Diploma in CFD/FEA for Turbomachinery and Validation
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in CFD/FEA for turbomachinery and validation. 8 modules covering numerical methods, turbomachinery meshing, turbulence and transition, steady and unsteady simulation, blade and disc structural analysis, fluid-structure interaction and simulation V&V with ASME V&V 20, ASME V&V 10 and ANSYS CFX, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in CFD/FEA for Turbomachinery and Validation — studying from the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom has one of the world's most established aerospace sectors, anchored by clusters in Bristol, Filton, Derby, Hampshire and Scotland's Glasgow corridor. Major manufacturers and suppliers such as Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems, Airbus UK and GKN Aerospace drive demand for engineers in design, propulsion, structures and systems integration. Urban air mobility, electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, and commercial drones are emerging alongside, supported by government programmes and test corridors. Space engineering is growing through launch and satellite activity around the UK spaceports and Harwell. Graduates with aerospace expertise find roles across manufacturing, certification and research.
Fees for the United Kingdom: £1,250 (Pound sterling), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in the United Kingdom
Typical roles
Questions from the United Kingdom
Which professional bodies in the UK recognise aerospace engineering qualifications, and does SEIUM's qualification give me chartered status?
In the UK, the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) is the main professional body for aerospace engineers and can award Chartered Engineer status through the Engineering Council. SEIUM's qualifications are private and are not accredited by the Engineering Council or RAeS, so they do not confer chartered status on their own. Recognition is decided by employers and the relevant body, so check directly with RAeS whether your study and experience will count towards registration.
Will a private online aerospace qualification help me find work with UK aerospace or drone employers?
UK aerospace, drone and space employers, including many working on civil aviation, defence and space projects, generally judge candidates on demonstrated skills, portfolio work and experience. A private qualification may support your application, but its value depends on each employer's own assessment. It is worth asking prospective employers how they view such qualifications before you enrol.
Can I study this programme alongside a full-time job in the UK, and what language level is needed?
Yes, programmes are delivered fully online, so you can study from home without a student visa, wherever you are based. Workload varies by programme length, and you will have an assigned technical tutor for support. Teaching is in English, so you should be comfortable reading and writing technical English. Check the programme schedule and time commitment against your working hours before enrolling.
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
Apply finite volume numerical methods to rotating flows.
Generate high-quality meshes for turbomachinery passages.
Select suitable turbulence and transition models.
Simulate stages under steady and unsteady conditions.
Analyse blades and discs using finite elements.
Assess fluid-structure interaction and forced response.
Verify and validate simulations with recognised methods.
Who it's for
- CFD engineers.
- Finite element analysts.
- Aeroelasticity engineers.
- Simulation methods engineers.
- Validation engineers.
- Turbomachinery engineers.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter the aero-engine sector.
What you'll work with
- ASME V&V 20 (verification and validation in CFD and heat transfer)
- ASME V&V 10 (verification and validation in computational solid mechanics)
- AIAA G-077-1998 (guide for verification and validation of CFD simulations)
- CS-E (EASA Certification Specifications for Engines)
- 14 CFR Part 33 (FAA airworthiness standards for aircraft engines)
- ANSYS CFX
- ANSYS Mechanical
- OpenFOAM
- Abaqus
- Cadence Fidelity Turbo
8 modules
1.1Navier-Stokes in rotating frames1.2Finite volume method1.3Discretisation schemes1.4Coupled and segregated solvers1.5Turbomachinery boundary conditions1.6Convergence criteria1.7Coriolis and centrifugal terms1.8Low-Mach preconditioning1.9Parallel computing1.10Practical exercise: convergence of a channel case
2.1H, O and C structured topologies2.2Tip clearance meshing2.3Mesh quality metrics2.4y+ and boundary layer resolution2.5Mesh independence2.6Meshing cavities and bleeds2.7Meshing with TurboGrid2.8Unstructured meshes2.9Adaptive refinement2.10Lab: mesh of a compressor passage
3.1RANS models k-epsilon, k-omega SST and Spalart-Allmaras3.2Gamma-Re theta transition3.3Curvature and rotation effects3.4LES and DES3.5Wall functions3.6Model selection3.7Modelling uncertainty3.8Inlet turbulence3.9Comparison with experiments3.10Case study: turbulence models in a cascade
4.1Mixing plane interface4.2Frozen rotor4.3Unsteady rotor-stator interaction4.4Harmonic methods4.5Calculating complete maps4.6Surge in simulation4.7Losses and entropy generation4.8Turbomachinery post-processing4.9Computational cost4.10Practical exercise: stage map with a mixing plane
5.1Blade modelling5.2Centrifugal and pressure loads5.3Contacts at the dovetail root5.4Material non-linearity5.5Pre-stressed modal analysis5.6Cyclic symmetry5.7Fatigue5.8Creep5.9Thermal-structural analysis5.10Lab: cyclic symmetry modal analysis
6.1One-way coupling6.2Two-way coupling6.3Flutter by the energy method6.4Forced response6.5Mechanical and aerodynamic damping6.6Mistuning6.7Conjugate heat transfer6.8Load mapping between meshes6.9Multiphysics workflows6.10Case study: forced response of a rotor
7.1Code and solution verification7.2Richardson extrapolation and GCI index7.3Validation with experimental data7.4Reference cases such as NASA Rotor 377.5Validation metrics7.6Uncertainty quantification7.7Applying ASME V&V 207.8Credibility for certification7.9Simulation documentation7.10Practical exercise: GCI of a turbine case
8.1Component selection8.2Meshing and models8.3Aerodynamic simulation8.4Structural analysis8.5Fluid-structure coupling8.6Verification and validation8.7Analysis of results8.8Conclusions8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100% online programme 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 job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is ANSYS CFX, ANSYS Mechanical, OpenFOAM, Abaqus and Cadence Fidelity Turbo, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures: simulating stages with a mixing plane interface, cyclic symmetry modal analysis and mesh independence studies with GCI. Assessment is continuous per module plus the final project.
Standards covered: ASME V&V 20, ASME V&V 10, AIAA G-077-1998, CS-E (Certification Specifications for Engines), 14 CFR Part 33.
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 able to run 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 ANSYS CFX, ANSYS Mechanical, OpenFOAM, Abaqus and Cadence Fidelity Turbo, 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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