Course in Preventive Maintenance of Steel Bridges
Online course of 300 hours in preventive maintenance of steel bridges, structured in 6 modules covering deterioration, maintenance planning, corrosion protection, inspection and maintenance interventions, with an assigned technical tutor.
Course in Preventive Maintenance of Steel Bridges — 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
Identify the deterioration mechanisms of steel bridges.
Plan long-term preventive maintenance.
Specify corrosion protection systems.
Inspect steel elements and connections.
Carry out maintenance interventions safely.
Assess life cycle costs.
Draw up the maintenance plan for a steel bridge.
Who it's for
- Bridge maintenance technicians.
- Steel structure inspectors.
- Paint and coatings inspectors.
- Maintenance works site managers.
- Asset management engineers.
- Non-destructive testing technicians.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter road maintenance.
What you'll work with
- EN ISO 12944-5 (corrosion protection of steel structures by protective paint systems)
- ISO 8501-1 (preparation of steel substrates: visual assessment of surface cleanliness)
- EN ISO 1461 (hot-dip galvanised coatings on fabricated iron and steel articles)
- EN 1090-2 (execution of steel structures: technical requirements)
- EN ISO 17640 (ultrasonic testing of welds)
- EN ISO 9934-1 (magnetic particle testing)
- EN ISO 2808 (paints and varnishes: determination of film thickness)
- SAP2000
- Microsoft Excel
- Elcometer ElcoMaster
- QGIS
6 modules
1.1Types of steel bridges1.2Historical and modern steels1.3Riveted, bolted and welded connections1.4Mechanisms of atmospheric corrosion1.5Corrosion in critical areas1.6Fatigue in details1.7Impact damage1.8Ageing of protection systems1.9Steel bridge heritage1.10Case study: deterioration of a 19th-century truss bridge
2.1Maintenance strategies2.2Preventive versus corrective maintenance2.3Inventory and management system2.4Inspection frequency2.5Condition indicators2.6Multi-year plans2.7Prioritisation with limited resources2.8Life cycle costs2.9Maintenance contracts2.10Practical exercise: ten-year maintenance plan
3.1Corrosivity categories3.2Surface preparation3.3Blast-cleaning grades3.4Paint systems and their durability3.5Hot-dip galvanising3.6Thermal spray metallising3.7Weathering steels3.8Thickness control3.9Partial and full repainting3.10Lab: measuring coating thickness and adhesion
4.1Visual inspection of corrosion4.2Thickness loss4.3Inspection of connections4.4Detection of fatigue cracks4.5Magnetic particle and penetrant testing4.6Ultrasonic testing of welds4.7Inspection of bearings and joints4.8Access with platforms and ropes4.9Inspection report4.10Practical exercise: inspection of a welded joint
5.1Cleaning and drainage5.2Replacement of bolts and rivets5.3Repair of fatigue cracks5.4Strengthening of corroded elements5.5Bearing replacement5.6Deck renewal5.7Environmental management of paint waste5.8Safety in maintenance work5.9Quality control5.10Case study: repainting a bridge over a river
6.1Description of the bridge6.2Inspection of current condition6.3Diagnosis6.4Preventive maintenance plan6.5Proposed protection system6.6Priority interventions6.7Life cycle costs6.8Safety plan6.9Report 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 SAP2000, Microsoft Excel, Elcometer ElcoMaster and QGIS, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Cases are studied on real procedures such as paint thickness measurement, magnetic particle inspection and repainting planning. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: EN ISO 12944-5, ISO 8501-1, EN ISO 1461, EN 1090-2, EN ISO 17640, EN ISO 9934-1, EN ISO 2808.
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 SAP2000, Microsoft Excel, Elcometer ElcoMaster and QGIS, 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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