Two of Asia's top universities in Singapore to launch joint nuclear engineering degree

National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU), will jointly launch a master's program in nuclear engineering in 2027.

The initiative was announced by Singapore's Minister for Energy and Trade and Industry Tan See Leng at the Singapore Energy Lecture on Oct. 26, alongside two new training programs for public-sector officers and industry professionals.

NUS and NTU ranked joint third in the QS Asia University Rankings 2026, behind the University of Hong Kong and Peking University in China.

The joint Master of Science in Nuclear Engineering will be Singapore's first postgraduate degree program dedicated to the field, according to NUS.

Students will complete 10 courses, including six core subjects and four electives, covering nuclear reactor technology, radiation protection, nuclear safety and radioactive waste management.

The program will take one year of full-time study or two to three years part-time. Students will spend one semester at each university, with a recommended one- to two-week overseas visit to a country with an established nuclear industry.

Applicants from quantitative disciplines will be eligible even without previous nuclear engineering experience.

The curriculum will also address challenges specific to Singapore, including its limited land area, high population density and tropical climate. The program is expected to enroll approximately 30 full-time and part-time students initially, according to Channel News Asia.

Singapore is expanding its nuclear expertise despite having made no decision to adopt nuclear power. The government has also announced overseas training programs for public officers and industry professionals to strengthen its nuclear workforce.

Officials say the expertise could support careers in nuclear safety, research, regulation and energy planning, while contributing to the development of nuclear capabilities across Southeast Asia.

Speaking at the Monday event, Tan said the growing nuclear industry could create new career opportunities in Singapore and overseas, particularly as interest in nuclear energy increases across Southeast Asia.