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We have 53 Nuclear Physics PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships for UK Students

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Nuclear Physics PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships for UK Students

We have 53 Nuclear Physics PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships for UK Students

PhD students in Nuclear Physics are tasked with conducting research into the properties and behaviour of matter on an atomic and sub-atomic level. You could be researching the properties of particles that make up an atomic nucleus or attempting to understand the fundamental forces that govern our universe.

What's it like to study a PhD in Nuclear Physics?

Working under the guidance of an expert supervisor, you'll work towards completing a thesis that will make an original contribution to the field. Your research will likely involve collaboration with local research centres and you may also have the opportunity to attend conferences and publish your work.

Possible research areas include:

  • Nuclear astrophysics
  • Nuclear radiation
  • Nuclear fuel cycles
  • Nuclear waste disposal
  • Radiation protection
  • Radiation therapeutics

Undergraduate research opportunities are also available in Nuclear Physics, though these are less likely to be advertised with dedicated funding attached.

Most PhD programmes in Nuclear Physics will require you to submit an 80,000-word thesis at the end of your first year, though some programmes will also ask you to complete a 30,000-word research portfolio during your first year. You'll also complete oral defences of your thesis at certain points during your study.

As well as core science classes, you'll also have the opportunity to take language classes to improve your communication skills.

Entry requirements for a PhD in Nuclear Physics

The entry requirements for a PhD in Nuclear Physics will depend on the programme and university you plan to apply to. The minimum requirement is usually a 2:1 undergraduate degree in a relevant subject, though a Masters degree with sometimes be required.

PhD in Nuclear Physics funding options

There are usually funding options available for PhD students in Nuclear Physics in the UK. These are usually full stipends provided by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPRSC), which cover the cost of tuition fees, a living cost stipend, and in some cases a research grant.

PhD in Nuclear Physics careers

The skills you'll gain during your PhD will equip you for a career in academia, or in areas such as nuclear forensics, nuclear security, or radiation protection. Many graduates also find careers in nuclear policy or nuclear technology.

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Developing an AI-Embedded Robotic Multi-Sensory Characterisation and Decontamination “Toolkit”

Project Description. Not all legacy radiological contamination is distributed uniformly within former ponds, labs, hot-cells, or waste processing and storage environments – many of which urgently require assessment and decommissioning across the UK’s nuclear estate to reduce on-site risks. Read more

In-situ disposal of cementitious wastes at UK nuclear sites

This fully funded UK Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) PhD bursary provides an exciting opportunity to pursue postgraduate research relating to waste management during the decommissioning of UK nuclear sites. Read more

Fully-funded PhD Studentship in the detection and quantification of water in spent nuclear fuel

This project addresses the requirement to develop a means to detect and quantify water in spent nuclear fuel. Whilst water is detectable by a variety of hypothetical approaches, its association with spent nuclear fuel introduces a number of significant constraints. Read more

Reducing scan time and radioactive exposure in nuclear imaging using swarm intelligence

This scholarship will support the PhD candidate to carry out frontier research in swarm led Tomographic Reconstruction (TR), which is the process of inferring the internal structure of an object from the projected images cast by penetrating radiation. Read more

Cosmic-Ray Muons in Different Applications

Cosmic-ray muons are known to be useful in applications beyond particle astrophysics. They have helped with mapping structure of volcanoes and with finding voids in various geological structures. Read more

(EPSRC iCASE) Nuclear data measurements for fission applications

A fully-funded PhD project is available in the field of nuclear data measurement. This project is a collaboration between the University of Manchester and the National Physical Laboratory (NPL). Read more

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