Education
ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç is cultivating a growing cohort of nuclear engineering talent, equipping undergraduate and postgraduate students with the expertise to drive a cutting-edge, sovereign nuclear industry.
- Degrees
- Short courses
- Projects
Degrees
The Nuclear Engineering minor, launched in 2024 with 36 students enrolled, allows students to combine expertise from traditional engineering disciplines with specialised knowledge to solve the challenges facing nuclear technology.
Master of Engineering Science (Nuclear Engineering)
The only master’s degree in nuclear engineering in Australia. Since its launch in 2014, when annual enrolments were low, the program has seen remarkable growth, particularly following support from the Tyree Foundation in 2021. Enrolments have now reached a record high. The program attracts a diverse cohort, including professionals from the Australian Department of Defence and ANSTO, looking to advance their expertise in nuclear technology.
Job kit
Careers with STEM Job Kit
The ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç Nuclear Innovation Centre played a key role in creating the Careers with STEM Job Kit, designed to inspire school students exploring their future careers. Highlighting the advantages of a nuclear engineering career, the kit covers everything from the different applications of nuclear science to salary expectations and societal impact. Featuring interviews with ºÚÁÏÍø´óʼǒs Tina Baradaran, Marcus Borscz and Casey Alston, the kit became CareerswithSTEM.com’s second-most downloaded product in spring 2024, with impressive engagement stats.
Short courses
Australian Graduate School of Engineering courses
The ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç Nuclear Innovation Centre cultivates a hands-on learning approach combined with strong leadership to drive advancements in nuclear technology. Participants include executives, researchers, Defence personnel (both uniformed and non-uniformed), students, academics and policymakers – fostering expertise and leadership across the sector.
Through its partnership with the Australian Graduate School of Engineering (AGSE), the Centre delivers continuing professional development for engineers and industry professionals across Australia and internationally.
In May 2024, experts from MIT and ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç delivered a one-day course examining the foundations of nuclear and radiation safety in Australian law, demonstrating how innovators navigate regulatory constraints to create impactful engineering and research initiatives.
Delivered in September 2024, this course explored the dynamic interplay between nuclear technology, science diplomacy and global events.
AtomCraft: The world’s first student-led fusion energy reactor
The AtomCraft project, started in 2023 and led by Associate Professor Patrick Burr, represents a groundbreaking initiative in nuclear fusion research. The project aims to design, build and operate a small tokamak reactor, done entirely by undergraduate engineering and physics students. This is made possible due to support from the ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç Nuclear Innovation Centre, the Digital Grid Future Institute and the Australian Research Council.
Looking like a small, doughnut-shaped device, the tokamak introduces students to the challenges of achieving and sustaining plasma at extreme temperatures, crucial for understanding fusion reactions. The reactor will not use tritium or deuterium, but it still serves as a great research and educational tool. The project is structured to provide students with real-world experience, mirroring the demands of a professional engineering or startup environment. The students gain hands-on expertise in areas such as assembly integration, plasma modelling and systems testing. The program also emphasises the importance of interdisciplinary teamwork, with students from faculties including Arts, Design & Architecture, Business and Engineering all contributing to its success.
Through partnerships with the broader nuclear industry, AtomCraft looks to both strengthen Australia’s nuclear supply chain and radiation applications, and inform public discourse on energy policy. Students are encouraged to analyse public perceptions and communicate the societal benefits of nuclear energy.
This aligns with the ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç Nuclear Innovation Centre’s mission to integrate education, research and industry collaboration. By bridging these areas, the AtomCraft team is advancing Australia’s technological capabilities and contributing to global efforts for sustainable energy solutions.
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