CourseCivil, Rail & Smart Cities Applications open

Course in Introduction to Tunnels and Underground Works

Online course of 300 hours introducing tunnels and underground works. 6 modules covering the underground space, ground investigation, ground behaviour and support, excavation methods, and tunnel safety, equipment and operation to EN 1997-1 and EN 14487-1, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration3 months
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute certificate

Course in Introduction to Tunnels and Underground Works — studying from Ireland

Ireland's civil engineering sector is driven by public infrastructure investment in roads, water, housing and public transport, alongside rail projects such as Dublin's light rail and commuter rail upgrades. Transport Infrastructure Ireland sets standards for national roads, while Irish Rail and Iarnród Éireann operate and develop the rail network. Smart city initiatives in Dublin and other urban areas create demand for engineers working on sensors, data platforms and integrated mobility systems. Typical employers include contractors, consultancies, local authorities and public agencies, with Engineers Ireland providing professional recognition.

Fees for Ireland: €644 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.

Relevant bodies in Ireland

  • Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII)
  • Irish Rail (Iarnród Éireann)
  • Engineers Ireland
  • Institution of Engineers of Ireland (IEI)

Typical roles

  • Civil Engineer
  • Rail Systems Engineer
  • Transport Planning Engineer
  • Smart City Infrastructure Engineer

Questions from Ireland

Is a SEIUM qualification recognised for chartered civil or rail engineering status in Ireland?

Chartered engineer status in Ireland is administered by Engineers Ireland, which sets its own criteria for membership and registration. Rail is regulated in part by the National Transport Authority and Irish Rail-related bodies, while building and infrastructure standards involve other authorities. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not accredited by any national body, so recognition is for those bodies and employers to decide.

Do Irish civil, rail and smart-city employers consider private online engineering study?

Irish infrastructure, consultancy and local authority employers usually weigh chartered status, project experience and relevant degrees heavily. A private online qualification may be considered as supporting evidence of skills, but its value is at each employer's discretion. We cannot promise any outcome, so discuss it with prospective employers.

Can I study alongside a site or office job, and is employer funding common?

The programme is online and taught in English, so you can study from home without travel or a student visa. Plan for 1,900 hours on a master's, 800 on a postgraduate diploma or 300 on a specialist course. Each student has an assigned technical tutor, fees can be paid in instalments, and employer sponsorship may be possible. Many Irish employers have continuing professional development budgets, so ask yours.

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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Describe the types and uses of underground works.

02

Characterise the ground using geomechanical classifications.

03

Understand the interaction between ground and support.

04

Compare excavation methods.

05

Identify tunnel equipment and safety systems.

06

Select a construction method according to the ground.

07

Prepare a preliminary study of a tunnel.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Underground works technicians
  • Junior geotechnical engineers
  • Tunnel technical office assistants
  • Monitoring technicians
  • Assistant site managers
  • Tunnel operation technicians
  • Engineering or science graduates looking to move into underground construction
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • EN 1997-1 (Eurocode 7 – geotechnical design)
  • EN 14487-1 (sprayed concrete)
  • EN 1537 (execution of ground anchors)
  • EN 16191 (tunnelling machinery – safety requirements)
  • Real Decreto 635/2006 (Spanish minimum safety requirements for road tunnels)
  • Directive 2004/54/EC (minimum safety requirements for tunnels in the trans-European road network)
  • RocData
  • Plaxis 2D
  • Rocscience RS2
  • AutoCAD Civil 3D
Syllabus

6 modules

  1. 1.1History of tunnels
  2. 1.2Types of underground works
  3. 1.3Road, railway and metro tunnels
  4. 1.4Utility galleries and sewers
  5. 1.5Caverns and storage facilities
  6. 1.6Advantages of using the subsurface
  7. 1.7Life cycle of a tunnel
  8. 1.8Major tunnels of the world
  9. 1.9Tunnels in Spain
  10. 1.10Case study: the Gotthard Base Tunnel
  1. 2.1Geology applied to tunnels
  2. 2.2Rock masses and discontinuities
  3. 2.3Soils and their behaviour
  4. 2.4Groundwater
  5. 2.5RMR and Q geomechanical classifications
  6. 2.6Investigation by boreholes
  7. 2.7Geophysics for tunnels
  8. 2.8In situ and laboratory tests
  9. 2.9Geological-geotechnical model
  10. 2.10Practical: RMR classification of a rock mass
  1. 3.1Initial stress state
  2. 3.2Stress redistribution
  3. 3.3Ground reaction curve
  4. 3.4Sprayed concrete
  5. 3.5Rock bolts and anchors
  6. 3.6Steel arches
  7. 3.7Final lining
  8. 3.8Waterproofing and drainage
  9. 3.9Tunnel monitoring
  10. 3.10Lab: convergence-confinement curve
  1. 4.1Drill and blast: principles
  2. 4.2Mechanical excavation with roadheaders
  3. 4.3New Austrian Tunnelling Method
  4. 4.4Tunnel boring machines: types
  5. 4.5Cut-and-cover between diaphragm walls
  6. 4.6Shafts and galleries
  7. 4.7Immersed tunnels
  8. 4.8Ground treatment
  9. 4.9Method selection
  10. 4.10Case study: choosing the method for an urban metro
  1. 5.1Health and safety in underground works
  2. 5.2Ventilation during construction
  3. 5.3Equipment of tunnels in service
  4. 5.4Lighting
  5. 5.5Fire safety
  6. 5.6Control centres
  7. 5.7Inspection and maintenance
  8. 5.8Impact on the surface and buildings
  9. 5.9Sustainability of underground works
  10. 5.10Practical: equipment list for a road tunnel
  1. 6.1Alignment description
  2. 6.2Geological characterisation
  3. 6.3Rock mass classification
  4. 6.4Excavation method
  5. 6.5Proposed support
  6. 6.6Typical cross-section
  7. 6.7Basic equipment
  8. 6.8Preliminary programme
  9. 6.9Report and presentation
  10. 6.10Final project: final review with the tutor
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so it fits around your work.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is RocData, Plaxis 2D, Rocscience RS2 and AutoCAD Civil 3D, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures for geomechanical classification of rock masses, convergence-confinement analysis and selection of excavation methods. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final capstone project.

Standards covered: EN 1997-1, EN 14487-1, EN 1537, EN 16191, Real Decreto 635/2006, Directive 2004/54/EC.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of EN 1997-1, EN 14487-1 and EN 1537 applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:RocData, Plaxis 2D, Rocscience RS2, AutoCAD Civil 3D, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Final project:A preliminary design of a tunnel, from geological characterisation and rock mass classification to excavation method, support and basic equipment, reviewed by your tutor.
Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Rock mass classification
Classify a rock mass using the RMR system.
Convergence-confinement analysis
Plot the ground reaction curve and assess the support required.
Excavation method selection
Choose the most suitable excavation method for an urban metro.
Tunnel equipment list
Define the equipment and safety systems of a road tunnel.
Final project
A preliminary tunnel design with method, support, cross-section and programme, reviewed by your tutor.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Underground works technicianJunior geotechnical engineerTunnel technical office assistantMonitoring technicianAssistant site managerTunnel operation technician
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • No prior qualification is required.
  • Internet connection and a computer able to run 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.

FAQ

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 RocData, Plaxis 2D, Rocscience RS2, AutoCAD Civil 3D, 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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