Nuclear Energy Futures

The Open University is a partner in EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Nuclear Energy Futures, which is a postgraduate training consortium comprising, Imperial College London, Cambridge University, The Open University, University of Bristol and Bangor University. The CDT will train PhD students across the entire nuclear activity range and equip them with an awareness of how their subject fits into the wider nuclear industry. See the CDT-NEF website for more information. In total, it is expected that the scheme will produce over 70 PhD graduates (40 EPSRC funded and 33 promised from industry) over eight years, starting in October 2019.

As well as undertaking research at OU facilities, PhD students will be trained through a series of online blended learning courses produced with OU’s distance learning expertise. These courses will include Nuclear Fuel Cycle, Waste and Decommissioning; Policy and Regulation; Innovations in Nuclear Technology; Materials for Reactor Systems; Nuclear Safety Management and Reactor Design and Operation. The courses will also be used more widely than just the CDT and support both industry continual professional development and the new Level 8 Apprenticeship schemes for the Nuclear Industry.

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