Course in Corrosion Diagnosis of Steel Reinforcement
Online course of 300 hours in corrosion diagnosis of steel reinforcement in concrete, with 6 modules covering corrosion mechanisms, inspection planning, non-destructive and laboratory testing, residual service life and repair criteria under EN 1504, with an assigned technical tutor.
Course in Corrosion Diagnosis of Steel Reinforcement — studying from Malta
Malta's civil engineering sector is active, driven by ongoing construction, infrastructure upgrades, coastal works and urban regeneration projects across the islands. Demand for civil engineers is closely linked to public works, land development and the modernisation of transport networks. Smart city initiatives, including digital mapping, traffic management and sustainable urban planning, are increasingly relevant. Engineers typically find employment with contractors, consultancies, government departments and utility providers managing infrastructure in a densely populated environment.
Fees for Malta: €448 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Malta
Typical roles
Questions from Malta
Which Maltese bodies regulate civil engineering and related professional practice?
The Chamber of Engineers (KSU) regulates the use of the title 'engineer' in Malta under the Engineering Profession Act. Planning and development matters fall under the Planning Authority, and public works and transport infrastructure involve government agencies including Transport Malta. A SEIUM qualification does not itself grant a regulated title; recognition is decided by employers or the relevant body.
What employers in Malta would value civil, rail or smart city engineering skills?
Malta's construction, infrastructure, consultancy and public sector firms are the main employers, along with transport and utilities bodies. Smart city and digital infrastructure work is growing in some areas. Employers typically look for chartered-level experience and licensing, so a private qualification should be seen as supporting your professional development rather than a substitute for those requirements.
How can I study this while working on site, and what support is there?
The programme is delivered entirely online in English, so you can study from anywhere in Malta without a student visa. Each student has an assigned technical tutor, and the course ends with a final project. Time commitment depends on the programme length, from 300 to 1,900 hours. Ask about instalment payments and employer sponsorship to help manage costs.
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
Explain carbonation-induced and chloride-induced corrosion mechanisms in reinforced concrete.
Plan an inspection and diagnosis campaign with justified sampling criteria.
Apply and interpret corrosion potential, resistivity and corrosion rate tests.
Determine the carbonation front and chloride profile from cores.
Estimate residual service life using initiation and propagation models.
Propose repair and protection strategies in accordance with EN 1504.
Write a technical diagnosis report that can be defended before the owner.
Who it's for
- Structural pathology engineers who want to specialise in corrosion diagnosis of steel reinforcement.
- Structural inspection technicians who want to specialise in corrosion diagnosis of steel reinforcement.
- Bridge maintenance engineers who want to specialise in corrosion diagnosis of steel reinforcement.
- Building rehabilitation consultants who want to specialise in corrosion diagnosis of steel reinforcement.
- Infrastructure asset managers who want to specialise in corrosion diagnosis of steel reinforcement.
- Materials laboratory technicians who want to specialise in corrosion diagnosis of steel reinforcement.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to move into civil engineering.
What you'll work with
- EN 1504 (protection and repair of concrete structures)
- Código Estructural (RD 470/2021) (Spanish Structural Code)
- EN 206 (concrete specification)
- ASTM C876 (corrosion potential)
- RILEM TC 154-EMC (electrochemical techniques for measuring corrosion in concrete)
- UNE 112011 (carbonation depth)
- ISO 12696 (cathodic protection of steel in concrete)
- Advanced Excel
- Python (NumPy, Matplotlib)
- QGIS
- AutoCAD
6 modules
1.1Passivation of steel and the role of the concrete cover1.2Electrochemical mechanism of corrosion1.3Carbonation of concrete1.4Chloride attack and critical threshold1.5Pitting and general corrosion1.6Environmental factors: humidity, temperature and oxygen1.7Corrosion products and cracking1.8Exposure classes in the Código Estructural and EN 2061.9Structural consequences of cross-section loss1.10Workshop: reading a real deterioration case
2.1Diagnosis objectives and scope2.2Gathering project documentation2.3Visual inspection and damage mapping2.4Cracks, rust stains and spalling2.5Zoning the structure by exposure2.6Test plan and sampling criteria2.7Access, safety and auxiliary equipment2.8Photographic records and field sheets2.9Coordination with the owner2.10Practical: inspection plan for a bridge
3.1Cover measurement with a covermeter3.2Corrosion potential (half-cell) according to ASTM C8763.3Electrical resistivity of concrete3.4Corrosion rate by linear polarisation3.5Ground-penetrating radar to locate reinforcement3.6Thermography and ultrasound3.7Limitations and interference of each technique3.8Calibration and measurement conditions3.9Combining techniques for a reliable diagnosis3.10Laboratory: interpreting a potential map
4.1Core extraction and exploratory openings4.2Carbonation depth with phenolphthalein4.3Chloride profiles by depth4.4Porosity and absorption of concrete4.5Compressive strength of existing concrete4.6Measuring reinforcement cross-section loss4.7Tensile tests on extracted bars4.8Chain of custody of samples4.9Joint interpretation of results4.10Practical: calculating the chloride front
5.1Initiation and propagation models5.2Predicting carbonation with the square-root-of-time law5.3Chloride diffusion and Fick's second law5.4Estimating residual service life5.5Reduction of bond and ductility5.6Checking load-bearing capacity5.7Damage classification and urgency of action5.8Repair criteria according to EN 15045.9Cathodic protection and other alternatives5.10Case study: assessment of a deteriorated floor slab
6.1Defining the structure and the scope6.2Preliminary inspection and zoning6.3Selecting and justifying tests6.4Analysing field and laboratory results6.5Diagnosing the corrosion mechanism6.6Estimating residual service life6.7Repair and maintenance proposal6.8Indicative budget and priorities6.9Report and presentation6.10Final 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. 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 advanced Excel, Python (NumPy, Matplotlib), QGIS and AutoCAD, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures for inspecting reinforced concrete structures, construction materials laboratory work and electrochemical corrosion testing. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: EN 1504, Código Estructural (RD 470/2021), EN 206, ASTM C876, RILEM TC 154-EMC, UNE 112011, ISO 12696.
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
- No previous qualification 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 course 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 will work with advanced Excel, Python (NumPy, Matplotlib), QGIS and AutoCAD. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and your tutor indicates the free alternative where 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 previous qualification is required. You need an internet connection, a computer capable of running 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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