Masters Student Bursary 2026 – HALEU Deconversion

Summary 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 mu