Diploma in Waterproofing, Coatings and Pathologies
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in waterproofing, linings and defects in tunnels, structured in 8 modules covering water in underground works, waterproofing systems, tunnel drainage, tunnel linings, tunnel defects, inspection and diagnosis, and repair and rehabilitation under EN 13491, EN 1504 and EN 206, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in Waterproofing, Coatings and Pathologies — studying from the United Kingdom
Civil and infrastructure engineering is a major employment sector in the United Kingdom, with significant activity in transport, water, energy and urban regeneration. Rail projects such as HS2 and ongoing network upgrades by Network Rail create demand for engineers in track, signalling, structures and systems. Smart city initiatives in cities including Manchester, Glasgow and Milton Keynes apply digital technologies to mobility, utilities and public services. Major contractors and consultancies including Balfour Beatty, Arup and AECOM employ civil and rail professionals across the country.
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 UK professional bodies are relevant to civil and rail engineering qualifications?
The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and, for rail, bodies such as the Permanent Way Institution and the Institution of Railway Signal Engineers are relevant in the UK. Chartered status is handled through the Engineering Council. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not accredited by these bodies, so you should confirm with ICE or the relevant institution how your study would be treated.
Do UK civil, rail and smart city employers recognise online private qualifications?
UK infrastructure employers, including consultancies, contractors, rail operators and local authorities, generally recruit based on competence, professional registration and project experience. A private qualification can add to your profile, but employers decide its relevance. Practical experience and progress towards professional registration usually carry more weight.
How does online study fit with a UK working schedule, and what about funding?
Online study lets you keep working in the UK, and no student visa is needed to study from home. Fees are payable in instalments, and some employers support job-related training, which is common practice in general terms but varies by employer. Each programme has a defined number of hours and an assigned technical tutor. Review the hours and funding options 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
Analyse the action of water on underground works.
Select waterproofing and drainage systems.
Design durable tunnel linings.
Identify typical tunnel defects.
Apply non-destructive inspection and diagnosis techniques.
Design repairs that are compatible with operation.
Prepare a rehabilitation project for an existing tunnel.
Who it's for
- Tunnel rehabilitation engineers.
- Underground works inspectors.
- Structural pathology engineers.
- Waterproofing technicians.
- Rehabilitation site managers.
- Railway maintenance engineers.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to move into rail and metro.
What you'll work with
- EN 13491 (geosynthetic barriers for tunnels and underground structures)
- EN 1504 (products and systems for the protection and repair of concrete structures)
- EN 206 (concrete — specification, performance, production and conformity)
- EN 14487-1 (sprayed concrete — definitions, specifications and conformity)
- EN 1992-1-1 (Eurocode 2 — design of concrete structures)
- EN 14889-1 (fibres for concrete — steel fibres)
- Leica Cyclone
- PLAXIS 2D
- AutoCAD
- FLIR Thermal Studio
8 modules
1.1Hydrogeology and water pressure1.2Drained and undrained tunnels1.3Required watertightness classes1.4Effects of water on the lining1.5Chemical aggressiveness of water1.6Frost at tunnel portals1.7Allowable infiltration flows1.8Design criteria against water1.9Reference technical guidelines1.10Workshop: choosing between a drained and a watertight system
2.1PVC and TPO membranes2.2Protective geotextiles2.3Compartmentalised systems with re-injection2.4Sprayed waterproofing membranes2.5Low-permeability watertight concrete2.6Waterstop joint strips2.7EPDM segment gaskets2.8Waterproofing of shafts and stations2.9Membrane installation and welding2.10Practical exercise: waterproofing detail at a joint
3.1Longitudinal and transverse drains3.2Drainage maintenance3.3Drain clogging3.4Carbonate precipitation in drains3.5Flow monitoring and measurement3.6Hydraulic design of drainage3.7Drainage chambers and manholes3.8Environmental impact of drainage3.9Rehabilitation of existing drainage3.10Case study: clogging by carbonates
4.1Plain and reinforced concrete linings4.2Steel and polymer fibre-reinforced concrete4.3Formwork and lining travellers4.4Thicknesses and design criteria4.5Segmental linings4.6Secondary inner linings4.7Tunnel finishes and paints4.8Passive fire protection4.9Lining durability4.10Lab: quality control of lining concrete
5.1Seepage and damp5.2Lining cracking5.3Spalling of fragments5.4Deformations and convergence5.5Reinforcement corrosion5.6Sulphate attack5.7Frost damage5.8Damage after fire5.9Construction-related defects5.10Practical exercise: photographic catalogue of defects
6.1Systematic visual inspection6.2Mobile laser scanning of tunnels6.3Thermography to detect seepage6.4Ground-penetrating radar on linings6.5Core extraction and testing6.6Convergence measurements6.7Rebound hammer and ultrasound6.8Tunnel condition indices6.9Diagnosis report6.10Case study: diagnosis of a century-old railway tunnel
7.1Resin injections7.2Channelling of seepage7.3Meshes and anchors against spalling7.4Repair mortars according to EN 15047.5New inner lining7.6Rehabilitation of masonry tunnels7.7Works with traffic in service7.8Managing track possessions and closures7.9Post-repair monitoring7.10Workshop: seepage repair design
8.1Description of the existing tunnel8.2Inspection campaign8.3Diagnosis of defects8.4Waterproofing solution8.5Lining design8.6Works and closures plan8.7Rehabilitation budget8.8Subsequent maintenance plan8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
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 the intake, so it can be combined with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Leica Cyclone, PLAXIS 2D, AutoCAD and FLIR Thermal Studio, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures: tunnel inspection with laser scanning and thermography, design of waterproofing and drainage systems and seepage repair projects in tunnels in service. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: EN 13491, EN 1504, EN 206, EN 14487-1, EN 1992-1-1, EN 14889-1
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.
- 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 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 Leica Cyclone, PLAXIS 2D, AutoCAD and FLIR Thermal Studio, 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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