Diploma in Radiological Impact on Fauna and Flora
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in radiological impact on fauna and flora. 8 modules covering environmental radioactivity, transfer in ecosystems, dosimetry of non-human biota, biological effects of radiation, the assessment and regulatory framework, environmental sampling and measurement, and risk modelling and communication, with an assigned technical tutor.
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
Describe the behaviour of radionuclides in soils, waters and biota.
Calculate transfers along food chains.
Estimate dose rates to reference animals and plants.
Interpret the biological effects of radiation on species and populations.
Apply the tiered assessment approach and the current regulatory framework.
Plan environmental sampling and measurement programmes.
Communicate radiological impact results to regulators and the public.
Who it's for
- Radioecology technicians.
- Environmental radiological monitoring specialists at nuclear sites.
- Nuclear environmental impact consultants.
- Radioactivity laboratory technicians.
- Radiation protection analysts extending their work to non-human biota.
- Environmental safety assessors.
- Engineering or science graduates aiming to work at nuclear power plants.
What you'll work with
- ICRP Publication 108 (environmental protection: reference animals and plants)
- ICRP Publication 124 (protection of the environment under different exposure situations)
- Directive 2013/59/Euratom (EU basic safety standards for radiation protection)
- IAEA GSG-10 (prospective radiological environmental impact assessment)
- ICRP Publication 136 (dose coefficients for non-human biota)
- Royal Decree 1029/2022 (Spanish regulation on health protection against ionising radiation)
- ISO 18589-3 (measurement of radioactivity in soil by gamma spectrometry)
- ERICA Tool
- RESRAD-BIOTA
- QGIS
- Genie 2000
8 modules
1.1Natural and artificial radionuclides1.2Background radiation and its variability1.3Release pathways to the environment1.4Units: becquerel, gray and dose rate1.5Behaviour of Cs-137, Sr-90 and I-1311.6Tritium and carbon-14 in ecosystems1.7Radon and its progeny1.8Soil chemistry and mobility1.9Lessons from Chernobyl and Fukushima1.10Case study: radiological inventory of a site
2.1Concentration factors2.2Soil-to-plant transfer2.3Terrestrial food chains2.4Aquatic systems and sediments2.5Kd distribution coefficients2.6Bioaccumulation in fish and molluscs2.7Indicator species for contamination2.8Dynamic transfer models2.9Parameter uncertainty2.10Practical: calculating concentrations in biota
3.1ICRP 108 reference animals and plants3.2Dose conversion coefficients3.3Internal and external exposure3.4Simplified dosimetric geometries3.5Weighting of alpha radiation3.6Derived consideration reference levels (DCRL)3.7Dose heterogeneity in tissues3.8Dosimetry of eggs and larval stages3.9Dose calculation tools3.10Lab: dose rate with the ERICA Tool
4.1Mortality, morbidity and reproduction4.2Mutagenic and genetic effects4.3The FREDERICA database4.4Radiosensitivity across species4.5Population-level effects4.6Studies in the Chernobyl exclusion zone4.7Damage to conifers4.8Biomarkers of exposure4.9Open scientific controversies4.10Case study: critical review of a field study
5.1The ERICA tiered approach5.2Screening levels5.3ICRP Publication 1245.4Requirements of Directive 2013/59/Euratom5.5IAEA GSG-10 guide5.6Environmental impact assessment5.7Nuclear facilities in operation5.8Decommissioning and closure5.9Waste repositories5.10Practical: tiered assessment of a discharge
6.1Environmental radiological monitoring plans6.2Sampling of soils, vegetation and fauna6.3High-resolution gamma spectrometry6.4Radiochemical separation of strontium and plutonium6.5Liquid scintillation for tritium6.6Detection limits6.7Intercomparisons and quality control6.8Animal welfare in sampling6.9Monitoring data management6.10Lab: gamma spectrum of a plant sample
7.1ERICA Tool and RESRAD-BIOTA7.2Chronic and accidental scenarios7.3Sensitivity analysis7.4GIS for dose maps7.5Environmental risk communication7.6Public participation in assessments7.7Reporting to regulators7.8Managing uncertainty7.9Environmental remediation after contamination7.10Case study: GIS dose map for biota
8.1Definition of the site and scenario8.2Collection of baseline data8.3Selection of reference organisms8.4Transfer calculations8.5Dose rate estimation8.6Comparison with reference levels8.7Monitoring proposal8.8Conclusions and 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-BIOTA, QGIS and Genie 2000, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Cases are studied on real procedures: sampling of soils and vegetation around facilities, dose rate calculation for reference organisms and tiered assessments of authorised discharges. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: ICRP Publication 108, ICRP Publication 124, Directive 2013/59/Euratom, IAEA GSG-10, ICRP Publication 136, Royal Decree 1029/2022, ISO 18589-3.
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-BIOTA, QGIS and Genie 2000, 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 Monitoring and Security in Transport
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in monitoring and security in the transport of nuclear and radioactive material, structured in 8 modules covering the nuclear security…
Diploma in Nuclear Insurance, Risk and Civil Liability
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in nuclear insurance, risk and civil liability. 8 modules covering nuclear risk management, the international civil liability regime, Spanish nuclear…
Diploma in Deep Geological Repository Design
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in deep geological repository design, structured in 8 modules covering the repository concept, site characterisation, engineered barriers, underground facility design,…
More in Nuclear Engineering & Nuclear Fuel Cycle Technologies
All Nuclear Engineering & Nuclear Fuel Cycle Technologies programmes → · How to apply · Fees & financing · Scholarships