Postgraduate Diploma in Lightweight Materials and High-Load Integrity
Online 800-hour Postgraduate Diploma in Lightweight Materials and High-Load Integrity. 8 modules covering ISO 12215-5 (design pressures and scantlings), DNV-RU-HSLC (high-speed and lightweight craft) and ANSYS Composite PrepPost. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Postgraduate Diploma in Lightweight Materials and High-Load Integrity — studying from Australia
Australia's maritime sector is substantial, encompassing naval shipbuilding, offshore oil and gas, port operations and recreational boating. The Royal Australian Navy's shipbuilding programmes, including the Hunter class frigates and Henderson Defence Precinct in Western Australia, generate significant engineering demand. Offshore energy developments on the North West Shelf and in Bass Strait require marine and structural expertise. Recreational boating is widespread, supported by a strong sports nautical industry. Employers include naval shipbuilders, offshore operators, port authorities and marine equipment manufacturers.
Fees for Australia: A$1,420 (AUD), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Australia
Typical roles
Questions from Australia
Is this training recognised by Australian maritime regulators such as AMSA?
SEIUM qualifications are private and are not official state degrees or accredited by national bodies. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority regulates maritime certificates and qualifications separately, and SEIUM training does not replace those requirements. Confirm with AMSA or your employer which credentials your intended role requires.
Which Australian employers might consider this qualification for naval or offshore work?
Offshore energy operators, shipbuilders, naval contractors, marine consultancies and sports nautical manufacturers are examples of Australian employers in this area. Their hiring decisions depend on their own criteria and on any required certifications. A private qualification is one factor among experience and licensing.
Can I study this part time from Australia, and can employers help pay?
Yes, the programmes are fully online and taught in English, so you can study from Australia without a student visa and fit learning around your schedule. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible. Confirm the total hours and expected pace before committing.
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
Select lightweight materials for naval construction.
Apply laminate mechanics to the sizing of composites.
Design aluminium structures taking welding into account.
Determine extreme loads on high-speed craft.
Carry out advanced structural analysis using finite elements.
Design reliable joints and structural details.
Plan the inspection and maintenance of structural integrity.
Who it's for
- Naval structures engineer who wishes to specialise in Lightweight Materials and High-Load Integrity.
- Composites specialist who wishes to specialise in Lightweight Materials and High-Load Integrity.
- Finite element analysis engineer who wishes to specialise in Lightweight Materials and High-Load Integrity.
- Fast craft designer who wishes to specialise in Lightweight Materials and High-Load Integrity.
- Materials inspector who wishes to specialise in Lightweight Materials and High-Load Integrity.
- Structural integrity manager who wishes to specialise in Lightweight Materials and High-Load Integrity.
- Graduates in engineering or science who wish to enter the fast craft sector.
What you'll work with
- ISO 12215-5 (design pressures and scantlings)
- DNV-RU-HSLC (high-speed and lightweight craft)
- HSC Code 2000 (high-speed craft)
- ISO 10042 (welding quality levels for aluminium)
- EN 13195 (aluminium alloys for marine applications)
- ISO 14125 (flexural properties of composites)
- ASTM D3039 (tensile properties of composites)
8 modules · 800 h
1.15xxx and 6xxx aluminium alloys1.2Glass fibre, carbon fibre and aramid composites1.3Polyester, vinyl ester and epoxy resins1.4PVC, SAN, PET and balsa cores1.5High-strength steels1.6Titanium and special applications1.7Comparison of specific properties1.8Material selection using Ashby charts1.9Cost and manufacturability considerations1.10Practical exercise: material selection for a 20 m hull
2.1Classical laminate theory2.2ABD matrices and coupling2.3Properties of unidirectional and woven plies2.4Tsai-Wu and Hashin failure criteria2.5Sandwich panels: bending and shear2.6Sandwich failure modes2.7Effects of moisture and temperature2.8Impact damage and CAI2.9ASTM D3039 and D7264 tests2.10Workshop: laminate design using laminate software
3.1Heat treatments and tempers of marine alloys3.2Heat-affected zone and loss of strength3.3MIG and FSW processes3.4Distortion and dimensional control3.5Galvanic and exfoliation corrosion3.6ISO 15614 qualification standards3.7Design of welded details3.8Fatigue in aluminium joints3.9In-service repairs3.10Practical exercise: strength calculation in the heat-affected zone
4.1Slamming loads on lightweight hulls4.2Local pressures and panels4.3Global loads on fast structures4.4DNV HSLC and RINA rules4.5ISO 12215 standard for composites and aluminium4.6Shock and underwater explosion loads4.7Grounding and collision loads4.8Safety factors and partial coefficients4.9Load combinations4.10Case study: design loads for a patrol launch
5.1FEM models of laminates and sandwich structures5.2Panel buckling analysis5.3Non-linear and progressive damage analysis5.4Modelling of adhesive joints5.5Dynamic impact analysis5.6Fluid-structure interaction in hydrodynamic impacts5.7Fatigue analysis of composites5.8Validation through testing5.9Laminate optimisation5.10Laboratory: FEM of a sandwich panel under slamming
6.1Adhesive joints and their design6.2Bolted joints in composites6.3Hybrid aluminium–composite joints6.4T-joints and laminated stiffeners6.5Inserts and anchorages6.6Stress concentration6.7Design for inspection6.8Joint testing6.9Typical in-service failures6.10Workshop: design of a hull-to-deck joint in composite
7.1Non-destructive inspection of composites7.2Ultrasonics, thermography and shearography7.3Detection of delaminations and debonding7.4Water absorption and osmosis7.5Fire: FTP Code and fire resistance7.6Laminate repair in accordance with the rules7.7Fibre optic monitoring7.8Service life and degradation7.9Recycling and end of life7.10Case study: inspection plan for a composite catamaran
8.1Definition of the craft and loads8.2Material selection8.3Laminate or scantling design8.4FEM analysis of critical areas8.5Joint design8.6Verification against class rules8.7Inspection and maintenance plan8.8Weight and cost estimation8.9Report and presentation8.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM Institute campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the enrolment period, which makes it possible to combine the programme with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is ANSYS Composite PrepPost, Abaqus, Femap with Simcenter Nastran, Rhinoceros 3D, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Case studies are based on real procedures: finite element analysis of a lightweight hull, mechanical testing of laminates and inspection of aluminium welded joints. 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.
Select lightweight materials for naval construction.
Apply laminate mechanics to the sizing of composites.
Design aluminium structures taking welding into account.
Determine extreme loads on high-speed craft.
Carry out advanced structural analysis using finite elements.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. A university degree is not required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient level of Spanish to follow technical standards documentation.
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 800 hours spread over 6 to 8 months. That is an average of between 10 and 15 hours per week, compatible with a full-time job.
The programme uses ANSYS Composite PrepPost, Abaqus, Femap with Simcenter Nastran and Rhinoceros 3D. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the open-source alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrating project. This is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area can be credited towards the advanced programme. Please check the credit transfer policy when you enrol.
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