Nuclear Science and Radiation Protection MSc
Stag Hill, United Kingdom
DURATION
1 up to 2 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
15 Jul 2025
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
GBP 24,900 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for full-time overseas students | full-time UK students: GBP 11,400 per year
Applying for a Masters at Surrey
Postgraduate Online events on 26th April, 17th May and 22nd May.
Introduction
Why Choose This Course
How can atomic nuclei provide us with energy, help us monitor the environment, benefit medicine, and more?
Our innovative MSc in nuclear science and radiation protection is taught by a combination of inspired nuclear physics academics from Surrey's School of Mathematics and Physics and forward-looking experts from the UK's nuclear industries.
Our academics are part of the following groups, which house the largest academic nuclear physics research hub in the UK:
- Experimental Nuclear Physics Group
- Radiation and Medical Physics Group
- Theoretical Nuclear Physics Group.
There are generous external funding opportunities available for students on this course. This includes the IAEA Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship Program, which aims to help increase the number of women in the nuclear field, and the Bursary Scheme offered by The Nuclear Industry Benevolent Fund. See funding for more information.
What You Will Study
Drawing upon our thorough expertise and excellent research, this course will give you deep knowledge of nuclear science and radiation protection. Its substantial practical element enables students to relate taught material to industry-relevant applications.
Formal lectures are complemented by work in our specialist radiation laboratories, which were recently refurbished and enlarged for £2.7 million. In these facilities, you'll work with a wide range of radioactive sources and radiation detectors.
There's also an extended project in the spring and an 11-week MSc dissertation project in the summer.
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Discover how we can support your undergraduate and postgraduate studies with a host of bursaries and scholarships directly from the University of Surrey and external providers.
Curriculum
Academic Year Structure
Our course consists of eight taught modules and a summer dissertation. Full-time students complete four modules per semester, while part-time students typically complete two modules per semester.
Dissertation topics are normally allocated towards the end of the spring semester. Dissertation project work will be carried out during the summer period. Part-time students will work on their dissertation in the summer of their second year.
Modules
Modules listed are indicative, reflecting the information available at the time of publication. Please note that modules may be subject to teaching availability, student demand, and/or class size caps.
The University operates a credit framework for all taught programs based on a 15-credit tariff. Modules can be either 15, 30, 45, 75, or 120 credits, and additionally for some masters dissertations, 90 credits.
The structure of our programs follows clear educational aims that are tailored to each program. These are all outlined in the programme specifications which include further details such as the learning outcomes:
- Nuclear Science and Radiation Protection MSc
Year-1 (Full-Time)
- Introduction to Biology and radiation biology
- Radiation laboratory skills
- Radiation measurement
- Radiation physics
- Diagnostic applications of ionizing radiation physics
- Explosive stellar phenomena
- Extended group project
- Nuclear energy and applications
- Research project and dissertation
Year-1 (Part-Time)
- Radiation laboratory skills
- Radiation measurement
- Radiation physics
- Diagnostic applications of ionizing radiation physics
- Explosive stellar phenomena
- Extended group project
- Nuclear energy and applications
Year-2 (Part-Time)
- Introduction to Biology and radiation biology
- Radiation laboratory skills
- Diagnostic applications of ionizing radiation physics
- Explosive stellar phenomena
- Nuclear energy and applications
- Research project and dissertation
Timetable
Course timetables are normally available one month before the start of the semester.
New students will receive their personalized timetable in Welcome Week, and in subsequent semesters, two weeks before the start of the semester.
Please note that while we make every effort to ensure that timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week (Monday – Friday). Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and cultural activities. Part-time classes are normally scheduled on one or two days per week, details of which can be obtained from the Academic Hive.
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
We offer career information, advice, and guidance to all students whilst studying with us, which is extended to our alumni for three years after leaving the University.
As a graduate of this course, you’ll have job opportunities in the nuclear industry, which is a growing and international sector.
Former students have secured roles at UK and overseas nuclear regulatory agencies, in the nuclear industry, and at the National Physical Laboratory, among others. This MSc can also lead to further study, such as completing a PhD.
We have an excellent record for graduate employability: 100 percent of our physics postgraduate students go on to employment or further study (Graduate Outcomes 2023, HESA).