Course in Materials for Fusion Environments
Online 300-hour course in materials for fusion environments. 6 modules with ASME BPVC Section III, Division 4 (fusion energy devices), RCC-MRx (design code for research and fusion reactors) and SRIM/TRIM. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Course in Materials for Fusion Environments — studying from Australia
Australia does not operate nuclear power plants, but nuclear science and technology play important roles in research, medicine, mining and regulation. The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation operates research reactors and produces radiopharmaceuticals, while uranium mining is conducted in South Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland. Nuclear engineering skills support regulatory oversight, radiation safety and decommissioning activities. Employers include ANSTO, the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, mining companies and specialist consultancies.
Fees for Australia: A$1,270 (AUD), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Australia
Typical roles
Questions from Australia
Does this programme meet Australian nuclear licensing or regulatory requirements?
No. SEIUM qualifications are private and are not accredited by any national body. Nuclear activities in Australia are regulated by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency and related authorities, which set their own competency requirements. Check directly with the regulator and your employer about any qualifications needed for a specific role.
Which Australian organisations might consider this training for nuclear-related roles?
Australian employers in this area include research organisations, radiation protection services, mining and resources companies, and consultancies working on nuclear-related projects. Hiring depends on each organisation's requirements and on security and licensing needs. A private qualification is unlikely to be sufficient alone, so combine it with relevant experience.
Is the programme workable alongside a job, and how is it funded?
The programmes are delivered entirely online in English with an assigned technical tutor, allowing study from Australia around work commitments. Fees can be paid in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible. Review the programme length, from 300 to 1,900 hours, and plan carefully.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Describe the thermal, neutronic and chemical loading conditions in a fusion power plant.
Select plasma-facing materials such as tungsten according to their properties.
Compare low-activation ferritic-martensitic steels with other structural options.
Identify the requirements of functional materials in the breeding blanket.
Explain the effects of 14 MeV neutron irradiation on mechanical properties.
Interpret test and qualification programmes for fusion materials.
Justify the selection of materials for a fusion power plant component.
Who it's for
- Fusion materials engineer wishing to specialise in Materials for Fusion Environments.
- Researcher in irradiation damage wishing to specialise in Materials for Fusion Environments.
- Materials qualification engineer wishing to specialise in Materials for Fusion Environments.
- Specialist in low-activation steels wishing to specialise in Materials for Fusion Environments.
- Divertor and blanket component engineer wishing to specialise in Materials for Fusion Environments.
- Mechanical testing laboratory technician wishing to specialise in Materials for Fusion Environments.
- Graduates in engineering or sciences seeking to enter fusion research.
What you'll work with
- ASME BPVC Section III, Division 4 (fusion energy devices)
- RCC-MRx (design code for research and fusion reactors)
- ITER SDC-IC (structural design criteria for in-vessel components)
- ASTM E521 (simulation of irradiation damage with charged particles)
- ASTM E139 (creep testing of metallic materials)
- ISO 6892-1 (tensile testing of metallic materials)
- ASTM E1921 (reference temperature, master curve)
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Components: first wall, divertor, blanket and magnets1.2Steady-state and transient heat fluxes1.314 MeV neutron spectrum and dpa1.4Helium and hydrogen production through transmutation1.5Plasma interaction1.6Chemical environments: water, helium and PbLi1.7Low-activation requirements1.8European materials roadmap1.9Differences from fission materials1.10Case study: load map of a DEMO reactor
2.1Tungsten: properties and brittleness2.2Ductile-to-brittle transition of tungsten2.3Recrystallisation and surface melting2.4Formation of fuzz-type nanostructures2.5Beryllium in the ITER first wall2.6CuCrZr copper alloys in heat sinks2.7ITER divertor monoblocks2.8Liquid metals: lithium and tin2.9Replacing beryllium with tungsten in ITER2.10Laboratory: thermal calculation of a tungsten monoblock
3.1Low-activation ferritic-martensitic steels3.2EUROFER97 and F82H3.3Oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) steels3.4Vanadium alloys3.5Irradiation hardening and embrittlement3.6Swelling and creep3.7Effect of helium on toughness3.8Design codes: RCC-MRx3.9Joining and welding of fusion steels3.10Practice: assessment of the shift in transition temperature
4.1Breeder ceramics: Li4SiO4 and Li2TiO34.2Neutron multipliers: beryllium and Be12Ti4.3PbLi eutectic as breeder and coolant4.4Tritium permeation barriers4.5Electrical insulators and coatings4.6Nb3Sn, NbTi and REBCO superconductors4.7Irradiation damage in magnets4.8Optical and diagnostic materials4.9Materials for RF heating4.10Case study: selection of the HCPB or WCLL blanket concept
5.1Irradiation in fission reactors: HFIR and BR25.2IFMIF-DONES and the fusion spectrum5.3Dual-ion irradiation5.4Small specimen testing5.5High heat flux facilities: JUDITH and GLADIS5.6Multiscale modelling of damage5.7Molecular dynamics and kinetic Monte Carlo5.8Materials database and standardisation5.9Qualification for DEMO licensing5.10Workshop: material qualification plan
6.1Definition of the component and environment6.2Design requirements6.3Materials pre-selection6.4Damage and service life analysis6.5Chemical and tritium compatibility6.6Activation and waste6.7Qualification plan6.8Selection synthesis6.9Report and presentation6.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
Fully 100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the intake, making it compatible with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is SRIM/TRIM, FISPACT-II, ANSYS Mechanical, Thermo-Calc, LAMMPS, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied using real procedures for tensile and high-temperature creep tests, ion and neutron irradiation, and thermal load tests with high-power beams. Assessment is continuous per module plus the final integrating project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Describe the thermal, neutronic and chemical loading conditions in a fusion power plant.
Select plasma-facing materials such as tungsten according to their properties.
Compare low-activation ferritic-martensitic steels with other structural options.
Identify the requirements of functional materials in the breeding blanket.
Explain the effects of 14 MeV neutron irradiation on mechanical properties.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior degree is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient Spanish to follow technical standards documentation.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 300 hours spread over 3 to 5 months. That is an average of 10 to 15 hours per week, compatible with full-time work.
You will work with SRIM/TRIM, FISPACT-II, ANSYS Mechanical, Thermo-Calc, LAMMPS. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
An SEIUM Institute diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrating project. It is in-house training, not an official qualification issued by the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a Course or Postgraduate Diploma in the same area are recognised towards the advanced programme. Check the recognition policy when you enrol.
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