Masters Student Bursary 2026 - HALEU Deconversion

Job Introduction

Nuclear fission is key to deploying reliable low-carbon power at scale and in the UK as the percentage of electricity generated by nuclear power increases, the need to ensure a secure supply of fuel for our reactor fleet will become even more pertinent. Nearly all the UK’s historic and existing nuclear reactors have been fuelled using a UK-led supply chain for uranium enrichment and fuel fabrication. The Springfields Fuels Limited (SFL) site, based near Preston and now part of the Westinghouse Electric Company (WEC), has hosted fuel fabrication facilities for over 80 years and has manufactured nuclear fuel for both UK reactors and internationally. The UK’s current nuclear reactor fleet utilises uranium-based fuels which are enriched to up to 5 w/o 235U, the fissile isotope of uranium, and SFL has supplied a variety of fuels, including for the former MAGNOX fleet, as well as the current Advanced Gas-cooled Reactors (AGRs). Next generation nuclear reactors have different characteristics to reactors currently in operation and will require fuels of a higher enrichment level, up to 19.75 w/o 235U (uranium enriched to between 5 – 20 w/o 235U is termed High-Assay Low Enriched Uranium or HALEU), which will require new front-end fuel cycle facilities to be established within the UK. 

UKNNL are supporting the development of capability for the deconversion of uranium hexafluoride (UF6) to uranium oxide (e.g. triuranium octaoxide, U3O8) at capacities relevant to HALEU and research and development into alternative deconversion technologies, as well into the fabrication of advanced fuels for next generation reactors, such as coated particle fuels and high-density fuels.

It is essential that accumulated skills are maintained and enhanced, whilst undertaking world leading, cutting-edge research, as both are crucial for the successful delivery of sustained and new nuclear generation. This bursary scheme, hosted by UKNNL in collaboration with Westinghouse, aims to enable and encourage students to work on topics of national priority relating to uranium based nuclear fuels and supporting front end fuel cycle activities with a focus on:

• Conversion
• Deconversion
• Enrichment
• Advanced fuel fabrication
• Transport (of HALEU)
• Supporting functions: Criticality, Security & safeguards, environmental, engineering design, process monitoring, chemical & process modelling
• Waste treatment

It is not a requirement for practical-based projects to involve the use of uranic materials and projects utilising appropriate surrogates, where applicable, will also be accepted.

Bursary Terms and Eligibility

• The maximum value of the bursary is £6,500.
• The bursary may be held alongside other scholarships, studentships, awards or bursaries.
• The bursary shall be awarded on the basis of financial need, compatibility with the aims and scope of the HALEU Programme and on recommendation of the panel.
• Applications from under-represented groups are encouraged and supported.
• Applicants must be willing and able of undergoing national security vetting at the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) level.

Essential Criteria:

• Students must be on accredited courses with in-scope nuclear science or engineering content:
  • Full or part-time integrated undergraduate master's courses wherein the student will be entering their final year of study (either on a taught programme or year in industry) in the 2026/2027 academic year.
  • Full or part-time post-graduate master’s degrees courses with modules at master’s degree level being taken with examination on a post-graduate certificate, post-graduate diploma or part/full-time MSc/MRes (or equivalent).
  • In all cases, enrolled degree courses must run until at least summer 2027, with taught or research content delivered in Academic Year 2026/2027.
• Students must be in good standing on track for at least an upper second (or equivalent) undergraduate degree supported by academic transcripts. This evidence must be submitted at the time of application. Incomplete applications may not be considered.
• As part of the application, please either provide a reference letter of support or a contact that one can be requested from. Incomplete applications (i.e. applications without either an attached letter of support or contact details for a Nuclear Academic) will not be considered.

Should you be successful:

• As part of the award, you will be required to participate in a residential Spring School, intended in Spring 2027 in Preston. Costs of attending this school are provided in addition to your bursary award. 
• Failure to attend the Spring School, provide the required project updates or non-completion of the agreed project or non-completion of your degree may result in the bursary award being withdrawn and funds recovered.
• You may be required to provide updates on the progress of your agreed master’s projects and to submit a copy of your final project report/dissertation/thesis with UKNNL and/or WEC.

How to Apply

During the application process you will be required to:

• Tell us in no more than 500 words how being awarded the HALEU Programme bursary would make a difference to you.
  • Please comment on your motivations for undertaking master’s study, your interest in nuclear science, technology and engineering and your plans for afterwards, and how the bursary would specifically help you in these plans.
  • If you have experienced challenging personal circumstances during your undergraduate studies or prior to entry, please include this information e.g. you may have experienced interruptions to study.
  • We would strongly encourage you to provide as much detail as you can about the ways in which the Bursary would enable you to complete your master’s course. We will use the information in your supporting statement to make the final decision when allocating bursaries.
• Tell us in no more than 500 words about your interest in nuclear science and engineering. Your response may include details of previous modules studied, or those selected for study as part of your master’s programme, extracurricular activities, or details on your master’s research project.
• Provide either a letter of support from your supervising Nuclear Academic or course co-ordinator or contact details for us to request this from.
• The application window will be open from the 9th of September to the 9th of October 2026. Shortlisted applicants will then be invited to attend a brief interview.

Your application may be shared with WEC during the assessment process. 

United Kingdom National Nuclear Laboratory