1. Postgraduate Diplomas

In the past, we had structured (Option-B) Masters degrees which contained all the theoretical nuclear engineering modules, combined with a research mini dissertation. However, we recently switched to pure research Master's degrees which consist of a full-length dissertation, without any theoretical modules. Therefore all the theory were moved to our Postgraduate Diplomas (PGDips):

1.1. Postgraduate Diploma in Nuclear Science and Technology:

This PGDip focuses on teaching the theory that prepares students for the Masters of Science (M.Sc.) in Engineering Sciences with Nuclear Engineering, which focuses on the optimisation of nuclear reactor design. For more information on this PGDip, click here.
 

1.1.1. Minimum admission requirements for this PGDip:

• A degree such as the BEng or BIng, BSc (Eng), or equivalent qualification that exits at NQF level 8, or
• A three-year B.Sc. degree with Physics at third-year level and at least one of Mathematics, Applied Mathematics or Computer Science at least second-year level (exits at NQF level 7), or
• A BTech (Engineering) degree that exits at NQF level 7 with an average grade of at least 60% for the final year. (Since BTech degrees have been replaced by Advanced Diplomas (NQF level 7) and are seen as equivalent, Advanced Diplomas in Engineering with an average grade of at least 60% for the final year were also accepted), or
• A BEngTech (Engineering) degree that exits at NQF level 8 with an average grade of at least 60%.
   

1.1.2. Enrollment for this PGDip:

If you believe that you meet the minimum admission requirements, you can start your online application process by clicking here.
Applications for the 2024 academic year close on 31 December 2023.

1.2. Postgraduate Diploma in Nuclear Science and Technology with Nuclear Technology Management:        

This PGDip focuses on teaching the theory that prepares students for the Masters of Science (M.Sc.) in Engineering Sciences with Nuclear Engineering and Nuclear Technology Management degree, which focuses on the optimisation of Nuclear Technology Management. For more information on this PGDip, click here. 
 

1.2.1. Minimum admission requirements for this PGDip:

• A degree such as the BEng or BIng, BSc (Eng), or equivalent qualification that exits at NQF level 8, or
• A three-year B.Sc. degree with Physics at least second-year level and at least one of Mathematics, Applied Mathematics or Computer Science at least second-year level (exits at NQF level 7), or
• A BTech (Engineering) degree that exits at NQF level 7 with an average grade of at least 60% for the final year. (Since BTech degrees have been replaced by Advanced Diplomas (NQF level 7) and are seen as equivalent, Advanced Diplomas in Engineering with an average grade of at least 60% for the final year were also accepted), or
• A BEngTech (Engineering) degree that exits at NQF level 8.
   

1.2.2. Enrollment for this PGDip:

If you believe that you meet the minimum admission requirements, you can start your online application process by clicking here.
Applications for the 2024 academic year close on 31 December 2023.

Students should note that these two PGDips share six of their eight modules, so the differences between these PGDips are not large. However, the differences will become much larger when you go to the corresponding Master's degree where a focus on nuclear technology management will give you a very different training than a focus on nuclear reactor design. So, students should spend time beforehand to decide whether they want to go into nuclear reactor design or nuclear technology management.

If you want to discuss this issue, you are welcome to contact our postgraduate programme leader, Prof. Dawid Serfontein (Cell: 082 787 2909, Email: Dawid.Serfontein@nwu.ac.za), or to contact any of our other lecturers.

2. Master's degree (M.Sc.) in Nuclear Engineering 

We recently switched to pure research master degrees which consist of a full-length dissertation but with no theoretical modules. (All the theory have thus been moved to our postgraduate diplomas (PGDips), as described above):

2.1. Masters of Science (M.Sc.) in Engineering Sciences with Nuclear Engineering
This M.Sc. focuses on the optimisation of nuclear reactor design. This degree thus focuses more on the so-called “hard-core” skills such as using mathematics, physics, and computer simulations to improve nuclear reactor designs.

2.2. Masters of Science (M.Sc.) in Engineering Sciences with Nuclear Engineering and Nuclear Technology Management
This M.Sc. focuses on the optimisation of Nuclear Technology Management, which focuses more on the so-called soft-skills, especially management tasks such as analysing the profitability of different options, budgeting, and nuclear project management. 

While our two PGDips are quite similar in content, the differences become much larger when you go to the Master's degree where a focus on nuclear technology management will give you a very different training than a focus on nuclear reactor design. So, students should spend time before they choose which PGDip they want to enroll in first to decide whether they want to go into a career in nuclear reactor design or nuclear technology management.

For more information on the Masters of Science (M.Sc.) qualifications, click here.   

3. Doctor's degree (Ph.D.) in Nuclear Engineering 

The Ph.D. is a pure research degree that follows one of the Nuclear Master's degrees. The aim is to make a unique new contribution to the field of Nuclear Engineering. Therefore it requires the student to be able to think originally and innovatively and to work very hard to turn this thinking into a proven research result and a logically written Ph.D. thesis. 

Click here to go to the section in the yearbook that states the rules for this Ph.D. or refer to the Ph.D. information page.

One often sees advertisements for nuclear engineering industry positions in the international market that state for example the following as minimum requirements:

• B.Eng. and a Master in Nuclear Engineering, or a
• Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering

This suggests that engineers who want to enter the nuclear engineering industry might be sufficiently qualified if they have a Master's Degree in Nuclear Engineering.

However, scientists, who for example entered via an honours in physics and now want to enter the nuclear engineering industry might have to go all the way to a Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering to achieve this dream. So they should give very positive consideration to doing a Ph.D.

A Ph.D. is not for the fainthearted! So if you want to do PhD: Congratulations you made a fantastic choice! However, please just remember to give 120% effort from day one in order to avoid disappointment down the road!

Which lecturers will be available to assist me?

As was explained above, if you want to enter one of our Master's Degrees in Nuclear Engineering, you will first have to do the corresponding Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) in order to do your Nuclear Engineering theory modules. However, since the PGDips contain theoretical modules, as opposed to a research dissertation, you do not need a Study Leader for any of the PGDips and thus you do not need to search for one before you can start your studies.

However, as has been explained above, it is very important that you decide before you choose one of the two PGDips whether you want to go into a career in nuclear reactor design or nuclear technology management. In order to do this it should be very helpful for you to discuss this issue with one of our lecturers. The standard point of contact is normally our postgraduate programme leader, Prof Dawid Serfontein, whom you can phone or WhatsApp on 082 787 2909 or email at Dawid.Serfontein@nwu.ac.za.

Some of our lectures work at outside nuclear institutions, such as NECSA or overseas universities. They only come in to lecture one module and they might thus not be so well informed about the details regarding the different PGDip’s or the different Masters degrees. So, it might be better to contact one of our full-time NWU lecturers by clicking here.