Diploma in CFD Applied to Nuclear Thermal-Hydraulics
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in CFD applied to nuclear thermal-hydraulics. 8 modules covering reactor thermal-hydraulics, numerical methods, turbulence modelling, two-phase flow, component applications, multiscale coupling and verification, validation and uncertainty, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in CFD Applied to Nuclear Thermal-Hydraulics — studying from the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom maintains a substantial defence industry, with prime contractors such as BAE Systems and Babcock, and a wide supply chain across the Midlands, the North West, Bristol and Scotland. Land systems, armoured vehicles, munitions and military engineering programmes provide long-term employment for engineers in design, integration, test and sustainment. The Ministry of Defence, Defence Equipment and Support and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory oversee procurement and research. Security clearance requirements shape recruitment, and professional standards are maintained through UK defence engineering frameworks.
Fees for the United Kingdom: £1,490 (Pound sterling), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in the United Kingdom
Typical roles
Questions from the United Kingdom
Which UK bodies and regulators are relevant to defence and military land systems engineering?
In the UK, the Ministry of Defence sets its own engineering standards and the Engineering Council regulates professional registration. Professional bodies such as the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) and the Royal Engineers' professional structures are relevant. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not accredited by these bodies, so recognition for security-cleared or MOD roles is decided by the employer and the relevant authority.
Will a private qualification help with UK defence industry careers?
UK defence employers, including primes and suppliers, often prioritise security clearance eligibility, relevant experience and formal qualifications recognised by the MOD or industry bodies. A private qualification may support your profile but is unlikely to replace these requirements. Ask prospective employers how they would assess it before enrolling.
Is it practical to study this online while working in the UK, and what about language and funding?
Online study means you can continue working in the UK, and no student visa is needed to study from home. Teaching is in English, so good technical English is essential. Fees can be paid in instalments, and some employers offer training sponsorship, though policies vary. Each programme has a fixed number of hours and an assigned technical tutor. Confirm the workload and costs before enrolling.
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 thermal-hydraulic phenomena that require three-dimensional analysis.
Apply finite volume numerical methods to nuclear problems.
Select turbulence models suited to each application.
Model two-phase flows with boiling and condensation.
Simulate reactor components with CFD tools.
Verify, validate and quantify the uncertainty of simulations.
Develop a nuclear CFD simulation project.
Who it's for
- Nuclear CFD engineers.
- Thermal-hydraulics analysts.
- Nuclear safety engineers.
- Fluid mechanics researchers.
- Simulation and analysis engineers.
- Licensing consultants.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter the nuclear energy sector.
What you'll work with
- ASME V&V 20-2009 (verification and validation in CFD and heat transfer)
- NEA/CSNI/R(2014)11 (best practice guidelines for CFD in nuclear reactor safety)
- IAEA SSG-2 (Rev. 1) (deterministic safety analysis for nuclear power plants)
- ASME NQA-1 (quality assurance for nuclear facilities)
- IAEA SSR-2/1 (Rev. 1) (safety of nuclear power plants: design)
- 10 CFR 50.46 (ECCS acceptance criteria)
- ANSYS Fluent
- Simcenter STAR-CCM+
- OpenFOAM
- code_saturne
8 modules
1.1Heat generation and removal in the core1.2Single-phase and two-phase flow1.3Nucleate boiling and boiling crisis1.4PWR and BWR primary circuits1.5Natural circulation1.6Relevant three-dimensional phenomena1.7Limitations of system codes1.8The role of CFD in nuclear safety1.9NEA best practice guidelines1.10Case study: identifying phenomena for CFD
2.1Navier-Stokes equations2.2Finite volume method2.3Discretisation schemes2.4Pressure-velocity coupling2.5Boundary conditions2.6Structured and unstructured meshing2.7Mesh quality2.8Convergence criteria2.9Parallel computing2.10Lab: first case in OpenFOAM
3.1RANS k-epsilon and k-omega SST models3.2Reynolds stress models3.3LES and DES3.4Near-wall treatment3.5Turbulent heat transfer3.6Turbulent Prandtl number3.7Buoyancy-driven flows3.8Thermal mixing3.9Model selection criteria3.10Exercise: thermal mixing in a T-junction
4.1Mixture models4.2Euler-Euler approach4.3Interface tracking with VOF4.4Wall boiling with the RPI model4.5Condensation4.6Interfacial transfer4.7Void fraction distribution4.8Validation with the PSBT benchmark4.9Current limitations4.10Workshop: subcooled boiling in a channel
5.1Rod bundles and mixing grids5.2Mixing in the lower plenum5.3Thermal fatigue in T-junctions5.4Thermal stratification5.5Boron dilution5.6Pressurised thermal shock5.7Spent fuel pools5.8Hydrogen distribution in containment5.9Steam generators5.10Case study: mixing in the inlet nozzle
6.1Coupling with system codes6.2Coupling with neutronics6.3Fluid-structure interaction6.4Subchannel codes and CFD6.5Conjugate heat transfer6.6Inter-code communication with MPI6.7Validation of couplings6.8Computational cost6.9International coupling projects6.10Lab: conjugate heat transfer calculation
7.1NEA/CSNI best practices7.2ASME V&V 20 standard7.3Mesh independence7.4Grid Convergence Index (GCI)7.5OECD/NEA benchmarks7.6Uncertainty quantification7.7Documentation for licensing7.8Software quality assurance7.9Peer review7.10Exercise: GCI study of a case
8.1Selection of the phenomenon to study8.2Review of experimental data8.3Geometry and meshing8.4Selected physical models8.5Simulations and analysis8.6Verification and validation8.7Uncertainty of results8.8Conclusions8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training on SEIUM's 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 ANSYS Fluent, Simcenter STAR-CCM+, OpenFOAM and code_saturne, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: thermal mixing simulations in T-junctions, mesh independence studies and validation against OECD/NEA benchmarks. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: ASME V&V 20-2009, NEA/CSNI/R(2014)11, IAEA SSG-2 (Rev. 1), ASME NQA-1, IAEA SSR-2/1 (Rev. 1) and 10 CFR 50.46.
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
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. A university degree is not required.
- 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.
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 ANSYS Fluent, Simcenter STAR-CCM+, OpenFOAM and code_saturne, 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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