Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) Design Course
Online course of 300 hours in the design of sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS). 6 modules covering SUDS principles, infiltration and retention techniques, hydraulic design, modelling and water quality, and construction, maintenance and costs, applying Royal Decree 665/2023 and CIRIA C753, with an assigned technical tutor.
Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) Design Course — studying from Singapore
Singapore is widely studied for its urban planning and infrastructure delivery, with ongoing investment in the Mass Rapid Transit network, the Thomson-East Coast Line, and large-scale water and coastal protection projects. The Land Transport Authority, the Housing and Development Board and the Public Utilities Board shape much of the work. Smart city initiatives such as Smart Nation are central to the sector. Typical employers include government agencies, major contractors and consultancies such as Surbana Jurong and Arup in the region.
Fees for Singapore: S$780 (Singapore dollar), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Singapore
Typical roles
Questions from Singapore
How are civil and rail engineers registered in Singapore, and does SEIUM's qualification count?
In Singapore, civil and structural engineers can register as Professional Engineers with the Professional Engineers Board (PEB) under the Professional Engineers Act, and the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) regulates the built environment. Rail is overseen by the Land Transport Authority (LTA). SEIUM's qualifications are private, not state degrees, and not accredited by any national body, so recognition is for employers or the relevant body to decide.
Which Singapore employers hire civil, rail and smart city engineers?
Key employers include the LTA, Public Utilities Board, JTC, the Housing and Development Board, consultancies, and contractors working on MRT and urban projects. Singapore's smart nation agenda also creates demand for smart city specialists. Employers usually prioritise registered qualifications and project experience. Your SEIUM final project may support your case, but it is not a guaranteed route into these roles.
Is the course realistic while working, and what language support is available?
Everything is taught online in English, and you are assigned a technical tutor for support. The programmes are demanding, with 1,900 hours for a master's, 800 for a postgraduate diploma and 300 for a specialist course, so plan your time well. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible, depending on your company.
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 principles of sustainable urban drainage.
Select SUDS techniques according to site constraints.
Carry out the hydraulic sizing of infiltration and retention systems.
Model scenarios with SUDS using specialised tools.
Evaluate water-quality, biodiversity and comfort benefits.
Plan the construction and maintenance of SUDS.
Prepare a complete sustainable drainage project.
Who it's for
- Sustainable drainage designers.
- Green infrastructure technicians.
- Urban development engineers moving towards nature-based drainage.
- Municipal environmental officers.
- Climate change adaptation consultants.
- Technical landscape architects.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to work in local authorities and water companies.
What you'll work with
- Royal Decree 665/2023 (amending the Regulation on the Public Water Domain, SUDS)
- Royal Decree 849/1986 (Regulation on the Public Water Domain)
- Directive (EU) 2024/3019 (urban wastewater treatment)
- Order FOM/298/2016 (Instruction 5.2-IC on surface drainage)
- UNE-EN 752 (drain and sewer systems outside buildings)
- UNE-EN 1338 (concrete paving blocks)
- Directive 2000/60/EC (Water Framework Directive)
- EPA SWMM
- Autodesk InfoDrainage
- QGIS
- MicroDrainage
6 modules
1.1From conventional to sustainable drainage1.2Source control and the management train1.3Quantity, quality, amenity and biodiversity objectives1.4Pollution in urban runoff1.5First flush and water-quality design storm1.6Sponge cities and international experience1.7Integration into urban planning1.8CIRIA C753 SuDS Manual1.9Spanish SUDS guidelines1.10Case study: analysis of a neighbourhood with SUDS
2.1Permeable and porous pavements2.2Infiltration trenches and soakaways2.3Swales and filter strips2.4Bioretention areas and rain gardens2.5Extensive and intensive green roofs2.6Detention tanks and ponds2.7Constructed wetlands for stormwater2.8Rainwater harvesting2.9Selecting techniques according to soil and space2.10Workshop: SUDS selection matrix for a plot
3.1Soil permeability tests3.2Calculating storage volumes3.3Drain-down time and outflow rates3.4Control elements: orifices and weirs3.5Sizing permeable pavements3.6Designing bioretention areas3.7Attenuation in tanks and ponds3.8Combining techniques in series3.9Checking against extreme events3.10Practical exercise: sizing a rain garden
4.1Modelling SUDS with the SWMM LID module4.2Calibration and continuity4.3Simulation of long rainfall series4.4Removal of solids and metals4.5Suitable vegetation and substrates4.6Biodiversity and comfort benefits4.7Assessing compliance with objectives4.8Benefit assessment tools4.9Performance indicators4.10Lab: comparison of scenarios with and without SUDS
5.1Construction details and materials5.2Protection during construction works5.3Maintenance plans and responsibilities5.4Clogging and regeneration5.5Construction and life-cycle costs5.6Valuing co-benefits5.7Municipal drainage by-laws5.8Public participation in the process5.9Follow-up and monitoring5.10Case study: maintenance plan for a floodable park
6.1Analysis of the site and constraints6.2Characterisation of the soil and water table6.3Definition of management objectives6.4Selection and fitting of techniques6.5Hydraulic sizing of the techniques6.6Scenario modelling6.7Budget and maintenance plan6.8Landscape integration of the scheme6.9Report and presentation6.10Final project: final review with your 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, so it fits around your work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is EPA SWMM, Autodesk InfoDrainage, QGIS and MicroDrainage, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied on real procedures for sizing SUDS techniques, modelling runoff scenarios and drawing up maintenance plans for green infrastructure. Assessment is continuous per module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: Royal Decree 665/2023, Royal Decree 849/1986, Directive (EU) 2024/3019, Order FOM/298/2016 (Instruction 5.2-IC), UNE-EN 752, UNE-EN 1338, Directive 2000/60/EC.
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
- No prior qualification 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 300 hours over 3 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with EPA SWMM, Autodesk InfoDrainage, QGIS and MicroDrainage, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute certificate, 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.
No prior qualification is required; you need an internet connection, 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.
Related programmes
Course on Psychological Wellbeing and Urban Space
Online course of 300 hours in psychological wellbeing and urban space: 6 modules covering mental health and the city, urban nature and wellbeing, public space design…
IoT and 5G Integration Course in Urban Infrastructures
Online course of 300 hours in IoT and 5G integration in urban infrastructure: 6 modules covering urban networks, 5G architecture, street-level deployment, IoT over 5G and…
Course in Safety in Bridge Construction
Online course of 300 hours in safety in bridge construction, structured in 6 modules covering risk assessment, work at height, construction processes, lifting operations and safety…
More in Civil, Rail & Smart Cities
All Civil, Rail & Smart Cities programmes → · How to apply · Fees & financing · Scholarships