Nuclear engineering
Doctor of Philosophy
Drive innovation in energy
Nuclear power is the top source of clean, emissions-free energy in North America. It has many exciting uses, including electricity and hydrogen production, industrial and medical applications, national security and more.
Despite its many benefits, there aren’t enough trained professionals to move the field forward. This program gives you the advanced knowledge and real-world research experience you need to fill that gap and succeed in careers across business, government and higher education.
Focus on topics such as:
- Nuclear fuel processing
- Nuclear materials
- Management and storage of nuclear waste
- Design of nuclear systems
- Behavior and practical application of nuclear heat
Get the knowledge needed to help lead the future of energy — cleaner, smarter and more secure.
Overview
Related Topics
A powerful degree starts here
Application information
Applicants for the Ph.D. nuclear engineering program must meet the following degree-specific admission requirements:
- Education level: Bachelor's
- GPA: 3.0
- GRE: Yes (for applicants with degree from non-ABET accredited program)
- TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo: 83/6.5/120 (for applicants whose education was completed in countries where English is not an official language)
- Number of references: Three
- Other requirements: No
Program availability:
Semester intake: Fall, Spring, Summer
Deadlines: General application deadlines
Visit Graduate Admissions to learn more and start your application.
Contact information
Nuclear Engineering and Industrial Management contact: Indrajit Charit, icharit@uidaho.edu
Graduate Admissions contact: graduateadmissions@uidaho.edu, 208-885-4001
Find Department of Nuclear Engineering and Industrial Management faculty advisor contacts
Costs, funding and research
The Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy (NE) provides graduate-level fellowships in nuclear energy-related fields. Requests for Applications (RFAs) for the University Nuclear Leadership Program (UNLP) seek applicants for scholarships (undergraduates) and fellowships (graduate students). The graduate fellowship program provides $175,000 over three years to support graduate research relevant to nuclear energy and includes a summer internship at a DOE national laboratory or approved facility.
To learn about various ways to fund your graduate degree, check out Graduate Funding.
For detailed information about the cost of attendance, visit Financial Aid.
Graduate funding opportunities
- Idaho National Laboratory Graduate Fellowship Program — Recipients of this competitive fellowship receive full tuition and fees during their first three years of graduate school. INL covers tuition, fees and a $60,000 annual salary during the final two years of their doctoral research, conducted at INL.
- National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Graduate Fellowship Program — These year-long salaried assignments offer hands-on experience in nuclear security and nonproliferation. Administered by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and open to all engineering disciplines.
- NASA Idaho Space Grant Consortium (ISGC) — $25,000 fellowship programs that contribute to NASA’s mission of exploration and discovery. Open to full-time graduate and doctoral students.
- National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) — For outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines who are pursuing research-based master’s or doctoral degrees.
- National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship — Three-year fellowship with full coverage of tuition and all mandatory fees, including a monthly stipend and up to $1,000 a year in medical insurance.
- DAAD Research Internships in Science and Engineering (RISE Professional) Programs — RISE Professional offers summer research internships in Germany to master’s and doctoral students at companies and non-university research institutions with strong industry ties.
- Faculty provide funding through a variety of external agencies and industry partners. Contact our faculty to learn more about these funding opportunities.
Degree fit
This program could be a good fit if you:
- Hold a bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related field
- Have a strong foundation in math, science and physics
- Are interested in alternative energy
- Are a creative problem solver
- Want to lead research in the field
Related clubs and organizations
Our college offers more than 20 clubs and organizations tied to international and national engineering organizations, including national competition teams.
Learn about clubs related to your major:
- American Nuclear Society (ANS)
- American Institute of Chemical Engineers (ASABE)
- Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA)
- Humanitarian Engineering Corps (HEC)
- National Organization for Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCCHE)
- National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)
- Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE)
- Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
Career outcomes
Current job openings
580 in ID, WA, OR, MT and HIPotential careers and mid-career salaries
- Architectural and Engineering Managers
$169,180 - Nuclear Engineers
$128,156
* Career data provided by Lightcast.