Course in Design of Bridge Joints and Bearings
Online course of 300 hours in the design of bridge joints and bearings. 6 modules covering deck movements, bearing devices, expansion joints, construction details and installation, and inspection, pathology and maintenance, with an assigned technical tutor.
Course in Design of Bridge Joints and Bearings — 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: €743 (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
Calculate deck movements due to thermal and time-dependent actions.
Select the type of bearing according to loads and rotations.
Size elastomeric, pot and spherical bearings.
Choose expansion joints suited to the movement range.
Define installation and presetting details.
Diagnose defects in bearings and joints.
Design the joint and bearing system of a bridge.
Who it's for
- Bridge engineers.
- Structural detailing designers.
- Bridge maintenance technicians.
- Structural inspectors.
- Bridge site managers.
- Product technicians for bearings and joints.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter road infrastructure.
What you'll work with
- EN 1337-3 (structural bearings, elastomeric bearings)
- EN 1337-5 (structural bearings, pot bearings)
- EN 1337-7 (structural bearings, spherical and cylindrical PTFE bearings)
- ETAG 032 (European guideline for road bridge expansion joints)
- EN 1991-1-5 (Eurocode 1, thermal actions)
- IAP-11 (Spanish code on actions for road bridges)
- SAP2000
- MIDAS Civil
- AutoCAD
- CSiBridge
6 modules
1.1Origin of deck movements1.2Uniform temperature and thermal gradient1.3Shrinkage and creep of concrete1.4Prestressing and elastic shortening1.5Traffic braking and acceleration1.6Seismic actions on bearings1.7Fixed point and restraint schemes1.8Load combinations for movements1.9Design travel and clearances1.10Practical exercise: calculating the movements of a continuous deck
2.1Laminated elastomeric bearings2.2Fixed and sliding pot bearings2.3Spherical bearings2.4PTFE sliding surfaces2.5Guided bearings2.6Friction coefficients2.7Design for compression and rotation2.8Anchorage and distribution plates2.9Anti-seismic bearings and isolators2.10Lab: sizing an elastomeric bearing
3.1Types of joints3.2Modified bitumen joints3.3Comb and finger joints3.4Modular lamella joints3.5Rolling and rail expansion joints3.6Watertightness and drainage3.7Noise and ride comfort3.8Fatigue in modular joints3.9Selection according to movement range3.10Case study: selecting a joint for a viaduct
4.1Bearing plinths and local reinforcement4.2Levelling mortars4.3Placement tolerances4.4Presetting according to temperature4.5On-site joint installation4.6Protection during construction4.7Access for inspection4.8Jacking and bearing replacement4.9As-built documentation4.10Practical exercise: bearing replacement procedure
5.1Typical damage to elastomeric bearings5.2PTFE wear5.3Seizure of sliding bearings5.4Joint damage caused by heavy traffic5.5Leaks and corrosion at abutments5.6Visual inspection and displacement measurement5.7Bearing monitoring5.8Maintenance plans5.9Life-cycle costs5.10Case study: diagnosis of a deteriorated joint
6.1Description of the bridge6.2Calculation of movements6.3Bearing layout6.4Bearing sizing6.5Joint selection6.6Construction details6.7Inspection plan6.8Budget6.9Report and presentation6.10Final project: final 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. No fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each 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 SAP2000, MIDAS Civil, AutoCAD and CSiBridge, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures: calculating thermal movements, diagnosing deteriorated joints and replacing bearings by jacking. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final integrating project.
Standards covered: EN 1337-3, EN 1337-5, EN 1337-7, ETAG 032, EN 1991-1-5, IAP-11.
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 prior qualification is required.
- 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 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 SAP2000, MIDAS Civil, AutoCAD and CSiBridge, 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 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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