Nuclear Science and Applications MSc - 2025/6

Awarding body

University of Surrey

Teaching institute

University of Surrey

Framework

FHEQ Level 7

Final award and programme/pathway title

MSc Nuclear Science and Radiation Protection

Subsidiary award(s)

Award Title
PGDip Nuclear Science and Radiation Protection
PGCert Radiation Physics

Modes of study

Route code Credits and ECTS Credits
Full-time PCK61009 180 credits and 90 ECTS credits
Part-time PCK61010 180 credits and 90 ECTS credits

QAA Subject benchmark statement (if applicable)

Other internal and / or external reference points

N/A

Faculty and Department / School

Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences - Mathematics & Physics

Programme Leader

PODOLYAK Zsolt (Maths & Phys)

Date of production/revision of spec

20/12/2024

Educational aims of the programme

  • The programme integrates the acquisition of core scientific knowledge with the development of key practical skills with a focus on professional career development within nuclear science and its applications, including medical physics and radiation detection, and related industries. The principle educational aims and outcomes of learning are to provide participants with advanced knowledge, practical skills and understanding applied to nuclear physics, medical physics, radiation detection instrumentation, radiation and environmental practice in an industrial or medical context. This is achieved by the development of the participants' understanding of the underlying science and technology and by the participants gaining an understanding of the legal basis, practical implementation and organisational basis of medical physics and radiation measurement.

Programme learning outcomes

Attributes Developed Awards Ref.
A systematic understanding of Nuclear Science and Applications in an academic and professional context together with a critical awareness of current problems and / or new insights K PGCert, PGDip
A comprehensive understanding of techniques applicable to their own research project in Nuclear Science and/or its applications K PGCert, PGDip, MSc
Originality in the application of knowledge, together with a practical understanding of nuclear physic sbased, experimental research projects K PGDip, MSc
An ability to evaluate and objectively interpret experimental data pertaining to nuclear science K PGDip, MSc
Originality in the application of knowledge, together with a practical understanding of nuclear based, experiments K PGDip, MSc
Familiarity with generic issues in management and safety and their application to Nuclear Science and Applications in a professional context K PGDip, MSc
A systematic understanding of Radiation Physics in an academic and professional context together with a critical awareness of current problems and / or new insights K PGCert
A practical understanding of radiation-based experiment K PGCert
An ability to evaluate and objectively interpret experimental data pertaining to nuclear physics and radiation detection K PGCert
Familiarity with generic issues in management and safety and their application to Nuclear Science and Applications K PGCert
The ability to plan and execute under supervision, an experiment or investigation and to analyse critically the results and draw valid conclusions from them. Students should be able to evaluate the level of uncertainty in their results, understand the significance of uncertainty analysis and be able to compare these results with expected outcomes, theoretical predictions and/or with published data. Graduates should be able to evaluate the significance of their results in this context C MSc
The ability to evaluate critically current research and advanced scholarship in the discipline of radiation protection C MSc
The ability to deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively, make sound judgements in the absence of complete data and communicate their conclusions clearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences C PGDip, MSc
The ability to plan and execute under supervision, an experiment and to analyse critically the results and draw valid conclusions from them. Students should be able to evaluate the level of uncertainty in their results, understand the significance of uncertainty analysis and be able to compare these results with expected outcomes, theoretical predictions and/or with published data. Graduates should be able to evaluate the significance of their results in this context C PGCert, PGDip
The ability to communicate complex scientific ideas, the conclusions of an experiment, investigation or project concisely, accurately and informatively P PGCert, PGDip, MSc
The ability to manage their own learning and to make use of appropriate texts, research articles and other primary sources P PGDip, MSc
Responsibility for personal and professional development. Ability to use external mentors for personal / professional purposes P PGDip, MSc
Identify and resolve problems arising from lectures and experimental work T PGCert, PGDip, MSc
Make effective use of resources and interaction with others to enhance and motivate self-study T PGCert, PGDip, MSc
Make use of sources of material for development of learning and research such as journals, books and the internet T PGCert, PGDip, MSc
Take responsibility for personal and professional development T PGCert, PGDip, MSc

Attributes Developed

C - Cognitive/analytical

K - Subject knowledge

T - Transferable skills

P - Professional/Practical skills

Programme structure

Full-time

This Master's Degree programme is studied full-time over one academic year, consisting of 180 credits at FHEQ level 7. All modules are semester based and worth 15 credits with the exception of project, practice based and dissertation modules.
Possible exit awards include:
- Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits)
- Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits)

Part-time

This Master's Degree programme is studied part-time over two academic years, consisting of 180 credits at FHEQ level 7. All modules are semester based and worth 15 credits with the exception of project, practice based and dissertation modules.
Possible exit awards include:
- Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits)
- Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits)

Programme Adjustments (if applicable)

N/A

Modules

Year 1 (full-time) - FHEQ Level 7

Module code Module title Status Credits Semester
PHYM015 RADIATION MEASUREMENT Compulsory 15 1
PHYM021 RESEARCH PROJECT AND DISSERTATION Compulsory 60 2
PHYM032 RADIATION PHYSICS Compulsory 15 1
PHYM036 RADIATION LABORATORY SKILLS Compulsory 15 1
PHYM041 EXTENDED GROUP PROJECT Compulsory 15 2
PHYM048 INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGY AND RADIATION BIOLOGY Compulsory 15 1
PHYM052 EXPLOSIVE STELLAR PHENOMENA Compulsory 15 2
PHYM043 DIAGNOSTIC APPLICATIONS OF IONISING RADIATION PHYSICS Compulsory 15 2
PHYM064 NUCLEAR ENERGY AND APPLICATIONS Compulsory 15 2

Module Selection for Year 1 (full-time) - FHEQ Level 7

PGCert Radiation Physics: 60 taught module credits (PHYM032, 015 and 036 Compulsory) at FHEQ Level 7
PgDip Nuclear Science and Applications (PHYM032, 015 and 036 compulsory) 120 taught module credits at FHEQ Level 7
MSc (Nuclear Science and Applications): 180 credits at FHEQ Level 7 and Completed the programme of study

Year 1 (part-time) - FHEQ Level 7

Module code Module title Status Credits Semester
PHYM015 RADIATION MEASUREMENT Compulsory 15 1
PHYM032 RADIATION PHYSICS Compulsory 15 1
PHYM036 RADIATION LABORATORY SKILLS Compulsory 15 1
PHYM041 EXTENDED GROUP PROJECT Compulsory 15 2
PHYM052 EXPLOSIVE STELLAR PHENOMENA Compulsory 15 2
PHYM043 DIAGNOSTIC APPLICATIONS OF IONISING RADIATION PHYSICS Compulsory 15 2
PHYM064 NUCLEAR ENERGY AND APPLICATIONS Compulsory 15 2

Module Selection for Year 1 (part-time) - FHEQ Level 7

PGCert Radiation Physics: 60 taught module credits (PHYM032, 015 and 036 Compulsory) at FHEQ Level 7
PgDip Nuclear Science and Applications (PHYM032, 015 and 036 compulsory) 120 taught module credits at FHEQ Level 7
MSc (Nuclear Science and Applications): 180 credits at FHEQ Level 7 and Completed the programme of study

Year 2 (part-time) - FHEQ Level 7

Module code Module title Status Credits Semester
PHYM036 RADIATION LABORATORY SKILLS Compulsory 15 1
PHYM048 INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGY AND RADIATION BIOLOGY Compulsory 15 1
PHYM021 RESEARCH PROJECT AND DISSERTATION Compulsory 60 2
PHYM052 EXPLOSIVE STELLAR PHENOMENA Compulsory 15 2
PHYM043 DIAGNOSTIC APPLICATIONS OF IONISING RADIATION PHYSICS Compulsory 15 2
PHYM064 NUCLEAR ENERGY AND APPLICATIONS Compulsory 15 2

Module Selection for Year 2 (part-time) - FHEQ Level 7

PGCert Radiation Physics: 60 taught module credits (PHYM032, 015 and 036 Compulsory) at FHEQ Level 7
PgDip Nuclear Science and Applications (PHYM032, 015 and 036 compulsory) 120 taught module credits at FHEQ Level 7
MSc (Nuclear Science and Applications): 180 credits at FHEQ Level 7 and Completed the programme of study

Opportunities for placements / work related learning / collaborative activity

Associate Tutor(s) / Guest Speakers / Visiting Academics N
Professional Training Year (PTY) N
Placement(s) (study or work that are not part of PTY) N
Clinical Placement(s) (that are not part of the PTY scheme) N
Study exchange (Level 5) N
Dual degree N

Quality assurance

The Regulations and Codes of Practice for taught programmes can be found at:

https://www.surrey.ac.uk/quality-enhancement-standards

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2025/6 academic year.