Diploma in International Radioactive Waste Management Regulations
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in international radioactive waste management regulations, with 8 modules covering the international framework, IAEA safety standards, Euratom regulation, predisposal management, disposal and licensing, waste from non-power sources, and financing and governance (Directive 2011/70/Euratom, IAEA GSR Part 5, IAEA SSR-5), with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in International Radioactive Waste Management Regulations — 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 24 000 (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 framework for radioactive waste management.
Interpret the IAEA safety standards.
Apply European and Spanish regulations.
Understand predisposal management.
Analyse licensing processes for disposal facilities.
Manage waste from non-power sources.
Assess financing and governance aspects.
Who it's for
- Radioactive waste management technicians
- Nuclear regulation specialists
- Regulatory compliance analysts
- Nuclear safety inspectors
- Energy policy consultants
- Radiation protection technicians
- Engineering or science graduates looking to move into radioactive waste management
What you'll work with
- Directive 2011/70/Euratom (responsible and safe management of spent fuel and radioactive waste)
- IAEA GSR Part 5 (predisposal management of radioactive waste)
- IAEA SSR-5 (disposal of radioactive waste)
- Joint Convention (safety of spent fuel and radioactive waste management)
- IAEA GSG-1 (classification of radioactive waste)
- Directive 2013/59/Euratom (basic safety standards for radiation protection)
- Royal Decree 102/2014 (Spanish regulation on spent fuel and radioactive waste)
- Act 25/1964 (Spanish Nuclear Energy Act)
- Microsoft Excel
- IAEA NUCLEUS
- SIGRE document management
- Power BI
8 modules
1.1Origin of radioactive waste1.2IAEA fundamental safety principles1.3Joint Convention on the safety of waste management1.4Responsibilities of States1.5National policy and strategy1.6Role of regulatory bodies1.7Public participation and transparency1.8Directive 2011/70/Euratom and its transposition1.9General Radioactive Waste Plan in Spain1.10Case study: comparison of national policies
2.1Structure of the IAEA standards2.2GSR Part 5 general requirements2.3SSR-5 disposal requirements2.4Safety guides for predisposal2.5Guides for interim storage2.6GSG-1 classification system2.7ARTEMIS peer reviews2.8National application of the standards2.9Evolution of the standards2.10Practical exercise: analysis of an SSR-5 requirement
3.1The Euratom Treaty and its competences3.2Directive on radioactive waste and spent fuel3.3Basic safety standards 2013/59/Euratom3.4Nuclear Safety Directive3.5Transboundary shipments of waste3.6National reports to the Commission3.7WENRA and its reference levels3.8National management programmes3.9Monitoring of implementation3.10Workshop: WENRA reference levels
4.1Waste characterisation4.2Treatment and conditioning4.3Immobilisation in matrices4.4Waste acceptance criteria4.5Centralised and on-site interim storage4.6Spent fuel management4.7Records and inventories4.8Quality control of waste packages4.9Volume optimisation4.10Case study: acceptance criteria for a storage facility
5.1Disposal options5.2Near-surface disposal of low-level waste5.3Deep geological disposal5.4Safety case for disposal5.5Stepwise licensing process5.6Environmental impact assessment5.7Institutional control period5.8Retrievability and reversibility5.9Experience in Finland and Sweden5.10Practical exercise: licensing stages for a repository
6.1Waste from nuclear medicine6.2Waste from industry and research6.3Disused radioactive sources6.4Code of Conduct on sources6.5Management of NORM materials6.6Clearance and exemption6.7Management of orphan sources6.8Source removal by the national waste agency6.9Nuclear security aspects6.10Case study: management of a disused source
7.1The polluter-pays principle7.2Funds for waste management7.3Estimating future costs7.4Responsibility towards future generations7.5Governance and decision-making7.6Social acceptance of facilities7.7Risk communication7.8Compliance indicators7.9Ethics of long-term management7.10Workshop: analysis of a site selection process
8.1Selection of the case study8.2Analysis of the applicable framework8.3Identification of requirements8.4Regulatory gap analysis8.5Proposed improvements8.6Compliance plan8.7Monitoring indicators8.8Conclusions of the analysis8.9Report 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. No fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so it fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Microsoft Excel, IAEA NUCLEUS, SIGRE document management and Power BI, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures for regulatory compliance analysis, safety case review and assessment of acceptance criteria. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final integrative project.
Standards covered: Directive 2011/70/Euratom, IAEA GSR Part 5, IAEA SSR-5, Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management, IAEA GSG-1, Directive 2013/59/Euratom, Spanish Royal Decree 102/2014, Spanish Nuclear Energy Act 25/1964.
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 Microsoft Excel, IAEA NUCLEUS, SIGRE document management and Power BI, 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.
Related programmes
Diploma in Radioactive Material Cask Design
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in radioactive material cask design, structured in 8 modules covering cask functions, regulatory design requirements, shielding, criticality, thermal and structural…
Diploma in Regulation and Ethics in Nuclear Decommissioning
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in regulation and ethics in nuclear decommissioning, structured in 8 modules covering the regulatory framework, licensing and oversight, radiological and…
Diploma in Long-Term Safety Monitoring
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in long-term safety monitoring of nuclear and waste facilities, structured in 8 modules covering long-term safety, surveillance programmes, hydrogeological, geotechnical…
More in Nuclear Engineering & Nuclear Fuel Cycle Technologies
All Nuclear Engineering & Nuclear Fuel Cycle Technologies programmes → · How to apply · Fees & financing · Scholarships