Postgraduate Diploma in QA of Prepreg/Autoclave and Rapid Cure
Online 800-hour Postgraduate Diploma in QA of Prepreg/Autoclave and Rapid Cure. 8 modules with AS9100D aerospace quality management, SAE AMS 2750 pyrometry and Ansys Composite Cure Simulation. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Postgraduate Diploma in QA of Prepreg/Autoclave and Rapid Cure — studying from the United Kingdom
The UK automotive industry is a significant contributor to manufacturing, with major plants in the West Midlands, the North East and the South West, and a strong presence of global brands and specialist engineering firms. Jaguar Land Rover, Nissan Sunderland, Toyota Burnaston and Mini Oxford shape demand for engineers in vehicle design, powertrain, body engineering and production. Motorsport engineering is concentrated around Silverstone, Northamptonshire and the Oxfordshire and Midlands area, where Formula One teams and endurance racing operations employ large numbers of specialists. Engineers in this sector work on product development, testing and supply chain management.
Fees for the United Kingdom: £746 (Pound sterling), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in the United Kingdom
Typical roles
Questions from the United Kingdom
Which UK bodies are relevant to automotive engineering qualifications and professional registration?
The Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) and the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) are established UK bodies in this field, and the Engineering Council regulates chartered and incorporated engineer titles. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not accredited by these bodies, so they do not automatically provide professional registration. Ask IMechE or the Engineering Council how your study would be assessed for registration.
How are automotive and motorsport qualifications viewed by UK employers?
UK car manufacturers, suppliers and motorsport teams typically assess candidates on practical capability, project evidence and experience. A private qualification can demonstrate specialist study, but employers decide how much weight to give it. Building a portfolio of relevant technical projects alongside your study will strengthen your position with UK employers.
Is it realistic to study automotive engineering online while working in the UK, and does my employer need to fund it?
Online study means you can fit learning around work without relocating or needing a student visa. Fees can be paid in instalments, and some employers offer sponsorship for job-related training, which is a common arrangement in general terms but depends on your employer's policy. Your assigned technical tutor can help you plan your workload. Confirm the time commitment and fee schedule 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
Handle prepregs in accordance with shelf life and environmental conditions.
Define autoclave cycles with pressure and temperature control.
Interpret cure kinetics through thermal testing.
Evaluate rapid cure and out-of-autoclave processes.
Design quality control plans with witness coupons.
Apply aerospace quality requirements to special processes.
Analyse root causes of curing defects.
Who it's for
- Composites process engineer looking to specialise in QA of Prepreg/Autoclave and Rapid Cure.
- Quality manager looking to specialise in QA of Prepreg/Autoclave and Rapid Cure.
- Autoclave technician looking to specialise in QA of Prepreg/Autoclave and Rapid Cure.
- Materials engineer looking to specialise in QA of Prepreg/Autoclave and Rapid Cure.
- Test laboratory technician looking to specialise in QA of Prepreg/Autoclave and Rapid Cure.
- Special processes auditor looking to specialise in QA of Prepreg/Autoclave and Rapid Cure.
- Graduates in engineering or science seeking to enter a competitive job market.
What you'll work with
- AS9100D aerospace quality management
- SAE AMS 2750 pyrometry
- Nadcap AC7118 composite materials processes
- ASTM D2344 interlaminar shear
- ASTM D7028 Tg by DMA
- ASTM D3171 fibre content
- ASTM E1356 Tg by DSC
- ASTM D2734 void content
8 modules · 800 h
1.1Composition of a prepreg1.2Resin content and areal weight1.3Freezer life and out-time1.4Thawing and moisture control1.5Clean room and environmental conditions1.6Automated cutting and nesting1.7Roll traceability1.8Tack and drapability1.9Defects in incoming material1.10Workshop: incoming quality control of a prepreg roll
2.1How an autoclave works2.2Vacuum bag and consumables2.3Pressure and temperature cycles2.4Thermocouples and part monitoring2.5Cure ramps and dwells2.6Gelation and consolidation2.7Porosity and its control2.8Tooling and thermal expansion2.9Autoclave safety2.10Practical: defining a standard cure cycle
3.1Chemistry of epoxy curing3.2Degree of cure and vitrification3.3Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)3.4Kamal kinetic models3.5Viscosity during the cycle3.6Glass transition temperature3.7Post-cure and thermal stability3.8Exotherm in thick laminates3.9Cure simulation3.10Laboratory: DSC analysis of a resin
4.1Snap-cure rapid-cure resins4.2Compression moulding of prepreg4.3Out-of-autoclave curing processes4.4Vacuum-only curing prepregs4.5Induction heating and heated moulds4.6Exotherm control in short cycles4.7Properties compared with standard cure4.8Productivity and cost4.9Applications in rapid spare parts4.10Case study: reducing the cycle of a deflector
5.1Process control plan5.2Autoclave cycle records5.3Witness coupons per cycle5.4Interlaminar shear tests5.5Fibre content and porosity5.6Tg by DMA5.7Ultrasonic inspection5.8Non-conformities and concessions5.9Thermocouple calibration5.10Practical: analysis of witness coupons from a batch
6.1AS9100 requirements6.2Nadcap accreditation for composites6.3Pyrometry to AMS 27506.4Qualification of special processes6.5Process audits6.6Document management6.7Training control6.8Quality indicators6.9Material supplier management6.10Case study: audit of an autoclave cycle
7.1Porosity and voids7.2Wrinkles and fibre waviness7.3Debonding and delamination7.4Resin-rich areas7.5Ply misalignment7.6Contamination by release agents7.7Root cause of curing defects7.8Corrective actions and their verification7.9Prevention through design7.10Workshop: root cause analysis of excessive porosity
8.1Selection of part and material8.2Definition of cure cycle8.3Quality control plan8.4Selection of verification tests8.5Rapid cycle proposal8.6Comparison of expected properties8.7Process risk analysis8.8Special process documentation8.9Report and presentation8.10Final review with tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetable: students progress at their own pace within the intake, making it possible to combine study with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Ansys Composite Cure Simulation, Fibersim, TA Instruments TRIOS, Minitab, SAP QM, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied using real procedures for autoclave cycle control, witness coupon testing and rapid cure development. Assessment is continuous, per module, plus the final integrating project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Handle prepregs in accordance with shelf life and environmental conditions.
Define autoclave cycles with pressure and temperature control.
Interpret cure kinetics through thermal testing.
Evaluate rapid cure and out-of-autoclave processes.
Design quality control plans with witness coupons.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient level of Spanish 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 a week on average, compatible with a full-time job.
The programme uses Ansys Composite Cure Simulation, Fibersim, TA Instruments TRIOS, Minitab, SAP QM. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM's own diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrating project. It is in-house training, not an official Ministry qualification.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area can be credited towards the higher programme. Check the credit transfer policy when you enrol.
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