Course on the Design of Parks and Urban Green Areas
Online course of 300 hours in the design of urban parks and green spaces: 6 modules covering urban greenery, site analysis, park design, green engineering, management and maintenance, and an urban park project, with an assigned technical tutor.
Course on the Design of Parks and Urban Green Areas — 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
Understand the role of urban greenery as infrastructure.
Analyse a site using ecological and social criteria.
Design functional, accessible and biodiverse parks.
Apply green engineering and water management solutions.
Select species adapted to the local climate.
Plan the management and maintenance of green spaces.
Develop the project for an urban park.
Who it's for
- Landscape architects
- Parks and gardens officers
- Forestry and green space engineers
- Urban planners
- Urban tree managers
- Green infrastructure consultants
- Engineering or science graduates looking to move into local government
What you'll work with
- Law 42/2007 (Spanish Natural Heritage and Biodiversity Act)
- Order PCM/735/2021 (National Green Infrastructure Strategy)
- Regulation (EU) 2024/1991 (Nature Restoration Regulation)
- Royal Decree 1085/2024 (water reuse)
- UNE-EN 1176 (playground equipment)
- UNE-EN 1177 (impact-attenuating playground surfacing)
- Norma Granada (valuation of ornamental trees)
- Order TMA/851/2021 (accessibility in urbanised public spaces)
- i-Tree
- QGIS
- AutoCAD
- Lumion
- ArcGIS Pro
6 modules
1.1History of the urban park1.2Green space systems1.3Green infrastructure and ecosystem services1.4The 3-30-300 rule for urban trees1.5Types of parks and gardens1.6Urban ecological corridors1.7Green space and public health1.8Urban biodiversity and habitats1.9National green infrastructure strategies1.10Case study: analysis of a city's green network
2.1Climate, soil and hydrology2.2Topography and natural drainage2.3Existing vegetation and tree inventory2.4Fauna and habitats2.5Users and social needs2.6Accessibility and connections2.7Landscape and heritage values2.8Flood and heat risks2.9Analysis with remote sensing and NDVI2.10Practical exercise: tree inventory with i-Tree
3.1Programme of uses and zoning3.2Layout of paths and routes3.3Children's play areas3.4Sports and seating areas3.5Water management and SUDS3.6Lakes, water features and wetlands3.7Selection of native species3.8Xeriscaping and low water use3.9Lighting and safety3.10Workshop: preliminary design of a neighbourhood park
4.1Structural soils and substrates4.2Urban tree planting4.3Efficient irrigation and reclaimed water4.4Green roofs and green façades4.5Slope stabilisation4.6Park infrastructure4.7Invasive species and their control4.8Plant health and pest management4.9Tree valuation with the Norma Granada4.10Lab: design of a zoned irrigation system
5.1Green space management plans5.2Differentiated maintenance by zone5.3Tree risk management5.4Procurement of landscaping services5.5Maintenance costs5.6Participation and volunteering5.7Use of tree management tools5.8Adaptation to climate change5.9Green space quality indicators5.10Case study: management plan for a historic park
6.1Site selection and analysis6.2Programme and zoning6.3Design proposal6.4Species and planting6.5Water management6.6Accessibility and lighting6.7Maintenance plan6.8Budget and construction phases6.9Report and presentation6.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
Delivered 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 fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is i-Tree, QGIS, AutoCAD, Lumion and ArcGIS Pro, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures: urban tree inventories, analysis of ecosystem services and design of irrigation systems. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: Law 42/2007; Order PCM/735/2021; Regulation (EU) 2024/1991; Royal Decree 1085/2024; UNE-EN 1176; UNE-EN 1177; Norma Granada; Order TMA/851/2021.
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 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 i-Tree, QGIS, AutoCAD, Lumion and ArcGIS Pro, 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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