Nuclear engineering

The Ph.D. in nuclear engineering is a 78-credit doctoral program designed to prepare you for leadership roles in research, innovation and technology development. Through advanced coursework, independent research and faculty mentorship, you’ll develop the expertise to solve complex challenges at the intersection of engineering and nuclear science. The program equips you to advance solutions in clean energy, nuclear technology and advanced engineering applications.

View the online nuclear engineering graduate handbook

Explore program courses in the University Catalog

Learning outcomes

Develop advanced knowledge in nuclear engineering principles, energy systems and research methods. You’ll gain the ability to conduct independent research, analyze complex engineering challenges and communicate findings through scholarly work. You will be prepared to design and evaluate solutions in nuclear technology, advance innovation through research and pursue leadership roles in industry, government, national laboratories and higher education.

Program format

The program is a research-focused doctoral program requiring a minimum of 78 credit hours beyond the bachelor’s degree. You will complete advanced coursework, develop an individualized study plan with faculty guidance and conduct independent research through doctoral dissertation work. Each student works with a major professor and doctoral committee to advance their research goals, complete qualifying and preliminary examinations and defend original research contributing to nuclear engineering innovation.

Faculty expertise

Engage deeply with faculty through research mentorship and collaborative problem-solving. Faculty areas of expertise include:

• Nuclear energy systems, advanced reactor technologies, and nuclear power applications
• Nuclear reactor design, analysis, modeling, and simulation
• Nuclear materials, fuel processing, and materials performance
• Radioactive waste treatment, management, and nuclear fuel cycle technologies
• Nuclear safety, risk assessment, and regulatory practices
• Thermal behavior, heat transfer, and nuclear process heat applications
• Energy systems, power generation, and sustainable energy technologies
• Artificial intelligence, data analytics, robotics, and automation for engineering applications
• Cybersecurity, critical infrastructure protection, and resilient engineering systems
• Engineering management, project leadership, industrial systems, and process optimization

Through faculty mentorship and interdisciplinary collaboration, you’ll develop research and projects that contribute to scientific discovery and create solutions for real-world challenges. Faculty advisors and doctoral committees will guide you in building the expertise needed to become an independent researcher, innovator and leader in engineering.

Find a faculty advisor

University of Idaho is committed to making graduate education accessible and helping students navigate the cost of earning an advanced degree. In addition to financial aid and scholarship opportunities, many graduate students receive funding through assistantships, research opportunities and other forms of academic support.

Here are a few key resources to help you understand graduate tuition, funding opportunities and available financial support:

• Submit your FAFSA: Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is an important first step in accessing federal financial aid and certain institutional funding opportunities.
• Estimate your cost of attendance: Visit U of I’s cost of attendance page to explore estimated tuition, fees and living expenses associated with your graduate program.
• View a breakdown of tuition and fees: Visit the Student Accounts page to explore current tuition rates, fees and detailed cost information based on your program, residency status and enrollment level.
• Explore scholarships and graduate funding opportunities: Graduate students may qualify for scholarships, fellowships and other funding opportunities based on academic achievement, area of study and professional experience.
• Learn about assistantships: Many graduate programs offer Research Assistantships (RAs), Teaching Assistantships (TAs) or Graduate Assistantships (GAs), which may provide tuition support, stipends and valuable professional experience. Assistantship availability and funding levels vary by program and department.
• Connect with your program: Funding is competitive and faculty may provide graduate funding through grants or contracts made by a variety of external agencies and industry partners. Contact our faculty to learn more about these funding opportunities or explore graduate fellowship programs.

If you have questions about financial aid, scholarships or graduate funding, U of I’s experienced financial aid counselors and graduate program staff can help you explore options and make informed financial decisions throughout the admissions process.

View financial aid resources

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.

Recognized STEM Program

This program is recognized as a STEM program by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and may be eligible for the 24-month STEM optional practical training extension for international students.

Learn more about STEM approved CIP/degree codes

Have questions about the program, research opportunities or the graduate student experience? Connect with our program team for personalized guidance about curriculum, faculty mentorship, application requirements and graduate funding opportunities.

Nuclear Engineering and Industrial Management contact:
Indrajit Charit
icharit@uidaho.edu

For questions related to admissions, application materials, transcripts or enrollment steps, contact Graduate Admissions:

Graduate Admissions contact:
graduateadmissions@uidaho.edu
208-885-4001

Interested in research areas or finding a faculty mentor? Explore faculty expertise, research interests and advising opportunities on the department’s faculty page.

Find Department of Nuclear Engineering and Industrial Management faculty advisor contacts

Applicants for the Ph.D. nuclear engineering program must meet the following degree-specific admission requirements:

Program availability

• Semester intake: Fall, Spring or Summer
  • Eligible for out-of-state tuition waiver through the Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) for qualifying applicants.
  • Open to international applicants, including those requiring F-1 or J-1 visa status
• Deadlines: General application deadlines
• Start dates:
  • View the academic calendar to see start and end dates

University requirements

• Education level: Bachelor's degree in a similar or related engineering field  
  • Transcripts for all post-secondary education will be required. Unofficial transcripts may be used for initial admission review. View more information on the Graduate Admissions page.
• GPA: 3.0 (Applicants with a lower undergraduate GPA who have relevant professional experience in the field, have already earned a graduate degree, or have completed graduate-level credits may still be considered for admission with approval from the academic program.)
• GRE: Yes (for applicants with degrees from non-ABET accredited programs)
• Letters of recommendation: Three
• Resume
• Statement of Purpose
• Valid picture ID (required to verify students’ identity and will be kept confidential)
• English proficiency (for applicants whose education was completed in countries where English is not an official language).  
  • Accepted tests: TOEFL: 4.5, IELTS: 6.5, Duolingo: 115, PTE-A: 58. Learn what qualifies as proof of English proficiency.  
• Application Fee: $50

Application and admission process:

Applications are submitted online and are specific to the program and term selected. Applicants seeking admission to multiple programs must submit a separate application for each program.

Before submitting an application, applicants must provide personal and academic information from all post-secondary institutions attended, recommender information, required program-specific materials, and their intended program and start term.

Applicants seeking a Ph.D. program are encouraged to identify and contact a potential faculty advisor or major professor during the application process. Early identification of an advisor can help ensure that a faculty member in the applicant’s area of interest has capacity to supervise the student and appropriate research opportunities are available. Applicants should consult the College of Engineering website to identify faculty whose research aligns with their academic and research interests.

Applications are reviewed for admission by the academic program. Only complete applications, including required letters of recommendation and payment of the application fee, will be forwarded for evaluation and admission decision. Applicants are strongly encouraged to complete their applications early to allow sufficient time for a thorough review.

International students seeking F-1 or J-1 visas must provide financial documentation demonstrating their ability to cover the cost of attendance. This documentation is required only after admission.

Visit Graduate Admissions to learn more and start your application.