Tomsk Polytechnic University offers unique nuclear reactor access to international students

Established in 1896, TPU is a leading institution in engineering, particularly in oil and gas, and chemical and energy technologies. The IRT-T reactor, operational since 1967 with a power of 6 megawatts, allows approximately 450 students annually to gain practical experience in power plant management, radiological safety, and physical protection of facilities. Since 2016, about 160 international students from 22 countries have participated in this program, with graduates now working in nuclear industries globally.

Beyond education, the IRT-T reactor contributes significantly to industrial and medical applications, producing about 5% of the world's nuclear-doped silicon for high-voltage electronics and processing large silicon ingots. It also transforms colorless topazes into blue gemstones and is a major producer of radiopharmaceuticals for 30 Russian clinics, serving over a million patients with isotopes like technetium-99m and phosphorus-32. TPU's campus, known as the "European Quarter" of Tomsk, features 34 buildings, including historical monuments, over 100 laboratories, and a complex for alternative fuels.

The university supports international students through programs like the Zhar-Ptitsa club, offering various activities to aid integration. While instruction is primarily in Russian, some pr