Diploma in Waterproofing, Coatings and Pathologies
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in waterproofing, linings and defects in tunnels, structured in 8 modules covering water in underground works, waterproofing systems, tunnel drainage, tunnel linings, tunnel defects, inspection and diagnosis, and repair and rehabilitation under EN 13491, EN 1504 and EN 206, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in Waterproofing, Coatings and Pathologies — 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: €1,490 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Ireland
Typical roles
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.
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 action of water on underground works.
Select waterproofing and drainage systems.
Design durable tunnel linings.
Identify typical tunnel defects.
Apply non-destructive inspection and diagnosis techniques.
Design repairs that are compatible with operation.
Prepare a rehabilitation project for an existing tunnel.
Who it's for
- Tunnel rehabilitation engineers.
- Underground works inspectors.
- Structural pathology engineers.
- Waterproofing technicians.
- Rehabilitation site managers.
- Railway maintenance engineers.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to move into rail and metro.
What you'll work with
- EN 13491 (geosynthetic barriers for tunnels and underground structures)
- EN 1504 (products and systems for the protection and repair of concrete structures)
- EN 206 (concrete — specification, performance, production and conformity)
- EN 14487-1 (sprayed concrete — definitions, specifications and conformity)
- EN 1992-1-1 (Eurocode 2 — design of concrete structures)
- EN 14889-1 (fibres for concrete — steel fibres)
- Leica Cyclone
- PLAXIS 2D
- AutoCAD
- FLIR Thermal Studio
8 modules
1.1Hydrogeology and water pressure1.2Drained and undrained tunnels1.3Required watertightness classes1.4Effects of water on the lining1.5Chemical aggressiveness of water1.6Frost at tunnel portals1.7Allowable infiltration flows1.8Design criteria against water1.9Reference technical guidelines1.10Workshop: choosing between a drained and a watertight system
2.1PVC and TPO membranes2.2Protective geotextiles2.3Compartmentalised systems with re-injection2.4Sprayed waterproofing membranes2.5Low-permeability watertight concrete2.6Waterstop joint strips2.7EPDM segment gaskets2.8Waterproofing of shafts and stations2.9Membrane installation and welding2.10Practical exercise: waterproofing detail at a joint
3.1Longitudinal and transverse drains3.2Drainage maintenance3.3Drain clogging3.4Carbonate precipitation in drains3.5Flow monitoring and measurement3.6Hydraulic design of drainage3.7Drainage chambers and manholes3.8Environmental impact of drainage3.9Rehabilitation of existing drainage3.10Case study: clogging by carbonates
4.1Plain and reinforced concrete linings4.2Steel and polymer fibre-reinforced concrete4.3Formwork and lining travellers4.4Thicknesses and design criteria4.5Segmental linings4.6Secondary inner linings4.7Tunnel finishes and paints4.8Passive fire protection4.9Lining durability4.10Lab: quality control of lining concrete
5.1Seepage and damp5.2Lining cracking5.3Spalling of fragments5.4Deformations and convergence5.5Reinforcement corrosion5.6Sulphate attack5.7Frost damage5.8Damage after fire5.9Construction-related defects5.10Practical exercise: photographic catalogue of defects
6.1Systematic visual inspection6.2Mobile laser scanning of tunnels6.3Thermography to detect seepage6.4Ground-penetrating radar on linings6.5Core extraction and testing6.6Convergence measurements6.7Rebound hammer and ultrasound6.8Tunnel condition indices6.9Diagnosis report6.10Case study: diagnosis of a century-old railway tunnel
7.1Resin injections7.2Channelling of seepage7.3Meshes and anchors against spalling7.4Repair mortars according to EN 15047.5New inner lining7.6Rehabilitation of masonry tunnels7.7Works with traffic in service7.8Managing track possessions and closures7.9Post-repair monitoring7.10Workshop: seepage repair design
8.1Description of the existing tunnel8.2Inspection campaign8.3Diagnosis of defects8.4Waterproofing solution8.5Lining design8.6Works and closures plan8.7Rehabilitation budget8.8Subsequent maintenance plan8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
Training is 100% online 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 the intake, so it can be combined with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Leica Cyclone, PLAXIS 2D, AutoCAD and FLIR Thermal Studio, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures: tunnel inspection with laser scanning and thermography, design of waterproofing and drainage systems and seepage repair projects in tunnels in service. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: EN 13491, EN 1504, EN 206, EN 14487-1, EN 1992-1-1, EN 14889-1
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
- 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 Leica Cyclone, PLAXIS 2D, AutoCAD and FLIR Thermal Studio, 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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