Master'sNuclear Engineering & Nuclear Fuel Cycle Technologies Applications open

Master’s in Nuclear for Desalination and Water Engineering (Cogeneration)

Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in nuclear engineering for desalination and water (cogeneration). 12 modules covering water chemistry and pretreatment, reverse osmosis, thermal desalination, nuclear-desalination coupling, economic evaluation with DEEP, radiation protection, environmental impact and district heating, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration1900 h

ModeOnline

LanguageEnglish

Start datesSet by the faculty

AwardSEIUM Institute diploma

Enrol now View syllabus Ask an advisor

Master’s in Nuclear for Desalination and Water Engineering (Cogeneration) — 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$15,800 (AUD), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.

Relevant bodies in Australia

Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA)
Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO)
Department of Industry, Science and Resources
Standards Australia

Typical roles

Nuclear Engineer
Radiation Protection Engineer
Nuclear Safety Analyst
Fuel Cycle Specialist

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.

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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

Analyse the water-energy nexus and the demand for desalination.

Design reverse osmosis and thermal desalination plants.

Couple nuclear power plants to desalination plants.

Assess the cost of water using IAEA tools.

Ensure the radiological safety of product water.

Assess the environmental impact of brine.

Plan district heating and cogeneration systems.

Profile

Who it's for

Desalination engineers.
Nuclear cogeneration engineers.
Water treatment engineers looking to work with nuclear heat sources.
Economic analysts of water projects.
Environmental radiation protection specialists.
Hydrological planners.
Engineering or science graduates looking to enter the water and desalination sector.

Standards & tools

What you'll work with

Directive 2013/51/Euratom (radioactive substances in water intended for human consumption)
Directive (EU) 2020/2184 (quality of water intended for human consumption)
Directive 2000/60/EC (EU Water Framework Directive)
IAEA SSR-2/1 (safety of nuclear power plants: design)
ISO 24510 (assessment and improvement of drinking water services)
IAEA Nuclear Energy Series NP-T-4.1 (nuclear desalination and non-electric applications)
Directive 2011/92/EU (environmental impact assessment)
DEEP (IAEA)
WAVE (DuPont)
EES
CORMIX
Aspen Plus

Syllabus

12 modules · 1900 h

1.1The water-energy nexus
1.2Global and regional water scarcity
1.3Demand for desalinated water
1.4Energy consumption of desalination
1.5Nuclear desalination: historical experience
1.6Aktau, Ikata and Kalpakkam
1.7The IAEA nuclear desalination programme
1.8Sustainable Development Goals
1.9Hydrological planning
1.10Case study: water balance of a coastal region

2.1Seawater composition
2.2Salinity and dissolved solids
2.3Fouling and scaling
2.4SDI and LSI indices
2.5Coagulation and flocculation
2.6Multimedia filtration
2.7Ultrafiltration
2.8Chemical dosing
2.9Biological control
2.10Lab: calculation of scaling indices

3.1Principles of reverse osmosis
3.2Polyamide membranes
3.3Rack and stage configuration
3.4Energy recovery
3.5Design with manufacturers' software
3.6Membrane cleaning
3.7Post-treatment and remineralisation
3.8Specific energy consumption
3.9Brine management
3.10Practical: plant design with WAVE

4.1Multi-stage flash distillation (MSF)
4.2Multi-effect distillation (MED)
4.3Thermal vapour compression (TVC)
4.4Mechanical vapour compression
4.5Performance ratio
4.6Materials and corrosion
4.7Use of waste heat
4.8Hybrid processes
4.9Technology comparison
4.10Lab: balance of an MED plant in EES

5.1Heat sources in nuclear power plants
5.2Steam extraction and its penalty
5.3Use of condenser heat
5.4Intermediate isolation loops
5.5Prevention of radioactive contamination
5.6Cogeneration configurations
5.7SMRs for desalination
5.8Transients and joint operation
5.9Cogeneration optimisation
5.10Practical: electrical penalty from steam extraction

6.1The IAEA DEEP programme
6.2Cost of produced water
6.3Capital and operating costs
6.4Cost allocation in cogeneration
6.5Sensitivity analysis
6.6Comparison with fossil and renewable desalination
6.7Project financing
6.8Water tariffs
6.9Project risk
6.10Lab: economic evaluation with DEEP

7.1Barriers against water contamination
7.2Radiological monitoring of product water
7.3Radioactivity limits in drinking water
7.4Directive 2013/51/Euratom
7.5Safety analysis of the interface
7.6Joint siting
7.7Emergency plans
7.8Communication with the public
7.9Social acceptance
7.10Case study: radiological surveillance programme for water

8.1Brine management and discharge
8.2Brine dispersion modelling
8.3Water intake and marine fauna
8.4Combined thermal impact
8.5Avoided emissions
8.6Environmental impact assessment
8.7The Water Framework Directive
8.8Brine reuse
8.9Environmental indicators
8.10Practical: brine plume modelling with CORMIX

9.1Nuclear district heating
9.2Experience in Switzerland, China and Finland
9.3Heat distribution networks
9.4Seasonal storage
9.5District cooling
9.6Agricultural uses
9.7Wastewater treatment
9.8Cogeneration and trigeneration
9.9Urban planning
9.10Workshop: sizing a heat network

10.1Storage and pumping
10.2Distribution networks
10.3Drinking water quality
10.4Directive (EU) 2020/2184 on drinking water
10.5Demand management
10.6Integration into water systems
10.7Drought management
10.8Operators and governance
10.9Service indicators
10.10Case study: integrating desalinated water into a network

11.1Regulatory framework for nuclear cogeneration
11.2Water governance
11.3International cooperation
11.4Projects in the Middle East and North Africa
11.5National strategies
11.6Multilateral financing
11.7Project management
11.8Lessons learned
11.9Future trends
11.10Practical: analysis of an international project

12.1Definition of the regional case
12.2Water demand analysis
12.3Selection of desalination technology
12.4Coupling design
12.5Economic evaluation
12.6Environmental and radiological analysis
12.7Implementation proposal
12.8Conclusions
12.9Master's Thesis report
12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel

Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within the intake, so you can combine it with your job.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standards and applied exercises. The working software is DEEP (IAEA), WAVE (DuPont), EES, CORMIX and Aspen Plus, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Exercises are based on real procedures for designing reverse osmosis plants, economic evaluation of water-energy cogeneration, and brine dispersion modelling. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.

Standards covered: Directive 2013/51/Euratom, Directive (EU) 2020/2184 on drinking water, Directive 2000/60/EC (Water Framework Directive), IAEA SSR-2/1, ISO 24510, IAEA Nuclear Energy Series NP-T-4.1, Directive 2011/92/EU.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.

Standards-based learning:guided reading of Directive 2013/51/Euratom, the Drinking Water Directive (EU) 2020/2184 and the Water Framework Directive applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.

Industry software:DEEP (IAEA), WAVE (DuPont), EES, CORMIX and Aspen Plus, in free, academic or evaluation versions.

Master's Thesis with defence:A regional nuclear desalination project covering water demand, technology selection, coupling design, economic evaluation and environmental and radiological analysis, defended before a panel.

Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.

Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Reverse osmosis design

Design a seawater reverse osmosis plant with WAVE.

Thermal desalination balance

Model an MED plant and the electrical penalty of steam extraction in EES.

Water cost evaluation

Evaluate the cost of desalinated water from nuclear cogeneration with DEEP.

Brine plume modelling

Model the brine discharge plume and its environmental impact with CORMIX.

Master's Thesis

Develop a nuclear desalination project for a coastal region, from demand analysis to implementation proposal, defended before a panel.

Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Desalination engineerNuclear cogeneration engineerWater treatment engineerWater project economic analystEnvironmental radiation protection specialistHydrological planner

Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

University degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
Internet connection and a computer able to run the programme software.
English sufficient to read technical standards.

Ready to start?

Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The programme totals 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.

You work with DEEP (IAEA), WAVE (DuPont), EES, CORMIX and Aspen Plus, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.

A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the Master's Thesis. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.

Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.

A university degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), a computer able to run the programme software, and English sufficient to read technical standards.

Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.

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