Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) Design Course
Online course of 300 hours in the design of sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS). 6 modules covering SUDS principles, infiltration and retention techniques, hydraulic design, modelling and water quality, and construction, maintenance and costs, applying Royal Decree 665/2023 and CIRIA C753, with an assigned technical tutor.
Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) Design Course — studying from Australia
Australia's infrastructure pipeline is substantial, covering roads, rail, ports, water and urban development across major cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. Rail engineering is especially active, with projects including Sydney Metro and Melbourne Metro. Smart city initiatives draw on sensors, data platforms and digital twins to improve transport, utilities and public services. Employers include state transport authorities, engineering consultancies such as Aurecon and WSP, and major contractors. Engineers work on design, asset management, construction oversight and sustainability.
Fees for Australia: A$868 (AUD), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Australia
Typical roles
Questions from Australia
Does a SEIUM qualification meet Australian civil engineering registration requirements?
No. Civil engineers in Australia typically need an Engineers Australia accredited degree to pursue Chartered status, and state and territory rail and infrastructure regulators set their own requirements. SEIUM's private qualifications are not accredited by these bodies, so employers or regulators decide how much weight they carry.
Which Australian employers hire in civil, rail and smart cities?
Australia has public infrastructure agencies, rail operators, engineering consultancies and councils working on urban and smart city projects. Employers usually prioritise accredited qualifications, licensing and project experience. Ask potential employers whether a private online qualification would be considered alongside your experience.
Is the course workable alongside work, and what does it cost?
The courses are 100% online and taught in English, so you can study from anywhere in Australia without a student visa. Specialist courses take 300 hours, diplomas 800 and master's 1,900, so plan your time accordingly. Fees are payable in instalments, employer sponsorship may be possible, and you will have 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 principles of sustainable urban drainage.
Select SUDS techniques according to site constraints.
Carry out the hydraulic sizing of infiltration and retention systems.
Model scenarios with SUDS using specialised tools.
Evaluate water-quality, biodiversity and comfort benefits.
Plan the construction and maintenance of SUDS.
Prepare a complete sustainable drainage project.
Who it's for
- Sustainable drainage designers.
- Green infrastructure technicians.
- Urban development engineers moving towards nature-based drainage.
- Municipal environmental officers.
- Climate change adaptation consultants.
- Technical landscape architects.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to work in local authorities and water companies.
What you'll work with
- Royal Decree 665/2023 (amending the Regulation on the Public Water Domain, SUDS)
- Royal Decree 849/1986 (Regulation on the Public Water Domain)
- Directive (EU) 2024/3019 (urban wastewater treatment)
- Order FOM/298/2016 (Instruction 5.2-IC on surface drainage)
- UNE-EN 752 (drain and sewer systems outside buildings)
- UNE-EN 1338 (concrete paving blocks)
- Directive 2000/60/EC (Water Framework Directive)
- EPA SWMM
- Autodesk InfoDrainage
- QGIS
- MicroDrainage
6 modules
1.1From conventional to sustainable drainage1.2Source control and the management train1.3Quantity, quality, amenity and biodiversity objectives1.4Pollution in urban runoff1.5First flush and water-quality design storm1.6Sponge cities and international experience1.7Integration into urban planning1.8CIRIA C753 SuDS Manual1.9Spanish SUDS guidelines1.10Case study: analysis of a neighbourhood with SUDS
2.1Permeable and porous pavements2.2Infiltration trenches and soakaways2.3Swales and filter strips2.4Bioretention areas and rain gardens2.5Extensive and intensive green roofs2.6Detention tanks and ponds2.7Constructed wetlands for stormwater2.8Rainwater harvesting2.9Selecting techniques according to soil and space2.10Workshop: SUDS selection matrix for a plot
3.1Soil permeability tests3.2Calculating storage volumes3.3Drain-down time and outflow rates3.4Control elements: orifices and weirs3.5Sizing permeable pavements3.6Designing bioretention areas3.7Attenuation in tanks and ponds3.8Combining techniques in series3.9Checking against extreme events3.10Practical exercise: sizing a rain garden
4.1Modelling SUDS with the SWMM LID module4.2Calibration and continuity4.3Simulation of long rainfall series4.4Removal of solids and metals4.5Suitable vegetation and substrates4.6Biodiversity and comfort benefits4.7Assessing compliance with objectives4.8Benefit assessment tools4.9Performance indicators4.10Lab: comparison of scenarios with and without SUDS
5.1Construction details and materials5.2Protection during construction works5.3Maintenance plans and responsibilities5.4Clogging and regeneration5.5Construction and life-cycle costs5.6Valuing co-benefits5.7Municipal drainage by-laws5.8Public participation in the process5.9Follow-up and monitoring5.10Case study: maintenance plan for a floodable park
6.1Analysis of the site and constraints6.2Characterisation of the soil and water table6.3Definition of management objectives6.4Selection and fitting of techniques6.5Hydraulic sizing of the techniques6.6Scenario modelling6.7Budget and maintenance plan6.8Landscape integration of the scheme6.9Report and presentation6.10Final project: final review with your tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within the intake, so it fits around your work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is EPA SWMM, Autodesk InfoDrainage, QGIS and MicroDrainage, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied on real procedures for sizing SUDS techniques, modelling runoff scenarios and drawing up maintenance plans for green infrastructure. Assessment is continuous per module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: Royal Decree 665/2023, Royal Decree 849/1986, Directive (EU) 2024/3019, Order FOM/298/2016 (Instruction 5.2-IC), UNE-EN 752, UNE-EN 1338, Directive 2000/60/EC.
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
- No prior qualification is required.
- 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 300 hours over 3 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with EPA SWMM, Autodesk InfoDrainage, QGIS and MicroDrainage, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute certificate, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. 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 are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
No prior qualification is required; you need an internet connection, 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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