Course in Pathology and Repair of Concrete Structures
Online course of 300 hours in pathology and repair of concrete structures, structured in 6 modules covering durability, defects and their causes, diagnosis, EN 1504 repair techniques and structural strengthening, with an assigned technical tutor.
Course in Pathology and Repair of Concrete Structures — 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: €797 (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 the deterioration mechanisms of reinforced concrete.
Identify defects and their causes.
Plan inspection and testing campaigns.
Select repair techniques according to EN 1504.
Design structural strengthening.
Specify quality control for interventions.
Develop the repair project for a structure.
Who it's for
- Structural pathology technicians.
- Rehabilitation engineers.
- Building and structural inspectors.
- Repair works site managers.
- Materials laboratory technicians.
- Durability consultants.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter building rehabilitation.
What you'll work with
- EN 1504-9 (repair of concrete structures: principles for the use of products and systems)
- EN 1504-3 (structural and non-structural repair)
- EN 14630 (determination of carbonation depth in hardened concrete)
- EN 12504-1 (testing concrete in structures: cored specimens)
- ASTM C876 (corrosion potentials of uncoated reinforcing steel in concrete)
- Real Decreto 470/2021 (Spanish Structural Code)
- EN 1992-1-1 (Eurocode 2: design of concrete structures)
- ATENA
- SAP2000
- Sika CarboDur Software
- AutoCAD
6 modules
1.1Concrete microstructure and porosity1.2Transport mechanisms of aggressive agents1.3Environmental exposure classes1.4Concrete cover and service life1.5Carbonation1.6Chloride penetration1.7Sulphate attack1.8Alkali-aggregate reaction1.9Freeze-thaw cycles1.10Practical exercise: service life calculation for carbonation
2.1Plastic shrinkage cracking2.2Early-age thermal cracking2.3Structural cracking2.4Reinforcement corrosion2.5Foundation settlement2.6Construction defects2.7Fire damage2.8Industrial chemical attack2.9Damp and water ingress2.10Case study: diagnosis of an underground car park
3.1Pathology inspection methodology3.2Crack mapping3.3Measurement of carbonation depth3.4Chloride profiles3.5Corrosion potential3.6Concrete resistivity3.7Rebound hammer and ultrasonic testing3.8Core extraction and testing3.9Diagnosis report3.10Lab: carbonation test on cores
4.1Repair principles according to EN 15044.2Removal of damaged concrete and substrate preparation4.3Repair mortars4.4Crack injection4.5Surface treatments4.6Electrochemical realkalisation4.7Electrochemical chloride extraction4.8Cathodic protection4.9Corrosion inhibitors4.10Practical exercise: specification for repairing slab edges
5.1Section enlargement5.2Column jacketing5.3Strengthening with steel plates5.4Strengthening with carbon fibre laminates5.5Fibre fabrics and confinement5.6External prestressing5.7Anchors and connectors5.8Quality control of strengthening5.9Maintenance after repair5.10Case study: flexural strengthening of a beam
6.1Description of the structure6.2Inspection and testing6.3Diagnosis of causes6.4Structural assessment6.5Selection of techniques6.6Repair specification6.7Maintenance plan6.8Budget6.9Report and presentation6.10Final project: final review with your 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 each intake, so the programme fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standards and applied exercises. The working software is ATENA, SAP2000, Sika CarboDur Software and AutoCAD, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Cases are studied on real procedures such as carbonation and chloride measurement, corrosion potential mapping and strengthening with carbon fibre laminates. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: EN 1504-9, EN 1504-3, EN 14630, EN 12504-1, ASTM C876, Real Decreto 470/2021, EN 1992-1-1.
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
- No prior 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 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 ATENA, SAP2000, Sika CarboDur Software and AutoCAD, 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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