Postgraduate Diploma in CFD of Fairings/Winglets and Vortex Management
Online Postgraduate Diploma of 800 h in CFD of Fairings/Winglets and Vortex Management. 8 modules with ASME V&V 20, SAE J1594 and Simcenter STAR-CCM+. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Postgraduate Diploma in CFD of Fairings/Winglets and Vortex Management — studying from Malta
Malta has a strong culture of two-wheeled transport, with scooters and motorcycles widely used given the island's dense traffic and limited parking. This has created a steady market for dealerships, workshops and parts suppliers serving riders. Engineers interested in 2-wheelers can find roles in servicing, technical support and the importation of vehicles and components. Opportunities also arise in electric scooter and light mobility, which are gaining attention in urban policy discussions.
Fees for Malta: €1,290 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Malta
Typical roles
Questions from Malta
Does a SEIUM qualification count for regulated vehicle engineering in Malta?
Vehicle type approval and homologation in Malta follow EU frameworks administered through the Transport Malta authority. SEIUM Institute's qualifications are private and not official state degrees or accredited by any national body. Whether they are recognised for particular roles is decided by employers or the relevant body, so it is worth confirming before enrolling.
What career opportunities for 2-wheeler engineers exist in Malta?
Malta has a small market for motorcycles and two-wheelers, mainly through dealerships, importers, servicing and parts supply. Opportunities are limited compared with larger countries, so many professionals work in adjacent areas such as electronics or design. Employers decide how much value they place on a private online qualification, so direct conversations with them are advisable.
Is the programme workload manageable alongside work, and is employer funding possible?
The programmes are fully online and taught in English. Hours range from 300 for specialist courses to 1,900 for master's programmes, so choose according to the time you can commit. Fees are payable in instalments, employer sponsorship is possible, and each student has an assigned technical tutor for guidance.
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
Apply the fundamentals of computational fluid dynamics to two-wheeled vehicles.
Prepare geometries and meshes suitable for fairings and riders.
Select turbulence models according to the phenomenon studied.
Design fairings and winglets through simulation.
Analyse and manage vortex structures and wakes.
Optimise aerodynamic shapes using parametric and adjoint methods.
Verify and validate simulation results against experimental data.
Who it's for
- CFD engineer wishing to specialise in CFD of Fairings/Winglets and Vortex Management.
- Aerodynamics engineer wishing to specialise in CFD of Fairings/Winglets and Vortex Management.
- Racing engineer wishing to specialise in CFD of Fairings/Winglets and Vortex Management.
- Meshing specialist wishing to specialise in CFD of Fairings/Winglets and Vortex Management.
- Optimisation engineer wishing to specialise in CFD of Fairings/Winglets and Vortex Management.
- HPC simulation engineer wishing to specialise in CFD of Fairings/Winglets and Vortex Management.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter motorcycle racing.
What you'll work with
- ASME V&V 20
- SAE J1594
- AIAA G-077
- JCGM 100:2008 (GUM)
- FIM Grand Prix Technical Regulations
- SAE J2084
8 modules · 800 h
1.1Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations1.2Finite volume discretisation1.3Numerical schemes and stability1.4Boundary conditions for vehicles1.5Low-speed incompressible flow1.6Boundary layer and wall law1.7y+ value and wall resolution1.8Convergence and residuals1.9Computational resources and parallelisation1.10Workshop: flow over a cylinder validation case
2.1Cleaning up fairing CAD2.2Rider geometry2.3Polyhedral and hexahedral meshes2.4Prismatic wall layers2.5Wake refinements2.6Domain and numerical wind tunnel2.7Mesh independence study2.8Mesh quality2.9Pre-processing automation2.10Practice: fairing mesh with prismatic layers
3.1k-ε and k-ω SST models3.2Laminar-turbulent transition models3.3DES and LES simulations3.4Separated flow around the rider3.5Rotating wheels and spokes3.6Moving ground and rolling conditions3.7Model comparison3.8Selection according to objective3.9Cost versus accuracy3.10Laboratory: turbulence model comparison
4.1Front shape and windscreen4.2Domes and deflectors4.3Dynamic air intakes4.4Winglets on side fairing4.5Winglet and fairing interaction4.6Load in lean4.7Flow towards the radiator4.8Low aspect ratio profiles4.9Parametric surface design4.10Practical case: winglet optimisation in STAR-CCM+
5.1Formation of tip vortices5.2Leading-edge vortices5.3Visualisation using the Q-criterion5.4Interaction with the front wheel5.5Rider wake5.6Vortex management with endplates5.7Influence on slipstreaming5.8Instability and periodic shedding5.9Spectral analysis of forces5.10Practice: vortex visualisation using the Q-criterion
6.1Parametric geometry studies6.2Adjoint optimisation6.3Mesh morphing6.4Design of experiments6.5Surrogate models of aerodynamic response6.6Multi-objective optimisation of load and drag6.7Regulatory constraints6.8Robustness to crosswind6.9Management of large campaigns6.10Practical case: adjoint optimisation of a dome
7.1Code and solution verification7.2Wind tunnel validation7.3Comparison with track data7.4Estimation of numerical uncertainty7.5Sensitivity analysis7.6Quality of experimental data7.7V&V reports7.8CFD best practices7.9Simulation-based decisions7.10Workshop: verification and validation plan
8.1Vehicle definition and objective8.2Geometry preparation8.3Meshing strategy8.4Selection of physical modelling8.5Simulation of configurations8.6Vortex analysis8.7Design optimisation8.8Validation and conclusions8.9Report and presentation8.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
Training 100 % online on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it possible to combine study with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Simcenter STAR-CCM+, Ansys Fluent, OpenFOAM, ParaView, ANSA, in free, academic or evaluation versions. The exercises are based on real RANS simulation procedures for motorcycles with a rider at various lean angles, mesh independence study, and numerical validation against wind tunnel data. Assessment is continuous across each module, plus the final integrative project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Apply the fundamentals of computational fluid dynamics to two-wheeled vehicles.
Prepare geometries and meshes suitable for fairings and riders.
Select turbulence models according to the phenomenon studied.
Design fairings and winglets through simulation.
Analyse and manage vortex structures and wakes.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. A university degree is not required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Spanish proficiency sufficient to follow technical standards reading.
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 comprises 800 hours in total, spread over 6 to 8 months. That is an average of 10 to 15 hours per week, compatible with full-time work.
The programme uses Simcenter STAR-CCM+, Ansys Fluent, OpenFOAM, ParaView, ANSA. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
An own diploma from SEIUM upon passing the continuous assessment and the final integrative project. It is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or diploma in the same area are credited towards the advanced programme. Check the recognition policy when you enrol.
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