Doctoral students supported through the Nuclear Skills Plan are starting their studies this autumn, marking an early step in a wider four-year investment to strengthen specialist skills across the UK nuclear sector.
With a significant number of nuclear subject matter experts expected to retire within the next five years, developing the next generation of specialists is a key priority. In 2025/26, the Nuclear Skills Plan supported 55 new nuclear fission doctoral students through combined industry investment, supporting the ambition to quadruple cohort-based doctoral training. This forms part of a longer-term programme of investment in doctoral skills. £65.6 million was awarded in March for a bespoke nuclear Doctoral Focal Award, match-funded by industry and delivered through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). The investment will support up to six new doctoral training programmes and expand the existing SATURN Centre for Doctoral Training. Over the next four academic intakes, these programmes will train more than 500 doctoral students at universities across the country.
Scotland is playing an important part in this work. The Scotland Nuclear Skills Hub is bringing together industry, education and skills partners to support the development of the workforce needed for the future, with collaboration and alignment between education, training and industry at its heart.
Developing specialist skills in Scotland
One programme supporting this longer-term ambition is the Skills Centre for Advancing Nuclear Systems (SCANS), which brings together interconnected hubs in Glasgow and Edinburgh.
SCANS plans to train at least 60 doctoral students across disciplines including chemistry, physics, engineering, mathematics, environmental science and data science. Students will combine doctoral research with practical nuclear training and professional development, developing expertise across areas including nuclear materials, sensing and monitoring, modelling, artificial intelligence and robotics.
Professor Andy Mount of the University of Edinburgh’s School of Chemistry, lead for the Skills Centre for Advancing Nuclear Systems (SCANS) Doctoral Focal Award’s Edinburgh hub, said:
"We are delighted to welcome our first doctoral researchers to SCANS in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Together, we are combining our critical mass of world-class multidisciplinary research, advanced training, distinctive facilities and strong industry and stakeholder collaboration across science and engineering to equip these students to become the nuclear sector's next leaders.
“Working hand in hand with industry and wider stakeholders, we will co-create research and training that addresses the challenges and opportunities of sustainable and efficient advanced nuclear systems development. We will strengthen the UK's nuclear skills base and its supply chain, help meet its net zero commitment (and go beyond) and shape the future of the nuclear sector, building capacity and driving growth.”
SCANS will connect students with industry through mentoring, training, site visits, placements and secondments, alongside access to specialist facilities including the National Robotarium.
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For more information on specific courses, including how to apply, contact the relevant lead university.
