Nuclear Fusion Principles Course
Online 300 h course in nuclear fusion principles. 6 modules covering ISO 80000-10 (atomic and nuclear physics quantities), ASME BPVC Section III, Division 4 (fusion energy devices) and Python (NumPy, SciPy). Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this programme. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Explain fusion reactions and the conditions required for ignition.
Describe the fundamental properties of plasmas.
Compare the main concepts of magnetic confinement.
Analyse inertial confinement routes and other alternatives.
Identify the reactor engineering and materials challenges posed by fast neutrons.
Calculate simplified energy balances of a fusion device.
Integrate your knowledge into an analysis project for a fusion reactor concept.
Who it's for
- Fusion engineer who wants to specialise in Nuclear Fusion Principles.
- Plasma physicist who wants to specialise in Nuclear Fusion Principles.
- Materials engineer for fusion who wants to specialise in Nuclear Fusion Principles.
- Magnetic confinement researcher who wants to specialise in Nuclear Fusion Principles.
- Technical analyst of fusion projects who wants to specialise in Nuclear Fusion Principles.
- Reactor systems engineer who wants to specialise in Nuclear Fusion Principles.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter fusion energy.
What you'll work with
- ISO 80000-10 (atomic and nuclear physics quantities)
- ASME BPVC Section III, Division 4 (fusion energy devices)
- RCC-MRx (AFCEN)
- ITER Agreement of 2006
- Directive 2013/59/Euratom (basic safety standards)
- UK Energy Act 2023 (fusion regime)
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Fusion versus fission: energy released and products1.2Reactions of interest: deuterium-tritium and alternatives1.3Cross section and temperature required for fusion1.4Plasma as the fourth state of matter1.5Lawson criterion and triple product1.6Energy gain and break-even point1.7Power balance of a fusion reactor1.8Fuel: deuterium, lithium and tritium production1.9History of fusion research and what was learned1.10Exercise: calculate the triple product of a scenario
2.1Density, temperature and quasi-neutrality2.2Motion of charged particles in magnetic fields2.3Kinetic description and magnetohydrodynamic description2.4Plasma equilibrium and pressure2.5Instabilities and modes2.6Energy transport and confinement2.7Turbulence and its role2.8Ohmic, neutral beam and wave heating2.9Plasma diagnostics2.10Practice: interpret the profiles of an experimental discharge
3.1Toroidal configurations3.2The tokamak: components and operation3.3The stellarator and its advantages3.4Coils, fields and currents3.5The divertor and power extraction3.6Confinement regimes and transition to H-mode3.7Disruptions and their mitigation3.8Continuous versus pulsed operation3.9Reference experimental machines3.10Practice: compare two magnetic configurations
4.1Principle of inertial confinement4.2Compression, implosion and ignition4.3Direct drive and indirect drive4.4Reference facilities and published results4.5Magneto-inertial confinement4.6Private approaches and the diversity of bets4.7An honest comparison between the different routes4.8What is still missing for a commercial power plant4.9Timelines: what was promised and what has been achieved4.10Practice: critically evaluate an announced breakthrough
5.1Breeding blanket and tritium cycle5.2Heat extraction and conversion to electricity5.3Material behaviour under neutron damage5.4Material activation and resulting waste5.5Superconductors and cryogenic systems5.6Remote maintenance5.7Safety of a fusion facility5.8Licensing and a regulatory framework still under construction5.9Cost, economics and competition with other energy sources5.10Practice: plant balance of a conceptual reactor
6.1Choice of reactor concept6.2Target plasma parameters6.3Energy balance and expected gain6.4Heating and confinement systems6.5Blanket, materials and fuel cycle6.6Preliminary safety analysis6.7Technology roadmap6.8Critical analysis of feasibility6.9Technical report6.10Project defence
How you'll learn
100 % online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it possible to combine the programme with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Python (NumPy, SciPy), MATLAB, PROCESS (fusion reactor systems code), OpenMC, FISPACT-II, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Case studies cover real calculation procedures for the Lawson criterion, energy balance analysis of a tokamak and material activation studies. Assessment is continuous across modules, plus the final integrative project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Explain fusion reactions and the conditions required for ignition.
Describe the fundamental properties of plasmas.
Compare the main concepts of magnetic confinement.
Analyse inertial confinement routes and other alternatives.
Identify the reactor engineering and materials challenges posed by fast neutrons.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior degree required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient level of Spanish to follow the reading of technical regulations.
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 300 hours spread over 3 to 5 months. That is between 10 and 15 hours per week on average, compatible with a full-time job.
You work with Python (NumPy, SciPy), MATLAB, PROCESS (fusion reactor systems code), OpenMC and FISPACT-II. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the open-source alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM own diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrative project. It is in-house training, not an official Ministry qualification.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are credited towards the advanced programme. Check the recognition policy when you enrol.
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