Nuclear Science and Applications MSc - 2026/7
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
18/12/2024
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 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 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 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:
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 2026/7 academic year.