Diploma in Design of Cable-Stayed and Extradosed Bridges
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in cable-stayed and extradosed bridge design, structured in 8 modules covering bridge typologies, stay cables and anchorage systems, structural analysis, deck design, pylons and foundations, construction process and aerodynamics under the Eurocodes, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in Design of Cable-Stayed and Extradosed 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: €1,490 (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
Select the appropriate stay arrangement for each site.
Size stay cables and anchorages for strength and fatigue.
Model cable-stayed bridges taking non-linearities into account.
Design decks and pylons in accordance with the Eurocodes.
Analyse the construction process and the stressing sequence.
Assess the aerodynamic and dynamic response of the bridge.
Develop a complete preliminary design for a cable-stayed or extradosed bridge.
Who it's for
- Bridge engineers.
- Structural analysts and designers.
- Bridge construction engineers.
- Designers of landmark structures.
- Post-tensioning and stressing control engineers.
- Structural consultants.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to move into road infrastructure.
What you'll work with
- EN 1992-2 (Eurocode 2 — concrete bridges)
- EN 1993-1-11 (Eurocode 3 — design of structures with tension components)
- EN 1994-2 (Eurocode 4 — composite steel and concrete bridges)
- EN 1991-2 (Eurocode 1 — traffic loads on bridges)
- EN 1991-1-4 (Eurocode 1 — wind actions)
- IAP-11 (Spanish code on actions for road bridges)
- fib Bulletin 89 (acceptance of stay cable systems using prestressing steels)
- PTI DC45.1 (recommendations for stay cable design, testing and installation)
- Midas Civil
- SOFiSTiK
- CSI SAP2000
- Allplan Bridge
- LUSAS Bridge
8 modules
1.1History and evolution of cable-stayed bridges1.2Harp and fan stay arrangements1.3Pylon shapes and materials1.4Concrete, composite and steel decks1.5Central and lateral suspension1.6Span ranges and proportions1.7The extradosed bridge concept1.8Landmark reference bridges1.9Typology selection criteria1.10Workshop: preliminary design of a 300 m cable-stayed bridge
2.1Parallel strands and locked-coil cables2.2Corrosion protection of stay cables2.3Active and passive anchorages2.4Saddles in extradosed bridges2.5Fatigue of stay cables2.6fib and PTI recommendations for stay cables2.7Stay cable qualification tests2.8Stay cable dampers2.9Replacing stay cables in service2.10Practical exercise: fatigue check of a stay cable
3.1Frame models and non-linearity3.2Ernst equivalent modulus3.3Second-order effects in pylons3.4Concrete creep and shrinkage3.5Optimisation of stressing forces3.6Traffic loads according to EN 1991-23.7Thermal actions on deck and stay cables3.8Seismic analysis of the whole structure3.9Accidental loss of a stay cable3.10Lab: cable-stayed bridge model in Midas Civil
4.1Box, slab and edge-girder sections4.2Steel-concrete composite decks4.3Transverse load distribution4.4Longitudinal prestressing of the deck4.5Stay cable anchorages in the deck4.6Torsional stiffness of the deck4.7Checks according to EN 1992-2 and EN 1994-24.8Deck construction details4.9Expansion joints and bearings4.10Case study: deck design of an extradosed bridge
5.1H, A and inverted-Y pylons5.2Stay cable anchorage in the pylon5.3Buckling and stability of the pylon5.4High-strength concrete5.5Deep foundations of pylons5.6Soil-structure interaction in foundations5.7Protection against ship impact5.8Seismic design of pylons5.9Construction with climbing formwork5.10Practical exercise: stability of a pylon
6.1Balanced cantilever construction6.2Stay cable stressing sequence6.3Construction stage analysis6.4Geometric control during construction6.5Stay cable force adjustment6.6Form travellers6.7Closure at midspan6.8Risks during construction6.9Monitoring during execution6.10Case study: simulation of construction stages
7.1Wind effects on decks7.2Flutter and galloping7.3Vortex shedding7.4Rain-wind induced stay cable vibrations7.5Wind tunnel testing7.6Structural damping of the whole bridge7.7User comfort7.8Bridge load testing7.9Inspection and maintenance7.10Lab: modal analysis of a cable-stayed bridge
8.1Site constraints8.2Study of alternatives8.3Preliminary design of the solution8.4Analysis model8.5Stay cable design8.6Proposed construction process8.7Structural checks at serviceability and ultimate limit states8.8Drawings and budget8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with the 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 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 Midas Civil, SOFiSTiK, CSI SAP2000, Allplan Bridge and LUSAS Bridge, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures: construction stage models of cable-stayed bridges, fatigue checks of stay cables and studies of typology alternatives. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: EN 1992-2, EN 1993-1-11, EN 1994-2, EN 1991-2, EN 1991-1-4, IAP-11, fib Bulletin 89, PTI DC45.1
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
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree 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 800 hours over 6–8 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with Midas Civil, SOFiSTiK, CSI SAP2000, Allplan Bridge and LUSAS Bridge, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma, 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.
Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector (no university degree required), a computer able to run the 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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