Course in Nuclear Environmental Impact Assessment
Online course of 300 h in nuclear environmental impact assessment. 6 modules covering Directive 2011/92/EU as amended by Directive 2014/52/EU (environmental impact assessment), Law 21/2013 on environmental assessment and QGIS. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Course in Nuclear Environmental Impact Assessment — 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$1,180 (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 regulatory framework for the environmental assessment of nuclear facilities.
Characterise the physical, biotic and socio-economic environment of a site.
Assess radiological impacts on the public and biota.
Identify and assess non-radiological impacts.
Integrate the life cycle, waste and decommissioning into the assessment.
Propose preventive, corrective and monitoring measures.
Write an environmental impact study for a nuclear facility.
Who it's for
- Environmental impact assessment consultant who wants to specialise in Nuclear Environmental Impact Assessment.
- Environmental technician in nuclear facilities who wants to specialise in Nuclear Environmental Impact Assessment.
- Radioecologist who wants to specialise in Nuclear Environmental Impact Assessment.
- Geographic information systems technician who wants to specialise in Nuclear Environmental Impact Assessment.
- Government environmental assessor who wants to specialise in Nuclear Environmental Impact Assessment.
- Environmental permitting manager who wants to specialise in Nuclear Environmental Impact Assessment.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter environmental consultancy.
What you'll work with
- Directive 2011/92/EU as amended by Directive 2014/52/EU (environmental impact assessment)
- Law 21/2013 on environmental assessment
- IAEA GSG-10 (prospective assessment of environmental radiological impact)
- Espoo Convention (EIA in a transboundary context)
- ICRP 124 (protection of the environment)
- Euratom Treaty (Articles 35 to 37)
- ISO 14001 (environmental management)
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Directive 2011/92/EU and its amendment 2014/52/EU1.2Law 21/2013 on environmental assessment in Spain1.3Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty1.4Espoo Convention and transboundary effects1.5EIA process: scoping, study and declaration1.6Strategic environmental assessment of nuclear plans1.7NRC requirements and NUREG-15551.8Projects subject to assessment: power plants, stores and mines1.9Public participation and the Aarhus Convention1.10Case study: analysis of the EIA of an ATC
2.1Site meteorology2.2Surface and groundwater hydrology2.3Geology and seismicity2.4Ecology and protected areas2.5Demography and land use2.6Pre-operational radiological background2.7Food chain and local habits2.8Cultural heritage and landscape2.9Environmental baseline2.10Practical: meteorological characterisation using station data
3.1Gaseous emissions and liquid effluents3.2Gaussian atmospheric dispersion models3.3Water transport models3.4Exposure pathways and reference group3.5Calculation of doses to the public3.6Biota and the ERICA system3.7Dose limits and constraints3.8Accidents in environmental assessment3.9Environmental radiological monitoring (PVRA)3.10Laboratory: Gaussian dispersion and inhalation dose
4.1Thermal impact of cooling4.2Water abstraction and effects on fish4.3Cooling towers and vapour4.4Noise and vibration4.5Traffic and construction4.6Conventional and hazardous waste4.7Socio-economic impacts4.8Landscape impact4.9Cumulative effects4.10Case study: thermal impact of a discharge into the river
5.1Uranium mining and restoration5.2Impact of the fuel cycle5.3Radioactive waste management5.4Temporary and geological repositories5.5Decommissioning and site restoration5.6Life cycle analysis of nuclear power5.7Comparative carbon footprint5.8Corrective and compensatory measures5.9Monitoring and environmental impact declaration5.10Workshop: Leopold matrix for a power plant
6.1Description of the nuclear project6.2Analysis of alternatives6.3Environmental inventory6.4Identification and assessment of impacts6.5Calculation of radiological doses6.6Corrective measures6.7Environmental monitoring programme6.8Study synthesis6.9Report and presentation6.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetable: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it possible to combine the course with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is QGIS, ArcGIS Pro, ERICA Tool, RESRAD-OFFSITE, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Assignments are based on real procedures for characterising a site's environment, assessing doses to biota, and preparing an environmental impact study. Assessment is continuous, module by module, plus the final integrative project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Describe the regulatory framework for the environmental assessment of nuclear facilities.
Characterise the physical, biotic and socio-economic environment of a site.
Assess radiological impacts on the public and biota.
Identify and assess non-radiological impacts.
Integrate the life cycle, waste and decommissioning into the assessment.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior qualification is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient Spanish to follow technical regulatory texts.
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 a full-time job.
You will work with QGIS, ArcGIS Pro, ERICA Tool and RESRAD-OFFSITE. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM diploma on passing the continuous assessment and the final integrative project. It is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area can be recognised in the higher programme. Check the recognition policy when you enrol.
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