THE country's first engineering doctorate course in nuclear science has been launched at Manchester University.

The course will be run by the university's Dalton Nuclear Institute after receiving funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.

Course leaders hope that it will further reinforce the institute's position as one of the world's leading nuclear research centres.

Doctorates will be offered in areas such as waste management, reactor technology and safety systems.

A university spokesman said that the course will aim to equip scientists with the skills needed to take on senior roles within the nuclear industry. He said "Over the last 20 years we have witnessed a major decline in skilled nuclear engineers graduating from universities in this country.

"The engineering doctorate course, alongside the other nuclear research and education initiatives at Manchester, shall see this trend reversed.

"This is crucial so that Britain can underpin the nuclear opportunities and challenges it is facing in the future, ranging from new reactors through to decommissioning and clean-up.

"If new nuclear power stations are built then it will be courses like this which fill this skills gap with experienced graduates."

The first intake of students onto the engineering doctorate will be in September 2006. Tweet