Tunnel Construction Course in Difficult Terrain
Online course of 300 hours in Tunnel Construction in Difficult Ground: 6 modules covering difficult ground types, site investigation and characterisation, excavation and support methods, ground treatment and incident management on site, with an assigned technical tutor.
Tunnel Construction Course in Difficult Terrain — 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: €448 (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
Recognise the main types of difficult ground in tunnelling.
Plan geotechnical investigations for complex ground.
Select suitable excavation and support methods.
Design ground treatments to improve stability.
Manage geotechnical incidents during construction.
Analyse landmark cases of tunnels in complex ground.
Design the construction solution for a tunnel in difficult ground.
Who it's for
- Tunnel engineers facing complex geology.
- Geotechnical engineers on underground projects.
- Underground works production managers.
- Tunnel geologists.
- Ground treatment consultants.
- Technical assistance teams supporting site supervision.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter underground construction.
What you'll work with
- UNE-EN 1997-1 (Eurocode 7: geotechnical design)
- UNE-EN 1997-2 (Eurocode 7: ground investigation and testing)
- ITA-AITES WG2 Guidelines for the Design of Tunnels (international tunnel design guidance)
- UNE-EN 12716 (jet grouting)
- UNE-EN 12715 (grouting)
- UNE-EN 14199 (micropiles)
- ISRM Suggested Methods for Laboratory Testing of Swelling Rocks (laboratory testing of swelling rocks)
- PLAXIS 2D
- RS2 (Rocscience)
- FLAC3D
- Leapfrog Works
- RocLab
6 modules
1.1Classification of difficult ground1.2Soft soils below the water table1.3Swelling rocks: anhydrite and clays1.4Squeezing rock and large deformations1.5Fault zones and crushed rock1.6Karst and cavities1.7Mixed ground and heterogeneous faces1.8High temperatures and gases1.9Rockbursts at great depth1.10Case study: Gotthard Base Tunnel
2.1Geotechnical campaigns for complex ground2.2Inclined and horizontal boreholes2.3Seismic and electrical geophysics2.4Swelling and expansivity tests2.5Creep and long-duration triaxial tests2.6Probe drilling ahead of the face2.7TSP tunnel seismic prediction2.8Geological model and zones of uncertainty2.9Geotechnical baseline report2.10Practical: interpretation of a swelling test
3.1New Austrian Tunnelling Method and flexible support3.2ADECO-RS method and core control3.3Yielding support with deformable elements3.4Heavy steel arches and early invert closure3.5Linings able to withstand swelling3.6Partial-face excavation3.7EPB and slurry shield TBMs3.8Double-shield TBMs in fractured rock3.9TBM entrapment and release3.10Case study: support selection in squeezing rock
4.1Micropile canopies and face bolting4.2Consolidation and waterproofing grouting4.3Jet grouting columns4.4Artificial ground freezing4.5Drainage and groundwater lowering4.6Compressed air in excavations4.7Filling of karst cavities4.8Quality control of treatments4.9Selection of treatment according to ground type4.10Workshop: design of a micropile canopy
5.1Collapses and chimneys5.2Sudden water inflows5.3Excessive support deformations5.4Re-profiling and re-excavation5.5Monitoring and the observational method5.6Geotechnical contingency plans5.7Impact on schedule and cost5.8Incident reporting5.9Lessons from landmark tunnels5.10Case study: managing a collapse in a fault zone
6.1Geological context of the case6.2Identification of problematic ground6.3Proposal for complementary investigation6.4Selection of the excavation method6.5Design of support and ground treatment6.6Contingency plan6.7Programme and cost estimate6.8Assessment of residual risks6.9Report and presentation6.10Final project: final review with your tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training 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 PLAXIS 2D, RS2 (Rocscience), FLAC3D, Leapfrog Works and RocLab, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Cases are studied on real procedures for support design in squeezing rock, ground treatment in soft soils and management of geotechnical incidents on site. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final integrated project.
Standards covered: UNE-EN 1997-1; UNE-EN 1997-2; ITA-AITES WG2 Guidelines for the Design of Tunnels; UNE-EN 12716; UNE-EN 12715; UNE-EN 14199; ISRM Suggested Methods for Laboratory Testing of Swelling Rocks.
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, RS2 (Rocscience), FLAC3D, Leapfrog Works and RocLab, 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 only need an internet connection, 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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