http://www.chalmers.se/chem/EN/Syllabus
(approved by the Vice-President on May 10, 2010. Ref. nr. C2010/457)
1 Subject Description and Educational Aims
The research in Nuclear Engineering spans over several disciplines and can include:
- Modelling neutron transport in nuclear reactors
- Thermal hydraulics and heat transport
- Radiation protection and dosimetry
- Nuclear measurement techniques, both in industry and research
- Fusion plasma physics
The graduate school in Nuclear Engineering is aimed at providing knowledge of the basis of operation in nuclear energy producing systems. The education is based on research with high relevance for both the industry and the academia.
Apart from acquiring a working knowledge in the topics above the student will also learn general skills necessary for an independent researcher such as:
- Communications skills in written and oral form
- Skills in planning, formulating and carrying out research projects in a self-standing way
- Ability to analytically and critically evaluate data and results
- Contribute with scientific publications and conference proceedings
The school interacts both with other universities and industrial partners. On the national level the coordination of education in Nuclear Engineering is partly organized in the Swedish Centre for Nuclear Techniques (Svenskt Kärntekniskt Centrum, SKC) in which Chalmers, KTH and Uppsala University participate. On international level there is cooperation and student exchange with many internationally highly regarded universities, for instance in the framework of ENEN, European Nuclear Education Network, which Chalmers is a member of. The graduate school organization and results of the individual research projects with relevance for industry are regularly reported to industrial partners and feedback is provided.
2 Requirements for Admission
A university degree of at least 240 credits in Physics, Chemistry, Mechanical or Electrical Engineering is required as well as good working knowledge in English. Students, who do not fulfil the formal competence requirements but have corresponding knowledge, may be approved after examination. Decision about the student admission is made at the participating department by a Deputy Head of Department in charge of a graduate education and/or Head of Department together with the coordinator of the graduate school. The education is based on the assumption that the student has previously acquired enough knowledge in the subject, e.g. passed the master courses in Nuclear Engineering.
3 Organisation and Structure of the Graduate Programme
The graduate school in Nuclear Engineering graduates students in two steps, the licentiate and the doctoral degrees. The extent of the graduate work is measured according to a credit system, where 1.5 credits correspond to one week full-time work.
The licentiate degree comprises 120 credits. The doctoral degree comprises 240 credits. This corresponds to 2 years and 4 years respectively of full time studies. Approximately one quarter of the time is used for coursework, mainly through literature studies and graduate courses. Sometimes the student is offered departmental work, such as lab supervision, lecturing or preparation of research reports or applications. Such work is paid by the department but done outside the time allocated for the graduate program.
The doctoral degree can be achieved without preceding licentiate degree.
The essential steps of the graduate studies are
- Thesis supervisor is decided.
- Examiner is decided (can be the same as the thesis supervisor).
- Deputy thesis supervisor is decided.
- Individual study plan is formulated.
- Research work should be started as soon as possible.
- Selection of courses is taken in consultation with a thesis supervisor and examiner.
- Compulsory courses should be taken as early as possible.
- Participation at the seminars organised by the graduate school and the research group.
- Study of the research literature in the relevant area of research.
- Regular follow-up meetings with supervisor, examiner and coordinator of graduate school to follow the progress of the course work and research work.
- Thesis and course work completed.
- Public thesis defence.
4 Courses
Requirements: 60 credits for a doctoral degree and 30 credits for a licentiate degree.
The graduate programs in Nuclear Engineering may have different profiles such as being both theoretical and experimental an include elements from, for instance, physics, computational physics, thermohydraulics, material physics, dosimetry and fusion plasma physics. Thus the courses needed may vary with the different research projects and the compulsory courses are kept at a minimum.
Within the program the Chalmers mandatory courses in ethics (3 credits) and pedagogics (3 credits) need to be taken. All PhD students registered after 1st of January 2005 are obliged to attend the “General introduction for doctoral students”.
The compulsory courses can be waived on request providing a student has taken these courses or acquired an equivalent knowledge at the masters/undergraduate level. The waiver is approved by the coordinator of the graduate school together with the Deputy Head of the Department where the student’s home base is located. Courses taken and passed at the master level can be accepted as graduate courses (maximum 30 credits) provided that the student has at least 270 credits from the master level. Students that have 240 credits are not allowed to include courses from the master level among the PhD courses. There is a gradual transition in the interval between 240 and 270 credits. Decision about how many hec from the master level that can be accepted as PhD courses is determined by the examiner.
The following elective courses are offered: (The courses are based on literature by author in parenthesis)
- Reactor theory (Bell & Glasstone): 15 credits
- Stochastic processes (Papoulis or Grimmett and Stirzaker): 7.5 credits
- Neutron reactions (Foderaro): 7.5 credits
In addition it may be recommended to take courses in materials science, thermal hydraulics, plasma physics, numerical computing and courses provided by the nuclear industry depending on the profile of the research project.
5 Dissertation
In addition to the course requirements listed above, the results of the research project should be presented in a thesis, written in English. The possible grades for a thesis are either “passed” or “failed”. In all matters the general rules for licentiate and doctoral theses at Chalmers shall be followed.
5.1 Licentiate Thesis
The examiner makes the decision if the thesis is ready for a public presentation. The presentation of the thesis in the presence of an external reviewer shall take place in a seminar open for public in the presence of the examiner. The latter decides on the passing or failing grade for the thesis.
5.2 Doctoral Dissertation
The content and writing shall conform to the rules and requirements for publishing scientific articles in recognised international journals. The thesis can either be in the form of a compilation of published/accepted/submitted articles and manuscripts with an introduction or as a monograph.
6 Requirements for Degrees
6.1 Licentiate
- 30 credits of graduate courses including the mandatory courses in ethics and pedagogics.
- Ability to independently treat a problem in nuclear engineering proved in a research work of 1.5 years (90 credits).
- Work presented in a public seminar and in a licentiate thesis approved by the examiner.
6.2 Doctor
- 60 credits of graduate courses including the mandatory courses in ethics and pedagogics.
- Ability to independently treat a problem in nuclear engineering proved in a research work of 3 years (180 credits). The work should display originality, depth and scientific quality.
- Work presented in a dissertation for public defence and in a doctoral thesis both approved by a board committee, according to Chalmers regulations.
7 Supervision of Post-graduate Studies
Normally the student carries out the research work in close collaboration with a supervisor. For each student there should be:
- Thesis supervisor
- Deputy thesis supervisor
- Examiner
The thesis supervisor is responsible for establishing and individual plan of study with details of all the planned activities. Once a year, a meeting between the student, examiner or supervisor and the coordinator of the graduate school takes place to review the student's progress. After each such meeting and individual study plan is updated and signed.
8 Examination on Course Work
Courses are examined in suitable forms, usually by written and/or oral examinations, or seminar presentations. The grades ”Passed” and ”Failed” are used. The number of course credits is formally decided by the student's examiner on suggestion from the course examiner.
The licentiate thesis is graded by the examiner. A doctoral thesis is graded by the graduation committee, especially appointed for the thesis defense.