Diploma in Cooling, Brakes and Thermal Management
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in cooling, brakes and thermal management, with 8 modules covering vehicle heat transfer, engine cooling, oil and transmission cooling, brake thermodynamics, trackside thermal management, thermal simulation and adaptation to classic vehicles, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in Cooling, Brakes and Thermal Management — studying from New Zealand
Vehicle restoration and classic engine work in New Zealand is supported by an active enthusiast community and a well-established network of specialist workshops, particularly around the main centres. Historic vehicle registration and compliance fall under the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, and the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand promotes preservation of historic vehicles. Restoration professionals often combine fabrication, engineering and heritage conservation skills.
Fees for New Zealand: NZ$1,770 (New Zealand dollar), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in New Zealand
Typical roles
Questions from New Zealand
Is restoration engineering recognised by a professional body in New Zealand?
There is no specific statutory register for classic vehicle or heritage restoration engineers in New Zealand. Heritage matters can involve Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga, and vehicle roadworthiness is governed by the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not accredited by any national body, so their value depends on the employer or client.
Where do classic restoration specialists work in New Zealand?
Work is found in independent restoration workshops, classic car dealers, museums, and specialist fabrication businesses, many clustered around the main centres. Clients and employers usually judge by workmanship and a portfolio of completed restorations. A private qualification may complement that evidence but is rarely a deciding factor on its own.
Can I study this while running or working in a workshop here?
Yes. The course is fully online and taught in English, so you can study from home in New Zealand without a student visa. Specialist courses total 300 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and master's programmes 1,900 hours. An assigned technical tutor supports you, and fees can be paid in instalments.
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 heat transfer to the racing vehicle.
Size engine cooling systems.
Design oil and transmission cooling circuits.
Analyse the thermal behaviour of brakes.
Manage temperatures on track with instrumentation.
Simulate thermal systems and validate the results.
Adapt thermal solutions to classic vehicles with sound judgement.
Who it's for
- Thermal management engineers.
- Brake engineers.
- Track engineers.
- Technicians preparing classic cars for competition.
- CFD simulation engineers looking to apply their skills to vehicle thermal systems.
- Test bench technicians.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter motorsport.
What you'll work with
- ISO 26867 (brake friction material dynamometer testing)
- SAE J2522 (dynamometer global brake effectiveness)
- UN ECE Regulation No. 13-H (braking of passenger cars)
- FMVSS 116 (motor vehicle brake fluids)
- ASTM D3306 (glycol-based engine coolant)
- FIA Appendix K (historic competition vehicles)
- GT-SUITE
- ANSYS Fluent
- Simcenter STAR-CCM+
- MoTeC i2 Pro
8 modules
1.1Conduction, convection and radiation1.2Engine heat balance1.3Heat rejected to coolant and oil1.4Heat transfer coefficients1.5Heat exchangers1.6Effectiveness-NTU method1.7Airflow through the radiator1.8Pressure losses in ducts1.9Component temperature limits1.10Practical exercise: heat balance of a racing engine
2.1Copper-brass and aluminium radiators2.2Water pumps and flow rate2.3Thermostats and bypasses2.4Circuit pressure and boiling point2.5Coolants and additives2.6Mechanical and electric fans2.7Expansion and de-aeration tanks2.8Ducts and air intakes2.9Steam pockets in cylinder heads2.10Workshop: sizing a radiator
3.1Oil coolers3.2Oil thermostats3.3Dry sump and tanks3.4Gearbox oil3.5Differential oil3.6Optimum lubricant temperature3.7Cooler placement3.8Pressure loss in oil circuits3.9Impact protection3.10Laboratory: temperature measurement on a test bench
4.1Conversion of kinetic energy into heat4.2Disc and drum temperature4.3Brake fade due to temperature4.4Brake fluid boiling4.5Pad and shoe compounds4.6Ventilated and drilled discs4.7Brake cooling ducts4.8Thermal insulation of callipers4.9Thermal cracking in discs4.10Practical exercise: calculating disc temperature under braking
5.1Thermocouples and sensors5.2Thermochromic paints5.3Temperature telemetry5.4Lap-by-lap thermal maps5.5In-race cooling strategies5.6Blanking intakes according to weather5.7Thermal management in traffic5.8Pre-heating of components5.9Incident logging5.10Case study: thermal analysis of an endurance race
6.1One-dimensional thermal models6.2Computational fluid dynamics6.3Radiator modelling6.4Thermal modelling of brakes6.5Lap-cycle simulation6.6Boundary conditions6.7Validation with track data6.8Duct optimisation6.9Simulation report6.10Laboratory: 1D simulation of a cooling circuit
7.1Period radiators and modern cores7.2Concealed electric fans7.3Upgraded water pumps7.4Drum brakes and their cooling7.5Drum-to-disc conversion7.6Originality criteria7.7Restrictions in historic motorsport7.8Preventive maintenance7.9Documentation of modifications7.10Case study: thermal upgrade of a 1960s sports car
8.1Vehicle selection8.2Initial thermal diagnosis8.3Heat balance8.4Cooling proposal8.5Brake proposal8.6Simulation8.7Validation on the bench or track8.8Technical report8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
The programme is 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 each 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 GT-SUITE, ANSYS Fluent, Simcenter STAR-CCM+ and MoTeC i2 Pro, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: trackside brake temperature measurement, bench testing of radiators and thermal simulation of a lap. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final integrating project.
Standards covered: ISO 26867, SAE J2522, UN ECE Regulation No. 13-H, FMVSS 116, ASTM D3306, FIA Appendix K.
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
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree 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 800 hours over 6–8 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with GT-SUITE, ANSYS Fluent, Simcenter STAR-CCM+ and MoTeC i2 Pro, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma, 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.
Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector (no university degree required), 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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