Postgraduate DiplomaDefense, Military Engineering & Land Systems Applications open

Diploma in Chemical Compatibility of Materials and Coolants

Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in chemical compatibility of materials and coolants. 8 modules covering coolant chemistry, high-temperature water corrosion, liquid metals, molten salts, gas cooling, polymers and chemical monitoring under EPRI guidelines and ASME BPVC Section III Division 5, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration6–8 months
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute diploma

Diploma in Chemical Compatibility of Materials and Coolants — studying from Singapore

Singapore maintains a comprehensive defence sector through the Ministry of Defence and the Defence Science and Technology Agency, which develops military technologies and manages procurement. Engineering work covers land systems, ammunition, command and control, and simulation. Industry partners include ST Engineering, which supplies defence and security systems globally. Engineers here work within strict security and export control frameworks, often combining systems integration with reliability and safety engineering.

Fees for Singapore: S$2,560 (Singapore dollar), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.

Relevant bodies in Singapore

  • Ministry of Defence (MINDEF)
  • Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA)
  • ST Engineering
  • Singapore Institute of Defence Technology Industry Association

Typical roles

  • Defence Systems Engineer
  • Land Systems Engineer
  • Military Software Engineer
  • Defence Programme Engineer

Questions from Singapore

How does defence engineering work in Singapore, and which bodies oversee it?

Singapore's defence engineering is largely centred on the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and DSTA, the defence procurement and development agency, along with the Singapore Armed Forces. Engineers may register with the Professional Engineers Board (PEB). SEIUM's qualifications are private, not state degrees, and not accredited by any national body, so recognition for defence roles depends on the employer or relevant authority.

Who employs defence and land systems engineers in Singapore?

Main employers include MINDEF, DSTA, the SAF, and defence industry companies including ST Engineering. Access to many roles requires security clearance and citizenship or residency rules, so check eligibility early. Employers focus on proven competence and clearance status. Your final project can illustrate technical capability, but it does not replace these requirements.

Is the course manageable alongside a job, and can employers fund it?

The programme is fully online and taught in English, with an assigned technical tutor. Plan for a heavy workload: 1,900 hours for a master's, 800 for a postgraduate diploma, or 300 for a specialist course. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible, which is common in defence-linked organisations, though approval is up to them.

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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Understand the chemistry of the main reactor coolants.

02

Analyse corrosion mechanisms in high-temperature water.

03

Assess the compatibility of alloys with liquid metals.

04

Evaluate materials corrosion in molten salts.

05

Select materials for gas-cooled systems.

06

Understand the degradation of polymers and fluids in a radioactive environment.

07

Design chemical testing and surveillance programmes.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Nuclear chemical engineers looking to deepen their expertise in materials–coolant compatibility.
  • Nuclear materials corrosion specialists.
  • Plant chemistry technicians at nuclear power stations.
  • Researchers working on advanced reactors.
  • Materials selection engineers.
  • Radiochemistry laboratory analysts.
  • Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter the nuclear power sector.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • EPRI PWR Primary Water Chemistry Guidelines (PWR primary coolant chemistry control)
  • EPRI BWR Water Chemistry Guidelines (BWR water chemistry control)
  • ASME BPVC Section III Division 5 (high-temperature reactor components)
  • ASTM G31 (laboratory immersion corrosion testing of metals)
  • ASTM G1 (preparing, cleaning and evaluating corrosion test specimens)
  • ASTM G111 (corrosion tests in high-temperature or high-pressure environments)
  • IEEE 383-2015 (qualification of electric cables for nuclear facilities)
  • OLI Studio
  • Thermo-Calc
  • FactSage
  • COMSOL Multiphysics
Syllabus

8 modules

  1. 1.1Light water and heavy water
  2. 1.2Water radiolysis
  3. 1.3PWR primary chemistry with boron and lithium
  4. 1.4BWR chemistry and hydrogen injection
  5. 1.5Liquid sodium
  6. 1.6Lead and lead-bismuth eutectic
  7. 1.7Molten fluoride salts
  8. 1.8Helium and its impurities
  9. 1.9Comparative thermophysical properties
  10. 1.10Practical exercise: at-temperature pH with boron and lithium
  1. 2.1Oxidation of stainless steels
  2. 2.2PWSCC in Alloy 600
  3. 2.3IGSCC in BWR reactors
  4. 2.4Flow-accelerated corrosion
  5. 2.5Corrosion products and CRUD
  6. 2.6Axial offset anomaly caused by deposits
  7. 2.7Zinc injection
  8. 2.8Dissolved hydrogen control
  9. 2.9EPRI chemistry guidelines
  10. 2.10Case study: analysis of the Mihama 3 accident
  1. 3.1Dissolution and mass transfer
  2. 3.2Oxygen control in lead
  3. 3.3Corrosion of steels in sodium
  4. 3.4Carburisation and decarburisation
  5. 3.5Liquid metal embrittlement
  6. 3.6Alumina-forming alloys
  7. 3.7Testing in circulation loops
  8. 3.8Purification with cold traps
  9. 3.9Safety in sodium handling
  10. 3.10Laboratory: corrosion data in lead
  1. 4.1FLiBe and FLiNaK chemistry
  2. 4.2Redox potential and its control
  3. 4.3Corrosion of Hastelloy N
  4. 4.4Selective chromium leaching
  5. 4.5Salt purification
  6. 4.6Graphite compatibility
  7. 4.7Lessons from the MSRE experiment
  8. 4.8Fission products in the salt
  9. 4.9Electrochemical techniques in salts
  10. 4.10Workshop: design of a salt immersion test
  1. 5.1Helium and oxidising impurities
  2. 5.2Graphite oxidation
  3. 5.3Alloys 617 and 800H
  4. 5.4Carburisation in helium
  5. 5.5CO2 in AGR reactors
  6. 5.6Creep in a helium atmosphere
  7. 5.7Helium purification systems
  8. 5.8Accidental air ingress
  9. 5.9Materials in ASME III Division 5
  10. 5.10Case study: alloy for an intermediate heat exchanger
  1. 6.1Elastomeric gaskets and seals
  2. 6.2Ion exchange resins
  3. 6.3Radiation-resistant lubricants
  4. 6.4Cable insulation
  5. 6.5Auxiliary system coolants
  6. 6.6Hydraulic oils
  7. 6.7Radiolytic degradation of polymers
  8. 6.8Cable qualification to IEEE 383
  9. 6.9Compatibility with decontamination agents
  10. 6.10Practical exercise: elastomer selection for a valve
  1. 7.1Autoclaves and test loops
  2. 7.2High-temperature reference electrodes
  3. 7.3Electrochemical corrosion potential
  4. 7.4Plant chemical sampling
  5. 7.5Corrosion coupons
  6. 7.6Impedance spectroscopy
  7. 7.7Surface analysis by XPS
  8. 7.8Online monitoring
  9. 7.9Plant chemistry specifications
  10. 7.10Case study: chemistry surveillance programme
  1. 8.1Definition of the system and coolant
  2. 8.2Identification of materials in contact
  3. 8.3Expected degradation mechanisms
  4. 8.4Review of experimental data
  5. 8.5Materials selection
  6. 8.6Compatibility test plan
  7. 8.7Chemistry control strategy
  8. 8.8Monitoring plan
  9. 8.9Report and presentation
  10. 8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

A 100% online programme 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 the intake, so it fits around your job.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is OLI Studio, Thermo-Calc, FactSage and COMSOL Multiphysics, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures for autoclave corrosion testing, molten salt immersion testing and primary circuit chemistry monitoring. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.

Standards covered: EPRI PWR Primary Water Chemistry Guidelines, EPRI BWR Water Chemistry Guidelines, ASME BPVC Section III Division 5, ASTM G31, ASTM G1, ASTM G111, IEEE 383-2015.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of the EPRI PWR and BWR water chemistry guidelines and ASME BPVC Section III Division 5 applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:OLI Studio, Thermo-Calc, FactSage and COMSOL Multiphysics, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Final project:A chemical compatibility study for a reactor system, from coolant definition to monitoring plan, reviewed by your tutor.
Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Coolant chemistry control
Calculate at-temperature pH for a PWR primary circuit with boron and lithium.
Corrosion event analysis
Analyse the Mihama 3 flow-accelerated corrosion accident and its lessons.
Molten salt test design
Design an immersion test to assess alloy corrosion in fluoride salts.
Chemistry surveillance programme
Define sampling, coupons and online monitoring for a plant chemistry programme.
Final project
A complete chemical compatibility study for a reactor system, from materials selection to chemistry control and monitoring.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Nuclear chemical engineerNuclear materials corrosion specialistPlant chemistry technicianAdvanced reactor researcherMaterials selection engineerRadiochemistry laboratory analyst
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
  • An internet connection and a computer able to run 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.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The programme totals 800 hours over 6–8 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.

You work with OLI Studio, Thermo-Calc, FactSage and COMSOL Multiphysics, 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 final project. 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 are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.

Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector (no university degree required), a computer able to run the 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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