Master’s in Environmental Monitoring and Operational Radiation Protection Engineering
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in environmental monitoring and operational radiation protection engineering. 12 modules covering environmental radioactivity, monitoring programmes, instrumentation, radiochemistry, effluent dispersion, worker dosimetry, contamination control, emergencies and protection of the environment, with Directive 2013/59/Euratom, Royal Decree 1029/2022 and Genie 2000, 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
Understand the origin and behaviour of environmental radioactivity.
Design environmental radiological monitoring programmes.
Apply measurement and analytical radiochemistry techniques.
Calculate public doses from effluents using recognised models.
Manage the operational radiation protection of workers.
Plan monitoring responses in emergencies.
Assess the radiological protection of the environment.
Who it's for
- Radiation protection technicians.
- Heads of radiation protection services.
- Environmental radiochemists.
- Environmental monitoring specialists.
- Dosimetry technicians.
- Consultants in environmental radioactivity.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter the nuclear power industry.
What you'll work with
- Directive 2013/59/Euratom (basic safety standards for radiation protection)
- Royal Decree 1029/2022 (Spanish regulation on protection against ionising radiation)
- IAEA GSR Part 3 (radiation protection and safety of radiation sources)
- ICRP Publication 103 (recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection)
- Recommendation 2000/473/Euratom (environmental radioactivity monitoring)
- ISO 11929 (characteristic limits for ionising radiation measurements)
- ISO/IEC 17025 (competence of testing and calibration laboratories)
- CSN Instruction IS-28 (technical specifications for radioactive facilities)
- Genie 2000
- PC-CREAM
- ERICA Tool
- GENII
- MicroShield
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1Natural sources of environmental radiation1.2Radon and its progeny1.3Cosmic and terrestrial radiation1.4Artificial sources and historical fallout1.5Radionuclides of environmental interest1.6Transfer through food chains1.7Radiological background and its variability1.8Environmental units and quantities1.9MARNA natural radiation maps1.10Case study: interpretation of a gamma radiation map
2.1Objectives of the PVRA at power plants2.2Design of sampling networks2.3Matrices: air, water, soil and food2.4Frequencies and detection limits2.5The CSN's REA automatic station network2.6The REVIRA and EURDEP networks2.7Inter-laboratory comparisons2.8Recommendation 2000/473/Euratom on environmental monitoring2.9Annual reports and public communication2.10Practical exercise: design of a PVRA for a facility
3.1Scintillation and semiconductor detectors3.2Gamma spectrometry with HPGe3.3Proportional and liquid scintillation counters3.4Alpha spectrometry3.5Aerosol and iodine monitors3.6Environmental thermoluminescent dosimeters3.7Continuous dose rate monitors3.8Calibration and metrological traceability3.9Detection limits according to ISO 119293.10Laboratory: analysis of a soil gamma spectrum
4.1Preparation of environmental samples4.2Separation of strontium-904.3Determination of tritium and carbon-144.4Separation of actinides4.5Analysis of radon in water4.6Laboratory quality control4.7Accreditation according to ISO/IEC 170254.8Laboratory waste management4.9Rapid methods for emergencies4.10Practical exercise: determination of strontium in milk
5.1Effluent release pathways5.2Discharge limits and constraints5.3Offsite dose calculation manual5.4Gaussian atmospheric dispersion5.5Meteorology and atmospheric stability5.6Dispersion in rivers and the marine environment5.7Food transfer models5.8Dose calculation for the representative person5.9PC-CREAM and GENII codes5.10Workshop: dose calculation for a gaseous discharge
6.1Protection and operational quantities6.2Dose limits for workers and the public6.3Classification of work areas6.4Classification of exposed workers6.5Radiation protection services and technical units6.6Principles of justification and optimisation6.7The facility's ALARA programme6.8Dose recording and archiving6.9Health surveillance of workers6.10Case study: area classification of a laboratory
7.1External personal dosimetry7.2Extremity and eye lens dosimetry7.3Neutron dosimetry in mixed fields7.4Internal dosimetry and bioassays7.5Whole-body counters7.6ICRP biokinetic models7.7Estimation of committed dose7.8Operational electronic dosimetry7.9National Dosimetry Bank7.10Practical exercise: estimation of internal dose from inhalation
8.1Surface contamination and its measurement8.2Airborne contamination in work areas8.3Portal and exit monitors8.4Personnel decontamination8.5Decontamination of equipment and areas8.6Containment and ventilation8.7Personal protective equipment8.8Management of contamination incidents8.9Contamination control indicators8.10Workshop: controlled area exit protocol
9.1Prior dose assessment9.2Temporary shielding and distances9.3Planning of high-dose work9.4Use of cameras and telemetry9.5Management of radiation sources in the plant9.6Post-job reviews9.7ISOE dose benchmarking9.8Radiation protection culture9.9Worker training and drills9.10Case study: ALARA plan for a steam generator inspection
10.1On-site emergency plan10.2Basic Nuclear Emergency Plan (PLABEN)10.3Intervention levels and protective measures10.4Emergency monitoring10.5Mobile measurement units10.6Management of food and water10.7Communication with the public10.8Exercises and drills10.9Post-emergency recovery10.10Practical exercise: emergency radiological monitoring drill
11.1Protection of non-human biota11.2ICRP reference animals and plants11.3The ERICA assessment tool11.4Derived consideration reference levels11.5Aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems11.6NORM in non-nuclear industries11.7Legacy contaminated sites11.8Remediation of mining areas11.9Environmental risk communication11.10Laboratory: ERICA assessment of a liquid discharge
12.1Definition of the facility or environment12.2Review of the current monitoring programme12.3Sampling and analysis design12.4Public dose calculation12.5Assessment of operational radiation protection12.6Optimisation proposals12.7Follow-up indicators12.8Conclusions of the radiological study12.9Master's Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
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 full-time work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Genie 2000, PC-CREAM, ERICA Tool, GENII and MicroShield, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied using real procedures for sampling and analysing environmental matrices, calculating doses from effluents and ALARA work planning. Assessment is continuous for each module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: Directive 2013/59/Euratom, Royal Decree 1029/2022, IAEA GSR Part 3 Radiation Protection and Safety of Radiation Sources, ICRP Publication 103, Recommendation 2000/473/Euratom, ISO 11929, ISO/IEC 17025 and CSN Instruction IS-28.
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
- A university degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
- 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 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with Genie 2000, PC-CREAM, ERICA Tool, GENII and MicroShield, 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 Master's Thesis. 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 in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
A university degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), a computer able to run the programme 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.
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