Course in Destructive and Non-Destructive Testing of Materials
300-hour online course in destructive and non-destructive testing of materials. 6 modules covering ISO 6892-1 (tensile testing at room temperature), ISO 148-1 (Charpy impact test) and CIVA. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Course in Destructive and Non-Destructive Testing of Materials — studying from Ireland
Ireland has no nuclear power generation, and its nuclear engagement is centred on radiation protection, research, medical applications and international policy. The Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, now part of the Environmental Protection Agency, regulates radiation sources and monitors radiation exposure. Engineers and scientists in this area typically work in research, healthcare, environmental monitoring, decommissioning oversight and nuclear safeguards. Professional standards and expertise are coordinated through national and international bodies, with Ireland participating in European and international nuclear safety frameworks.
Fees for Ireland: €743 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Ireland
Typical roles
Questions from Ireland
Is Ireland a country with a nuclear power industry, and how is nuclear engineering professionally recognised here?
Ireland has no operating nuclear power plants, so nuclear engineering careers here are mainly in regulation, research, decommissioning oversight and international projects. The Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland is the national regulator for radiation protection. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not accredited by this or any national body, so recognition depends on employers or the relevant body.
How might employers in Ireland view this training for nuclear-related roles?
Given Ireland's limited domestic nuclear industry, relevant roles are often with regulators, research institutions or multinational employers. Those employers decide how much weight to give a private online qualification and will usually look for specific radiation protection or regulatory credentials. There is no guarantee of any role or outcome.
What should I consider about workload and language before enrolling?
The programme is fully online and taught in English, so you can study from Ireland at your own pace. Study durations are 300, 800 or 1,900 hours depending on the course, so plan your time carefully. Fees can be paid in instalments, employer sponsorship is possible, and an assigned technical tutor supports your progress.
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
Explain the fundamentals of materials characterisation.
Carry out and interpret destructive mechanical tests.
Apply metallography and failure analysis techniques.
Select the appropriate non-destructive testing method.
Interpret NDT indications against acceptance criteria.
Describe the qualification of procedures and personnel.
Develop an inspection plan for a nuclear component.
Who it's for
- Materials testing engineer who wants to specialise in Destructive and Non-Destructive Testing of Materials.
- Level 2 NDT inspector who wants to specialise in Destructive and Non-Destructive Testing of Materials.
- Failure analysis specialist who wants to specialise in Destructive and Non-Destructive Testing of Materials.
- In-service inspection engineer who wants to specialise in Destructive and Non-Destructive Testing of Materials.
- Metallographic laboratory technician who wants to specialise in Destructive and Non-Destructive Testing of Materials.
- Welding quality engineer who wants to specialise in Destructive and Non-Destructive Testing of Materials.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter nuclear power plants.
What you'll work with
- ISO 6892-1 (tensile testing at room temperature)
- ISO 148-1 (Charpy impact test)
- ISO 9712 (qualification of NDT personnel)
- ASME BPVC Section V (non-destructive examination)
- ASME BPVC Section XI (in-service inspection)
- ASTM E399 (fracture toughness KIc)
- ISO 17640 (ultrasonic testing of welded joints)
6 modules · 300 h
1.1What needs to be known about a material and which test reveals it1.2Destructive vs non-destructive testing: when each applies1.3Specimen, sampling and representativeness1.4Traceability, calibration and reference standards1.5Measurement uncertainty in mechanical testing1.6Test standards and laboratory accreditation1.7The test report: what it must contain to be valid1.8Acceptance criteria and material specification1.9Laboratory safety1.10Exercise: choosing the test battery for a specification
2.1Tensile: curve, yield strength, tensile strength and elongation2.2Brinell, Vickers and Rockwell hardness: which to use and why2.3Toughness and Charpy impact; transition temperature2.4Fatigue: S-N curves and governing factors2.5Creep and creep rupture at high temperature2.6Fracture mechanics and toughness measurement2.7Bend, flattening and drawing tests2.8Tests on welded joints2.9Effect of irradiation on mechanical properties2.10Practice: interpreting a set of tensile and impact results
3.1Sample preparation: cutting, mounting, polishing and etching3.2Optical and electron microscopy3.3Identification of phases and microstructure3.4Grain size, inclusions and defects3.5Chemical and compositional analysis3.6Fractography: learning to read the fracture surface3.7Failure mechanisms: fatigue, stress corrosion cracking and embrittlement3.8Ordered sequence of a failure investigation3.9Failure analysis report with defensible conclusions3.10Practice: analysing a real in-service fracture case
4.1Visual inspection and its scope, always underestimated4.2Liquid penetrant testing: procedure and limitations4.3Magnetic particle testing and ferromagnetic materials4.4Eddy currents and thickness measurement4.5Contact ultrasonics: probes and calibration4.6Advanced techniques: phased array and TOFD4.7Industrial radiography and digital radiography4.8Thermography and acoustic emission4.9Choosing the technique according to the defect sought4.10Practice: detecting and sizing defects in a specimen
5.1Qualification and certification of testing personnel5.2Written procedures and their approval5.3Qualification of inspection procedures5.4Inspection plans for manufacturing and in service5.5Inspection of pressure vessels and pipework5.6Remote inspection and inspection in radiation environments5.7Evaluation of indications and acceptance criteria5.8Fitness-for-service assessment5.9Recording, traceability and archiving of inspections5.10Practice: drafting an inspection procedure
6.1Choice of component and its service context6.2Material specification and applicable requirements6.3Destructive and non-destructive test plan6.4Execution and recording of tests6.5Joint interpretation of all results6.6Fitness-for-service assessment and remaining life estimation6.7Periodic inspection recommendations6.8Cost of the test plan6.9Technical report6.10Defence of the work
How you'll learn
100 % online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and a dedicated technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it possible to combine the programme with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is CIVA, Instron Bluehill, ImageJ/Fiji, UltraVision (Zetec), in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied using real procedures for tensile, hardness and Charpy testing, metallography and fractography, and ultrasonic and eddy current inspection. 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.
Explain the fundamentals of materials characterisation.
Carry out and interpret destructive mechanical tests.
Apply metallography and failure analysis techniques.
Select the appropriate non-destructive testing method.
Interpret NDT indications against acceptance criteria.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No previous degree is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient level of Spanish to follow the reading of 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 300 hours, spread over 3 to 5 months. That is between 10 and 15 hours per week on average, compatible with full-time work.
You work with CIVA, Instron Bluehill, ImageJ/Fiji, UltraVision (Zetec). Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the open-source alternative where one exists.
SEIUM's own diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the 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 are recognised in the advanced programme. Check the recognition policy when enrolling.
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