Why Engineering at Lancaster?
From our state-of-the-art facilities to our flexible degree structure, discover why our students love studying Engineering at Lancaster.
Nuclear engineers design, build and operate equipment and processes that benefit humanity. Our programme focuses on creativity and ingenuity to develop your design and implementation skills, and prepare you for your chosen career.
Nuclear applications cover a broad range of sectors from healthcare and cancer treatment through to power generation, national security and decommissioning activity. The industry is set to expand over the next ten years. With an estimated international spend of around £930 billion for building new reactors and £250 billion for decommissioning those coming offline, there is potential for the generation of 40,000 jobs in the UK nuclear sector alone.
Your degree will begin with a common first year, where you will be taught a series of modules that are taken by all first-year engineering students. We will introduce you to many of the key features of engineering, equipping you with a well-rounded understanding and skill set. Following the first year, you will have the opportunity to consider and plan your academic progression. At this stage, you may choose to begin your Nuclear Engineering study, or move onto any of our other specialist programmes.
Specialist modules in nuclear engineering begin in the second year, where you will also continue to develop your core skills as an engineer. This year you will study modules covering topics such as nuclear chemistry, nuclear engineering systems and nuclear safety. As our flexible programme begins to focus in on core aspects of nuclear engineering, you will develop practical skills, and test and analyse your design ideas in the laboratory or through computer simulation, using engineering IT tools.
On this course you will spend your third year studying at one of our overseas partner universities building your global outlook and connectivity.
Your final fourth year enables you to apply your skills in an individual project, during which you will learn to use professional software and develop your research and design skills further. You will also gain specialist knowledge, develop an interdisciplinary approach, and apply engineering principles to analyse key processes. This experience will allow you to grow and enhance your professional and discipline specific skills, and you will gain relevant real-world experience.
All of your teaching is delivered by world-class academics and shaped by their outstanding research output. You will gain hands-on experience with access to cutting-edge facilities and an array of high-quality equipment in our state-of-the-art Engineering Building.
Lancaster University will make reasonable endeavours to place students at an approved overseas partner university that offers appropriate modules which contribute credit to your Lancaster degree. Occasionally places overseas may not be available for all students who want to study abroad or the place at the partner university may be withdrawn if core modules are unavailable. If you are not offered a place to study overseas, you will be able to transfer to the equivalent standard degree scheme and would complete your studies at Lancaster.
Lancaster University cannot accept responsibility for any financial aspects of the year or term abroad.
Our graduates go on to excel in a wide range of industries, working in defence, medicine, materials, nuclear power, physics, and radiation protection and measurement. Professional roles can vary and include:
Nuclear engineering graduates are also well positioned for careers in electronic, mechanical or applications engineering.
Alternatively, you may wish to undertake postgraduate level study at Lancaster and pursue a career in research or teaching.
Our Careers Service offers a wide range of support and advice and we host a Science and Technology Careers Fair every year, allowing you to make valuable business connections.
We are often approached by external companies to help solve problems that are specific to engineering. We view such problems as opportunities, and with the expertise that you gain during your degree, it will be your job to solve these challenges in small teams. Our current students and recent graduates can also apply for relevant paid work experience through the Science and Technology Internship Programme.
We strive to empower all our graduates with the skills, confidence and experience they need to achieve a successful career.
Lancaster University is dedicated to ensuring you not only gain a highly reputable degree, you also graduate with the relevant life and work based skills. We are unique in that every student is eligible to participate in The Lancaster Award which offers you the opportunity to complete key activities such as work experience, employability/career development, campus community and social development. Visit our Employability section for full details.
A Level ABB
Required Subjects A level Mathematics and a Physical Science, for example, Physics, Chemistry, Electronics, Computer Science, Design & Technology or Further Mathematics.
GCSE Minimum of four GCSEs at grade B or 5 to include Mathematics at grade B or 6, and GCSE English Language at grade C or 4.
IELTS 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each component. For other English language qualifications we accept, please see our English language requirements webpages.
International Baccalaureate 32 points overall with 16 points from the best 3 Higher Level subjects including either:
Acceptable physical science subjects include Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science, and Design Technology
BTEC (Pre-2016 specifications): Distinction, Distinction, Merit in an Engineering related subject to include Distinctions in Mathematics for Engineering Technicians and Further Mathematics for Engineering Technicians units.
BTEC (2016 specifications): Distinction, Distinction, Merit in an Engineering related subject to include Distinctions in the following units – Unit 1 Engineering Principles, Unit 7 Calculus to Solve Engineering Problems. Unit 8 Further Engineering Mathematics is highly recommended.
We welcome applications from students with a range of alternative UK and international qualifications, including combinations of qualifications. Further guidance on admission to the University, including other qualifications that we accept, frequently asked questions and information on applying, can be found on our general admissions webpages.
Contact Admissions Team + 44 (0) 1524 592028 or via ugadmissions@lancaster.ac.uk
Detailed module information for this undergraduate programme will follow shortly. However, if you have any questions please contact the department.
We set our fees on an annual basis and the 2023/24 entry fees have not yet been set.
At Lancaster, we believe that funding concerns should not stop any student with the talent to thrive.
We offer a range of scholarships and bursaries to help cover the cost of tuition fees and/or living expenses.
It will be necessary for students to purchase clothing for use in laboratories which is approximately £30. The University pays for student membership of the Institute of Engineering and Technology where appropriate plus contributes to specialist software and workshop materials.
There may be extra costs related to your course for items such as books, stationery, printing, photocopying, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits. Following graduation, you may need to pay a subscription to a professional body for some chosen careers.
Specific additional costs for studying at Lancaster are listed below.
Lancaster is proud to be one of only a handful of UK universities to have a collegiate system. Every student belongs to a college, and all students pay a small college membership fee which supports the running of college events and activities.
For students starting in 2022, the fee is £40 for undergraduates and research students and £15 for students on one-year courses. Fees for students starting in 2023 have not yet been set.
To support your studies, you will also require access to a computer, along with reliable internet access. You will be able to access a range of software and services from a Windows, Mac, Chromebook or Linux device. For certain degree programmes, you may need a specific device, or we may provide you with a laptop and appropriate software - details of which will be available on relevant programme pages. A dedicated IT support helpdesk is available in the event of any problems.
The University provides limited financial support to assist students who do not have the required IT equipment or broadband support in place.
In addition to travel and accommodation costs, while you are studying abroad, you will need to have a passport and, depending on the country, there may be other costs such as travel documents (e.g. VISA or work permit) and any tests and vaccines that are required at the time of travel. Some countries may require proof of funds.
In addition to possible commuting costs during your placement, you may need to buy clothing that is suitable for your workplace and you may have accommodation costs. Depending on the employer and your job, you may have other costs such as copies of personal documents required by your employer for example.
Fees are set by the UK Government annually, and subsequent years' fees may be subject to increases. For international applicants starting in 2022, any annual increase will be capped at 4% of the previous year's fee.
The Engineering Department has great connections with the UK nuclear industry and the lecturers have really gone the extra mile to help me find placements. The relatively small engineering cohort means the staff have a lot more time to give you outside of lectures.
The course is diverse and interesting. You still get to study all of the regular engineering topics, but it’s combined with physics, chemistry and an understanding of the social and economic forces driving the nuclear industry. Some of the best parts of studying Nuclear Engineering have to be the off-site visits (such as touring a local nuclear reactor in Heysham) as these bring the course to life.
I think Nuclear Engineering is a great course to study, as it doesn’t limit you to working in nuclear power. Actually, every employer I’ve spoken to has been enthusiastic and positive about my degree choice.
Joe Spires, MEng Hons Nuclear Engineering
If you're unsure of which area of specialisation you'd like to go into upon application, you can use the UCA code H100 Engineering to leave your options open. The common first year lets you change your specialisation allowing a more informed choice at the end of year one, subject to meeting the requirements of that course.
The information on this site relates primarily to 2023/2024 entry to the University and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.
The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.
More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.
We believe in the importance of a strong and productive partnership between our students and staff. In order to ensure your time at Lancaster is a positive experience we have worked with the Students’ Union to articulate this relationship and the standards to which the University and its students aspire. View our Charter and other policies.