Postgraduate Diploma in QA of Prepreg/Autoclave and Rapid Cure
Online 800-hour Postgraduate Diploma in QA of Prepreg/Autoclave and Rapid Cure. 8 modules with AS9100D aerospace quality management, SAE AMS 2750 pyrometry and Ansys Composite Cure Simulation. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Postgraduate Diploma in QA of Prepreg/Autoclave and Rapid Cure — studying from Malta
Malta has a modest automotive presence, with the island's economy relying more on services than on vehicle manufacturing. Activity is mainly found in vehicle distribution, aftermarket servicing, and the supply of components and specialist workshops. Engineers interested in motorsport and performance vehicles can find opportunities with dealership groups, service centres and importers that support technical development and customer support. The market favours professionals who combine mechanical knowledge with an understanding of modern electronic and diagnostic systems used across contemporary vehicles.
Fees for Malta: €895 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Malta
Typical roles
Questions from Malta
Which professional bodies in Malta recognise automotive engineers, and does a private qualification give me a regulated title?
In Malta, the title 'engineer' is regulated by the Chamber of Engineers (KSU) under the Engineering Profession Act. Vehicle inspection and roadworthiness fall under Transport Malta. SEIUM qualifications are private qualifications, not official state degrees and not accredited by any national body, so they do not automatically confer a regulated title. Recognition is determined by employers or the relevant body.
What kinds of automotive and motorsport employers operate in Malta?
Malta has a limited automotive manufacturing base, so most relevant roles are in automotive service and distribution, fleet management, vehicle inspection, and suppliers serving wider European markets. Motorsport-related work is small and largely international. Employers will judge candidates on demonstrated skills and experience, so a private qualification should be presented alongside practical evidence.
How do I fit a 300 to 1,900-hour programme around a job, and how is the course taught?
Everything is delivered online in English with an assigned technical tutor, so there is no need to attend campus or obtain a visa. Specialist courses are around 300 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and master's 1,900 hours. Check your weekly time commitment against your job, and ask whether employer sponsorship or instalment payments could help with funding.
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
Handle prepregs in accordance with shelf life and environmental conditions.
Define autoclave cycles with pressure and temperature control.
Interpret cure kinetics through thermal testing.
Evaluate rapid cure and out-of-autoclave processes.
Design quality control plans with witness coupons.
Apply aerospace quality requirements to special processes.
Analyse root causes of curing defects.
Who it's for
- Composites process engineer looking to specialise in QA of Prepreg/Autoclave and Rapid Cure.
- Quality manager looking to specialise in QA of Prepreg/Autoclave and Rapid Cure.
- Autoclave technician looking to specialise in QA of Prepreg/Autoclave and Rapid Cure.
- Materials engineer looking to specialise in QA of Prepreg/Autoclave and Rapid Cure.
- Test laboratory technician looking to specialise in QA of Prepreg/Autoclave and Rapid Cure.
- Special processes auditor looking to specialise in QA of Prepreg/Autoclave and Rapid Cure.
- Graduates in engineering or science seeking to enter a competitive job market.
What you'll work with
- AS9100D aerospace quality management
- SAE AMS 2750 pyrometry
- Nadcap AC7118 composite materials processes
- ASTM D2344 interlaminar shear
- ASTM D7028 Tg by DMA
- ASTM D3171 fibre content
- ASTM E1356 Tg by DSC
- ASTM D2734 void content
8 modules · 800 h
1.1Composition of a prepreg1.2Resin content and areal weight1.3Freezer life and out-time1.4Thawing and moisture control1.5Clean room and environmental conditions1.6Automated cutting and nesting1.7Roll traceability1.8Tack and drapability1.9Defects in incoming material1.10Workshop: incoming quality control of a prepreg roll
2.1How an autoclave works2.2Vacuum bag and consumables2.3Pressure and temperature cycles2.4Thermocouples and part monitoring2.5Cure ramps and dwells2.6Gelation and consolidation2.7Porosity and its control2.8Tooling and thermal expansion2.9Autoclave safety2.10Practical: defining a standard cure cycle
3.1Chemistry of epoxy curing3.2Degree of cure and vitrification3.3Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)3.4Kamal kinetic models3.5Viscosity during the cycle3.6Glass transition temperature3.7Post-cure and thermal stability3.8Exotherm in thick laminates3.9Cure simulation3.10Laboratory: DSC analysis of a resin
4.1Snap-cure rapid-cure resins4.2Compression moulding of prepreg4.3Out-of-autoclave curing processes4.4Vacuum-only curing prepregs4.5Induction heating and heated moulds4.6Exotherm control in short cycles4.7Properties compared with standard cure4.8Productivity and cost4.9Applications in rapid spare parts4.10Case study: reducing the cycle of a deflector
5.1Process control plan5.2Autoclave cycle records5.3Witness coupons per cycle5.4Interlaminar shear tests5.5Fibre content and porosity5.6Tg by DMA5.7Ultrasonic inspection5.8Non-conformities and concessions5.9Thermocouple calibration5.10Practical: analysis of witness coupons from a batch
6.1AS9100 requirements6.2Nadcap accreditation for composites6.3Pyrometry to AMS 27506.4Qualification of special processes6.5Process audits6.6Document management6.7Training control6.8Quality indicators6.9Material supplier management6.10Case study: audit of an autoclave cycle
7.1Porosity and voids7.2Wrinkles and fibre waviness7.3Debonding and delamination7.4Resin-rich areas7.5Ply misalignment7.6Contamination by release agents7.7Root cause of curing defects7.8Corrective actions and their verification7.9Prevention through design7.10Workshop: root cause analysis of excessive porosity
8.1Selection of part and material8.2Definition of cure cycle8.3Quality control plan8.4Selection of verification tests8.5Rapid cycle proposal8.6Comparison of expected properties8.7Process risk analysis8.8Special process documentation8.9Report and presentation8.10Final review with tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetable: students progress at their own pace within the intake, making it possible to combine study with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Ansys Composite Cure Simulation, Fibersim, TA Instruments TRIOS, Minitab, SAP QM, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied using real procedures for autoclave cycle control, witness coupon testing and rapid cure development. Assessment is continuous, per module, plus the final integrating project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Handle prepregs in accordance with shelf life and environmental conditions.
Define autoclave cycles with pressure and temperature control.
Interpret cure kinetics through thermal testing.
Evaluate rapid cure and out-of-autoclave processes.
Design quality control plans with witness coupons.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient level of Spanish to follow technical standards documentation.
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 spread over 6 to 8 months. That is between 10 and 15 hours a week on average, compatible with a full-time job.
The programme uses Ansys Composite Cure Simulation, Fibersim, TA Instruments TRIOS, Minitab, SAP QM. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM's own diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrating project. It is in-house training, not an official Ministry qualification.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area can be credited towards the higher programme. Check the credit transfer policy when you enrol.
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