Course in Deep Geological Disposal (AGP)
300-hour online course in Deep Geological Disposal (AGP). 6 modules aligned with IAEA SSR-5 (disposal of radioactive waste), IAEA SSG-23 (safety case and safety assessment) and COMSOL Multiphysics. Dedicated tutor and open enrolment.
Course in Deep Geological Disposal (AGP) — studying from India
India's nuclear programme is state-led and centred on the Department of Atomic Energy, with operations managed by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India and research carried out at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre. Reactor sites are located at places such as Tarapur, Kakrapar, Kudankulam and Rawatbhata. Regulation is handled by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, which sets safety standards for reactors and fuel facilities. Engineers in this field work on reactor systems, fuel cycle technologies, radiation safety and materials, with expertise supported by institutions such as the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research.
Fees for India: ₹47,500 (Indian Rupee), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in India
Typical roles
Questions from India
Who regulates nuclear engineering work in India and does this course satisfy them?
The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) regulates nuclear safety in India, and the Department of Atomic Energy runs the sector. SEIUM's qualification is private, not an official degree, and is not accredited by any national body. It does not satisfy any regulatory requirement, and AERB or the employer will decide what qualifications they require.
Which Indian employers work in nuclear engineering and the fuel cycle?
Public sector nuclear organisations and their associated industries are the main employers, and entry normally follows government recruitment and vetting processes. Private employers in the sector also exist. Because hiring is tightly controlled, a private online qualification is unlikely to be the deciding factor, and recognition depends on the employer.
Is this programme workable with a job in India, and how is it funded?
The programme is online and taught in English, so you can study from home across India without a student visa. Each student is assigned a technical tutor and completes a final project. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible, which is often the practical route for working engineers.
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 multi-barrier concept of deep geological disposal.
Evaluate candidate geological formations and their properties.
Describe the design of containers, engineered barriers and galleries.
Model the thermo-hydro-mechanical and chemical evolution of the system.
Simulate radionuclide transport towards the biosphere.
Structure a safety case in line with IAEA guidance.
Analyse the licensing process and public participation.
Who it's for
- Geological repository engineer looking to specialise in Deep Geological Disposal (AGP).
- Site hydrogeologist looking to specialise in Deep Geological Disposal (AGP).
- Long-term safety assessment specialist looking to specialise in Deep Geological Disposal (AGP).
- Characterisation geologist looking to specialise in Deep Geological Disposal (AGP).
- Licensing technician looking to specialise in Deep Geological Disposal (AGP).
- Radionuclide transport modeller looking to specialise in Deep Geological Disposal (AGP).
- Graduates in engineering or sciences looking to enter radioactive waste management.
What you'll work with
- IAEA SSR-5 (disposal of radioactive waste)
- IAEA SSG-23 (safety case and safety assessment)
- Directive 2011/70/Euratom (management of spent fuel and radioactive waste)
- IAEA SSG-14 (geological storage facilities)
- IAEA GSR Part 4 (safety assessment of facilities)
- 10 CFR Part 63 (geological repository, USA)
- ICRP Publication 122 (radiological protection in geological disposal)
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Objective: isolate the waste over geological timescales1.2Waste destined for this solution1.3Multi-barrier principle and redundancy1.4Engineered barrier and geological barrier1.5Reversibility and retrievability of fuel1.6Regulatory framework and licensing requirements1.7National programmes under way1.8Stages: investigation, construction, operation and closure1.9Time horizon and project scale1.10Exercise: compare two national concepts
2.1Candidate formations: granite, clay and salt2.2Relevant hydrogeological properties2.3Permeability, porosity and diffusion2.4Groundwater chemistry and redox potential2.5Tectonic stability and seismicity2.6Glaciations and future climate change2.7Investigation techniques: boreholes and geophysics2.8Underground research laboratories2.9Site geological model2.10Practice: assess the suitability of a formation
3.1Layout of galleries and disposal cells3.2Waste canisters: materials and thicknesses3.3Canister corrosion and expected lifetime3.4Bentonite as backfill and its functions3.5Swelling, saturation and thermal conductivity3.6Sealing of galleries, shafts and boreholes3.7Heat management and spacing between cells3.8Construction and its effect on the rock3.9Quality control of barrier installation3.10Practice: size the spacing between cells
4.1Thermal, saturation and steady-state phases4.2Canister degradation and escape pathways4.3Dissolution of the waste matrix4.4Speciation and solubility of radionuclides4.5Sorption and retardation in bentonite and rock4.6Transport by diffusion and advection4.7Fractures and preferential pathways4.8Gas generation and its migration4.9Coupled thermal, hydraulic, mechanical and chemical processes4.10Practice: calculate the retardation of a radionuclide
5.1Structure of a safety case5.2Expected and altered evolution scenarios5.3Human intrusion and its treatment5.4Assessment models and their verification5.5Dose calculation and comparison with criteria5.6Treatment of uncertainty and robustness5.7Independent review and peer evaluation5.8Public participation in licensing5.9Monitoring during operation and after closure5.10Practice: build the safety argument for a barrier
6.1Choice of inventory and geological formation6.2Simplified geological model6.3Conceptual facility design6.4Engineered barrier design6.5Analysis of system evolution6.6Scenarios and dose assessment6.7Uncertainty analysis6.8Monitoring and closure plan6.9Safety case report6.10Project defence
How you'll learn
Fully online 100 % training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and a dedicated technical tutor. No fixed timetable: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it possible to combine study with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is COMSOL Multiphysics, PFLOTRAN, GoldSim, TOUGH3, Leapfrog Geo, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied using real procedures for hydrogeological site characterisation, radionuclide transport modelling and analysis of long-term evolution scenarios. Assessment is continuous per module plus the final integrating project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Explain the multi-barrier concept of deep geological disposal.
Evaluate candidate geological formations and their properties.
Describe the design of containers, engineered barriers and galleries.
Model the thermo-hydro-mechanical and chemical evolution of the system.
Simulate radionuclide transport towards the biosphere.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior degree required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient level of Spanish to follow technical regulatory reading.
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 consists of 300 hours in total, spread over 3 to 5 months. That is between 10 and 15 hours per week on average, compatible with a full-time job.
You will work with COMSOL Multiphysics, PFLOTRAN, GoldSim, TOUGH3, Leapfrog Geo. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor will indicate the open-source alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM own diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrating 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 higher programme. Check the recognition policy when you enrol.
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