AEMS UToronto Atomic Energy Materials & Systems

Education & Training

Educating and training the next generation

AEMS prepares engineers, scientists, researchers, policy thinkers, and leaders across nuclear science, engineering, technology, and society—from energy, reactors, isotopes, and nuclear medicine to applications in health, agriculture, and industry, as well as policy, regulation, and Indigenous perspectives and engagement.

Education and training span undergraduate and graduate programs, advanced doctoral training, and the AEMS Academy, with offerings that include micro-credentials, outreach, workshops, and professional development.

Across the University

Undergraduate pathways into nuclear science and technology

Students can build pathways into the nuclear field from across the University.

In Engineering, multiple departments provide the foundational disciplines that underpin nuclear science and technology; Engineering Science offers focused interdisciplinary pathways; and the Nuclear Engineering Certificate is accessible to undergraduate students across U of T.

Complementary pathways are available through the Faculty of Arts & Science and other parts of the University.

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Engineering programs across the Faculty provide foundations in the materials, mechanical, thermal, chemical, civil, electrical, computational, and systems disciplines essential to nuclear technologies.

Engineering Departments

Foundational disciplines for nuclear

Relevant undergraduate programs and courses span areas including:

Materials science and engineering
Mechanical and industrial engineering
Chemical engineering and applied chemistry
Electrical and computer engineering
Civil and mineral engineering
Engineering physics, computation, controls, and systems

Together, these disciplines underpin areas such as reactor systems, nuclear materials, thermal hydraulics, nuclear chemistry, nuclear civil structures, instrumentation and control, fuel cycles, safety, manufacturing, and emerging nuclear technologies.

Engineering Science

Interdisciplinary pathways

Engineering Science provides particularly strong pathways into advanced nuclear and fusion-related study through majors and coursework in areas such as:

Energy Systems
Engineering Physics
Machine Intelligence and computational methods
Robotics and systems engineering
Advanced physics
Plasma physics
Materials and thermal-fluid sciences

Nuclear Engineering Certificate

A university-wide undergraduate pathway

The Nuclear Engineering Certificate provides students from across the University with structured exposure to nuclear science, engineering, and energy systems.

Coursework may include:

Nuclear and reactor physics
Heat transfer and thermal hydraulics
Radiation–matter interactions
Nuclear materials
Energy systems
Nuclear safety and risk

Faculty of Arts & Science

Arts & Science provides complementary pathways through the fundamental sciences that underpin nuclear physics, fusion, radiation science, materials, isotopes, and applications in medicine and health.

Physics & Astronomy

Nuclear · Plasma · Materials

Nuclear structure and reactions
Particle and accelerator physics
Plasma and fusion physics
Radiation detection
Condensed matter and superconducting materials
Computational physics

Life Sciences, Chemistry & Biophysics

Isotopes · Nuclear medicine · Radiopharmaceuticals

Relevant studies include:

Physics
Chemistry
Life sciences
Biophysics
Radiation and imaging sciences
Foundations for nuclear medicine and radiopharmaceutical science

Graduate

MEng Nuclear Emphasis

A focused graduate pathway providing broad foundations in nuclear science and engineering through two core courses, complemented by facility engagement and professional skills development.

MSE1074F

AEMSS Fundamentals I: Nuclear Science

Atomic/Nuclear Physics, Nuclear Materials-Fuels, Sustainability
Radiation Detection, Safety and Health Physics
Radioisotopes, Nuclear Medicine & Allied Applications
Nuclear Reactor Physics, Nuclear Regulatory Codes and Standards
Advanced Materials & Manufacturing: Next-Generation Nuclear Materials
Fusion and Small Modular Reactors

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MSE1075S

AEMSS Fundamentals II — Nuclear Engineering

Atomic/Nuclear Physics, Nuclear Materials-Fuels, Sustainability
Nuclear Thermal Hydraulics and Power Generation Systems
Nuclear Corrosion Chemistry, Materials Degradation Mechanisms
Nuclear Civil Structures, Performance and Functional Requirements
Non-Destructive Testing-Evaluation and Fitness for Service
Nuclear Systems, Operations, Robotics and AI

Supplementary modules

Supplementary A — Next wave in the nuclear industry and essential skills for workplace success
Supplementary B — Nuclear energy: learnings, safety, and the long game

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Advancing Education & Training

Strengthening pathways at every level

Undergraduate

New courses addressing key curriculum gaps, in development
Expanded nuclear content within Engineering Science, in development
Practical hands-on training through AEMS Labs, in development

Graduate & Professional

Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT), in development
Teaching and mentorship involving faculty and industry experts
AEMS scholarships supporting defined research and training programs
Development of targeted micro-credentials and professional education

Outreach & Exchange

AEMS Academy
Outreach and pre-university engagement
International and inter-university exchange
Workshops, short courses, and continuing education

AEMS Academy

Immersive summer learning in fusion energy and photonics

AEMS Academy offers intensive, one-week learning experiences for motivated high-school and undergraduate students, providing early exposure to advanced nuclear science and technology and serving as a key outreach and talent-development arm of AEMS at the University of Toronto.

The following courses will return in 2027 — stay tuned.

Fusion Energy: Taming a Star
Photonics: Lenses to Lasers

Visit AEMS Academy →