Master’s in Corrosion, SCC and Chemical Compatibility Engineering in Primary Circuits
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in corrosion, SCC and chemical compatibility engineering for primary circuits. 12 modules covering corrosion electrochemistry, primary and secondary chemistry, corrosion mechanisms, stress corrosion cracking, environmental fatigue, dose sources, materials compatibility and mitigation, with the EPRI PWR Water Chemistry Guidelines and CHECWORKS, with an assigned technical tutor.
Master’s in Corrosion, SCC and Chemical Compatibility Engineering in Primary Circuits — studying from Canada
Canada is a global leader in nuclear technology, most notably through CANDU reactor design and the development of medical isotopes. Ontario operates the largest nuclear fleet in the country, with major facilities at Pickering, Darlington and Bruce, while Atomic Energy of Canada Limited leads reactor research at Chalk River. The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission regulates all nuclear activity. Engineers work on reactor design, fuel cycle technologies, decommissioning and radiation protection.
Fees for Canada: C$15,500 (Canadian dollar), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Canada
Typical roles
Questions from Canada
Is this programme recognised by professional bodies in Canada for nuclear engineering?
SEIUM's qualifications are private, not official state degrees, and carry no national accreditation in Canada. Nuclear activities are regulated by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, and professional engineering titles are provincially regulated. Nuclear roles often require specific licences or clearances, which a private qualification does not provide. Confirm with employers or the regulator.
Could this qualification help with nuclear career opportunities in Canada?
Canadian nuclear operators, utilities, fuel cycle firms and regulators' supplier networks employ engineers, but they set their own criteria. Many nuclear roles prioritise experience, security clearances and regulator-recognised training. The programme can add technical depth to your profile, but it does not guarantee entry or advancement in this tightly regulated field.
Can I study this online from Canada, and what is the workload?
Yes, the programme is 100% online and taught in English, and no student visa is required if you study from home. Specialist courses are 300 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and master's programmes 1,900 hours. Fees are payable in instalments, employer sponsorship is possible, and you receive an assigned technical tutor for guidance.
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
Apply electrochemistry to corrosion processes in circuits.
Control primary and secondary circuit chemistry.
Identify corrosion and stress corrosion cracking mechanisms.
Assess environmental fatigue in components.
Reduce dose sources through chemistry control.
Select materials compatible with the environment.
Design corrosion mitigation and monitoring programmes.
Who it's for
- Nuclear power plant chemists.
- Corrosion engineers.
- Materials engineers.
- Steam generator specialists.
- Piping integrity engineers.
- Stress corrosion cracking researchers.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter the nuclear power industry.
What you'll work with
- EPRI PWR Primary Water Chemistry Guidelines (primary chemistry control)
- EPRI PWR Secondary Water Chemistry Guidelines (secondary chemistry control)
- NUREG/CR-6909 (environmental fatigue in reactor water)
- ASME BPVC Section XI (in-service inspection and flaw evaluation)
- ASTM G129 (slow strain rate testing for environmentally assisted cracking)
- ISO 7539 (stress corrosion testing)
- NUREG-1801 GALL Report (generic ageing lessons learned)
- CHECWORKS
- OLI Studio
- MULTEQ
- Gamry Echem Analyst
- Abaqus
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1Anodic and cathodic reactions1.2Nernst equation and equilibrium potentials1.3High-temperature Pourbaix diagrams1.4Butler-Volmer kinetics1.5Polarisation and mixed potential1.6Passivation and oxide films1.7High-temperature reference electrodes1.8Impedance spectroscopy1.9Electrochemical noise measurement1.10Laboratory: polarisation curve in an autoclave
2.1PWR chemistry: boron and lithium2.2pH at temperature and its control2.3Dissolved hydrogen control2.4Zinc injection2.5BWR chemistry: normal water and HWC2.6Noble metals and OLNC2.7Water radiolysis2.8Impurities: chlorides, sulphates and oxygen2.9EPRI and VGB guidelines2.10Practical exercise: calculation of primary pHT
3.1All-volatile treatment (AVT)3.2Amines and their selection3.3Oxygen control3.4Corrosion products in the secondary circuit3.5Steam generator fouling3.6Chemical cleaning of steam generators3.7Condenser chemistry3.8Use of polymeric dispersants3.9Turbine condensate3.10Case study: amine optimisation in the secondary circuit
4.1General corrosion of carbon steels4.2Flow-accelerated corrosion (FAC)4.3Liquid droplet erosion-corrosion4.4Intergranular corrosion in sensitised zones4.5Pitting and crevice corrosion4.6Galvanic corrosion in dissimilar joints4.7Microbiologically influenced corrosion in auxiliary circuits4.8Boric acid corrosion4.9Fretting wear4.10Practical exercise: FAC model with the Chexal-Horowitz equation
5.1Factors: material, stress and environment5.2Initiation and growth5.3IGSCC in BWR stainless steels5.4PWSCC in Alloy 600 and 82/182 welds5.5Irradiation-assisted stress corrosion cracking5.6Chloride-induced transgranular SCC5.7Effect of cold work5.8Predictive crack growth models5.9CERT and crack growth tests5.10Laboratory: slow strain rate test
6.1Fatigue in reactor water6.2Fen factor according to NUREG/CR-69096.3Effects of temperature, oxygen and strain rate6.4Thermal stratification in lines6.5Nozzle fatigue6.6Transient monitoring6.7Cumulative usage assessment6.8Management programmes6.9Operating experience in environmental fatigue6.10Workshop: CUF calculation with the Fen factor
7.1Release of corrosion products7.2Transport and deposition7.3Cobalt activation7.4CRUD fouling7.5Management of cobalt in materials7.6Zinc injection to reduce dose7.7Chemical decontamination of systems7.8Filtration and purification7.9Experience in dose reduction7.10Case study: chemistry and dose during refuelling
8.1Zirconium corrosion in the primary circuit8.2Effect of lithium8.3Hydrogen pickup8.4CRUD and AOA8.5Nodular corrosion in BWR cladding8.6Fuel failures8.7Chemical behaviour of ATF cladding8.8Interaction between chemistry and fuel8.9Failure surveillance8.10Practical exercise: CIPS risk assessment
9.1Materials selection for compatibility9.2Alloy 690 and its welds9.3Low-carbon steels9.4Coatings and cladding9.5Compatibility in boron systems9.6Compatibility with ion exchange resins9.7Molten salts and liquid metals9.8Compatibility in supercritical water reactors9.9Compatibility testing9.10Case study: materials selection for a heat exchanger
10.1Laser and water jet peening10.2Component replacement10.3Structural weld overlays10.4Nozzle repair10.5Stress-relief heat treatments10.6Chemistry control as mitigation10.7Cathodic protection in auxiliary circuits10.8Inhibitors in auxiliary circuits10.9Effectiveness assessment10.10Workshop: PWSCC mitigation plan for a power plant
11.1Ultrasonic inspection11.2Eddy current testing of steam generators11.3Wall thickness measurement for FAC11.4Online monitoring11.5Corrosion coupons11.6In-plant chemical analysis11.7Inspection data management11.8Risk-informed inspection11.9System health indicators11.10Practical exercise: wall thickness measurement programme with CHECWORKS
12.1Identification of the corrosion problem12.2Characterisation of the system and its chemistry12.3Mechanism analysis12.4Testing or modelling12.5Remaining life assessment12.6Mitigation proposal12.7Monitoring plan12.8Conclusions of the corrosion study12.9Master's Thesis 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, making it compatible with full-time work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is CHECWORKS, OLI Studio, MULTEQ, Gamry Echem Analyst and Abaqus, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied using real procedures for autoclave corrosion testing, FAC assessment in piping and primary chemistry studies. Assessment is continuous for each module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: EPRI PWR Primary Water Chemistry Guidelines, EPRI PWR Secondary Water Chemistry Guidelines, NUREG/CR-6909, ASME BPVC Section XI, ASTM G129, ISO 7539 and NUREG-1801 GALL Report.
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
- A university degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
- An 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 CHECWORKS, OLI Studio, MULTEQ, Gamry Echem Analyst and Abaqus, 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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