Course on cooling and thermal efficiency in racing cars
Online course of 300 hours in cooling and thermal efficiency in racing cars. 6 modules covering vehicle heat transfer, radiators and heat exchangers, aerodynamic cooling, race thermal management and package thermal efficiency, with FIA Appendix J, SAE J1393, GT-SUITE and an assigned technical tutor.
Course on cooling and thermal efficiency in racing cars — studying from Canada
Canada's automotive industry is concentrated in Ontario, particularly around Windsor, Oshawa, Brampton and St. Catharines, with assembly plants and a dense supplier network. Companies such as General Motors Canada, Stellantis Canada and Toyota Canada operate production facilities, supported by a strong parts sector. Motorsport activity is present through national series and circuits such as Canadian Tire Motorsport Park and Mosport. Engineers work on vehicle design, powertrain development, manufacturing engineering and supplier quality.
Fees for Canada: C$852 (Canadian dollar), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Canada
Typical roles
Questions from Canada
Which Canadian bodies recognise automotive engineering qualifications?
Automotive engineers in Canada often hold Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) licences from provincial associations such as Professional Engineers Ontario, which regulate the title 'engineer'. SEIUM is a private institute, and its qualifications are not official state degrees and are not accredited by any national body, so they do not confer P.Eng. status. Whether an employer or other body recognises the training is their decision, so confirm this before you enrol.
Where in Canada would automotive or motorsport training be useful to employers?
Canada has automotive manufacturing centred in Ontario, with suppliers across the country, and a range of motorsport and performance engineering businesses. Employers in these areas typically assess candidates on skills, portfolios and practical experience. A SEIUM final project can document your work, but how much weight a private qualification carries is up to each employer, so ask them directly.
How does the workload and funding work for someone employed in Canada?
Programmes are fully online, so you can study from anywhere, including outside Canadian time zones if needed, but schedules should be planned around your work. Hours range from 300 for specialist courses to 1,900 for master's programmes. Fees can be paid in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible. Teaching is in English, and an assigned technical tutor supports you throughout.
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
Analyse the heat sources of a competition vehicle.
Size radiators and heat exchangers.
Assess the trade-off between cooling and aerodynamics.
Manage temperatures during a race.
Improve the thermal efficiency of the package.
Simulate cooling ducts.
Define configurations by circuit.
Who it's for
- Cooling engineers.
- Thermal systems engineers.
- Track engineers.
- CFD technicians.
- Motor sport mechanics.
- Engine engineers who need to master heat rejection.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter motor sport.
What you'll work with
- Appendix J to the FIA International Sporting Code (technical regulations for competition cars)
- FIA Formula 1 Technical Regulations (technical rules for Formula 1)
- SAE J1393 (test standards for cooling modules)
- ISO 1585 (engine testing, net power)
- ASME PTC 12.5 (single-phase heat exchangers)
- GT-SUITE
- Ansys Fluent
- STAR-CCM+
- MATLAB
6 modules
1.1Heat generated by the engine and brakes1.2Conduction, convection and radiation1.3Heat transfer coefficient1.4Engine heat balance1.5Heat sources in electric vehicles1.6Optimum operating temperature1.7Cooling losses1.8Impact of cooling on aerodynamics1.9Heat exchanger equations1.10Practical: engine heat balance
2.1Water and oil radiators2.2Air-to-air and air-to-water intercoolers2.3Effectiveness-NTU method2.4Fin density and pressure drop2.5Materials and manufacturing2.6Location in the sidepods2.7Inlet and outlet ducts2.8Water pumps and flow rate2.9Thermostats and valves2.10Lab: sizing a radiator
3.1Aerodynamic penalty of cooling3.2NACA ducts and internal diffusers3.3Air outlets and louvres3.4Configuration by circuit3.5Brake cooling3.6Loss of cooling when running in traffic3.7CFD simulation of ducts3.8Climatic wind tunnel testing3.9Tape and blanking on the grid3.10Case study: selecting air outlets
4.1Water, oil and brake temperature sensors4.2Thermal telemetry and steering wheel alarms4.3Heating up behind the safety car4.4Lift and coast technique for cooling4.5Strategy in hot-weather races4.6Coolants, oils and additives4.7Circuit pressurisation and boiling point4.8Response to leaks or pump failures4.9Electronic over-temperature protections4.10Case study: thermal management in a hot race
5.1Thermal efficiency and rejected heat5.2Recovering thermal energy from the exhaust5.3Thermal insulation of exhausts and turbos5.4Ceramic coatings on pistons and manifolds5.5Heat radiated towards the chassis and electronics5.6Operating temperature of electronics5.7Cooling of batteries and inverters5.8Compact radiator packaging5.9Trade-off between weight, downforce and temperature5.10Case study: thermal optimisation of a sidepod
6.1Definition of the vehicle and circuit6.2Full system heat balance6.3Sizing radiators and intercoolers6.4Design of inlet and outlet ducts6.5CFD simulation of the cooling flow6.6On-track thermal validation plan6.7Estimate of the aerodynamic penalty6.8Configurations by ambient temperature6.9Report and presentation6.10Final project: final review with the 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 job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is GT-SUITE, Ansys Fluent, STAR-CCM+ and MATLAB, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures for radiator sizing, cooling configuration by circuit and thermal management during a race. Assessment is continuous per module plus the final project.
Standards covered: Appendix J to the FIA International Sporting Code; FIA Formula 1 Technical Regulations; SAE J1393; ISO 1585; ASME PTC 12.5.
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.
- 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 GT-SUITE, Ansys Fluent, STAR-CCM+ and MATLAB, 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 a computer able to run the programme software, an internet connection 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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