Postgraduate Diploma in Integrating SuDS with Urban Planning and Landscape
Online 800-hour Postgraduate Diploma in Integrating SuDS with Urban Planning and Landscape. 8 modules covering CIRIA C753 (The SuDS Manual), Royal Legislative Decree 7/2015 (Consolidated Text of the Land and Urban Rehabilitation Act) and QGIS. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Postgraduate Diploma in Integrating SuDS with Urban Planning and Landscape — studying from the United States
Civil and transportation engineering is a large and visible sector in the United States, supported by federal infrastructure investment and active state and municipal programs. Major firms such as AECOM, Jacobs and Kiewit work on highways, bridges, rail and water systems nationwide. Rail engineering, centered on corridors in the Northeast, Midwest and California, is expanding with passenger and freight modernization. Smart city initiatives in cities like Pittsburgh, Boston and Austin integrate sensors, data platforms and digital twins into infrastructure planning and operations.
Fees for the United States: US$1,000 (US Dollars), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in the United States
Typical roles
Questions from the United States
What US professional bodies and licences apply to civil and rail engineering?
In the US, civil engineers can obtain the Professional Engineer (PE) licence from state boards, which is often required for public infrastructure sign-off. The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) is the main professional body. Rail is overseen federally by the Federal Railroad Administration. SEIUM's private qualifications are not official degrees or PE-equivalent credentials, so employers and licensing boards decide any recognition.
Do US civil, rail and smart-city employers value private online engineering qualifications?
US public agencies and engineering firms typically require ABET-accredited degrees, PE licensure for certain roles, and relevant project experience. A private online qualification can support specialist knowledge in areas such as smart infrastructure, but it is not a standard requirement for licensed roles. Its usefulness depends on the employer's policies and on your practical background.
Can a US professional study this part-time while working, and what does the commitment look like?
Yes, the programmes are online, taught in English, and do not require a student visa. The time commitment is about 1,900 hours for a master's, 800 hours for a postgraduate diploma, or 300 hours for a specialist course, so planning is important. Each student has an assigned technical tutor. Fees can be paid in instalments, and some employers sponsor training, so check with yours.
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
Explain the relationship between the water cycle and urban form.
Integrate SuDS into urban planning instruments.
Design streets and public spaces with rainwater management.
Select suitable vegetation for SuDS according to climate and function.
Apply sustainable drainage solutions at plot and building scale.
Evaluate projects using ecosystem services and certification tools.
Develop an urban project with SuDS and its implementation strategy.
Who it's for
- Water-focused urban planner looking to specialise in Integrating SuDS with Urban Planning and Landscape.
- Green infrastructure landscape architect looking to specialise in Integrating SuDS with Urban Planning and Landscape.
- Public space designer looking to specialise in Integrating SuDS with Urban Planning and Landscape.
- Municipal planning officer looking to specialise in Integrating SuDS with Urban Planning and Landscape.
- Nature-based solutions consultant looking to specialise in Integrating SuDS with Urban Planning and Landscape.
- Urban regeneration architect looking to specialise in Integrating SuDS with Urban Planning and Landscape.
- Graduates in engineering or science seeking to move into urban planning and architecture.
What you'll work with
- CIRIA C753 (The SuDS Manual)
- Royal Legislative Decree 7/2015 (Consolidated text of the land and urban rehabilitation act)
- Directive 2000/60/EC (Water Framework Directive)
- Directive 2007/60/EC (Flood Risk)
- CTE DB HS 5 (Water Evacuation)
- Technological Standards for Gardening and Landscaping (NTJ)
- BREEAM is urban planning
8 modules · 800 h
1.1Water-sensitive urban design (WSUD)1.2Sponge cities: the Chinese experience1.3Green and blue infrastructure1.4Urban ecosystem services1.5European Green Infrastructure Strategy1.6Spanish Urban Agenda1.7Water, landscape and public space1.8Scales: plot, street, neighbourhood and catchment1.9Reference cases: Copenhagen, Rotterdam, Benaguasil1.10Workshop: water assessment of an existing neighbourhood
2.1General urban planning and water-related provisions2.2Sustainable drainage ordinances2.3Maximum impermeability coefficients2.4Strategic environmental assessment2.5River basin authority reports2.6Land reserves for water management2.7Land transfers and multifunctional open spaces2.8Incentive instruments and stormwater charges2.9Coordination between municipal services2.10Practical: drafting a SuDS ordinance
3.1Green streets and connected tree pits3.2Road cross-sections with bioretention3.3Flood-tolerant squares: Benthemplein3.4Multifunctional flood parks3.5Integration with mobility and parking3.6Accessibility and safety in use3.7Kerbs, gratings and construction details3.8Permeable paving in public space3.9Street furniture and water3.10Case study: redesign of a residential street
4.1Species selection for SuDS4.2Tolerance to flooding and drought4.3Growing media and structural soils4.4Urban tree planting and water management4.5Biodiversity and ecological connectivity4.6Landscape design of wetlands4.7Aesthetics, perception and social acceptance4.8Changing landscape: seasonality4.9Vegetation maintenance4.10Workshop: planting plan for a rain garden
5.1Green and planted roofs5.2Blue roofs and roof-level retention5.3Rainwater harvesting UNE-EN 169415.4Courtyards and open spaces within plots5.5Green façades5.6BREEAM, LEED and VERDE certifications5.7Technical Building Code and sanitation5.8Plot-to-public-network connection5.9Responsibility and ownership5.10Practical: water balance of a city block
6.1Neighbourhood-scale hydrological modelling6.2GIS suitability tools6.3Co-benefits assessment6.4Thermal comfort and shade6.5Cost-benefit analysis of SuDS6.6B£ST assessment methodology6.7Urban sustainability indicators6.8Citizen participation and co-design6.93D visualisation and communication6.10Laboratory: GIS suitability analysis
7.1Ownership and maintenance responsibility7.2Green public procurement7.3European funding and Next Generation funds7.4Construction phases and protection during works7.5User maintenance manuals7.6Monitoring and post-implementation evaluation7.7Technical and institutional barriers7.8Communication and environmental education7.9Scaling up pilot projects7.10Case study: municipal implementation strategy
8.1Analysis of the urban area8.2Water and landscape diagnosis8.3Water management strategy8.4Design of public spaces8.5Vegetation proposal8.6Hydraulic and co-benefits assessment8.7Management and maintenance plan8.8Budget and phases8.9Report and presentation8.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable materials, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it possible to combine study with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is QGIS, AutoCAD, SketchUp, Lumion, EPA SWMM, in free, academic or evaluation versions. The practical work draws on real procedures from pilot SuDS street projects, ecosystem services assessment and neighbourhood participation processes in urban design. Assessment is continuous, module by 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.
Explain the relationship between the water cycle and urban form.
Integrate SuDS into urban planning instruments.
Design streets and public spaces with rainwater management.
Select suitable vegetation for SuDS according to climate and function.
Apply sustainable drainage solutions at plot and building scale.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. A university degree is not required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient Spanish to follow technical regulatory texts.
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 an average of 10 to 15 hours per week, compatible with full-time work.
The programme uses QGIS, AutoCAD, SketchUp, Lumion, EPA SWMM. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM diploma upon passing continuous assessment and the integrating project. It is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area can be credited towards the advanced programme. Check the credit transfer policy when you enrol.
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