Course in Recycling of Irradiated Metals
Online 300-hour course in recycling of irradiated metals. 6 modules covering IAEA RS-G-1.7 (exclusion, exemption and clearance), Directive 2013/59/Euratom, Annex VII (clearance levels) and ISOCS/LabSOCS (gamma spectrometry). Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Course in Recycling of Irradiated Metals — studying from the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom has a long history in nuclear engineering and maintains a substantial sector spanning reactor operation, decommissioning, fuel cycle and new build projects. Sites at Sellafield, Hinkley Point, Dounreay and Harwell host work on fuel cycle, waste management and advanced reactor technology. Organisations such as the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, EDF, Rolls-Royce SMR and Urenco UK employ engineers in design, safety and operations. Nuclear activities are overseen by the Office for Nuclear Regulation, which sets strict safety and security requirements.
Fees for the United Kingdom: £664 (Pound sterling), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in the United Kingdom
Typical roles
Questions from the United Kingdom
Which UK regulators and bodies govern nuclear engineering, and how do they treat private training?
The Office for Nuclear Regulation regulates nuclear safety in the UK, and the Nuclear Institute is the main professional body. Competence requirements for licensed sites are set by the operator and regulator. SEIUM's qualifications are private, not state degrees, and not accredited by any national body, so they carry no regulatory standing and recognition is at the discretion of employers and the Nuclear Institute.
Do UK nuclear operators and fuel cycle employers hire people with private online qualifications?
UK nuclear employers typically require security clearance, specific competence assessments and qualifications recognised within the industry. A private online qualification may add to your profile but is unlikely to replace formal requirements. Employers decide its value, so check the entry criteria for roles you want before investing in the programme.
How intensive is the programme, and can I fund it through employer sponsorship in the UK?
Specialist courses take 300 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and master's programmes 1,900 hours, all online in English with an assigned technical tutor. Fees can be paid in instalments. Employer sponsorship is possible, and many UK nuclear employers run their own training schemes, so ask whether your employer would fund this specifically.
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
Identify the metals present in a nuclear facility and their radiological origin.
Apply characterisation techniques to determine the activity of metallic materials.
Compare decontamination techniques according to effectiveness and secondary waste.
Describe the melting and recovery processes for irradiated metals.
Interpret the criteria for clearance and reuse of materials.
Assess risks, public acceptance and the market for recycled metal.
Develop a recycling project for metals arising from a decommissioning.
Who it's for
- Radiological characterisation technician wishing to specialise in recycling of irradiated metals.
- Decommissioning materials management engineer wishing to specialise in recycling of irradiated metals.
- Decontamination specialist wishing to specialise in recycling of irradiated metals.
- Materials clearance technician wishing to specialise in recycling of irradiated metals.
- Radiological surveillance manager in steelworks wishing to specialise in recycling of irradiated metals.
- Nuclear circular economy consultant wishing to specialise in recycling of irradiated metals.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter nuclear decommissioning.
What you'll work with
- IAEA RS-G-1.7 (exclusion, exemption and clearance)
- Directive 2013/59/Euratom, Annex VII (clearance levels)
- UNECE specification on radiological monitoring of scrap metal
- Spanish collaboration protocol on radiological monitoring of metallic materials
- ISO 7503 (measurement of surface contamination)
- Regulation (EU) 333/2011 (end-of-waste criteria for scrap)
- Royal Decree 1029/2022 (protection against ionising radiation)
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Origin of irradiated and contaminated metals1.2Carbon steels, stainless steels and special alloys1.3Neutron activation and radionuclides generated1.4Surface contamination versus volumetric activation1.5Volumes involved in a decommissioning1.6Economic value of recoverable material1.7Regulatory framework for clearance1.8Exemption levels applicable to metals1.9Options: free release, restricted recycling or waste1.10Exercise: classifying a batch of metal
2.1Irradiation history and activation calculation2.2Representative sampling of a batch2.3Surface contamination measurement2.4Volumetric measurement and measurement chambers2.5Difficult-to-measure isotopes and correlation keys2.6Heterogeneity and accumulation zones2.7Specific activity and its comparison with criteria2.8Uncertainty and decision margins2.9Documentation of the characterised batch2.10Practical: defending the clearance of a batch
3.1Mechanical cleaning: blasting and brushing3.2Chemical and electrochemical baths3.3Pickling and passivation3.4Ultrasonics and gel cleaning3.5Removal of activated oxide layers3.6Management of secondary waste generated3.7Effectiveness and decontamination factors3.8Limits of decontamination in activation3.9Cost versus benefit of decontamination3.10Practical: choosing the route for three components
4.1Melting as a technique for homogenisation and measurement4.2Behaviour of radionuclides during melting4.3Partitioning between metal, slag and fumes4.4Authorised melting facilities4.5Emissions and filter control4.6Ingots and their characterisation4.7Restricted recycling within the sector4.8Free release onto the general market4.9Traceability of recovered material4.10Practical: activity balance in a melt
5.1Risk of active material entering the steel industry5.2Detection portals at recycling plants5.3Response to an alarm at a steelworks5.4Historical cases of product contamination5.5Public perception of recycled metal5.6Position of the metallurgical industry5.7Chain of liability and insurance5.8Auditing the clearance process5.9Communication and transparency5.10Practical: response protocol at a steelworks
6.1Selecting the metal inventory of a decommissioning6.2Batch characterisation plan6.3Selection of decontamination routes6.4Design of the melting and verification process6.5Clearance criteria and dossier6.6Management of secondary waste6.7Economic analysis of recovery6.8Quality and audit plan6.9Technical report6.10Defence of the project
How you'll learn
Fully 100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded lectures and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: 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 ISOCS/LabSOCS (gamma spectrometry), RESRAD-RECYCLE, MicroShield, advanced Excel, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Case studies are based on real radiological characterisation procedures for metal components, chemical and mechanical decontamination studies, and analysis of controlled melting processes. 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.
Identify the metals present in a nuclear facility and their radiological origin.
Apply characterisation techniques to determine the activity of metallic materials.
Compare decontamination techniques according to effectiveness and secondary waste.
Describe the melting and recovery processes for irradiated metals.
Interpret the criteria for clearance and reuse of materials.
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 technical regulatory texts.
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. This amounts to an average of 10 to 15 hours per week, compatible with a full-time job.
You work with ISOCS/LabSOCS (gamma spectrometry), RESRAD-RECYCLE, MicroShield, advanced Excel. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates a free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrative project. This is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area count towards the higher-level programme. Check the credit recognition policy when you enrol.
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