Course in Introduction to Tunnels and Underground Works
Online course of 300 hours introducing tunnels and underground works. 6 modules covering the underground space, ground investigation, ground behaviour and support, excavation methods, and tunnel safety, equipment and operation to EN 1997-1 and EN 14487-1, with an assigned technical tutor.
Course in Introduction to Tunnels and Underground Works — studying from New Zealand
Civil engineering is one of New Zealand's largest engineering employers, driven by the need for earthquake-resilient infrastructure, roading, water and wastewater systems across a seismically active country. Major projects include Auckland's City Rail Link and Wellington's transport upgrades, with rail maintained largely by KiwiRail. Engineers work for consultancies, contractors and councils, and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment administers the Building Act and related standards, while Waka Kotahi manages the national land transport network.
Fees for New Zealand: NZ$1,280 (New Zealand dollar), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in New Zealand
Typical roles
Questions from New Zealand
What is the recognition pathway for civil and rail engineers in New Zealand?
Engineering New Zealand administers Chartered Professional Engineer registration, which is the main recognised professional standard for civil engineers. Rail is regulated through the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi and the Ministry of Transport. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not accredited by a national body, so employers or the relevant body decide how much weight to give them.
Who hires civil, rail and smart city engineers in New Zealand?
Employers include city and regional councils, central government agencies, consultancies, contractors, and rail and transport operators. Smart city roles increasingly combine infrastructure knowledge with data and digital systems. Hiring usually depends on registration, experience and project records, so a private qualification is a supporting credential rather than a guaranteed entry point.
Will I need a visa, and how do fees and employer funding work?
No student visa is needed to study from home, because all programmes are 100% online and taught in English. Each programme includes an assigned technical tutor and a final project. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible. Master's programmes take 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 and specialist courses 300, so check the time commitment against your workload.
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
Describe the types and uses of underground works.
Characterise the ground using geomechanical classifications.
Understand the interaction between ground and support.
Compare excavation methods.
Identify tunnel equipment and safety systems.
Select a construction method according to the ground.
Prepare a preliminary study of a tunnel.
Who it's for
- Underground works technicians
- Junior geotechnical engineers
- Tunnel technical office assistants
- Monitoring technicians
- Assistant site managers
- Tunnel operation technicians
- Engineering or science graduates looking to move into underground construction
What you'll work with
- EN 1997-1 (Eurocode 7 – geotechnical design)
- EN 14487-1 (sprayed concrete)
- EN 1537 (execution of ground anchors)
- EN 16191 (tunnelling machinery – safety requirements)
- Real Decreto 635/2006 (Spanish minimum safety requirements for road tunnels)
- Directive 2004/54/EC (minimum safety requirements for tunnels in the trans-European road network)
- RocData
- Plaxis 2D
- Rocscience RS2
- AutoCAD Civil 3D
6 modules
1.1History of tunnels1.2Types of underground works1.3Road, railway and metro tunnels1.4Utility galleries and sewers1.5Caverns and storage facilities1.6Advantages of using the subsurface1.7Life cycle of a tunnel1.8Major tunnels of the world1.9Tunnels in Spain1.10Case study: the Gotthard Base Tunnel
2.1Geology applied to tunnels2.2Rock masses and discontinuities2.3Soils and their behaviour2.4Groundwater2.5RMR and Q geomechanical classifications2.6Investigation by boreholes2.7Geophysics for tunnels2.8In situ and laboratory tests2.9Geological-geotechnical model2.10Practical: RMR classification of a rock mass
3.1Initial stress state3.2Stress redistribution3.3Ground reaction curve3.4Sprayed concrete3.5Rock bolts and anchors3.6Steel arches3.7Final lining3.8Waterproofing and drainage3.9Tunnel monitoring3.10Lab: convergence-confinement curve
4.1Drill and blast: principles4.2Mechanical excavation with roadheaders4.3New Austrian Tunnelling Method4.4Tunnel boring machines: types4.5Cut-and-cover between diaphragm walls4.6Shafts and galleries4.7Immersed tunnels4.8Ground treatment4.9Method selection4.10Case study: choosing the method for an urban metro
5.1Health and safety in underground works5.2Ventilation during construction5.3Equipment of tunnels in service5.4Lighting5.5Fire safety5.6Control centres5.7Inspection and maintenance5.8Impact on the surface and buildings5.9Sustainability of underground works5.10Practical: equipment list for a road tunnel
6.1Alignment description6.2Geological characterisation6.3Rock mass classification6.4Excavation method6.5Proposed support6.6Typical cross-section6.7Basic equipment6.8Preliminary programme6.9Report and presentation6.10Final project: final review with the 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 each intake, so it fits around your work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is RocData, Plaxis 2D, Rocscience RS2 and AutoCAD Civil 3D, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures for geomechanical classification of rock masses, convergence-confinement analysis and selection of excavation methods. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final capstone project.
Standards covered: EN 1997-1, EN 14487-1, EN 1537, EN 16191, Real Decreto 635/2006, Directive 2004/54/EC.
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.
- Internet connection and a computer able to run 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 RocData, Plaxis 2D, Rocscience RS2, AutoCAD Civil 3D, 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 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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