the well-being of industrialised economies and the development of emerging countries.

Among the potential candidates for a long-term substitution of fossil fuel, power generation by nuclear fission is one of the options with low environmental impact, base-load compatibility, vast fuel reserves and a final energy price that is nearly independent of the price of the raw energy carrier.

Nuclear power thus constitutes one of the principal options for closing the growing energy gap in a mid-term perspective and, depending on the availability of new generations of nuclear facilities and technologies, also a potentially crucial resource in the long-term.

To the attention of prospective students:

The curriculum for the joint master program in Nuclear Engineering has been upgraded. The program will be extend from 90 to 120 credits of ECTS and prolonged from three to four semesters. Students enrolled in the autumn semester 2009 will continue according to the curriculum of 90 credits ECTS. For all students applying for a start in the autumn semester 2010 or later, the new curriculum of 120 credits ECTS and a standard studying period of four semesters is effective.

Watch the documentary:

Start of the Master program in Nuclear Engineering
The first group of students attending courses at EPF Lausanne

Excellent career prospects

Students of the Master of Science in Nuclear Engineering will qualify for an interesting, multidisciplinary profession with excellent job opportunities in industry, research and national authorities. Tasks that are on the agenda – like the safe and reliable operation of existing and new reactors, the development of novel reactor types, the sustainable supply of nuclear fuel, the closure of the fuel cycle, the disposal of radioactive waste without harm to the environment, and many others – represent scientific and technical challenges for motivated young engineers and researchers.

Nuclear power generation is a high-tech sector, involving an extremely high degree of “refining” of the raw material, natural uranium. The whole energy conversion process is very complex, with safety technology and safety culture being indispensable knowledge-intensive factors. The resulting high degree of multi-disciplinary scientific and technological knowledge needed determines the character of the education offered in the new Master's program.

EPFL, ETH Zurich, and the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) have a rich and long tradition of nuclear education and research in the nuclear energy field. The Master’s program unites these strengths, offering a comprehensive and high-quality curriculum.