Course on Underwater Robotics in Nuclear Pools
Online course of 300 h in Underwater Robotics in Nuclear Pools. 6 modules covering IAEA SSG-15 (spent fuel storage), IEC 60529 (IP degrees of protection) and ROS 2. Dedicated tutor and enrolment open.
Course on Underwater Robotics in Nuclear Pools — 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
Describe the environment and conditions of fuel pools.
Select underwater vehicles and tools for inspection.
Design watertight, decontaminable equipment.
Evaluate the radiation resistance of cameras and electronics.
Apply foreign material exclusion procedures.
Integrate ALARA criteria into underwater interventions.
Plan a robotic inspection campaign in a pool.
Who it's for
- Underwater robotics engineer looking to specialise in Underwater Robotics in Nuclear Pools.
- Fuel pool inspection technician looking to specialise in Underwater Robotics in Nuclear Pools.
- Remote handling engineer looking to specialise in Underwater Robotics in Nuclear Pools.
- Radiation protection technician looking to specialise in Underwater Robotics in Nuclear Pools.
- Nuclear maintenance engineer looking to specialise in Underwater Robotics in Nuclear Pools.
- Nuclear robotics researcher looking to specialise in Underwater Robotics in Nuclear Pools.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to move into the nuclear industry.
What you'll work with
- IAEA SSG-15 (spent fuel storage)
- IEC 60529 (IP degrees of protection)
- IEC/IEEE 60780-323 (qualification of electrical equipment)
- ISO 17874 (remote handling devices)
- ASME NQA-1 (nuclear quality assurance)
- IAEA GSR Part 3 (radiation protection)
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Spent fuel and refuelling pools1.2Water chemistry and boration1.3Underwater dose rates1.4Visibility and turbidity1.5Foreign material exclusion (FME)1.6Racks, gates and transfer canals1.7Cleanliness requirements1.8Typical operations during refuelling1.9Lessons from Fukushima on pools1.10Case study: risk map of a fuel pool
2.1Tethered inspection ROVs2.2Bottom-crawling vehicles and adhesive tracks2.3Propulsion in confined spaces2.4Buoyancy and stability2.5Materials compatible with borated water2.6Underwater arms and tools2.7Umbilicals and cable management2.8Radiation tolerance of cameras2.9Decontamination after retrieval2.10Workshop: selecting an ROV for rack inspection
3.1USBL and LBL acoustic positioning3.2Inertial systems and DVL3.3Underwater vision and colour correction3.4Imaging and profiling sonar3.5Laser scanning for 3D measurement3.6Underwater SLAM3.7Submersible radiation detectors3.8Sensor fusion3.9In-pool calibration3.10Lab: 3D reconstruction of a rack
4.1Remote visual inspection according to ASME XI4.2Immersion ultrasonic testing4.3Eddy current testing4.4Steel liner welds4.5Liner leak detection4.6Foreign object retrieval4.7Sediment vacuuming and cleaning4.8Inspection of reactor vessel internals4.9Underwater cutting and repair4.10Practice: inspection plan for liner welds
5.1Teleoperation with video feedback5.2Position control and station keeping5.3Autonomy in repetitive tasks5.4Fault management and vehicle recovery5.5Risk of objects falling onto the fuel5.6Equipment qualification5.7Procedures and work permits5.8Human factors in remote operation5.9Regulatory requirements for pool work5.10Case study: risk analysis of a robotic intervention
6.1Defining the pool task6.2Environmental requirements6.3Platform and sensor selection6.4Navigation and control design6.5Operating procedure6.6Risk and FME analysis6.7Mock-up test plan6.8Evaluation of results6.9Report and presentation6.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable materials, recorded classes and a dedicated technical tutor. No fixed timetable: students progress at their own pace within the intake period, making it easy to combine with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standards and applied exercises. The software used is ROS 2, Gazebo, SolidWorks, Python (OpenCV), in free, academic or trial versions. Testing is studied through real procedures from remote visual inspection in fuel pools, foreign object retrieval, leak-tightness tests and decontaminability. Assessment is continuous for each module, plus a final capstone project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Describe the environment and conditions of fuel pools.
Select underwater vehicles and tools for inspection.
Design watertight, decontaminable equipment.
Evaluate the radiation resistance of cameras and electronics.
Apply foreign material exclusion procedures.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No previous qualification is required.
- An internet connection and a computer able to run the programme software.
- A level of 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 300 hours spread over 3 to 5 months. That is an average of 10 to 15 hours per week, compatible with a full-time job.
You will work with ROS 2, Gazebo, SolidWorks, Python (OpenCV). Free, academic or trial versions are used, and your tutor will point out a free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the capstone project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state-accredited degree.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Check the credit recognition policy when you enrol.
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