Postgraduate Diploma in Heat Exchangers, Shrouds and Thermal Packaging
Online 800-hour Postgraduate Diploma in Heat Exchangers, Shrouds and Thermal Packaging. 8 modules with TEMA Standards, ASME PTC 30 and GT-SUITE. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Postgraduate Diploma in Heat Exchangers, Shrouds and Thermal Packaging — studying from New Zealand
New Zealand has a modest automotive industry, with most vehicle engineering centred on aftermarket parts, commercial vehicle body building, and the import and distribution of vehicles. Motorsport is a significant sector, with Hamilton and the Waikato region hosting a dense cluster of racing teams and engineering firms, and the Motorsport New Zealand body governing the national championships. Automotive engineers commonly work for importers, dealer networks, fleet operators and specialist fabrication businesses, and the sector also serves the country's large agricultural vehicle market.
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
Is automotive engineering a regulated title in New Zealand, and which bodies matter here?
The title Chartered Professional Engineer is regulated and administered by Engineering New Zealand, which sets competence standards for registration. Vehicle standards and certification in New Zealand are overseen by the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not accredited by a national body, so recognition by employers or Engineering New Zealand is not something SEIUM can promise.
What kinds of automotive and motorsport employers hire engineers in New Zealand?
New Zealand's automotive sector includes vehicle importers, workshops and fleet operators, motorsport teams and specialist fabrication and engineering firms, along with companies supplying parts and servicing. Roles often reward hands-on experience and clear technical reporting. A private qualification can support an application, but whether an employer values it is their decision and cannot be assumed.
How much time does a programme need, and can an employer help fund it?
Specialist courses take about 300 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and master's programmes 1,900 hours, all online in English with an assigned technical tutor and a final project. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible. Choose a pace you can sustain alongside work, and check with your employer early about any funding or study leave arrangements.
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
Size heat exchangers using LMTD and e-NTU methods.
Select radiator technologies suited to competition.
Design shrouds that maximise flow uniformity.
Resolve thermal packaging using mass and aerodynamic criteria.
Model cooling circuits under transient conditions.
Simulate the thermal system using CFD.
Validate thermal performance through testing and telemetry.
Who it's for
- Thermal engineer looking to specialise in Heat Exchangers, Shrouds and Thermal Packaging.
- Cooling engineer looking to specialise in Heat Exchangers, Shrouds and Thermal Packaging.
- Packaging engineer looking to specialise in Heat Exchangers, Shrouds and Thermal Packaging.
- CFD engineer looking to specialise in Heat Exchangers, Shrouds and Thermal Packaging.
- Thermal test engineer looking to specialise in Heat Exchangers, Shrouds and Thermal Packaging.
- Motorsport mechanical designer looking to specialise in Heat Exchangers, Shrouds and Thermal Packaging.
- Graduates in engineering or science seeking to enter motorsport.
What you'll work with
- TEMA Standards
- ASME PTC 30
- ISO 5801
- ISO 5167-1
- FIA Formula 1 Technical Regulations
- SAE J1994
- ISO/IEC 17025
8 modules · 800 h
1.1Forced convection in ducts and fins1.2Overall heat transfer coefficient1.3LMTD and effectiveness-NTU methods1.4Colburn and Nusselt correlations1.5Pressure drop on air side and fluid side1.6Fouling factor and degradation1.7Properties of refrigerants and oils1.8Cross-flow heat exchangers1.9Performance at low air speed1.10Practice: sizing using the e-NTU method
2.1Brazed aluminium cores2.2Louvred and corrugated fins2.3Multichannel flat tubes2.4Plate and bar heat exchangers2.5Oil and ERS coolers2.6Air-to-air and air-to-water intercoolers2.7Additive manufacturing of heat exchangers2.8Materials and minimum thicknesses2.9Reliability against stone impact2.10Case study: core comparison for a single-seater
3.1Function of shrouds and internal fairings3.2Radiator inlet diffusers3.3Velocity uniformity across the core3.4Flow separation and recirculation3.5Air outlets and base pressure3.6Radiator inclination and efficiency3.7Joints and sealing against leaks3.8Outlet louvre design3.9Interaction with bodywork flow3.10Workshop: shroud design with CFD
4.1Volume constraints in sidepods4.2Location of radiators and intercoolers4.3Pipe and hose routing4.4Insulation of sensitive components4.5Heat protection and shields4.6Centre of gravity and mass4.7Accessibility for maintenance4.8Integration with structure and crash4.9Trade-offs between aerodynamics and cooling4.10Case study: sidepod packaging
5.11D models of pumps and valves5.2Thermostats and bypass5.3Circuit expansion and pressurisation5.4Pump cavitation5.5Simulation of race transients5.6Safety car and traffic scenarios5.7Coupling with engine model5.8Calibration with track data5.9Flow rate optimisation5.10Lab: cooling circuit in GT-SUITE
6.1Porous media models for cores6.2Dual-stream heat exchanger models6.3Meshing of complete sidepods6.4Representative boundary conditions6.5Post-processing of flow rate and heat rejection6.6Validation with wind tunnel6.7Parametric geometry studies6.8Computational cost and simplifications6.9Correlation with track6.10Practice: simulating a radiator as a porous medium
7.1Radiator tests on air rig7.2Flow rate and temperature measurement7.3Wind tunnel tests with active radiators7.4Thermal telemetry on track7.5Extreme heat tests7.6Leak and pressure analysis7.7Component certification7.8Management of experimental uncertainty7.9Validation report7.10Case study: rig-to-track correlation of an intercooler
8.1Heat rejection requirements8.2Heat exchanger selection8.3Shroud design8.4Sidepod packaging8.51D circuit simulation8.6CFD simulation of the system8.7Test plan8.8Assessment of the aerodynamic trade-off8.9Report and presentation8.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
Training 100% online on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded lectures and a dedicated technical tutor. No fixed timetable: students progress at their own pace within the intake, making it possible to combine study with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is GT-SUITE, STAR-CCM+, ANSYS Fluent, Simcenter Amesim, CATIA V5, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied using real heat exchanger test procedures on air rigs, CFD simulation of sidepods and thermal measurement on track. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final integrating project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Size heat exchangers using LMTD and e-NTU methods.
Select radiator technologies suited to competition.
Design shrouds that maximise flow uniformity.
Resolve thermal packaging using mass and aerodynamic criteria.
Model cooling circuits under transient conditions.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. A university degree is not required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient level of Spanish to follow the reading of 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 consists of 800 hours in total, spread over 6 to 8 months. That is an average of 10 to 15 hours per week, compatible with a full-time job.
You will work with GT-SUITE, STAR-CCM+, ANSYS Fluent, Simcenter Amesim, CATIA V5. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM own diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrating project. It is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area can be credited towards the higher-level programme. Check the credit transfer policy when you enrol.
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