Master’s in Classic Coachwork and Panel Beating
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in classic coachwork and panel beating. 12 modules covering hammer and dolly work, the English wheel, metal shaping, bucks and templates, thin-sheet welding, distortion-free repair and complete body fabrication, with an assigned technical tutor.
Master’s in Classic Coachwork and Panel Beating — studying from Singapore
Singapore's restoration and classic vehicle community is small but active, centred on vintage cars, motorcycles and collectable machinery. Restoration work demands skills in mechanical repair, fabrication and historic materials, often sourced regionally. Vehicle registration and modification are governed by the Land Transport Authority, which applies particular rules to older vehicles. Employers include specialist workshops, collectors' garages and vehicle import and export businesses.
Fees for Singapore: S$12,700 (Singapore dollar), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Singapore
Typical roles
Questions from Singapore
Will this qualification be recognised by professional bodies in Singapore?
SEIUM's qualifications are private, not official state degrees, and are not accredited by any national body in Singapore. Restoration work in Singapore is generally judged on craftsmanship and reputation rather than a single licensing body, and Professional Engineer registration is handled by the Professional Engineers Board. Recognition of a private qualification is decided by employers or the relevant body.
How might this training be used by employers in Singapore?
Singapore's classic vehicle market is relatively small, so opportunities are likely to be limited to specialist workshops, collectors, dealers or independent consultancy. An online qualification may help you structure your technical knowledge but does not guarantee work. Clients and employers usually rely heavily on hands-on track record.
Can I study this alongside a full-time job, and can my employer help fund it?
The programme is fully online and in English, so you can study from home in Singapore with no student visa needed. Workload varies from 300 to 1,900 hours, so plan around your schedule. Fees can be paid in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible, though this is less common for self-employed or small workshop owners.
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 history of coachbuilding.
Select and treat metals for coachwork.
Master manual metal-shaping tools and techniques.
Produce templates and reference bucks.
Weld thin steel and aluminium sheet without distortion.
Repair and fabricate complete bodies.
Integrate current technologies while respecting authenticity.
Who it's for
- Classic car panel beaters.
- Craft coachbuilders.
- Body restorers.
- Thin-sheet welders.
- Replacement panel manufacturers.
- Panel-beating workshop managers.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking a career in classic vehicle restoration.
What you'll work with
- EN 485-2 (aluminium sheet, strip and plate: mechanical properties)
- EN ISO 9606-1 (qualification testing of welders, steels)
- EN ISO 9606-2 (qualification testing of welders, aluminium)
- ISO 8501-1 (surface preparation and rust grades of steel)
- FIVA Technical Code (historic vehicle classification and authenticity)
- Autodesk Fusion
- Rhinoceros
- Geomagic Design X
12 modules
1.1Classic European coachbuilders1.2Body-on-frame construction1.3Aluminium bodies1.4Superleggera and tubular structures1.5Early monocoques1.6Traditional panel-beating shops1.7Historical tools1.8Body documentation1.9The value of original coachwork1.10Case study: study of a coachbuilt body
2.1Deep-drawing steels2.2Aluminium alloys2.3Galvanised sheet2.4Gauges and tempers2.5Work hardening2.6Annealing2.7Corrosion2.8Compatibility between metals2.9Material selection2.10Laboratory: annealing and shaping aluminium
3.1Hammers and dollies3.2Sandbags3.3English wheel3.4Power hammers3.5Shrinkers and stretchers3.6Folders and shears3.7Beading rollers3.8Tool maintenance3.9Safety and noise3.10Practical: using the English wheel
4.1Stretching4.2Shrinking4.3Hand raising4.4Wiring and flanging4.5Planishing4.6Compound curves4.7Reading the panel4.8Stress correction4.9Surface finishing4.10Workshop: shaping a wing
5.1Taking templates5.2Wire templates5.3Wooden bucks5.4Body scanning5.5Printed templates5.6Shape checking5.7Symmetry5.8Fitting to the structure5.9Template archive5.10Practical: wooden buck for a panel
6.1Oxy-acetylene welding6.2TIG welding of steel6.3TIG welding of aluminium6.4Spot welding6.5Butt welding of thin sheet6.6Distortion control6.7Hammer-welding6.8Welder qualification6.9Welding safety6.10Laboratory: butt welding aluminium sheet
7.1Damage diagnosis7.2Corrosion removal7.3Patch panels7.4Dent repair7.5Edge repair7.6Replacement panels7.7Panel gap alignment7.8Cavity protection7.9Repair documentation7.10Case study: repairing a corroded sill
8.1Base structure8.2Fabrication sequence8.3Main panels8.4Joints and overlaps8.5Doors and bonnets8.6Gap adjustment8.7Mounting to the chassis8.8Reinforcements8.9Final inspection8.10Workshop: fabricating a body section
9.1Final planishing9.2Reading surfaces9.3Fillers and their limited use9.4Primers9.5Corrosion protection9.6Coating thickness control9.7Preparation for chrome9.8Fitting trim mouldings9.9Coordination with the painter9.10Practical: preparing a panel for paint
10.13D scanning of bodies10.2Surface design10.3Machining bucks10.4Incremental forming10.5Laser and waterjet cutting10.6Printing jigs and fixtures10.7Shape measurement10.8Combining tradition and technology10.9Limitations10.10Laboratory: comparing a part with its scan
11.1Originality versus reproduction11.2Documenting interventions11.3Replicas and their declaration11.4Concours and judges11.5Quotations and labour times11.6Workshop management11.7Training apprentices11.8The sector market11.9Occupational risk prevention11.10Case study: business plan for a panel-beating workshop
12.1Body selection12.2Historical research12.3Diagnosis12.4Templates and bucks12.5Shaping12.6Welding and assembly12.7Finishing12.8Process dossier12.9Master's Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
How you'll learn
Training is 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 you can combine the programme with your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Autodesk Fusion, Rhinoceros and Geomagic Design X, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied on real procedures for shaping panels on the English wheel, butt welding aluminium sheet and dimensional comparison against a 3D scan. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: EN 485-2, EN ISO 9606-1, EN ISO 9606-2, ISO 8501-1, FIVA Technical Code.
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
- University degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
- 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 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with Autodesk Fusion, Rhinoceros and Geomagic Design X, 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 Master's Thesis. 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 in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
A university degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent professional experience, plus 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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