Education

Belgium has developed almost all kinds of nuclear activities on its territory: power plants, nuclear fuel production, radioelement production, engineering companies, accelerator design and fabrication, waste management, safety management, nuclear medicine, research and # higher education. The Belgian Nuclear Higher Education Network (BNEN) combines the expertise in nuclear education and research of six major Belgian universities (KU Leuven, UGENT, VUB, UCL, ULG and ULB) with the Belgian nuclear research centre http://www.sckcen.be/nl SCK-CEN.

The Master of Science in Nuclear Engineering is an advanced Master's programme. You can follow this programme on a full-time or part-time basis.

Profile

Students entering the BNEN programme have a solid background in engineering, mathematics and physics. They possess a problem solving attitude and a genuine safety spirit.

Upon completion of the Master's programme in Nuclear Engineering, students will have acquired a thorough understanding of nuclear physical processes, a comprehensive knowledge of the procedures and techniques necessary to control nuclear processes, an in-depth knowledge of nuclear safety, reliability procedures and nuclear waste treatment, the competence to design and maintain structures to control nuclear processes, communicative skills in the field of nuclear technology and the capability to participate in research concerning the above mentioned topics.

Incoming students must hold an academic degree in engineering (Master of Science in Engineering or in Agricultural Engineering, based on a programme of at least 300 ECTS), which should be proof of their solid background in engineering subjects. Holders of a 4th-year Master's degree of the type customary in industrial engineering and sciences (physics, chemistry, etc.) programmes in Belgium are required to take an entrance exam, amounting to the material covered in 'adjustment courses' equivalent to a maximum load of 30 ECTS. Former Industrial Engineering majors need to compensate for a lack of mathematics and science related background; science majors need to compensate for typical engineering subjects. Attachment 4 gives the contents of the material covered by the entrance exam.

Because completion of the entire programme is mandatory, there is no need for individual prerequisites. These are effectively encompassed by the overall prerequisites. (Basic skills in mathematics, physics, chemistry and basic engineering.)

For specific admission requirements, click on the desired programme in the 'Choose your courses of study' section.

Objectives

The aim of the programme is to deliver experts in the field of nuclear energy generation, the construction of facilities for appropriate use and the follow-up of safety procedures concerning nuclear processes.

At the end of the programme the students will have acquired :
- understanding of nuclear processes (physics);
- understanding of the procedures and techniques necessary to control nuclear processes (hydraulics, reactor technology, operation and controls management);
- understanding of safety and reliability procedures;
- understanding of nuclear waste treatment and safety;
- the capacity to create and maintain structures to control nuclear processes;
- the capacity to take part in industrial processes related to the generation of nuclear energy;
- communicative capacities;
- the capacity to take part in further research concerning this topic.

After graduation

Graduates possess the necessary skills and knowledge to carry out duties at a high level of responsibility in nuclear power plants, nuclear research reactors, nuclear regulatory organisations, nuclear engineering firms, nuclear fuel fabrication, nuclear waste treatment, radio-isotope production, etc. In addition, the degree itself is an important part of the legal qualifications necessary to become a safety professional in a major nuclear installation.

Information sessions

KU Leuven organises a Verderstudeerbeurs each spring. In addition, faculties also organise information sessions for many of their bridging and graduate programmes.

All information sessions for (future) Master's students

Spotlight

The Master of Science in Nuclear Engineering programme is an internationally oriented, interuniversity programme organised by the BNEN in close collaboration with nuclear research centres and industry. The aim of the BNEN programme is to provide students with all the skills and scientific and technical background necessary to carry out duties at a high level of responsibility in order to ensure the safe and economical operation of nuclear power plants, the regulation and control of nuclear installations or to design of new nuclear systems.

Contact

Faculty of Engineering Science
Programme director
Prof. dr. Ir. W. D'Haeseleer
tel. +32 16 32 25 10
Administrative office
Kasteelpark Arenberg 1 bus 2200
3001 HEVERLEE
tel. + 32 16 32 13 50
fax + 32 16 32 19 82
info@eng.kuleuven.be
www.eng.kuleuven.be

General information
Study Advice Service
Naamsestraat 80 box 5415
3000 LEUVEN, Belgium
To contact us please complete the contact form on our website.

Useful links

Visit this programme's website