These graduate programmes were launched to respond to the evolving energy landscape and advance the university’s climate action goals. They provide the most comprehensive energy curriculum at any Canadian university, equipping students to analyse, design, and optimise systems for generating, storing, distributing, and consuming energy, with a strong focus on sustainability and efficiency.

Students can select from three areas: Petroleum, Energy Transportation and Storage, and Sustainable Energy. The Sustainable Energy track explores Nuclear Energy Systems and Safety. Research projects cover small modular reactors, corrosion prevention, waste management, and safety protocols for advanced nuclear fuels. 

Leading the research in nuclear safety, Dr. Arthur Situm, Canada Research Chair in Small Modular Reactor Safety and Licensing at the U of R, views nuclear energy as a key part of the prairie province’s future. He believes that while small modular reactors have high initial costs, their long-term benefits are substantial. Alongside hydropower, nuclear energy offers one of the most efficient and cost-effective solutions for Canadian households.