The Swiss Master in Nuclear Engineering: A Collaboration Between Universities, Research Centre and Industry

The two national technical universities in Switzerland, viz. the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology at Lausanne (EPFL) and at Zurich (ETHZ) have a rich and long tradition in nuclear education. Student research in nuclear engineering, particularly at the doctoral level, has usually been conducted in collaboration with the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) at Villigen, the national research centre where most of the country’s fission-related R&D is carried out. A significant part of this R&D is carried out in close collaboration with the Swiss Nuclear Utilities (swissnuclear). The four above, key national players in nuclear teaching and research in Switzerland — EPFL, ETHZ, PSI and swissnuclear — have recently pooled resources in implementing a new Master of Science degree in Nuclear Engineering (NE). The present paper describes the main features and experience acquired to date in the running of this, first-ever, common degree offered jointly by the two Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology. The program, although naturally addressing Switzerland’s needs, is clearly to be viewed in an international context, e.g. that of the Bologna Agreement. This is reflected in the composition of the first two batches, with about 70% of the students having obtained their Bachelor degrees from universities outside Switzerland. Starting September 2010, the curriculum of the EPFL-ETHZ NE Master will be upgraded, from its current 90 ECTS credit points (3 semesters) to a 120 ECTS (4 semesters) program. An overview is provided of the current 90-ECTS curriculum, as also a sketch of the changes foreseen in going to 120 ECTS.