Diploma in Spent Fuel Storage and Reprocessing
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in spent fuel storage and reprocessing. 8 modules covering irradiated fuel characteristics, pool and dry storage, transport of radioactive material, reprocessing, advanced separation and transmutation, regulation and safeguards, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in Spent Fuel Storage and Reprocessing — studying from South Africa
South Africa has a established defence industry centred on companies such as Denel and Paramount Group, with capabilities in land systems, armoured vehicles and munitions. The sector supports engineering roles in systems integration, vehicle design and test and evaluation. Defence procurement and export controls are overseen by government bodies, and the industry works closely with the South African National Defence Force. Engineers in this field typically combine mechanical, electrical and systems skills.
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
Which South African bodies regulate or recognise defence and military engineering professionals?
Engineers in South Africa are registered through ECSA under the Engineering Profession Act, and defence programmes are guided by institutions such as the South African National Defence Force and Armscor, which set their own requirements. SEIUM is a private online institute, and its qualifications are not state degrees or accredited by a national body. Recognition is decided by these bodies and your employer, so confirm with them first.
Would this qualification help me find work in South Africa's defence or land systems sector?
South Africa has a defence industry with state-linked entities and private contractors, and employers usually require security clearances, relevant experience and recognised qualifications. A private online programme may support your application but does not guarantee employment or clearance. Check requirements with prospective employers, as roles in this sector can be sensitive and tightly controlled.
Can I study alongside a job, and are there funding options?
The course is 100% online and taught in English, so you need strong English, and no student visa is needed to study from home. Master's programmes are 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours, each with an assigned technical tutor. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible, so ask whether your employer would fund part of the training.
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
Characterise irradiated fuel from an isotopic, thermal and radiological standpoint.
Analyse pool storage and its safety margins.
Evaluate dry storage systems and their licensing.
Plan the transport of spent fuel in accordance with SSR-6 and ADR.
Understand the options for reprocessing and advanced separation.
Apply the regulatory and safeguards framework for fuel management.
Develop a spent fuel management project.
Who it's for
- Spent fuel management engineers.
- Nuclear safety analysts.
- Radioactive material transport specialists.
- Radiation protection technicians.
- Radioactive waste consultants.
- Safeguards inspectors.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter the nuclear energy sector.
What you'll work with
- Directive 2011/70/Euratom (responsible and safe management of spent fuel and radioactive waste)
- Royal Decree 102/2014 (Spanish regulation on spent fuel and radioactive waste management)
- IAEA SSR-6 (Rev. 1) (regulations for the safe transport of radioactive material)
- IAEA SSG-15 (storage of spent nuclear fuel)
- 10 CFR Part 72 (US licensing of independent spent fuel storage)
- NUREG-2215 (standard review plan for spent fuel dry storage)
- Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management (1997) (international safety convention)
- ADR (international carriage of dangerous goods by road)
- SCALE (ORIGEN and KENO)
- MCNP
- Serpent
- ANSYS Fluent
8 modules
1.1Isotopic composition after irradiation1.2Decay heat and its evolution over time1.3Radiological source terms1.4Fission products and minor actinides1.5Burnup and its determination1.6Cladding condition after irradiation1.7National spent fuel inventory1.8Open versus closed fuel cycle1.9Initial management in the reactor pool1.10Case study: decay heat calculation with ORIGEN
2.1Design of spent fuel pools2.2High-density racks and neutron absorbers2.3Water chemistry and corrosion control2.4Cooling and purification2.5Subcriticality in racks2.6Lessons from Fukushima for spent fuel pools2.7Loss-of-cooling analysis2.8Surveillance and maintenance2.9Capacity and rack replacement2.10Workshop: subcriticality analysis of a rack
3.1Metal casks and concrete systems3.2Individual interim storage facilities3.3Centralised interim storage facility3.4Thermal analysis of casks3.5Shielding and dose in the surroundings3.6Confinement and closure welds3.7Ageing and long-term management3.8Licensing according to NUREG-22153.9Spanish experience with ISFSIs (ATI)3.10Practical exercise: thermal model of a cask
4.1IAEA SSR-6 regulations4.2Type B packages and drop tests4.3Road transport under ADR4.4Sea transport and the INF Code4.5Physical protection during transport4.6Routes and emergency plans4.7Documentation and authorisations4.8Doses to transport personnel4.9Dual-purpose casks4.10Case study: fuel transport plan
5.1Nitric acid chemistry in dissolution5.2The PUREX process in outline5.3Solvent extraction: principles5.4Management of fission products5.5Vitrification of high-level waste5.6Recycling into MOX fuel5.7Experience at La Hague and Sellafield5.8Safeguards in reprocessing plants5.9Effluents and environmental impact5.10Workshop: material balance of a plant
6.1Advanced separation processes6.2Minor actinides and radiotoxicity6.3Transmutation in fast reactors6.4Accelerator-driven subcritical systems (ADS)6.5Pyrometallurgical processes6.6Thorium fuel cycles6.7Reduction of waste volume6.8Proliferation resistance6.9International R&D programmes6.10Case study: long-term radiotoxicity scenarios
7.1Directive 2011/70/Euratom7.2Spanish Royal Decree 102/20147.3The IAEA Joint Convention7.4The Spanish General Radioactive Waste Plan7.5Euratom and IAEA safeguards7.6Physical protection according to INFCIRC/2257.7Operational radiation protection7.8Long-term safety assessment7.9Public participation and social acceptance7.10Practical exercise: regulatory requirements matrix
8.1Characterisation of the initial inventory8.2Storage options assessed8.3Thermal and shielding analysis8.4Associated transport plan8.5Reprocessing or open-cycle scenario8.6Regulatory compliance8.7Cost and schedule estimate8.8Technical conclusions8.9Report 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 the intake, so the programme can be combined with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is SCALE (ORIGEN and KENO), MCNP, Serpent and ANSYS Fluent, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures: decay heat and source term calculations, thermal analyses of dry storage casks and subcriticality assessments of racks. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: Directive 2011/70/Euratom, Royal Decree 102/2014, IAEA SSR-6 (Rev. 1), IAEA SSG-15, 10 CFR Part 72, NUREG-2215, the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management (1997) and ADR.
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.
- 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 SCALE (ORIGEN and KENO), MCNP, Serpent and ANSYS Fluent, 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 suitable computer 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 Military Maritime Ethics and Law
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in military maritime ethics and law. 8 modules covering the law of the sea, the law of armed conflict at…
Diploma in Accident-Tolerant Fuels (ATF)
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in accident-tolerant fuels (ATF), structured in 8 modules covering the rationale for ATF, coated, FeCrAl and SiC cladding, advanced pellets,…
Diploma in UGV and Autonomous Land Platforms
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in UGV and autonomous land platforms. 8 modules covering unmanned ground platforms, perception sensors, localisation and mapping, motion planning and…
More in Defense, Military Engineering & Land Systems
All Defense, Military Engineering & Land Systems programmes → · How to apply · Fees & financing · Scholarships