Diploma in Radioactive Waste Classification
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in radioactive waste classification, structured in 8 modules covering the nature of radioactive waste, the IAEA classification scheme, national systems, waste characterisation, acceptance criteria, clearance and classification-based management, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in Radioactive Waste Classification — 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: £746 (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
Understand the origin and properties of radioactive waste.
Apply the IAEA classification scheme.
Understand national classification systems.
Characterise waste using destructive and non-destructive methods.
Verify compliance with waste acceptance criteria.
Apply clearance criteria.
Propose management routes based on classification.
Who it's for
- Waste characterisation technicians
- Radioactive waste management technicians
- Radiation protection specialists
- Radiochemistry laboratory technicians
- Waste package quality inspectors
- Nuclear consultants
- Engineering or science graduates looking to move into radioactive waste management
What you'll work with
- IAEA GSG-1 (classification of radioactive waste)
- IAEA GSR Part 5 (predisposal management of radioactive waste)
- Directive 2011/70/Euratom (EU framework for spent fuel and radioactive waste management)
- Royal Decree 102/2014 (Spanish regulation on spent fuel and radioactive waste management)
- Order ECO/1449/2003 (Spanish clearance of solid materials with low radioactive content)
- ISO 21238 (scaling factor method for waste package activity)
- IAEA RS-G-1.7 (concepts of exclusion, exemption and clearance)
- Directive 2013/59/Euratom (EU basic safety standards for radiation protection)
- ISOCS/LabSOCS
- MicroShield
- Genie 2000
- Microsoft Excel
8 modules
1.1Definition of radioactive waste1.2Radionuclides and half-lives1.3Activity and activity concentration1.4Heat generation1.5Sources of waste1.6Nuclear fuel cycle waste1.7Waste from medical and industrial applications1.8Decommissioning waste1.9National waste inventory1.10Case study: inventory of a nuclear power plant
2.1IAEA Guide GSG-12.2Exempt waste category2.3Very short-lived waste2.4Very low-level waste2.5Low-level waste2.6Intermediate-level waste2.7High-level waste2.8Relationship with disposal options2.9Limitations of the scheme2.10Practical exercise: classifying waste streams
3.1Spanish classification: LILW (RBMA), VLLW (RBBA) and HLW (RAA)3.2Criteria of the national waste management company3.3The El Cabril facility3.4Classification in France3.5Classification in the United Kingdom3.6Classification in the United States3.7International comparison of schemes3.8European harmonisation of criteria3.9National waste inventories3.10Workshop: comparison of classification schemes
4.1Characterisation objectives4.2Destructive analysis methods4.3Non-destructive methods4.4Gamma spectrometry of waste packages4.5Measurement of alpha emitters4.6Difficult-to-measure radionuclides4.7Scaling factors4.8Representative sampling design4.9Characterisation uncertainty4.10Laboratory: scaling factors for waste
5.1The concept of waste acceptance criteria5.2Activity limits per radionuclide5.3Physical and chemical requirements5.4Package requirements5.5Package documentation5.6Quality control5.7Compliance verification5.8Management of non-conformities5.9Management of legacy packages5.10Practical exercise: verifying a package against acceptance criteria
6.1The concept of clearance6.2Clearance levels6.3Ministerial order on clearance6.4Measurement for clearance6.5Clearance of metallic materials6.6Construction materials6.7Management of NORM materials6.8Recycling of cleared materials6.9Records and control6.10Case study: clearance of metal scrap
7.1Treatment of low-level waste7.2Cement conditioning7.3Compaction and supercompaction7.4Waste incineration7.5Vitrification of high-level waste7.6Interim storage of packages7.7Disposal options7.8Waste information systems7.9Management optimisation7.10Workshop: management route for a waste stream
8.1Selection of the facility8.2Identification of waste streams8.3Waste characterisation8.4Application of the classification8.5Applicable acceptance criteria8.6Management proposal8.7Conclusions of the analysis8.8Management recommendations8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
The programme is delivered 100% online 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, so it fits alongside your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standards and applied exercises. You work with ISOCS/LabSOCS, MicroShield, Genie 2000 and Microsoft Excel in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures for gamma spectrometry of packages, scaling factor calculation and verification against acceptance criteria. Assessment is continuous by module, plus a final capstone project.
Standards covered: IAEA GSG-1, IAEA GSR Part 5, Council Directive 2011/70/Euratom, Royal Decree 102/2014, Order ECO/1449/2003 on clearance, ISO 21238, IAEA RS-G-1.7, Council Directive 2013/59/Euratom.
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. No university degree is required.
- 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 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 ISOCS/LabSOCS, MicroShield, Genie 2000 and Microsoft Excel, 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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