Master’s in Nuclear Instrumentation & Control (I&C) and Digitalisation Engineering
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in nuclear instrumentation & control (I&C) engineering and digitalisation. 12 modules covering I&C architecture, nuclear instrumentation, reactor control and protection, digital safety platforms, safety software, control rooms, cybersecurity and modernisation, with IEC 61513, IEC 60880 and MATLAB/Simulink, with an assigned technical tutor.
Master’s in Nuclear Instrumentation & Control (I&C) and Digitalisation Engineering — studying from New Zealand
New Zealand has no nuclear power generation, and its nuclear-related activity is limited to research, isotope applications and the regulation of imported radioactive materials. The country maintains a firm policy position against nuclear power under the New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone, Disarmament and Arms Control Act 1987. Relevant professional roles mainly involve radiation protection, medical and industrial applications, and international safeguards cooperation, overseen by the Ministry for the Environment and the Ministry of Health.
Fees for New Zealand: NZ$19,700 (New Zealand dollar), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in New Zealand
Typical roles
Questions from New Zealand
Does New Zealand have nuclear engineering registration or recognition?
New Zealand has no domestic nuclear power industry, and its nuclear-related activity is regulated mainly through the Ministry of Health and the Ministry for the Environment under the Radiation Protection framework. Engineering New Zealand is the general professional body. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not accredited by any national body, so their recognition is for employers to decide.
Where could nuclear-related engineering skills be used in New Zealand?
Relevant work in New Zealand is limited and mostly found in research, radiation safety, medical physics, and the handling of radioactive materials in industry and health. Employers in these areas generally require specific accredited training and licensing. A private qualification alone is unlikely to satisfy those requirements.
Can I study this from New Zealand without relocating?
Yes. The course is fully online and taught in English, so you can study from New Zealand and no student visa is needed. Specialist courses total 300 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and master's programmes 1,900 hours, with an assigned technical tutor. Fees can be paid in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible.
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
Understand the I&C architecture of nuclear power plants.
Select nuclear instrumentation and assess its uncertainty.
Design reactor control and protection systems.
Apply safety software standards to digital platforms.
Integrate human factors engineering into the control room.
Implement cybersecurity measures in I&C systems.
Plan modernisation and digitalisation projects.
Who it's for
- Nuclear instrumentation and control engineers looking to deepen their knowledge of digital I&C and plant digitalisation.
- Safety software engineers moving into the nuclear sector.
- Industrial cybersecurity specialists who protect or will protect nuclear I&C systems.
- Human factors engineers working on control room design and validation.
- Equipment qualification engineers.
- I&C modernisation engineers involved in replacement and upgrade projects.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter the nuclear power industry.
What you'll work with
- IEC 61513 (I&C systems important to safety in nuclear power plants)
- IEC 60880 (software for Category A safety functions)
- IEEE 603 (criteria for safety systems)
- IEC 62138 (software for Category B and C functions)
- IEC 62645 (cybersecurity for nuclear I&C systems)
- IEEE 7-4.3.2 (digital computers in safety systems)
- Regulatory Guide 1.97 (post-accident instrumentation)
- NUREG-0711 (human factors engineering programme review)
- MATLAB/Simulink
- LabVIEW
- SCADE Suite
- Wireshark
- Python
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1Levels of the I&C architecture1.2Reactor protection system1.3Engineered safety features actuation system1.4Plant control systems1.5Information and monitoring systems1.6Safety classification of I&C functions1.7Independence and separation1.8Diversity and defence in depth1.9Analogue and digital architectures1.10Case study: I&C architecture of an EPR design
2.1Ex-core neutron detectors2.2Ionisation chambers and proportional counters2.3Self-powered in-core detectors2.4Core-exit thermocouples2.5Reactor vessel level measurement2.6Flow and pressure measurement2.7Process radiation monitors2.8Post-accident instrumentation RG 1.972.9Channel calibration and uncertainty2.10Laboratory: uncertainty calculation for a trip channel
3.1Control rod control3.2Average temperature control3.3Pressuriser control3.4Steam generator level control3.5Turbine and bypass control3.6Power control in BWRs3.7PID loops and tuning3.8Coordinated plant control3.9Loop stability analysis3.10Practical exercise: tuning the steam generator level control
4.1Trip functions4.22-out-of-4 voting logic4.3Setpoints and safety limits4.4Response times4.5Online periodic testing4.6Bypasses and channels under test4.7Engineered safety features actuation systems4.8Diverse actuation systems4.9IEEE 603 criteria4.10Workshop: high neutron flux trip logic
5.1Qualified platforms: TELEPERM XS and Common Q5.2FPGA platforms for safety5.3Redundant divisional architectures5.4Inter-divisional communications5.5Self-diagnostics and fault detection5.6Software common-cause failure5.7Diversity analysis BTP 7-195.8Environmental and seismic qualification5.9Electromagnetic compatibility of digital equipment5.10Case study: digital common-cause failure analysis
6.1IEC 60880 software life cycle6.2Category B and C software according to IEC 621386.3Requirements and traceability6.4Independent verification and validation6.5Formal specification methods6.6Software testing and coverage6.7Software configuration management6.8Qualification of development tools6.9Commercial-grade software dedication6.10Practical exercise: requirements traceability matrix
7.1Human factors engineering NUREG-07117.2Control room design7.3Displays and alarms7.4Computerised operating procedures7.5Remote shutdown panel7.6Hybrid control room7.7Integrated system validation7.8Workload and situational awareness7.9Alarm design according to IEC 622417.10Workshop: evaluation of a monitoring display
8.1Threats to I&C systems8.2NSS 33-T guide and IAEA documents8.310 CFR 73.54 and RG 5.718.4IEC 62645 and 630968.5Security levels and zones8.6Defence-in-depth architecture8.7Data diodes and isolation8.8Vulnerability management8.9Incident response8.10Case study: network zoning of a power plant
9.1Drivers and obsolescence9.2Replacement strategies9.3Licensing of modernisations9.4Implementation planning9.5Factory acceptance testing9.6Integration with existing systems9.7International experience in I&C modernisation9.8Project risk management9.9Operator training9.10Practical exercise: migration plan for a control system
10.1Online sensor monitoring10.2Instrument drift detection10.3Machine learning in the plant10.4I&C digital twins10.5Wireless sensor networks in the plant10.6Predictive equipment maintenance10.7In-plant data architectures10.8Artificial intelligence and regulatory requirements10.9Cybersecurity of analytics10.10Laboratory: anomaly detection in process signals
11.1Environmental qualification IEEE 32311.2Seismic qualification IEEE 34411.3Ageing of electronic equipment11.4EMC testing11.5Integration testing11.6Closed-loop simulation11.7Commissioning tests11.8Qualification documentation11.9Supplier audits11.10Case study: qualification programme for a transmitter
12.1Definition of the target I&C system12.2Functional requirements analysis12.3Architecture proposal12.4Safety and diversity analysis12.5Verification and validation plan12.6Cybersecurity assessment12.7Implementation and licensing plan12.8Conclusions and roadmap12.9Master'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 MATLAB/Simulink, LabVIEW, SCADE Suite, Wireshark and Python, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied using real procedures for protection logic design, cybersecurity assessment of an I&C network and safety software verification. Assessment is continuous for each module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: IEC 61513, IEC 60880, IEEE 603, IEC 62138, IEC 62645, IEEE 7-4.3.2, Regulatory Guide 1.97 and NUREG-0711.
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 MATLAB/Simulink, LabVIEW, SCADE Suite, Wireshark and Python, 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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