Does the idea of securing the future safety of the UK?s power supply appeal to you? Would you like to have a critical role in developing new medical diagnosis techniques?

Nuclear engineering involves working with atomic particles and a career in this area can be very diverse.

Nuclear engineers often work for the government and could be involved in designing a new nuclear reactor, devising a safe system for storing nuclear waste or studying radioactivity. But nuclear engineering is not just about power stations ? graduates interested in a career in this area could also focus on medicine, defence or research.

In medicine nuclear engineers are concerned with studying the effects of radiation on the human body and developing treatments and diagnosis techniques for a range of illnesses and conditions. Some engineers in this field prefer laboratory-based research and theory and may work for government-sponsored organisations or educational institutions studying atomic particles and radiation.

Though there is some controversy around the field, growth is likely to continue and jobs will continue to be created in the sector.

Nuclear engineers tend to split their time between the site or plant and the office or laboratory. A job in this industry can entail working long hours as part of a multi-disciplinary team.