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Master'sNuclear Engineering & Nuclear Fuel Cycle Technologies Applications open

Master’s in SMR & Micro-Reactors Engineering: Design, Licensing and Deployment

Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in SMR and microreactor engineering (design, licensing and deployment), structured in 12 modules covering SMR design engineering, core design, thermal-hydraulic, mechanical and I&C design, safety analysis, licensing frameworks, siting, deployment, operation and maintenance, and project finance, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration1900 h
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute diploma
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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Apply systems engineering to the design of an SMR.

02

Design cores and passive safety systems.

03

Analyse mechanical, structural and I&C design.

04

Prepare deterministic and probabilistic safety analyses.

05

Compare international licensing frameworks.

06

Plan siting, construction and deployment.

07

Assess economic and financial viability.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Reactor design engineers.
  • Licensing engineers.
  • Safety analysts.
  • Nuclear I&C engineers.
  • Construction project managers.
  • Financial analysts for energy projects.
  • Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter the nuclear energy sector.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • IAEA SSR-2/1 (safety of nuclear power plants: design)
  • 10 CFR 53 (risk-informed, technology-inclusive framework for advanced reactors)
  • ASME BPVC Section III (rules for construction of nuclear facility components)
  • European Utility Requirements (EUR) (utility requirements for LWR nuclear power plants)
  • IAEA SSG-2 (deterministic safety analysis for nuclear power plants)
  • IEEE 603 (criteria for safety systems for nuclear power generating stations)
  • Directive 2011/92/EU (environmental impact assessment)
  • Serpent
  • PARCS
  • RELAP5
  • Code_Aster
  • SAPHIRE
Syllabus

12 modules · 1900 h

  1. 1.1The design process of a power plant
  2. 1.2EUR and URD user requirements
  3. 1.3IAEA safety requirements
  4. 1.4Conceptual, basic and detailed design
  5. 1.5Design configuration management
  6. 1.6Applied systems engineering
  7. 1.7MBSE in nuclear projects
  8. 1.8Interfaces between disciplines
  9. 1.9Requirements management
  10. 1.10Case study: requirements tree for an SMR
  1. 2.1Fuel selection and enrichment
  2. 2.2Design of small cores and leakage
  3. 2.3Boron-free reactivity control
  4. 2.4Long operating cycles
  5. 2.5Reactivity coefficients
  6. 2.6Burnable poisons
  7. 2.7Calculations with Serpent and PARCS
  8. 2.8Microreactor cores
  9. 2.9Burnup analysis
  10. 2.10Lab: preliminary design of a small core with Serpent
  1. 3.1Integrated primary circuit
  2. 3.2Integral pressuriser
  3. 3.3Steam generator
  4. 3.4Passive cooling systems
  5. 3.5Containment cooling
  6. 3.6Ultimate heat sink
  7. 3.7Auxiliary systems
  8. 3.8Secondary cycle design
  9. 3.9Interface with industrial uses
  10. 3.10Practical exercise: sizing a passive heat removal system
  1. 4.1Integral vessel and its dimensions
  2. 4.2Reactor internals
  3. 4.3Steel containment
  4. 4.4Seismic analysis
  5. 4.5Design to ASME III
  6. 4.6Safety classification
  7. 4.7Materials and welds
  8. 4.8Modular fabrication
  9. 4.9In-service inspection
  10. 4.10Lab: seismic modal analysis in Code_Aster
  1. 5.1Digital I&C architecture
  2. 5.2Multi-module control room
  3. 5.3Operation with reduced staffing
  4. 5.4Advanced automation
  5. 5.5Diversity and defence in depth
  6. 5.6Equipment qualification
  7. 5.7Cybersecurity by design
  8. 5.8Human factors
  9. 5.9I&C licensing
  10. 5.10Practical exercise: task analysis for multi-module operation
  1. 6.1Preliminary safety report
  2. 6.2Selection of initiating events
  3. 6.3Deterministic analysis
  4. 6.4Probabilistic safety assessment (PSA)
  5. 6.5Severe accidents and their mitigation
  6. 6.6Multi-module risk
  7. 6.7Mechanistic source terms
  8. 6.8Emergency planning zone
  9. 6.9External hazards analysis
  10. 6.10Case study: accident analysis chapter
  1. 7.1Two-step and one-step licensing
  2. 7.210 CFR 50, 52 and 53
  3. 7.3UK GDA
  4. 7.4Canada: vendor design review
  5. 7.5Risk-informed licensing
  6. 7.6Technology-neutral approach
  7. 7.7International regulatory collaboration
  8. 7.8Licensing in the EU and Spain
  9. 7.9Public consultation
  10. 7.10Workshop: comparison of licensing routes
  1. 8.1Siting criteria
  2. 8.2Seismic and geological characterisation
  3. 8.3Hydrology and external hazards
  4. 8.4Environmental impact assessment
  5. 8.5Directive 2011/92/EU
  6. 8.6Dispersion and public dose
  7. 8.7Public consultation
  8. 8.8Reuse of existing sites
  9. 8.9Water requirements
  10. 8.10Practical exercise: site selection matrix
  1. 9.1First-of-a-kind strategy
  2. 9.2Fabrication and transport
  3. 9.3Construction management
  4. 9.4Commissioning and testing
  5. 9.5Fleet deployment
  6. 9.6Design standardisation
  7. 9.7Supply chain
  8. 9.8Project risk management
  9. 9.9Lessons from recent projects
  10. 9.10Case study: schedule for a first unit
  1. 10.1Organisation of operations
  2. 10.2Staffing and qualification
  3. 10.3Condition-based maintenance
  4. 10.4Refuelling and long cycles
  5. 10.5Remote monitoring
  6. 10.6Digital twins
  7. 10.7Ageing management
  8. 10.8Operating experience
  9. 10.9Performance indicators
  10. 10.10Lab: maintenance plan for an SMR
  1. 11.1Project cost estimation
  2. 11.2Learning curves
  3. 11.3Public and private financing
  4. 11.4Contracts for difference
  5. 11.5The EU taxonomy
  6. 11.6Insurance and nuclear liability
  7. 11.7Financial risk analysis
  8. 11.8Ownership models
  9. 11.9Export markets
  10. 11.10Workshop: financial model of an SMR project
  1. 12.1Definition of the concept
  2. 12.2Design requirements
  3. 12.3Core and systems design
  4. 12.4Safety analysis
  5. 12.5Licensing route
  6. 12.6Deployment plan
  7. 12.7Economic assessment
  8. 12.8Conclusions
  9. 12.9Master's Thesis: written report
  10. 12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
Methodology, software & labs

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, 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 Serpent, PARCS, RELAP5, Code_Aster and SAPHIRE, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures for preliminary neutronic core design, seismic analysis of components and deterministic and probabilistic safety analysis. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.

Standards covered: IAEA SSR-2/1, 10 CFR 53, ASME BPVC Section III, European Utility Requirements (EUR), IAEA SSG-2, IEEE 603, Directive 2011/92/EU on environmental impact assessment.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of IAEA SSR-2/1, 10 CFR 53 and ASME BPVC Section III applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:Serpent, PARCS, RELAP5, Code_Aster and SAPHIRE, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Master's Thesis with defence:A complete SMR concept, from design requirements and core and systems design to safety analysis, licensing route, deployment plan and economic assessment, defended before a panel.
Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Define the concept
Set out the SMR or microreactor concept and its design requirements.
Design core and systems
Develop the core with Serpent and PARCS and size the passive safety systems.
Analyse safety
Prepare deterministic and probabilistic safety analyses with RELAP5 and SAPHIRE.
Plan licensing and deployment
Define the licensing route, siting and the deployment plan for a first unit.
Master's Thesis
Complete the economic assessment and present the full SMR concept, defended before a panel.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Reactor design engineerLicensing engineerSafety analystNuclear I&C engineerConstruction project managerEnergy project financial analyst
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • University degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
  • 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.

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FAQ

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 Serpent, PARCS, RELAP5, Code_Aster and SAPHIRE, 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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