Diploma in International Environmental Radiation Protection Regulation
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in international environmental radiation protection regulation. 8 modules covering the system of radiological protection, protection of the environment and biota, IAEA standards, the European Euratom framework, Spanish regulation, emergency and existing exposure situations and international cooperation, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in International Environmental Radiation Protection Regulation — studying from South Africa
South Africa is one of the few African countries with an operating nuclear power programme, centred on the Koeberg power station near Cape Town, operated by Eskom. The country also has nuclear research and fuel cycle activity through the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation, known as Necsa, based at Pelindaba near Pretoria. Nuclear engineers work on reactor operation, safety, fuel management and decommissioning. The National Nuclear Regulator is the independent authority that licenses and oversees nuclear activities.
Fees for South Africa: R 27 900 (South African rand), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in South Africa
Typical roles
Questions from South Africa
Will a SEIUM qualification be recognised by the professional bodies in South Africa for this area?
SEIUM qualifications are private and not accredited by any South African body, so they are not official state degrees. Nuclear activities in South Africa are regulated by the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR), and professional registration runs through ECSA. Acceptance of a private qualification in this regulated field rests with employers or the relevant authority, so verify before enrolling.
How might this qualification be used by employers in South Africa in nuclear engineering?
Nuclear employers, including Eskom and specialist contractors, typically require formally recognised qualifications, security clearances and regulatory competence. A private SEIUM qualification may add background knowledge but is unlikely to meet formal requirements on its own. Discuss this with employers in the nuclear sector to understand how they would view it.
Can I study this programme alongside full-time work from South Africa, and is there a time zone or language issue?
The programme is fully online and taught in English, so you can study from South Africa without a student visa. Master's programmes require 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours, with an assigned technical tutor. Fees can be paid in instalments and employer sponsorship is possible. Ask SEIUM about time-zone and workload details 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
Understand the international system of radiological protection.
Apply the criteria for protection of the environment.
Interpret IAEA standards on discharges and monitoring.
Apply the European Euratom framework.
Know the Spanish regulation on radiological protection.
Analyse emergency and existing exposure situations.
Compare international regulatory approaches.
Who it's for
- Radiation protection specialists looking to master the international regulatory framework for the environment.
- Environmental regulation technicians working with radioactive discharges and monitoring.
- Radiological impact assessors who need to apply ICRP and IAEA criteria to biota and the public.
- Radiological monitoring technicians in nuclear power plants or monitoring networks.
- Compliance consultants advising nuclear and radioactive facilities.
- Emergency analysts involved in radiological emergency planning.
- Engineering or science graduates aiming to join regulatory bodies.
What you'll work with
- Directive 2013/59/Euratom (EU basic safety standards for radiation protection)
- IAEA GSR Part 3 (international basic safety standards)
- ICRP Publication 103 (recommendations of the ICRP)
- ICRP Publication 124 (protection of the environment under different exposure situations)
- IAEA GSG-10 (prospective radiological environmental impact assessment)
- Royal Decree 1029/2022 (Spanish regulation on health protection against ionising radiation)
- IAEA GSG-8 (radiation protection of the public and the environment)
- Euratom Treaty Article 37 (general data on radioactive discharges)
- ERICA Tool
- RESRAD
- PC-CREAM
- Microsoft Excel
- JRodos
8 modules
1.1History of radiological protection1.2Role of the ICRP1.3Role of the UNSCEAR committee1.4IAEA basic safety standards1.5Exposure situations1.6Exposure categories1.7Principles of justification and optimisation1.8Dose limits and constraints1.9Reference levels1.10Case study: applying the principles to a facility
2.1Evolution towards environmental protection2.2ICRP Publication 912.3Reference animals and plants2.4Derived consideration reference levels2.5ICRP Publication 1242.6Calculating doses to biota2.7Using the ERICA Tool2.8Integration with human protection2.9Outstanding scientific challenges2.10Lab: assessment with the ERICA Tool
3.1GSR Part 3 requirements3.2GSG-8 guide on environmental protection3.3GSG-9 guide on discharges3.4GSG-10 guide on prospective assessment3.5Discharge control3.6Radiological impact assessments3.7Environmental monitoring programmes3.8Existing exposure situations3.9IRRS review missions3.10Workshop: prospective assessment of discharges
4.1Basic Safety Standards Directive 2013/59/Euratom4.2Article 35 of the Euratom Treaty4.3Article 37 on discharges4.4Commission recommendations4.5Monitoring of environmental radioactivity4.6EURDEP European alert network4.7Food control after accidents4.8Transposition into national law4.9Oversight by the European Commission4.10Practical: analysis of an Article 37 opinion
5.1Regulation on health protection against ionising radiation5.2Nuclear Safety Council (CSN)5.3CSN safety guides5.4PVRA environmental radiological monitoring programmes5.5Automatic monitoring station network5.6Effluent control5.7Regulation of NORM materials5.8Radon in buildings5.9Off-site emergency plans5.10Case study: PVRA of a Spanish nuclear power plant
6.1Management of radiological emergencies6.2Intervention levels6.3Protective actions6.4Agricultural countermeasures6.5Lessons from Fukushima6.6Existing exposure situations6.7Remediation of affected areas6.8Stakeholder participation6.9Risk communication6.10Practical: reference levels in an emergency
7.1Convention on Early Notification7.2Convention on Assistance7.3IAEA Incident and Emergency Centre (IEC)7.4Review missions7.5Harmonisation of criteria7.6International research programmes7.7Revision of the ICRP recommendations7.8Future outlook7.9Ethics of radiological protection7.10Workshop: comparison of national approaches
8.1Case selection8.2Analysis of the regulatory framework8.3Identification of exposure pathways8.4Dose assessment8.5Environmental impact assessment8.6Improvement proposals8.7Study conclusions8.8Regulatory recommendations8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
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 each intake, making it compatible with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is ERICA Tool, RESRAD, PC-CREAM, Microsoft Excel and JRodos, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Cases are studied on real procedures: dose assessments to biota, prospective assessments of discharges and analysis of monitoring programmes. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: Directive 2013/59/Euratom, IAEA GSR Part 3, ICRP Publication 103, ICRP Publication 124, IAEA GSG-10, Royal Decree 1029/2022, IAEA GSG-8, Euratom Treaty Article 37.
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 ERICA Tool, RESRAD, PC-CREAM, Microsoft Excel and JRodos, 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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