International Regulation in Reactor Design Course
Online 300-hour course in international regulation in reactor design. 6 modules covering IAEA SSR-2/1 (Rev.1) (Safety of Nuclear Power Plants: Design), IAEA SSG-2 (Rev.1) (Deterministic Safety Analysis) and RELAP5. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
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What you will be able to do
Describe the international regulatory architecture of reactor design.
Interpret the design requirements of the SSR-2/1 standard.
Apply deterministic and probabilistic approaches to the safety analysis of the design.
Compare design licensing and certification processes in different countries.
Analyse WENRA reference levels and their application in Europe.
Evaluate the regulatory challenges of new designs and harmonisation initiatives.
Prepare a compliance analysis of a reactor design against international requirements.
Who it's for
- Licensing engineer who wants to specialise in International Regulation in Reactor Design.
- Nuclear safety analyst who wants to specialise in International Regulation in Reactor Design.
- Reactor design engineer who wants to specialise in International Regulation in Reactor Design.
- Technical staff member of regulatory bodies who wants to specialise in International Regulation in Reactor Design.
- Consultant in regulatory harmonisation who wants to specialise in International Regulation in Reactor Design.
- Requirements engineer who wants to specialise in International Regulation in Reactor Design.
- Graduates in engineering or sciences seeking to enter nuclear engineering.
What you'll work with
- IAEA SSR-2/1 (Rev.1) (Safety of Nuclear Power Plants: Design)
- IAEA SSG-2 (Rev.1) (Deterministic Safety Analysis)
- IAEA SSG-3 (Rev.1) (Level 1 PSA)
- WENRA Safety Reference Levels (2020)
- Directive 2014/87/Euratom (nuclear safety)
- 10 CFR Part 52 (design licences and certifications)
- NUREG-0800 (Standard Review Plan)
- European Utility Requirements (EUR)
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Role of the IAEA and its Safety Standards1.2Convention on Nuclear Safety1.3Hierarchy: fundamentals, requirements and guides1.4Fundamental Safety Principles SF-11.5WENRA and reference levels1.6NEA/OECD and the MDEP programme1.7National regulators: NRC, CSN, ONR and ASN1.8Independence and functions of the regulator1.9IAEA IRRS peer reviews1.10Case study: regulatory map of a newcomer country
2.1Defence in depth and its levels2.2Fundamental safety functions2.3Plant states: operation, AOO, DBA and DEC2.4Safety classification of structures and systems2.5Single failure criterion and redundancy2.6Diversity, physical separation and independence2.7Prevention and mitigation of severe accidents2.8Practical elimination of sequences2.9Containment and confinement requirements2.10Workshop: applying SSR-2/1 to a cooling system
3.1Deterministic analysis according to SSG-23.2Probabilistic analysis of Levels 1, 2 and 33.3CDF and LRF safety objectives3.4Calculation codes and their validation3.5Uncertainties and margins using the BEPU approach3.6External hazards: earthquake, flooding and climate3.7Internal hazards: fire and missiles3.8Structure of the Preliminary Safety Analysis Report (PSAR)3.9Independent review by the regulatory authority3.10Practice: drafting a PSAR chapter
4.1Two-step licensing and combined licence4.2NRC design certification under 10 CFR Part 524.3UK Generic Design Assessment4.4Pre-licensing reviews4.5European EUR user requirements4.6Design change management4.7Public participation and transparency4.8Regulatory lessons after Fukushima4.9Operating licences and renewal4.10Case study: comparison between GDA and Part 52
5.1Regulation of SMRs and microreactors5.2Technology-neutral and risk-informed approaches5.3Advanced reactors and NRC Part 535.4IAEA NHSI initiative for SMRs5.5MDEP cooperation and mutual recognition5.6Serial manufacturing and global deployment5.7Physical security and safeguards by design5.8Cybersecurity in instrumentation and control systems5.9Fuel and core design standards5.10Workshop: multinational licensing plan for an SMR
6.1Selection of the reactor design6.2Identification of the applicable framework6.3Compliance matrix against SSR-2/16.4Review of defence in depth6.5Regulatory gap analysis6.6Proposed licensing strategy6.7Regulatory risks and mitigation measures6.8Conclusions of the regulatory report6.9Report and presentation6.10Final 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: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it compatible with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is RELAP5, TRACE, MELCOR, IBM DOORS (requirements management), in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real review procedures for chapters of safety reports, comparative analysis of design certification processes and licensing case studies for advanced reactors. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final integrating project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Describe the international regulatory architecture of reactor design.
Interpret the design requirements of the SSR-2/1 standard.
Apply deterministic and probabilistic approaches to the safety analysis of the design.
Compare design licensing and certification processes in different countries.
Analyse WENRA reference levels and their application in Europe.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior degree required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
- Sufficient command of Spanish to follow technical regulatory texts.
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. This is between 10 and 15 hours per week on average, compatible with a full-time job.
The work uses RELAP5, TRACE, MELCOR and IBM DOORS (requirements management). Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM own diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrating 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 credit transfer policy when you enrol.
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