Nuclear Engineering

The Nuclear Engineering course duration is different depending on the course level. If you are studying a UG course in Nuclear Engineering, it will span 8 semesters that will take 4 years to complete. On the other hand, if you plan to go for a PG Nuclear Engineering course, you need to give 2 years for the same, where the focus will be on research in the nuclear sector and will give you a deep understanding of the field. You should think carefully about your interests and passions before heading for a master's degree in Nuclear Engineering.

The key differences between Nuclear Engineering and Nuclear Science are given in the table below:

Yes, nuclear engineering is one of the top 10 engineering courses for the future. The whole world is focusing on more energy production and nuclear energy is the best source to fulfill their needs. It's a highly specialised field with unique challenges, nuclear engineering offers significant opportunities. The average salary of nuclear engineers is USD 97,480 per year in USA.

There isn't one single cut-off mark for Nuclear Engineering courses in India. Here's why:

• Entrance Exams: Admission to these programs relies on entrance exams like JEE Main (undergraduate) and GATE (postgraduate). These exams have a qualifying percentile or rank depending on the institute and category (general, reserved etc.). The cut-off percentiles/ranks vary year-to-year based on the difficulty of the exam and the number of applicants.
• University-Specific Criteria: Universities might have their own minimum eligibility marks in Class 12 (typically 50-75% with PCM) and might conduct additional entrance exams besides national exams.

Admission to undergraduate and postgraduate Nuclear Engineering programs typically involves entrance exams, such as:

Undergraduate:

JEE Main and CUET: The national-level entrance exams that are considered for admission to many prestigious engineering colleges in India.

Postgraduate:

GATE: This national-level exam is crucial for admission to Master's programs in engineering, including Nuclear Engineering, at Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and other premier institutions.

Also, some colleges conduct their own tests along with the interview rounds.

IIT Kanpur is known for its reputable Nuclear Engineering program. From reactor physics to nuclear materials science, it provides a challenging programme that covers every facet of Nuclear Engineering. The program has excellent faculty and research infrastructure. Candidates should have obtained 60% aggregate marks in graduation in a relevant discipline. Candidates also need to clear GATE in order to secure admission in MTech Nuclear Engineering and Technology course. 

Also, IIT Bombay offers programs in Energy Engineering that attract a lot of applications every year.

Yes, few universities offer specialisations within the Nuclear Engineering courses, Theses are mentioned below:

• Nuclear reactor physics and design
• Nuclear fuel cycle and materials science
• Radiation protection and health physics
• Nuclear non-proliferation and security

Nuclear engineering programs typically cover subjects like:

• Nuclear reactor physics
• Reactor engineering and design
• Nuclear fuel cycle and materials
• Heat transfer and thermodynamics in nuclear systems
• Radiation detection and shielding
• Nuclear safety and risk assessment
• Nuclear waste management

Careers for nuclear engineers can be diverse, and remuneration depends on the engineers' experience, specialty, and the organisation that they work for. Here's a table outlining some prominent opportunities: