Master’s in Metal Structures and Welding for Severe Service Engineering
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in metal structures and welding engineering for severe service. 12 modules covering severe-service structures, steels for welded structures, structural welding processes, welded joint design, welding metallurgy, distortion and residual stresses, fatigue life improvement, quality and inspection, in-service repair, protection and fabrication costs, with an assigned technical tutor.
Master’s in Metal Structures and Welding for Severe Service Engineering — studying from the United States
Off-road and specialty vehicle engineering is a strong part of American manufacturing, with heavy equipment and agricultural machinery produced across Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Texas and North Carolina. Companies such as Caterpillar, Deere & Company and Oshkosh Corporation design construction, agricultural, mining and specialty vehicles. Engineers focus on hydraulics, powertrains, operator ergonomics and durability under demanding conditions. Compliance with emissions and safety standards shapes much of the design process.
Fees for the United States: US$8,850 (US Dollars), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in the United States
Typical roles
Questions from the United States
What US bodies are relevant to off-road and special vehicle engineering?
SAE International is central, publishing off-road and heavy machinery standards. Machinery safety is addressed by OSHA, and emissions by the EPA. Professional PE licensure is granted by state boards. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not accredited, so recognition for particular roles is decided by employers or the relevant body.
Where do off-road and special vehicle engineers work in the United States?
Employers include agricultural, construction, and mining equipment manufacturers, defense and specialty vehicle builders, and off-road accessory companies. Roles include design, testing, and drivetrain engineering. Employers evaluate applied skill and experience, so use your final project to show practical competence to hiring managers.
How flexible is the programme for working professionals in the US?
The programmes are 100% online and taught in English, so you can study from home without a student visa. Workloads are 300, 800, or 1,900 hours depending on the programme type, so plan your time accordingly. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship may be possible, so ask your employer early.
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 failure modes of structures in severe service.
Select steels and welding processes.
Design fatigue-resistant welded joints.
Control metallurgy, distortion and residual stresses.
Apply fatigue life improvement techniques.
Implement welding quality and inspection systems.
Plan structural repairs in service.
Who it's for
- Welding coordinators
- Welded structures engineers
- Welding inspectors
- Manufacturing quality engineers
- Structural repair technicians
- Welding process engineers
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter construction machinery
What you'll work with
- UNE-EN 1090-2 (execution of steel structures)
- UNE-EN ISO 3834 (quality requirements for welding)
- UNE-EN ISO 14731 (welding coordination)
- UNE-EN ISO 15614-1 (welding procedure qualification)
- UNE-EN ISO 9606-1 (welder qualification)
- UNE-EN ISO 5817 (quality levels for welds)
- UNE-EN 1993-1-9 (Eurocode 3, fatigue)
- UNE-EN 1011-2 (welding recommendations for ferritic steels)
- Ansys Mechanical
- Simufact Welding
- SolidWorks
- HBK nCode DesignLife
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1Impact and fatigue loads in machinery1.2Frames, booms and dump bodies1.3Crane and lifting structures1.4Aggressive environmental conditions1.5Structural failure modes1.6Lessons from in-service failures1.7Fatigue design philosophies1.8Regulations applicable to structures1.9Fabrication quality requirements1.10Case study: failure analysis of a boom
2.1High-yield-strength steels2.2Quenched and tempered steels2.3Toughness in low-temperature service2.4Carbon equivalent and weldability2.5Susceptibility to cold cracking2.6Wear-resistant steels in structures2.7Combining dissimilar steels2.8Certificates and traceability2.9Selection according to loading2.10Lab: preheat calculation from carbon equivalent
3.1MAG welding with solid wire3.2Flux-cored arc welding3.3Submerged arc welding3.4Tandem welding3.5Robotic welding of frames3.6Parameters and heat input3.7Shielding gases3.8Welding consumables3.9Welding productivity3.10Workshop: fillet welding of S690 steel
4.1Joint types and edge preparation4.2Butt and fillet welds4.3Full and partial penetration4.4Fatigue-friendly details4.5Accessibility for the welder4.6Weld symbols according to ISO 25534.7Static design of welds4.8Fatigue design of welds4.9Joint optimisation4.10Practical exercise: redesign of a critical joint
5.1Fusion zone and heat-affected zone5.2Welding thermal cycles5.3Hydrogen-induced cold cracking5.4Hot cracking5.5Softening in quenched steels5.6Heat input control5.7Preheating and post-heating5.8Post-weld heat treatment5.9Hardness testing of joints5.10Lab: macrograph and hardness of a joint
6.1Origin of distortion6.2Welding sequences6.3Clamping and fixtures6.4Pre-setting of parts6.5Distortion simulation6.6Residual stresses and fatigue6.7Measuring residual stresses6.8Stress relief6.9Straightening of structures6.10Practical exercise: welding sequence for a frame
7.1Weld toe quality7.2Weld toe grinding7.3TIG dressing of the weld toe7.4High-frequency mechanical impact treatment7.5Shot peening7.6IIW improvement recommendations7.7Quantifying the benefit7.8Application in production7.9Quality control of the improvement7.10Case study: life improvement of a boom joint
8.1Quality system according to ISO 38348.2Welding coordination according to ISO 147318.3Welding procedure qualification8.4Welder qualification8.5Quality levels according to ISO 58178.6Visual inspection of welds8.7Ultrasonic and radiographic testing8.8Magnetic particle testing8.9Repair management8.10Lab: ultrasonic inspection of a weld
9.1Assessment of cracks in the field9.2Deciding between repair and replacement9.3Weld repair procedures9.4Welding under field conditions9.5Repair reinforcements9.6Inspection after repair9.7Repair documentation9.8Responsibility for the repair9.9Cases in mining and construction9.10Practical exercise: repair procedure for a cracked frame
10.1Corrosion in welded structures10.2Surface preparation by blasting10.3Paint systems10.4Hot-dip galvanising of structures10.5Cavity protection10.6Interaction of corrosion and fatigue10.7Coating inspection10.8Maintenance of protection10.9Service life of protection10.10Case study: protection system for a port crane
11.1Fabrication planning11.2Cutting and edge preparation11.3Assembly and tack welding11.4Manual versus robotic welding11.5Post-weld machining11.6Dimensional control of the assembly11.7Estimating welding costs11.8Workshop productivity11.9Continuous improvement of the workshop11.10Practical exercise: cost breakdown of a welded frame
12.1Selection of the structure12.2Load analysis12.3Steel selection12.4Joint design12.5Welding procedure12.6Quality plan12.7Repair plan12.8Cost analysis12.9Thesis 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 the intake, so the programme can be combined with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Ansys Mechanical, Simufact Welding, SolidWorks and HBK nCode DesignLife, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures for welding procedure qualification, ultrasonic inspection and structural repairs in the field. Assessment is continuous for each module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: UNE-EN 1090-2, UNE-EN ISO 3834, UNE-EN ISO 14731, UNE-EN ISO 15614-1, UNE-EN ISO 9606-1, UNE-EN ISO 5817, UNE-EN 1993-1-9 (Eurocode 3), UNE-EN 1011-2.
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
- A university degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
- 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 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 Ansys Mechanical, Simufact Welding, SolidWorks and HBK nCode DesignLife, 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 degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), 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.
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