Master’s in Waste, Decommissioning & Environment Engineering
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in radioactive waste, decommissioning and environmental engineering. 12 modules covering waste classification, radiological characterisation, treatment and conditioning, storage and disposal, decommissioning strategies, decontamination and cutting, radiation protection, environmental impact, site release, project management and the circular economy, with Directive 2011/70/Euratom, IAEA GSR Part 6 and RESRAD, with an assigned technical tutor.
Master’s in Waste, Decommissioning & Environment Engineering — 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
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
Classify radioactive waste and understand how it is managed.
Carry out radiological characterisations.
Select treatment and conditioning techniques.
Plan decommissioning strategies.
Apply decontamination techniques using ALARA criteria.
Assess environmental impact and the release of sites.
Manage decommissioning projects with sustainability criteria.
Who it's for
- Decommissioning engineers seeking a complete view of waste, dismantling and the environment.
- Radioactive waste management technicians.
- Radiological characterisation specialists.
- Radiation protection technicians working on shutdown plants.
- Nuclear environmental engineers.
- Decommissioning project managers.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter radioactive waste management.
What you'll work with
- Directive 2011/70/Euratom (EU framework for the responsible management of spent fuel and radioactive waste)
- IAEA GSR Part 6 (decommissioning of facilities)
- IAEA GSR Part 5 (predisposal management of radioactive waste)
- IAEA GSG-1 (classification of radioactive waste)
- Royal Decree 102/2014 (Spanish regulation on the management of spent fuel and radioactive waste)
- NUREG-1575 MARSSIM (radiation survey and site investigation manual)
- Directive 2013/59/Euratom (basic safety standards for radiation protection)
- CSN Instruction IS-31 (Spanish criteria for radiological control of materials from regulated facilities)
- RESRAD
- MicroShield
- VISIPLAN
- Genie 2000
- Primavera P6
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1Origin of radioactive waste1.2IAEA classification1.3Very low, low and intermediate level waste1.4High-level waste and spent fuel1.5National waste inventory1.6Nuclear facilities in the shutdown phase1.7Stakeholders: ENRESA, CSN and the Ministry1.8Waste management fund1.9Principles of sustainable management1.10Case study: waste inventory of a power plant
2.1Radionuclides of interest2.2Difficult-to-measure radionuclides2.3Scaling factors2.4High-resolution gamma spectrometry2.5Analytical radiochemistry of beta emitters2.6Material sampling2.7Activation models2.8Site characterisation2.9Radiological mapping tools2.10Laboratory: gamma spectrometry of a sample
3.1Treatment of liquid effluents3.2Evaporation and resins3.3Compaction and supercompaction3.4Incineration of combustible waste3.5Cementation of waste3.6Vitrification of liquid waste3.7Bituminisation of concentrates3.8Geopolymer immobilisation matrices3.9Waste packages and their characterisation3.10Practical exercise: design of a conditioning line
4.1Interim on-site storage4.2Near-surface disposal4.3El Cabril disposal facility4.4Deep geological disposal4.5Long-term safety assessment4.6Waste package acceptance criteria4.7Management of very low level waste4.8Clearance of materials4.9Institutional control after closure4.10Case study: acceptance criteria at El Cabril
5.1Immediate and deferred dismantling5.2Early planning for shutdown5.3Decommissioning plan5.4José Cabrera experience5.5Vandellós I and Garoña experience5.6International decommissioning experience5.7Managing organisational change5.8Decommissioning licensing5.9Costs and funding5.10Workshop: comparison of decommissioning strategies
6.1Full-system chemical decontamination6.2Mechanical surface decontamination6.3Blasting and scabbling6.4Thermal and mechanical cutting6.5Diamond wire cutting6.6Underwater segmentation6.7Robotics and remote handling6.8Demolition of structures6.9Secondary waste management6.10Practical exercise: technique selection for reactor vessel internals
7.1ALARA planning of work7.2Dose estimation7.3Contamination control7.4Ventilation and confinement7.5Worker dosimetry7.6Radiological monitoring of areas7.7Zone management7.8On-site emergency preparedness7.9Conventional health and safety7.10Case study: ALARA plan for segmentation
8.1Environmental impact assessment8.2Effluents and their control8.3Environmental monitoring programme8.4Dispersion models8.5Environmental protection8.6Biota and ecosystems8.7Water management8.8Site restoration8.9Public participation and communication8.10Practical exercise: dispersion model with a Gaussian code
9.1Release criteria9.2Area classification9.3MARSSIM verification methodology9.4Statistical sampling design9.5Verification measurements9.6Residual dose scenarios9.7Dose calculation with RESRAD9.8Declaration of closure9.9Subsequent uses of the site9.10Workshop: MARSSIM plan for a building
10.1Work breakdown structure10.2Cost estimation with ISDC10.3Planning and scheduling10.4Risk management10.5Contracting strategies10.6Knowledge management10.7Project indicators10.8Stakeholder management10.9Lessons learnt from projects10.10Case study: cost estimation with ISDC
11.1Metal recycling11.2Scrap melting11.3Reuse of buildings11.4Carbon footprint of decommissioning11.5Nuclear circular economy11.6Social sustainability of closure11.7Transition of territories11.8Innovation and digitalisation11.9BIM in decommissioning11.10Practical exercise: material recovery plan
12.1Definition of the facility under study12.2Characterisation and inventory12.3Decommissioning strategy12.4Waste management12.5Environmental assessment of the project12.6Site release plan12.7Cost estimation and scheduling12.8Conclusions of the closure plan12.9Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
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 each intake, so the programme is compatible with full-time work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is RESRAD, MicroShield, VISIPLAN, Genie 2000 and Primavera P6, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied on real procedures for radiological characterisation of materials, decommissioning planning and environmental impact assessment. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: Directive 2011/70/Euratom, IAEA GSR Part 6, IAEA GSR Part 5, IAEA GSG-1, Royal Decree 102/2014, NUREG-1575 MARSSIM, Directive 2013/59/Euratom, CSN Instruction IS-31.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- University degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running 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.
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 RESRAD, MicroShield, VISIPLAN, Genie 2000 and Primavera P6, 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, plus 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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