ESARDA course on Nuclear Safeguards and Non-proliferation

The course is open to Master’s degree students in nuclear engineering but also to international relations/law students interested in nuclear safeguards related issues and to young professionals in the field.

Basic knowledge of nuclear materials and technology is welcome but not absolutely required.

The course syllabus can be downloaded from the learning platform. Some upfront reading is advisable e.g. on the more technical parts for participants with less technical background and on the more legal/historical parts for those participants with only technical background.

Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to:

In terms of knowledge

•        Understand the historical, legal and technical basis of nuclear safeguards and non-proliferation

•        Describe an overview of key technologies deployed in nuclear safeguards

•        Understand the importance of strategic trade control

•        Identify synergies with nuclear security

In terms of skills and competences

•        Draw up basic safeguards approaches for different nuclear fuel cycle facilities

•        Determine type of safeguards equipment to be used in function of the installations and materials

•        Identify the relevant elements of information to go into the safeguards state evaluation process

•        Appreciate the multidisciplinary nature of international nuclear safeguards and non-proliferation

Registration fee: € 750 (VAT excluded)

The registration fee is set to:
• For students (Bachelors, Masters, PhD): € 300 (VAT excluded)
• For professionals: € 750 (VAT excluded)

Students are eligible for a reduced registration fee. To benefit from this discount, please use the promotional code "ESARDA2027STUDENT" during the registration process.

The discount code must be entered at the time of payment to receive the reduced student rate. Valid student status may be requested by the SCK CEN Academy as organiser.

The registration fee includes the lectures, digital course material, coffee breaks, evening lecture and welcome cocktail (on Monday), and transport between the accommodating hotel and the course venue.

You can register using the button above until 31 December 2026.
Cancellation with total refund is only possible until 19 February 2027.
Registration procedure

In order to attend the ESARDA training course and join the technical visits, all participants are requested to register via the SCK CEN Academy website AND the EC-JRC, Geel website.
• SCK CEN Academy website: subscribe via the 'register' button in the upper left corner
• EC-JRC, Geel website: the link will be provided shortly

Both registrations are needed to ensure the entrance permit to the SCK CEN and EC-JRC, Geel premises.

The registration will be confirmed only after the payment of the course fee and the complete registration on the two websites.

The places will be allocated on a first-come-first-serve rule.

Registration deadline

The registration deadline is set for 31 December 2026.

The training course is designed to encourage interaction, discussion, and exchange among participants. To ensure a high-quality learning experience, the number of participants is limited to 34.

Cancellation policy

The detailed registration and application procedure can be found under the 'Overview' section.
Cancellation requests must be submitted by the participant via email to academy [at] sckcen [dot] be and to the accommodation provider no later than 19 February 2027.
Please note that no-shows and cancellations received after 19 February 2027 will be charged the full registration fee as well as the full accommodation cost.
The SCK CEN Academy and EC-JRC, Geel have the right to cancel the course if there is a lack of participants to cover the full costs of the organisation of the training course.

Accommodation has been arranged at Sunparks Kempense Meren, Mol, Belgium for the duration of the ESARDA training course, from Sunday 18 April until Friday 23 April 2027 (5 nights, including breakfast).

Participants are rquested to confirm their reservation no later than 19 February 2027 via the online booking form:
https://www.cognitoforms.com/CenterParcsSunparks/_2027ESARDATrainingCourse

Please note that participants are responsible for paying their accommodation costs directly to the hotel.