Diploma in Submarine Materials and Standards
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in submarine materials and standards. 8 modules covering the submarine as a structure, high-strength steels, titanium and composites, structural calculation and class rules, welding and inspection, corrosion and protection, and safety, certification and the environment, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in Submarine Materials and Standards — studying from Canada
Canada's defence sector is centred on procurement and sustainment through the Department of National Defence and Defence Research and Development Canada. Industrial activity spans land vehicles, naval systems, avionics and electronics, with firms in Ontario, Québec, Nova Scotia and British Columbia. Companies such as General Dynamics Land Systems Canada and Lockheed Martin Canada are notable employers, alongside a broad base of small and medium suppliers. Engineers work on systems integration, vehicle protection, logistics and sustainment, operating within strict security and export control frameworks.
Fees for Canada: C$1,700 (Canadian dollar), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Canada
Typical roles
Questions from Canada
Which Canadian bodies or processes govern defence engineering recognition?
Defence engineering in Canada often involves government procurement and security clearances, and engineers typically hold provincial Professional Engineer licences where a title is required. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not official state degrees or accredited by a national body, so they do not confer licensing or clearance. Recognition is for employers or the relevant body to decide, so verify this first.
Would Canadian defence or land systems employers accept this training?
Canadian defence employers and contractors generally rely on security clearance, licensing and demonstrated experience. A private qualification may support your application, but it is unlikely to replace those requirements, and its acceptance is up to each employer. A SEIUM final project can help show applied skill, so discuss expectations with prospective employers early.
Can I study remotely while working, and what are the costs and language demands?
Yes, the programmes are fully online, so you can study from Canada or elsewhere without a student visa, and fit sessions around work. Specialist courses are 300 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 and master's 1,900. Teaching is in English, supported by an assigned technical tutor. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship may be available.
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 structural behaviour of the pressure hull.
Select high-strength steels for submarines.
Evaluate titanium and composites for deep-diving applications.
Calculate collapse pressure in line with classification rules.
Plan welding and inspection of the hull.
Design corrosion protection.
Apply safety and certification programmes.
Who it's for
- Naval structures engineers.
- Materials engineers.
- Welding inspectors.
- Corrosion engineers.
- Naval certification engineers.
- Underwater vehicle engineers.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to move into the naval sector.
What you'll work with
- DNV-RU-NAV Pt.5 Ch.2 (rules for submarines)
- ASME PVHO-1 (pressure vessels for human occupancy)
- ABS Rules for Building and Classing Underwater Vehicles (class rules for underwater vehicles)
- MIL-S-16216 (HY-80 and HY-100 steel)
- ISO 9606-1 (welder qualification)
- EN 12473 (cathodic protection in seawater)
- Lloyd's Register Rules for Naval Submarines (naval submarine class rules)
- Abaqus
- ANSYS Mechanical
- MSC Nastran
- SYSWELD
- Rhino
8 modules
1.1Types of submarine1.2Pressure hull and light hull1.3Design depth and collapse depth1.4Frames and bulkheads1.5Hull penetrations1.6Hydrostatic loads1.7Shock loads1.8History of structural accidents1.9Civil and research submarines1.10Case study: structural analysis of the S-80 programme
2.1HY-80 and HY-100 steels2.2HSLA steels2.3National and European steels2.4Low-temperature toughness2.5Weldability2.6Hydrogen embrittlement2.7Quality control of plates2.8Frame forming2.9Heat treatments2.10Lab: Charpy test on a naval steel
3.1Titanium in submarines3.2Titanium alloys3.3Welding of titanium3.4Composites in non-pressure structures3.5Materials for deep-diving vehicles3.6Syntactic foams3.7Ceramics in pressure housings3.8Comparison of materials3.9Cost and manufacturing3.10Practical exercise: material selection for a submersible
4.1Buckling of ring-stiffened cylinders4.2Interframe collapse4.3Overall buckling4.4Geometric imperfections4.5Finite element analysis4.6Classification society rules4.7DNV Rules for Submarines4.8Lloyd's Register and ABS4.9Safety factors4.10Lab: buckling analysis of a cylinder
5.1Naval welding procedures5.2Welder qualification5.3Residual stresses5.4Dimensional control of circularity5.5Non-destructive testing5.6Radiography and ultrasonics5.7Magnetic particle testing5.8Acceptance criteria5.9Quality documentation5.10Practical exercise: inspection plan for a hull section
6.1Corrosion in seawater6.2Cathodic protection6.3Sacrificial anodes6.4Coatings6.5Galvanic corrosion6.6Stress corrosion cracking6.7Biofouling6.8In-service inspection6.9Dry-dock maintenance6.10Case study: cathodic protection system
7.1The SUBSAFE programme7.2Material certification7.3Hull pressure tests7.4Deep-dive trials7.5Habitability and atmosphere7.6Escape and rescue7.7NATO submarine rescue standards7.8Environment and decommissioning7.9Lessons from Titan7.10Case study: certification lessons from the Titan submersible
8.1Defining the vehicle8.2Structural requirements8.3Material selection8.4Collapse calculation8.5Welding plan8.6Inspection plan8.7Corrosion protection plan8.8Conclusions8.9Report and presentation8.10Final 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 each intake, so it fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Abaqus, ANSYS Mechanical, MSC Nastran, SYSWELD and Rhino, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures for Charpy toughness tests, buckling analysis of ring-stiffened cylinders and non-destructive inspection plans. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final project.
Standards covered: DNV-RU-NAV Pt.5 Ch.2, ASME PVHO-1, ABS Rules for Building and Classing Underwater Vehicles, MIL-S-16216, ISO 9606-1, EN 12473, Lloyd's Register Rules for Naval Submarines.
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
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree 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 800 hours over 6–8 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with Abaqus, ANSYS Mechanical, MSC Nastran, SYSWELD and Rhino, 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 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.
Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector (no university degree required), a computer able to run the 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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