Scope of Nuclear Engineering, Courses, Jobs & Salary

• Nuclear engineering is another part of engineering which focuses on the design, construction and operation of nuclear reactors that is, it focuses on the separation (fission) and union (fusion) of atomic nuclei. 
• It is a study of radioactive materials (neutrons) and its radiation (gamma rays)which comes in the use of power, medicine and manufacturing. 
   

Please find below the education information to become Nuclear Engineer:
•    For a bachelor’s programme in Nuclear Engineering, the candidate needs to pass their 10+2 examination in Science stream with Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and English as their main subjects. 
•    For admission in 4 years bachelor’s programme the candidates need to give an entrance examination 
•    The duration of the post graduate programme is 2 years which can be done by clearing entrance examination through GATE. 
•    After post-graduation, a candidate can pursue Ph.D program in nuclear engineering.
•    Bhaba Atomic Research Center (BARC) provides one-year training programme in nuclear energy. A graduate in Nuclear Engineering can apply for this programme by clearing the GATE exam.

There are several graduate and postgraduate courses available for an interested candidate who wants to pursue a career in Nuclear Engineering. They are as follows:
•    B.Tech. Nuclear Engineering
•    Certificate in Nuclear Science and Engineering
•    M.Tech. Nuclear Engineering
•    Ph.D. Nuclear Engineering

Some of the Institutions for studying Electrical Engineering are as follows:

•    SRM University, Chennai
•    Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai
•    Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai, Kanpur
 

Nuclear Engineering has good career prospective in several areas. The qualified engineers are required in various fields like Atomic Energy and Defence Sectors, Nuclear Medicine and Research and Civil Nuclear Energy. 
•    They also get employed in government agencies for military research and development.
•    In the medical sector, they are involved medical diagnostic and various treatment techniques by using radiation. 
•    Academically, they get employed as lecturers, professors and nuclear researchers.
•    Apart from these, nuclear engineers can also engage themselves as project consultant who generates nuclear power or energy. 
 

There are few skills that are required to become Nuclear Engineer. They are as follows:

•    A nuclear engineer must be analytical and practical in his work.
•    They must be inquisitive in their work.
•    He must have good communication skills.
•    Nuclear engineers must have the ability to work as a team so that they could contribute their efforts to get a good result as required. 
•    They must have the ability to solve any problems if any.
•    They must have the ability to adapt new and changing concepts.
•    He/she must have the ability to work under pressure and keep themselves calm during crisis situation. 
•    The person must be dedicated and committed towards his work.
•    They must have good knowledge in technology and science. 
 

There are few institutes where Nuclear Engineering can be done through Distance learning. Some of them are as follows:
•    Fire and Safety Forum, New Delhi - Distance Diploma in Nuclear Safety Engineering
•    University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES), Dehradun - M.Tech. Nuclear Science and& Technology
 

• The work of a Nuclear Engineer has a good prospective in India. They can work in various sectors like Atomic Energy and Defence Sectors, Nuclear Medicine and Research and Civil Nuclear Energy.
• They can get employed in education sector or get employed as a consultant.
• They get recruited in various organizations like in the Department of Atomic Energy, Bhaba Atomic Research Center (BARC), Mumbai, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), Kalpakkam; Atomic M

  The eligibility criteria for admission to study Nuclear Engineering are as follows:
  •    To become a qualified nuclear engineer, the candidate needs to have a bachelor’s degree. They must pass their 10+2 examination or equivalent examination with good marks in Science subjects like Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and English. They need to clear their entrance examinations conducted by various institutes or at state or national level. 
  •    To study post-graduation, the candidate needs to clear Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE).
  •    For pursuing Ph.D program in nuclear engineering, the person should have a post-graduate degree in nuclear engineering.
   

  The job responsibilities of a Nuclear Engineer include:
  •    To understand how the nuclear reactors work, that is, its construction and operational process.
  •    To analyze energy transmission such as the use of radiation to diagnosis and treatment, nuclear fuel, radioactive waste disposal, etc.
  •    A nuclear engineer applies their knowledge in research and experiments which results tothe outcome of medical or engineering.
  •    A nuclear engineer checks whether the nuclear reactor are installed properly, the fuel being loaded properly or not. 
  •    They solve any designing or operational problems with hydraulic or electrical systems or any.
  •    They are also responsible in managing the staff, work on the budget for complex design, maintenance, construction, and work for the safety of projects.
  •    A nuclear engineer is also responsible to write reports, prepare project plans and other important documents which give information about new projects, existing work process, problems and its solutions, to implement safety measures, etc.
   

  • The salary structure of a Nuclear Engineer depends upon the candidate’s educational qualifications, experience, area of employment, companies and the institutions etc. It is considered as one of the highly paid job in the engineering sector. 
  • Initially, a fresh nuclear engineering graduate in a private sector get an approx. salary of Rs. 25,000/- to Rs. 30,000/- per month. After few years of experience and educational qualification, the salary rises uptoRs. 1,00,000/- per month. 
  • As compared to private sector the salary structure in public sector is slightly at the lower end but they get the benefits of various other facilities like accommodation, travel allowance, dearness allowance, etc.