Course on Applied Geotechnics in Deep Excavations
Online course of 300 hours in applied geotechnics for deep excavations, structured in 6 modules covering geotechnical characterisation, earth pressures and stability, retaining systems, groundwater in deep excavations and numerical analysis and monitoring, with an assigned technical tutor.
Course on Applied Geotechnics in Deep Excavations — 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
Plan the geotechnical characterisation of a deep excavation.
Calculate earth pressures and verify stability according to Eurocode 7.
Design anchored and propped retaining systems.
Control groundwater through dewatering and impermeable barriers.
Model excavations with advanced numerical analysis.
Apply the observational method with monitoring.
Develop the geotechnical design of a deep excavation.
Who it's for
- Geotechnical engineers.
- Retaining structure designers.
- Foundation site managers.
- Geotechnical consultants.
- Monitoring technicians.
- Construction hydrogeologists.
- Engineering or science graduates aiming to work for geotechnical consultancies.
What you'll work with
- UNE-EN 1997-1 Eurocode 7 (geotechnical design, general rules)
- UNE-EN 1997-2 (ground investigation and testing)
- Spanish Technical Building Code DB SE-C (foundations and geotechnics)
- UNE-EN 1538:2011 (execution of diaphragm walls)
- UNE-EN 1537:2015 (execution of ground anchors)
- UNE-EN 12063:2000 (execution of sheet pile walls)
- UNE-EN ISO 22476-3:2006 (standard penetration test)
- UNE-EN ISO 17892-1:2015 (laboratory testing of soil, water content)
- PLAXIS 2D
- GEO5
- Oasys FREW
- SLOPE/W
- SEEP/W
6 modules
1.1Ground investigation campaign1.2Boreholes and in situ tests1.3SPT, CPTU and pressuremeter tests1.4Laboratory strength tests1.5Drained and undrained parameters1.6Permeability and pumping tests1.7Small-strain stiffness1.8Geological and geotechnical model1.9Characteristic values of parameters1.10Case study: geotechnical report for a basement excavation
2.1Active, passive and at-rest earth pressures2.2Rankine and Coulomb theories2.3Earth pressures with surcharges and water2.4Base failure in clays2.5Piping and hydraulic heave2.6Overall stability2.7Eurocode 7 partial factors2.8Design approaches2.9Analysis of layered soils2.10Practical exercise: earth pressures in layered ground
3.1Concrete diaphragm walls3.2Secant and contiguous pile walls3.3Steel sheet piles3.4Berlin walls3.5Ground anchors3.6Props and struts3.7Berms and temporary slopes3.8Analysis as a beam on springs3.9Structural design of the wall3.10Workshop: design of a wall with two anchor levels
4.1Dewatering by wells4.2Well points and drainage4.3Cut-off walls and base plugs4.4Jet grouting at the excavation base4.5Ground freezing4.6Flow nets and flow rates4.7Effects of dewatering on the surroundings4.8Uplift pressure control4.9Aquifer recharge4.10Lab: flow beneath a retaining wall
5.1Advanced constitutive models5.2Coupled consolidation analysis5.33D modelling of corners5.4Interaction with nearby structures5.5Excavation instrumentation5.6Back-analysis of parameters5.7The observational method5.8Thresholds and contingency plans5.9Monitoring reports5.10Case study: back-analysis with inclinometers
6.1Site data6.2Geotechnical model6.3Selection of the retaining system6.4Calculation of earth pressures and stability6.5Design of groundwater control6.6Numerical model6.7Monitoring plan6.8Construction procedure6.9Report and presentation6.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
The programme 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 you can combine it with your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is PLAXIS 2D, GEO5, Oasys FREW, SLOPE/W and SEEP/W, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Exercises are based on real procedures: design of an anchored wall for a deep basement, analysis of groundwater lowering and back-analysis with inclinometer data. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final project.
Standards covered: UNE-EN 1997-1 Eurocode 7, UNE-EN 1997-2, Spanish Technical Building Code DB SE-C, UNE-EN 1538:2011, UNE-EN 1537:2015, UNE-EN 12063:2000, UNE-EN ISO 22476-3:2006, UNE-EN ISO 17892-1:2015.
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 PLAXIS 2D, GEO5, Oasys FREW, SLOPE/W, SEEP/W, 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 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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