University of Cambridge: Programme Specifications MASTER OF PHILOSOPHY IN NUCLEAR ENERGY

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1 University of Cambridge: Programme Specifications Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this programme specification. Programme specifications are produced and then reviewed annually by the relevant faculty or department and revised where necessary. However, we reserve the right to withdraw, update or amend this programme specification at any time without notice. Further information about specifications and an archive of programme specifications for all awards of the University is available online at: MASTER OF PHILOSOPHY IN NUCLEAR ENERGY 1 Awarding body University of Cambridge 2 Teaching institution University of Cambridge, Department of Engineering 3 Accreditation details None 4 Name of final award Master of Philosophy 5 Programme title Nuclear Energy 6 JACS code(s) H100, H821 7 Relevant QAA benchmark statement(s) None 8 Qualifications framework level 7 (Masters) 9 Date specification was produced/ 24 March 2011 last revised 10 Date specification was last reviewed May 2011 Objectives of the Course The objectives of the course are to provide students with: 1. a thorough grounding in the engineering, scientific and safety aspects of nuclear power; 2. a good understanding of nuclear technology policy together with relevant business and policy understanding; 3. an appreciation of the wider policy contexts of electricity generation in the 21 st century; 4. a good preparation for PhD research. The course aims to: Develop scientists and engineers into future leaders of the nuclear power sector in operation or engineering roles. Secondary career paths might involve nuclear proliferation prevention, radiological protection, nuclear governance, and nuclear medicine and health physics. The course is aimed both mid-career and new graduates in scientific and engineering subjects who wish to enter the nuclear industry or nuclear research, either in the UK or abroad. Students will be expected to have a first class or a good upper second class honours degree in engineering or a relevant scientific subject with an English language qualification for nonnative speakers. Page 1 of 8

2 Students on the course are admitted having demonstrated well-developed technical skills in engineering, science or other quantitative disciplines. Many students have complemented their academic experience with relevant work experience. All students will be provided with skills and information essential to responsible leadership of the international global nuclear industry. Such capabilities will include essential scientific fundamentals for power generation and the nuclear fuel cycle, nuclear engineering issues in new build and decommissioning, and an appreciation of the business and public policy contexts. The degree overall has a multidisciplinary emphasis and aims to be true to the reality of policy-making and business decision-making. The modular open architecture of the course will allow students to tailor the degree to suit their background, needs and preferences. Course Outcomes The course is designed to develop the following broad themes: Fundamentals of nuclear engineering, science, technology and public policy (F) The wider context of nuclear energy power generation (C) Specialisation in students chosen areas (S) Research experience via research project dissertation (R) Aspects of business and technology development and management (B) These will provide opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, skills and other attributes as follows: Knowledge and understanding 1. Fundamental concepts and trends in nuclear energy power generation (F). 2. Understand the underlying technology background to nuclear energy power generation systems including reactor technology, the interaction of radiation with matter, nuclear safety and the nuclear fuel cycle (F). 3. Understand the framework and wider issues relating to nuclear energy power generation (including issues such as climate change, energy policy, public acceptability) (C). 4. A broad knowledge of nuclear systems in the areas of e.g. reactor technology, waste and decommissioning, materials, safety assessment, technology policy etc. (C, S). 5. Familiarity with a range of specialist topics, e.g. radiation detection and protection, nuclear safety, radioactive waste management, the nuclear fuel cycle and proliferation, and future nuclear energy systems. (F, S). 6. Good research practice based on university research programmes and the ability to report research outcomes in an appropriate way for the intended audience (R). 7. Understanding business practice and tools in the areas of technology management, technology transfer and exploitation with particular emphasis on the nuclear power industry (B). Page 2 of 8

3 Intellectual skills a. Be able to apply generic skills in modelling, simulating and experimentally evaluating nuclear energy systems. b. Be capable of critically evaluating technical problems and examining alternative approaches and technologies to solve them. c. Take an holistic approach in solving problems and designing systems by applying professional engineering judgment to balance technological, environmental, ethical, economic and public policy considerations. d. Be able to act as a change-agent within an organisation, manage change effectively and respond to changing demands. e. Be able to deal with complex research issues both systematically and creatively, make informed judgements in the absence of complete data and in unpredictable situations. f. Be able to understand commercial exploitation routes for nuclear energy based technologies and evaluate options for technology transfer and/or implementation. g. Plan, execute and critically evaluate an original and individual investigative piece of work through a major dissertation. Transferable skills h. Prepare formal reports in a range of styles (e.g. journal paper, conference paper, oral and poster presentations, literature review, extended project report). i. Reason critically, think creatively and demonstrate and exercise independence of mind and thought and communicate ideas. j. Manage time and work to deadlines, work effectively both independently and in groups, and assess the relevance and importance of the ideas of others. k. Ability to find information and learn effectively for the purpose of continuing professional development and in a wider context throughout their career. Teaching, learning and assessment methods used to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated Lectures, small group teaching, student-led and tutor-led seminars, field visits, guest speaker presentations and case studies, short block courses, and an individual research project leading to a dissertation. All teaching will be carried out at Cambridge. Assessment Assessment will be by examination, coursework (individual and group), class participation, presentations (individual and group) and research project dissertation. Course structures and requirements, special features, modules, credits and awards The programme is only offered as a full-time course. The course normally lasts for 11 months (October to August inclusive) and leads to the award of an MPhil degree. Students are required to study 5 core modules, a double module in Management of Technology and Innovation, 4 elective modules chosen from a wide list of subjects offered by the University of Page 3 of 8

4 Cambridge (UC) and to conduct an individual research project/dissertation (equivalent to 4 modules). Special features of the course are as follows: Many of the staff involved in the presentation of the programme have strong backgrounds in nuclear engineering, science, technology policy and associated subjects, and so the course is firmly rooted in up-to-date research and industrial practice. Teaching is provided by senior figures from the University of Cambridge and will be supplemented by a range of guest speakers from industry. In this way the course is able to reflect current best practice in the field of nuclear energy. The style and form of the taught modules is participative and students work closely in partnership with their tutors, with an emphasis on a multi-disciplinary approach to problem solving. Students have the freedom to compile a combination of elective modules that will allow them to follow a programme which is relevant to their interests and career aspirations whilst remaining within the overall field of nuclear energy. There is strong collaboration with other MPhil programmes, for example with module sharing with the Technology Policy programme which provides a policy and management dimension to the degree. Weekly sessions on transferable skills, particularly those suitable for a research career, will allow students to obtain skills which will help them to carry out background study, plan their time and present their results. Course Structure and Scope Overview Length: 11 months October - August Course structure: Requirements: Ten modules plus a long project and dissertation Michaelmas & Lent Terms: At least four of the six core (16 lectures) subjects including compulsory modules; Either: Two/three electives from a defined range of existing technical modules; Plus two/three electives from a defined range of existing management modules; Or: Four/six electives from a defined range of existing management modules Easter Term: Or: Four/six electives from a defined range of existing technical modules Project/dissertation Page 4 of 8

5 Teaching methods: supervision Forms of assessment: Lectures; seminars; supervisions; dissertation Written papers & course work (Easter Term), 20k word dissertation (completed by July/August) Core modules (all students; October to March): Major Themes Skills NE1 Reactor Physics* F a, c NE2 Reactor Engineering & Thermal-hydraulics F, C a, b, c NE3 Fuel Cycle, Waste & Decommissioning F, C a, b, c NE4 Materials F a, c NE5 System & Safety F, C a, b, c NE6 Nuclear Technology Policy* B, C c, d, f Compulsory modules All the modules are developed specifically for the course. They draw on existing teaching in Nuclear Power Engineering from Part IIB of the Engineering and Nuclear Materials from Part III of the Natural sciences. Also, Nuclear Technology Policy makes use of some material from the Technology Policy MPhil in the Judge Business School Elective modules (students choose 4 modules; October to March). Standard stream technical modules; existing Research stream: either: Two or three electives from a defined range of existing plus two or three electives from a defined range of management modules; or: Four or six electives from a defined range of existing management modules; Four or six electives from a defined range of existing modules technical or management, as agreed with the potential PhD supervisor. The following list indicates the elective modules planned to be offered in the 2011/2012 session. Modules are drawn from existing courses offered within the Engineering, Natural Sciences and as part of MPhil courses taught by the Judge Business School Management Major Themes Strategic Valuation TP6/4I1 B, S JBS MPhil Technology Innovation 4E1 B, S Eng IfM Enterprise & Development 4E7 B, S Eng Project Management 4E12 B Eng Globalisation and Big Business MM10 B JBS MPhil Page 5 of 8

6 System Dynamics TPE8 B, S JBS MPhil Introduction to Technology Policy TP1 B, C JBS MPhil Political Economy of Technology Policy TPE7 B, C JBS MPhil Government Policy & Technology Dev TPE10 B, C JBS MPhil Management of Technology 4E4 B Eng Accounting and Finance 4E6 B, S Eng Strategic Management 4E11 B Eng Technical Particle & Nuclear Physics/Comp Physics S Nat Sci Atomistic Materials Modelling M16 S Nat Sci Environmental Fluid Mechanics 4A8 S Eng, or Fluid Mechanics & Environment Fluids IIB S Chem Eng Design Methods 4C4 S Eng Extraction & re-cycling M3 S Nat Sci Corrosion & Protection M15 S Nat Sci Electrochemical Engineering EChem S Chem Eng Computational Fluid Dynamics 4A2 S Eng Control Systems Design 4F1 S Eng Robust & Non-Linear Control 4F2 S Eng Electronic Sensors & Instrument 4B13 S Eng Skills developed include: a, b, c, e, h, i, j, k Dissertation (20,000 words) (All students: April to August) Skills developed include: a, b, e, g, h, i, j, k Seminars on current practice - further background and industry practice will be provided by regular case/studies & seminars in nuclear research, design & operation topics. Support for students and their learning One week induction programme for orientation and team building; Page 6 of 8

7 Student handbooks and electronic on-line teaching support and access to course materials; Small group teaching (e.g students in elective modules); Staff-student liaison committee for feedback and course management; Personal access to Course Director and staff concerned with delivering this course; Opportunities for study away from Cambridge either with a research laboratory or an industrial partner as part of dissertation; Research methodology course and other support seminars (careers, progression to PhD, safety etc.); 3-day Dissertation Conference in July (with invited industrial guests); Self-reflective learning logs. Criteria for Admission Students on the programme will have well-developed technical skills in engineering, science and perhaps the quantitative disciplines, and preferably some professional work experience. The course is broadly based and inter-disciplinary and welcomes students from any field of engineering or associated discipline, having obtained a first or upper second class honours degree (or equivalent). Management of Quality Management of the quality of the course is the responsibility of the Course Director. Students are encouraged to give immediate verbal feedback to staff teaching on the programme and to the Course Director. Feedback channels are also formally implemented through a Staff- Student Liaison Committee, attended regularly by the student representatives. Students are also asked to complete quantitative and qualitative feedback questionnaires, which address questions on the following issues: Quality of teaching Quality of visual aids and teaching environments Relevance of subject matter Workload Admissions process Relevance to expectations Facilities (study space, IT, library resources etc.) Quality of administrative support Results of questionnaires will be distributed to the relevant teaching staff. A summary of the quantitative feedback results will be discussed by the Staff-Student Liaison Committee and any action points from such discussions will be noted in the minutes and followed up at subsequent meetings. Students will also participate in occasional independent external monitoring and audit of the course aims and objectives. Page 7 of 8

8 The academic content of the programme will be continually reviewed by the Course Director, and strategically reviewed at the end of each year of operation by the whole course. Any significant changes proposed will be considered by the relevant committee within the Department of Engineering. The quality of the programme will also be monitored by an external examiner who will observe aspects of the course operation during the year and attend the annual examiners meeting and submit a report to the Vice Chancellor s Office. Summary of Assessment Regulations In order to obtain a degree students registered for the MPhil in Nuclear Energy will be required to obtain: An average of 60% or greater over the four or six core modules (NE1, NE2, NE3, NE4, NE5, NE6) An average of 60% or greater over six or four elective modules A pass for the Dissertation (60% or greater) Both the taught components and the dissertation must be passed individually to gain an overall pass on the course. Cases of marginal failure (i.e. 55%-59%) in one of the three components of the degree may be redeemed by high performances in the other two elements (at least an average of 70%). The classification of the degree will be awarded as either Pass or Distinction. Students who achieve an exceptional performance (i.e. greater than 75% average in all three components) may be awarded a Distinction. Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if s/he takes full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided. It follows from the nature of the rapidly evolving subject matter that some course elements may change from year to year to reflect emerging themes in the field of nuclear energy. Page 8 of 8