Master’s in Armoured Vehicle Architecture and Design Engineering
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in armoured vehicle architecture and design engineering: 12 modules covering conceptual design, hull architecture, subsystem integration, crew protection standards, open architecture and vetronics, human factors, thermal management, simulation and digital twins, safety and RAMS, life cycle sustainability and the legal and ethical framework, with an assigned technical tutor.
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
Develop the conceptual design of armoured vehicles from requirements.
Design the structural architecture of the hull.
Integrate subsystems and manage interfaces.
Interpret crew protection standards.
Apply open architectures and human factors to design.
Use simulation and digital twins in development.
Assess the design from a legal, ethical and life cycle perspective.
Who it's for
- Armoured vehicle design engineers.
- Platform systems architects.
- Integration engineers.
- Human factors engineers.
- Simulation engineers working with FEA, multibody and CFD tools.
- Certification engineers.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter the defence industry.
What you'll work with
- STANAG 4569 (protection levels for occupants of logistic and light armoured vehicles)
- AEP-55 (procedures for evaluating vehicle protection levels)
- STANAG 4754 (NATO Generic Vehicle Architecture, NGVA)
- MIL-STD-1472H (human engineering design criteria)
- MIL-STD-882E (system safety)
- MIL-STD-810H (environmental engineering considerations and laboratory tests)
- Regulation (EC) 1907/2006 (REACH, chemical substances)
- Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions, Article 36 (legal review of new weapons)
- Siemens NX
- Ansys Mechanical
- MSC Adams
- Siemens Jack
- Cameo Systems Modeler
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1From operational requirement to concept1.2Hull configurations and internal layout1.3Design trade-off studies1.4Mass and volume budgets1.5Modularity and vehicle families1.6Weight growth over the service life1.7Market analysis and benchmarks1.8Legal and ethical constraints on design1.9Conceptual design review1.10Case study: trade-off study between 6×6 and 8×8 configurations
2.1Monocoque hull versus chassis2.2Hull structural materials2.3Welded joints in armour steels2.4Structural stiffness and natural modes2.5Structural fatigue2.6Integration of attachment points2.7Watertightness and fording2.8Design for manufacture2.9Design for repair2.10Lab: modal analysis of a simplified hull
3.1Physical architecture and zoning3.2Engine, crew and cargo compartments3.3Mechanical interface management3.4Electrical and harness integration3.5Integration of climate control systems3.6Maintenance access routes3.7Centre of gravity management3.8Integration of mission equipment3.9Configuration change management3.10Practical exercise: N2 interface matrix for a platform
4.1Protection requirements according to STANAG 45694.2AEP-55 procedures4.3Energy-absorbing seats4.4Decoupled floors and safety spaces4.5Occupant injury criteria4.6Anthropomorphic test dummies4.7High-level fragment protection4.8Collective CBRN protection4.9Emergency egress4.10Case study: interpreting injury criteria in a standardised test
5.1MOSA principles in vehicles5.2NGVA and GVA5.3NGVA data model5.4On-board Ethernet networks5.5Electrical power management5.6Crew consoles and displays5.7360° vision systems5.8Interoperability with command and control5.9Incremental technology insertion5.10Lab: designing a reference on-board network
6.1Human engineering in armoured vehicles6.2Station layout6.3Visibility and periscopes6.4Design of controls and displays6.5Crew cognitive workload6.6Habitability in extended missions6.7Accessibility and user diversity6.8Simulation with digital human models6.9User validation6.10Practical exercise: habitability study with a digital human model
7.1Heat sources in the platform7.2Crew climate control7.3Electronics cooling7.4Operation in extreme climates7.5Air filtration and overpressure7.6Dust and sand management7.7CFD analysis of compartments7.8Environmental testing7.9Energy efficiency of auxiliaries7.10Case study: sizing the climate control system
8.1CAD modelling and product data management8.2Finite element analysis8.3Multibody dynamics8.4Mobility simulation8.5Thermal simulation8.6Vehicle digital twin8.7Model validation against tests8.8Uncertainty management8.9Model-based engineering8.10Lab: multibody model of an 8×8 vehicle
9.1System safety9.2Platform hazard analysis9.3Design reliability9.4Maintainability and accessibility9.5Operational availability9.6Functional safety of electronic systems9.7Type approval for road use9.8Certification of regulatory compliance9.9Safety documentation9.10Workshop: safety case for a platform
10.1Life cycle cost10.2Design for sustainment10.3Component obsolescence10.4Mid-life upgrade10.5Environmental footprint of the vehicle10.6Hazardous substances and REACH10.7End of life and demilitarisation10.8Circular economy in defence10.9Life cycle assessment10.10Practical exercise: mid-life upgrade analysis
11.1International humanitarian law11.2Article 36 legal review11.3Export controls11.4Defence procurement in the EU11.5European Defence Fund11.6Intellectual property in programmes11.7AQAP quality11.8Professional ethics of the engineer11.9Communication with society11.10Case study: export analysis of a vehicle
12.1Definition of requirements12.2Study of alternatives12.3Conceptual design12.4Preliminary design of the subsystem12.5Analysis and simulation12.6RAMS assessment12.7Legal and ethical analysis12.8Conclusions12.9Master'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 the intake, so it fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standards and applied exercises. The working software is Siemens NX, Ansys Mechanical, MSC Adams, Siemens Jack and Cameo Systems Modeler, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Exercises are based on real procedures: platform design trade-off studies, structural and multibody analysis of hulls, and ergonomic assessments with digital human models. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: STANAG 4569, AEP-55, STANAG 4754 (NGVA), MIL-STD-1472H, MIL-STD-882E, MIL-STD-810H, Regulation (EC) 1907/2006 (REACH), Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions (Article 36).
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
- University degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
- 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 Siemens NX, Ansys Mechanical, MSC Adams, Siemens Jack and Cameo Systems Modeler, 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 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.
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