Master’s in SMRs, Micro-Reactors & Industrial Uses Engineering
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in SMR, microreactor and industrial applications engineering, structured in 12 modules covering small modular reactors, light water and Generation IV technologies, industrial uses of nuclear heat, SMR safety and thermal-hydraulics, modular construction, licensing, economics, fuel and waste, and deployment, 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
Compare small modular reactor technologies.
Analyse advanced Generation IV reactors.
Assess industrial applications of nuclear heat.
Apply passive and inherent safety principles.
Understand modular construction and the supply chain.
Analyse international licensing processes.
Assess the economics and deployment of SMRs.
Who it's for
- SMR engineers.
- Nuclear safety analysts.
- Licensing engineers.
- Industrial integration engineers.
- Energy economics analysts.
- Nuclear project managers.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter the nuclear energy sector.
What you'll work with
- IAEA SSR-2/1 (safety of nuclear power plants: design)
- 10 CFR 52 (licences, certifications and approvals for nuclear power plants)
- ASME BPVC Section III (rules for construction of nuclear facility components)
- IAEA SSG-2 (deterministic safety analysis for nuclear power plants)
- RCC-M (design and construction rules for mechanical components of PWR nuclear islands)
- Directive 2009/71/Euratom (nuclear safety of nuclear installations)
- 10 CFR 53 (risk-informed, technology-inclusive framework for advanced reactors)
- RELAP5
- Serpent
- SAPHIRE
- Aspen Plus
- Python
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1Definition of SMRs and microreactors according to the IAEA1.2Motivations: cost, modularity and siting1.3Global landscape of designs1.4The European Industrial Alliance on SMRs1.5Technologies: light water, high temperature, fast and molten salt1.6Licensing status by country1.7Supply chain1.8Public acceptance1.9Role in decarbonisation1.10Case study: comparison of five SMR designs
2.1Integral PWRs2.2Helical-coil steam generators2.3Natural circulation2.4NuScale, BWRX-300 and Nuward designs2.5Passive safety systems2.6Fuel and core2.7Boron-free control2.8Advantages and limitations2.9Reference operating experience2.10Lab: natural circulation balance in Python
3.1High-temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGR)3.2TRISO fuel3.3Sodium- and lead-cooled fast reactors3.4Molten salt reactors3.5Heat-pipe microreactors3.6HALEU fuel3.7Materials challenges3.8Technology readiness3.9The Generation IV International Forum3.10Practical exercise: temperature analysis in an HTGR
4.1Industrial heat demand by temperature4.2Nuclear district heating4.3Process steam for chemicals4.4Nuclear hydrogen4.5Desalination4.6Refineries and steel4.7Reactor-process coupling4.8Safety distances and siting4.9Business models4.10Case study: integration into a chemical industrial park
5.1Defence in depth5.2Inherent and passive safety5.3Design basis accident analysis5.4Severe accidents5.5Reduced emergency planning zone5.6Probabilistic safety assessment5.7Physical security and safeguards5.8Cybersecurity5.9Multi-module safety5.10Lab: simplified event tree
6.1Natural circulation and stability6.2Compact heat exchangers6.3Integrated steam generators6.4Passive containment cooling6.5System codes applied to SMRs6.6Integral test facilities6.7Scaling6.8Characteristic transients6.9Validation6.10Practical exercise: loss-of-flow transient with RELAP5
7.1Factory fabrication7.2Module transport7.3On-site construction7.4ASME and RCC-M design codes7.5Nuclear quality management7.6Economics of series production7.7European supply chain7.8Digitalisation of manufacturing7.9Lessons from large projects7.10Case study: modular construction plan
8.1National regulatory frameworks8.2US licensing: 10 CFR 52 and 538.3The UK GDA process8.4Collaboration among European regulators8.5Licensing of new technologies8.6Multi-module licensing8.7Siting and environmental assessment8.8Timescales and costs8.9International harmonisation8.10Workshop: analysis of a generic design review
9.1Capital cost per kW9.2Economies of scale versus economies of series9.3Levelised cost of energy9.4Project financing9.5Project risks9.6Comparison with other sources9.7Power purchase agreements9.8Public support9.9Ownership models9.10Practical exercise: LCOE model of an SMR
10.1SMR fuel cycle10.2HALEU: production and supply10.3TRISO fuel10.4Spent fuel management10.5Waste from advanced reactors10.6Fuel transport10.7Safeguards10.8Closed fuel cycle10.9Decommissioning10.10Case study: waste inventory of a microreactor
11.1Sites at former coal-fired power plants11.2Mining and remote areas11.3Microgrids with microreactors11.4Maritime propulsion11.5Scientific bases11.6Integration with renewables11.7National energy planning11.8Staff training11.9Deployment roadmap11.10Workshop: site study
12.1Definition of the application case12.2Technology selection12.3Technical analysis of the reactor12.4Industrial integration12.5Safety assessment12.6Licensing analysis12.7Economic assessment12.8Conclusions12.9Master's Thesis: written 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, 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 RELAP5, Serpent, SAPHIRE, Aspen Plus and Python, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures for thermal-hydraulic transient analysis, technical and economic comparison of designs, and siting and industrial integration studies. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: IAEA SSR-2/1, 10 CFR 52, ASME BPVC Section III, IAEA SSG-2, RCC-M, Directive 2009/71/Euratom on nuclear safety, 10 CFR 53.
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
- 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.
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 RELAP5, Serpent, SAPHIRE, Aspen Plus and Python, 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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