Diploma in Reinforcement with FRP and Post-Tensioned Steel
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in FRP and post-tensioned steel strengthening. 8 modules covering composite materials, FRP flexural, shear and confinement strengthening, external post-tensioning, structural steel strengthening, execution and quality control, and integrated design, applying ACI 440.2R-17, CNR-DT 200 R1/2013 and fib Bulletin 90 with SAP2000, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in Reinforcement with FRP and Post-Tensioned Steel — 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$2,550 (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 behaviour of FRP composites and their failure modes.
Size flexural, shear and confinement strengthening with FRP.
Design external post-tensioning systems for existing structures.
Design strengthening with structural steel and anchors.
Establish execution and quality control plans for strengthening works.
Select the optimum technique based on diagnosis and cost.
Prepare a complete structural strengthening project.
Who it's for
- Structural strengthening engineers working on existing buildings and bridges.
- Refurbishment designers who need to size FRP, steel and post-tensioned solutions.
- Post-tensioning systems technicians moving into strengthening applications.
- Refurbishment site managers overseeing strengthening works.
- Composite materials consultants advising contractors and owners.
- Quality inspectors responsible for strengthening works on site.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter building refurbishment.
What you'll work with
- ACI 440.2R-17 (design of externally bonded FRP systems)
- CNR-DT 200 R1/2013 (strengthening with composites)
- fib Bulletin 90 (externally applied FRP reinforcement)
- Real Decreto 470/2021 (Spanish Structural Code)
- UNE-EN 1504 (products for the repair of concrete)
- EAD 160004-00-0301 (post-tensioning kits)
- EN 1992-1-1 (Eurocode 2 — concrete structures)
- EN 1993-1-1 (Eurocode 3 — steel structures)
- SAP2000
- Midas Civil
- Response-2000
- CSI Bridge
- Sika CarboDur Design
8 modules
1.1Carbon, glass and aramid fibres1.2Epoxy matrices and their thermal behaviour1.3Pultruded laminates versus wet lay-up fabrics1.4Mechanical properties and stress-strain diagram1.5Durability against moisture, UV and alkalis1.6Fire behaviour and protection1.7Bond to the substrate and surface preparation1.8Acceptance control of materials1.9Comparison with concrete overlays and jacketing1.10Laboratory: characterisation of a CFRP laminate
2.1Failure modes: rupture, debonding and delamination2.2Effective strain and debonding limit2.3Design of rectangular and T-sections2.4Near-surface mounted (NSM) strengthening2.5Mechanical anchorages and fibre anchors2.6Serviceability checks: cracking and deflection2.7Strengthening of slabs and floors2.8Influence of the load present during strengthening2.9Construction details and anchorage lengths2.10Workshop: flexural strengthening of a floor beam
3.1Full, U-shaped and side wrapping3.2FRP contribution to shear3.3Torsional strengthening with closed strips3.4Confinement of circular columns3.5Confinement of rectangular columns and corners3.6Ductility enhancement in critical zones3.7Strengthening of beam-column joints3.8Axial-bending interaction in confined columns3.9Limitations of FRP confinement3.10Practical: jacketing of car park columns
4.1Principles of prestressing applied to strengthening4.2Polygonal tendon layout and deviators4.3Immediate and time-dependent losses4.4Anchorages, blocks and load transfer4.5Calculation of hyperstatic effects4.6Strengthening of bridge decks with post-tensioning4.7Post-tensioning in buildings and changes of use4.8Corrosion protection of tendons4.9Inspection and re-tensioning of existing systems4.10Case study: strengthening of a beam-and-slab deck
5.1Steel jacketing of columns5.2Battens, angles and collars5.3Bonded steel plates for flexure5.4Underpinning and new steel supports5.5Steel-concrete connection with chemical anchors5.6Strengthening of existing steel structures5.7Weldability of old steels5.8Prestressing of ties and stay systems5.9Protection against corrosion and fire5.10Workshop: design of a column jacket
6.1Substrate preparation and prior repair6.2Environmental conditions for application6.3Installation sequence for CFRP6.4Stressing, grouting and sealing of tendons6.5Pull-off bond tests6.6Thermography to detect debonding6.7Inspection and test plan6.8Qualification of applicators6.9Final documentation and warranties6.10Practical: quality control plan for a CFRP strengthening
7.1Technique selection according to pathology7.2Cost-benefit analysis of alternatives7.3Numerical modelling of the strengthened element7.4Strengthening of historic buildings7.5Strengthening of railway bridges7.6Strengthening for increased imposed loads7.7Maintenance and monitoring of the strengthening7.8Lessons from documented failures7.9Responsibilities and technical approval7.10Case study: load increase in an office building
8.1Initial diagnosis and needs8.2Study of strengthening alternatives8.3Design of the FRP strengthening8.4Design of the external post-tensioning8.5Construction details and drawings8.6Technical specifications8.7Quality control plan8.8Budget and construction schedule8.9Report and presentation8.10Final 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. No fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within the intake, making it compatible with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is SAP2000, Midas Civil, Response-2000, CSI Bridge and Sika CarboDur Design, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied on real procedures such as flexural strengthening of a beam with carbon laminates, external post-tensioning of a beam bridge deck and steel jacketing of columns for a change of use. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final integrating project.
Standards covered: ACI 440.2R-17, CNR-DT 200 R1/2013, fib Bulletin 90, Real Decreto 470/2021, UNE-EN 1504, EAD 160004-00-0301, EN 1992-1-1, EN 1993-1-1.
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.
- 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 SAP2000, Midas Civil, Response-2000, CSI Bridge and Sika CarboDur Design, 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 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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