Postgraduate Diploma in Plate/Hull Analysis and Buckling
Online 800-hour Postgraduate Diploma in Plate/Hull Analysis and Buckling. 8 modules with DNV-RP-C201 (buckling of flat steel structures), DNV-CG-0128 (buckling) and ANSYS Mechanical. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Postgraduate Diploma in Plate/Hull Analysis and Buckling — studying from New Zealand
Maritime engineering is significant for New Zealand, given its extensive coastline, large exclusive economic zone and a strong sailing and boatbuilding tradition. Auckland, often called the City of Sails, hosts boatbuilders, marine service providers and offshore engineering firms, while Maritime New Zealand regulates safety at sea. Opportunities include naval architecture, offshore energy and aquaculture, and the New Zealand Defence Force's naval fleet supports further demand.
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
Which New Zealand bodies regulate marine and offshore engineering?
Maritime New Zealand regulates maritime safety and the operation of vessels, and Engineering New Zealand is the professional body for engineers. Marine surveying and certain roles require recognised certificates issued by official bodies. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not accredited by any national body, so they do not replace these requirements.
Do marine and offshore employers in New Zealand value private qualifications?
New Zealand has active marine, boatbuilding, port and offshore sectors, particularly in Auckland and the Bay of Plenty. Employers usually prioritise recognised certificates, licences and practical experience. A SEIUM qualification may support an application, but whether it is valued is for each employer to decide.
Can I study this part-time from New Zealand?
Yes. The programme is 100% online and taught in English, so no student visa is needed to study from New Zealand. You are assigned a technical tutor and must complete a final project. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible. Programme lengths range from 300 to 1,900 hours.
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 structural configuration of the hull and its loads.
Apply plate theory to hull panels.
Calculate plate buckling according to DNV-RP-C201.
Evaluate the buckling of stiffeners and stiffened panels.
Model structural behaviour using linear and nonlinear finite elements.
Estimate the ultimate strength of the hull girder.
Analyse light craft structures made of composite materials.
Who it's for
- Naval structures engineer who wants to specialise in Plate/Hull Analysis and Buckling.
- Finite element analyst who wants to specialise in Plate/Hull Analysis and Buckling.
- Plan approval engineer who wants to specialise in Plate/Hull Analysis and Buckling.
- Composite materials boat engineer who wants to specialise in Plate/Hull Analysis and Buckling.
- Classification society surveyor who wants to specialise in Plate/Hull Analysis and Buckling.
- Shipyard technical office engineer who wants to specialise in Plate/Hull Analysis and Buckling.
- Graduates in engineering or science who want to enter shipyards.
What you'll work with
- DNV-RP-C201 (buckling of flat steel structures)
- DNV-CG-0128 (buckling)
- IACS Common Structural Rules (CSR)
- UNE-EN 1993-1-5 (Eurocode 3, plated structures)
- ISO 12215-5 (scantlings of small craft)
- ISO 12215-6 (structural details of small craft)
8 modules · 800 h
1.1Structural elements of the ship1.2Longitudinal and transverse stiffening systems1.3Plating, stiffeners and floors1.4Materials: marine steel, aluminium and composites1.5Loads on the hull1.6Bending moment and shear force1.7Hull girder1.8Classification society rules1.9IACS Common Structural Rules (CSR)1.10Case study: midship section of a bulk carrier
2.1Kirchhoff Hypotheses 2.2 Thin Plate Equation 2.3 Boundary Conditions 2.4 Plates Under Side Pressure 2.5 Orthotropic Plates 2.6 Large Deflections 2.7 Mindlin Plates 2.8 Analytical Solutions by Navier and Lévy 2.9 Stiffened Panels 2.10 Workshop: Calculation of a plate under pressure
3.1Elastic instability3.2Critical load of a plate3.3Buckling coefficients according to aspect ratio3.4Biaxial compression and shear3.5Load interaction3.6Effective width3.7Post-critical behaviour3.8Initial imperfections3.9Plasticity and the Johnson-Ostenfeld method3.10Practice: critical load of a deck panel
4.1Column buckling of stiffeners4.2Torsional and lateral buckling4.3Web buckling of stiffeners4.4Collapse of stiffened panels4.5Interactive failure modes4.6DNV-CG-0128 rules4.7ABS and Lloyd's formulations4.8CSR requirements4.9Comparison of methods4.10Laboratory: verification of a panel to the rules
5.1Hull modelling with shell elements5.2Meshing and convergence5.3Linear buckling analysis5.4Geometric and material nonlinear analysis5.5Imperfections in the model5.6Arc-length method5.7Software: ANSYS, Abaqus and FEMAP5.8Validation against tests5.9Global and local analysis5.10Practice: nonlinear buckling of a panel in Abaqus
6.1Ultimate moment of the hull girder6.2Smith method6.3Load-shortening curves6.4Progressive collapse analysis6.5Hogging and sagging cases6.6Residual strength after damage6.7Incidents such as the MOL Comfort6.8Safety factors6.9Verification according to CSR6.10Case study: ultimate moment of a section
7.1Aluminium hulls and welding7.2Sandwich panels7.3Laminate buckling7.4Delamination and core failure7.5ISO 12215 for small craft7.6Slamming loads7.7Fatigue in light structures7.8High-speed craft7.9HSC classification rules7.10Workshop: scantlings of a craft according to ISO 12215
8.1Definition of the vessel and loads8.2Scantlings by rules8.3Analysis of plates and stiffeners8.4Buckling verification8.5Finite element model8.6Ultimate strength8.7Optimisation proposals8.8Technical report8.9Report and presentation8.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
Fully 100 % online training on the SEIUM Institute campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it compatible with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is ANSYS Mechanical, Abaqus, Femap with Simcenter Nastran, DNV PULS, MAESTRO, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied using real compression testing procedures for stiffened panels, nonlinear finite element analysis and hull deformation inspection. Assessment is continuous per module plus the final integrative project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Describe the structural configuration of the hull and its loads.
Apply plate theory to hull panels.
Calculate plate buckling according to DNV-RP-C201.
Evaluate the buckling of stiffeners and stiffened panels.
Model structural behaviour using linear and nonlinear finite elements.
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 English to follow technical standards documentation.
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 spread over 6 to 8 months. That is between 10 and 15 hours per week on average, compatible with a full-time job.
You will work with ANSYS Mechanical, Abaqus, Femap with Simcenter Nastran, DNV PULS, MAESTRO. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative when one exists.
An own diploma from SEIUM Institute upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrative project. It is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or diploma in the same area are credited towards the advanced programme. Check the credit transfer policy when you enrol.
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