Master’s in Nuclear for Desalination and Water Engineering (Cogeneration)
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in nuclear engineering for desalination and water (cogeneration). 12 modules covering water chemistry and pretreatment, reverse osmosis, thermal desalination, nuclear-desalination coupling, economic evaluation with DEEP, radiation protection, environmental impact and district heating, with an assigned technical tutor.
Master’s in Nuclear for Desalination and Water Engineering (Cogeneration) — 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: £8,280 (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
Analyse the water-energy nexus and the demand for desalination.
Design reverse osmosis and thermal desalination plants.
Couple nuclear power plants to desalination plants.
Assess the cost of water using IAEA tools.
Ensure the radiological safety of product water.
Assess the environmental impact of brine.
Plan district heating and cogeneration systems.
Who it's for
- Desalination engineers.
- Nuclear cogeneration engineers.
- Water treatment engineers looking to work with nuclear heat sources.
- Economic analysts of water projects.
- Environmental radiation protection specialists.
- Hydrological planners.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter the water and desalination sector.
What you'll work with
- Directive 2013/51/Euratom (radioactive substances in water intended for human consumption)
- Directive (EU) 2020/2184 (quality of water intended for human consumption)
- Directive 2000/60/EC (EU Water Framework Directive)
- IAEA SSR-2/1 (safety of nuclear power plants: design)
- ISO 24510 (assessment and improvement of drinking water services)
- IAEA Nuclear Energy Series NP-T-4.1 (nuclear desalination and non-electric applications)
- Directive 2011/92/EU (environmental impact assessment)
- DEEP (IAEA)
- WAVE (DuPont)
- EES
- CORMIX
- Aspen Plus
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1The water-energy nexus1.2Global and regional water scarcity1.3Demand for desalinated water1.4Energy consumption of desalination1.5Nuclear desalination: historical experience1.6Aktau, Ikata and Kalpakkam1.7The IAEA nuclear desalination programme1.8Sustainable Development Goals1.9Hydrological planning1.10Case study: water balance of a coastal region
2.1Seawater composition2.2Salinity and dissolved solids2.3Fouling and scaling2.4SDI and LSI indices2.5Coagulation and flocculation2.6Multimedia filtration2.7Ultrafiltration2.8Chemical dosing2.9Biological control2.10Lab: calculation of scaling indices
3.1Principles of reverse osmosis3.2Polyamide membranes3.3Rack and stage configuration3.4Energy recovery3.5Design with manufacturers' software3.6Membrane cleaning3.7Post-treatment and remineralisation3.8Specific energy consumption3.9Brine management3.10Practical: plant design with WAVE
4.1Multi-stage flash distillation (MSF)4.2Multi-effect distillation (MED)4.3Thermal vapour compression (TVC)4.4Mechanical vapour compression4.5Performance ratio4.6Materials and corrosion4.7Use of waste heat4.8Hybrid processes4.9Technology comparison4.10Lab: balance of an MED plant in EES
5.1Heat sources in nuclear power plants5.2Steam extraction and its penalty5.3Use of condenser heat5.4Intermediate isolation loops5.5Prevention of radioactive contamination5.6Cogeneration configurations5.7SMRs for desalination5.8Transients and joint operation5.9Cogeneration optimisation5.10Practical: electrical penalty from steam extraction
6.1The IAEA DEEP programme6.2Cost of produced water6.3Capital and operating costs6.4Cost allocation in cogeneration6.5Sensitivity analysis6.6Comparison with fossil and renewable desalination6.7Project financing6.8Water tariffs6.9Project risk6.10Lab: economic evaluation with DEEP
7.1Barriers against water contamination7.2Radiological monitoring of product water7.3Radioactivity limits in drinking water7.4Directive 2013/51/Euratom7.5Safety analysis of the interface7.6Joint siting7.7Emergency plans7.8Communication with the public7.9Social acceptance7.10Case study: radiological surveillance programme for water
8.1Brine management and discharge8.2Brine dispersion modelling8.3Water intake and marine fauna8.4Combined thermal impact8.5Avoided emissions8.6Environmental impact assessment8.7The Water Framework Directive8.8Brine reuse8.9Environmental indicators8.10Practical: brine plume modelling with CORMIX
9.1Nuclear district heating9.2Experience in Switzerland, China and Finland9.3Heat distribution networks9.4Seasonal storage9.5District cooling9.6Agricultural uses9.7Wastewater treatment9.8Cogeneration and trigeneration9.9Urban planning9.10Workshop: sizing a heat network
10.1Storage and pumping10.2Distribution networks10.3Drinking water quality10.4Directive (EU) 2020/2184 on drinking water10.5Demand management10.6Integration into water systems10.7Drought management10.8Operators and governance10.9Service indicators10.10Case study: integrating desalinated water into a network
11.1Regulatory framework for nuclear cogeneration11.2Water governance11.3International cooperation11.4Projects in the Middle East and North Africa11.5National strategies11.6Multilateral financing11.7Project management11.8Lessons learned11.9Future trends11.10Practical: analysis of an international project
12.1Definition of the regional case12.2Water demand analysis12.3Selection of desalination technology12.4Coupling design12.5Economic evaluation12.6Environmental and radiological analysis12.7Implementation proposal12.8Conclusions12.9Master's Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
How you'll learn
100% online training 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 you can combine it with your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standards and applied exercises. The working software is DEEP (IAEA), WAVE (DuPont), EES, CORMIX and Aspen Plus, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Exercises are based on real procedures for designing reverse osmosis plants, economic evaluation of water-energy cogeneration, and brine dispersion modelling. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: Directive 2013/51/Euratom, Directive (EU) 2020/2184 on drinking water, Directive 2000/60/EC (Water Framework Directive), IAEA SSR-2/1, ISO 24510, IAEA Nuclear Energy Series NP-T-4.1, Directive 2011/92/EU.
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
- University degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
- 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 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with DEEP (IAEA), WAVE (DuPont), EES, CORMIX and Aspen Plus, 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 Master's Thesis. 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 in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
A university degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), a computer able to run the programme 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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