Friday 29 August 2025

United Kingdom National Nuclear Laboratory (UKNNL) is proud to support the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) 2025 NDA PhD Bursary Scheme, which is now inviting applications.

About the scheme

This prestigious funding opportunity supports projects that contribute to safe, sustainable, and publicly acceptable solutions for decommissioning and cleaning up the UK’s civil nuclear legacy. The scheme underpins the NDA’s commitment to the safe, sustainable, and publicly responsible clean-up of the UK’s civil nuclear legacy.

Through our role in managing this scheme, UKNNL supports the NDA’s mission whilst contributing our expertise in practical nuclear research and helping to nurture the advanced nuclear skills critical to the UK’s future.

This year, up to £750,000 in total funding is available to UK academic institutions to support PhD-level research, with individual proposals eligible for up to £155,000 per project.  

What we’re looking for

The scheme aims to:

• Maintain and grow the critical skills required to deliver the NDA’s long-term mission
• Provide fundamental understanding of materials, technologies, and processes across the NDA estate
• Develop early-stage technologies and techniques (TRL 1–3)
• Encourage two-way knowledge transfer between academia and the nuclear industry

What’s included

Facilities Access Applicants can include complimentary Facilities Access proposals within the ‘Project Management’ section. This allows collaboration with national facilities, including those capable of handling radioactive materials crucial for advancing nuclear research and development beyond typical university capabilities. These costs are estimated separately and won’t count against the £155,000 project limit.

As part of our commitment to providing expertise and facilities as a platform for accelerating research to practical application, UKNNL will provide industrial supervision to support bursary projects. Additionally, PhD students will participate in valuable professional development opportunities including quarterly progress reports, an annual NDA seminar (typically 3 days in central England), and an annual NDA group site visit. Optional placements or secondments with NDA Site Licence Companies (SLCs) or supply chain partners can also be included with prior agreements.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted by Friday, 19 September 2025, at 3:00 pm. We recommend planning ahead to incorporate any required facility access or industrial collaboration elements.

At a glance

Get started

This bursary represents a compelling opportunity for academics to contribute meaningful research, gain valuable industrial support, and access specialist facilities, all while advancing the UK’s decommissioning mission under UKNNL’s expert management on behalf of the NDA.

For general enquiries, contact: nda_phd@uknnl.com Full details and applications: https://ndaphdbursary.co.uk