Master’s in Attachments and PTO Design Engineering
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in attachment and PTO design engineering. 12 modules covering interchangeable equipment, tractor and truck PTOs, hydraulic drive of attachments, structural design, quick couplers, three-point linkage, ISOBUS electronics, safety and ISO 500-1, with an assigned technical tutor.
Master’s in Attachments and PTO Design Engineering — studying from Canada
Canada's off-road and heavy machinery sector serves mining, forestry, agriculture and construction, all major contributors to the national economy. Manufacturers and dealers in Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia supply equipment for resource extraction and infrastructure. Mining activity in Northern Ontario, Quebec and the territories drives demand for rugged vehicle engineering and maintenance expertise. Engineers work on hydraulics, drivetrains, machine safety and special vehicle design.
Fees for Canada: C$12,400 (Canadian dollar), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Canada
Typical roles
Questions from Canada
Is this programme recognised by professional bodies in Canada for off-road and special vehicle engineering?
SEIUM's qualifications are private, not official state degrees, and are not accredited nationally in Canada. Professional engineering titles are regulated provincially, and vehicle and equipment safety is governed by standards such as those from the CSA and rules from Transport Canada where applicable. Recognition of a private qualification is decided by employers or the relevant body.
What employers in Canada might value this qualification for special vehicles and machinery?
Employers could include mining, forestry, agricultural, construction and specialist vehicle manufacturers across Canada. Each employer decides how much weight to place on a private qualification, and practical experience is often central in these sectors. The final project can demonstrate applied capability, but it does not guarantee any role.
How can I study this while working in Canada, and how is it funded?
The programme is online and in English, so you can study from anywhere in Canada without a student visa. Choose from 300-hour specialist courses, 800-hour postgraduate diplomas or 1,900-hour master's programmes. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible, which some Canadian employers offer for job-relevant training.
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
Design interchangeable attachments for carrier machines.
Select mechanical and hydraulic power take-offs.
Calculate attachment structures against wear and fatigue.
Design safe quick couplers.
Integrate ISOBUS electronics into implements.
Apply interchangeable equipment regulations.
Validate attachments and plan their service.
Who it's for
- Attachment design engineers.
- Power take-off engineers.
- Agricultural implement engineers.
- ISOBUS electronics engineers.
- CE marking managers for implements and attachments.
- Attachment product managers.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter the agricultural machinery sector.
What you'll work with
- ISO 500-1 (tractor rear power take-off)
- ISO 730 (three-point linkage)
- ISO 11783 (ISOBUS)
- ISO 4254-1 (agricultural machinery safety)
- UNE-EN ISO 5674 (guards for cardan shafts)
- Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 (machinery)
- UNE-EN 474-1 (earth-moving machinery)
- SolidWorks
- Ansys Mechanical
- Autodesk Inventor
- Simcenter Amesim
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1Buckets, breakers, grabs and shears1.2Trailed and mounted agricultural implements1.3Quick couplers and hitches1.4Interface between machine and attachment1.5Attachment market1.6Customer requirements1.7Interchangeable equipment under the Machinery Regulation1.8Modular attachment design1.9Made-to-order customisation1.10Case study: attachment range for a mini excavator
2.1Rear PTO to ISO 5002.2Standardised shaft and spline types2.3540 and 1000 rpm speeds2.4Cardan shafts and joints2.5PTO guards2.6PTO clutches2.7Front PTO2.8Electronic PTO control2.9Torque limiters2.10Laboratory: calculation of a cardan shaft
3.1Gearbox-mounted PTOs3.2Engine PTOs3.3Driveline-mounted PTOs3.4Sandwich-type PTO3.5Selection by power and speed3.6Permissible torque and duty3.7Gears and PTO ratio3.8Mounting and alignment3.9Control and protections3.10Practical exercise: PTO for a crane truck
4.1Auxiliary circuits of the machine4.2Required flow and pressure4.3Free return to tank4.4Motor drain lines4.5Hydraulic breaker circuit4.6Flat-face hydraulic couplings4.7Proportional control of auxiliaries4.8Configuration by attachment4.9Overpressure protection4.10Practical exercise: auxiliary circuit for a breaker
5.1Service loads on attachments5.2Abrasive wear and impact5.3High-hardness wear-resistant steels5.4Welding of quenched steels5.5Finite element analysis5.6Fatigue of welded joints5.7Teeth and adapters5.8Cutting edges and corner guards5.9Mass optimisation5.10Laboratory: FEM of a bucket
6.1Mechanical quick couplers6.2Hydraulic quick couplers6.3Safety requirements in earth-moving6.4Redundant locking systems6.5Detection and operator warning6.6Coupler interface standards6.7Tiltrotators6.8Coupler design6.9Validation testing6.10Case study: safety analysis of a coupler
7.1Three-point linkage to ISO 7307.2Linkage categories7.3Draft and position control7.4Tractor hydraulic lift7.5Quick hitches for implements7.6Towing devices7.7Drawbars7.8Loads on the linkage7.9Coupling regulations7.10Practical exercise: sizing a linkage
8.1ISOBUS standard ISO 117838.2Task controller8.3Implement auxiliary controls8.4Tractor control by the implement8.5Sensors on attachments8.6Implement controllers8.7Automatic attachment identification8.8Usage telemetry8.9Configuration software8.10Laboratory: ISOBUS configuration
9.1European Machinery Regulation9.2Requirements for interchangeable equipment9.3Guards for power transmissions9.4Strength tests of guards9.5CE marking of implements9.6Instruction manual9.7Risk assessment9.8Agricultural machinery safety to ISO 42549.9Safety signs9.10Case study: CE marking of an implement
10.1Laser and plasma cutting10.2Bending of heavy plate10.3Robotic and manual welding10.4Machining of bores10.5Painting and protection10.6Short-run production10.7Cost breakdown10.8Supplier management10.9Quality control10.10Case study: cost breakdown of a demolition grab
11.1Laboratory testing11.2Field testing with customers11.3Structural durability testing11.4Wear measurement11.5Maintenance plans11.6Wear parts11.7Warranty and claims11.8Dealer training11.9Field feedback11.10Practical exercise: validation plan for an attachment
12.1Definition of the attachment or PTO12.2Carrier machine requirements12.3Conceptual design of the attachment12.4Structural and fatigue calculation12.5Drive and control12.6Safety analysis12.7Manufacturing plan12.8Validation plan12.9Master's Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
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 the programme fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is SolidWorks, Ansys Mechanical, Autodesk Inventor and Simcenter Amesim, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: structural validation of attachments, configuration of ISOBUS implements and PTO selection. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: ISO 500-1, ISO 730, ISO 11783 (ISOBUS), ISO 4254-1, UNE-EN ISO 5674, Regulation (EU) 2023/1230, UNE-EN 474-1.
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
- A university degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
- 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 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with SolidWorks, Ansys Mechanical, Autodesk Inventor and Simcenter Amesim, 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 Master's Thesis. 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 in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
A university degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), 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.
Related programmes
Master’s in Rescue and Wildfire Vehicles Engineering
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in rescue and wildland firefighting vehicle engineering. 12 modules covering wildfires and ground resources, wildland fire engines, off-road mobility, crew…
Master’s in OT Cybersecurity for Off-Highway Engineering
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in OT cybersecurity engineering for off-highway machinery. 12 modules covering OT cybersecurity in mobile machines, embedded architecture, threats and vulnerabilities,…
Master’s in Thermal Management in Desert, Altitude and Extreme Cold Engineering
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in thermal management engineering for desert, altitude and extreme cold. 12 modules covering extreme climates, applied heat transfer, cooling systems,…
More in Off-Road, Special Vehicles & Machinery
All Off-Road, Special Vehicles & Machinery programmes → · How to apply · Fees & financing · Scholarships