Diploma in Acoustic Treatments and Noise Certification
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in Acoustic Treatments and Noise Certification. 8 modules covering acoustic materials, engine liners, cabin treatment, vibroacoustic analysis, noise certification and testing under ICAO Annex 16 Volume I and 14 CFR Part 36, and operational noise management, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in Acoustic Treatments and Noise Certification — studying from South Africa
South Africa has a long-standing aerospace base, anchored by the Western Cape cluster around Cape Town and the Gauteng aerospace corridor near Johannesburg. Companies such as Denel Aerospace Systems, Aerosud and Airbus-linked suppliers in the Western Cape draw on local engineering talent. The South African Civil Aviation Authority oversees airworthiness and drone regulation, while the South African National Space Agency coordinates national space activity. Demand for skills in aircraft systems, unmanned aerial systems and satellite engineering continues to grow across both regions.
Fees for South Africa: R 33 400 (South African rand), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in South Africa
Typical roles
Questions from South Africa
Will a SEIUM qualification be recognised by the South African Council for Aeronautical and Engineering Professions or ECSA?
SEIUM is a private online institute and its qualifications are not official state degrees or accredited by a national body. In South Africa, professional registration is handled by bodies such as ECSA (Engineering Council of South Africa) and SACAP for built environment roles, and aviation licensing by the SACAA. Recognition of a private qualification is decided by the employer or the relevant body, so check directly with them before enrolling.
Would this qualification help me get work with aerospace or drone employers in South Africa?
Employers in South Africa's aerospace and drone sector, such as aircraft maintenance organisations, defence contractors and drone operators, usually weigh experience, licensing and university credentials heavily. A private online qualification can support your CV and show specialist knowledge, but it does not guarantee hiring or a particular role. Ask prospective employers whether they value the programme before you commit.
Can I manage the workload while working full time, and do I need to be fluent in English?
The programme is 100% online and taught in English, so you need solid working English. Study is fully remote, so no student visa is needed to study from home. Master's programmes total 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours, with an assigned technical tutor. Plan your weekly hours realistically, and ask whether employer sponsorship or instalment payment could help with fees.
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
Characterise absorbent materials and their acoustic behaviour.
Design acoustic liners for aircraft engines.
Select effective, lightweight cabin acoustic treatments.
Model vibroacoustic systems with finite elements and SEA.
Apply the noise certification requirements of Annex 16.
Correct and document noise certification measurements.
Assess operational noise management measures at airports.
Who it's for
- Acoustic treatment engineers at manufacturers and materials suppliers.
- Noise certification specialists.
- Vibroacoustic engineers working with FE and SEA models.
- Acoustic test engineers involved in certification campaigns.
- Airport noise management technicians.
- Aircraft interiors engineers responsible for cabin comfort.
- Engineering or science graduates aiming to join aircraft manufacturers.
What you'll work with
- ICAO Annex 16, Volume I (aircraft noise certification)
- ICAO Doc 9501 (Environmental Technical Manual)
- 14 CFR Part 36 (FAA noise standards)
- Regulation (EU) 598/2014 (noise-related operating restrictions at EU airports)
- ISO 10534-2 (absorption measurement in impedance tubes)
- ISO 354 (absorption measurement in a reverberation room)
- FAR 25.853 (flammability of compartment interiors)
- SAE ARP866B (atmospheric absorption of sound)
- VA One
- Simcenter 3D Acoustics
- Actran
- COMSOL Multiphysics
- INM/AEDT
8 modules
1.1Absorption and dissipation mechanisms1.2Acoustic impedance and absorption coefficient1.3Porous and fibrous materials1.4Melamine and polyimide foams1.5Helmholtz resonators1.6Transmission loss in panels1.7Mass law and coincidence frequency1.8Flammability and weight requirements1.9Acoustic metamaterials1.10Lab: absorption with an impedance tube
2.1Single- and double-layer honeycomb liners2.2Perforated plates and meshes2.3Guess and Motsinger impedance models2.4Effect of grazing flow2.5Liners in the intake, bypass and exhaust2.6Zero-splice intake liners2.7Impedance optimisation for fan tones2.8Liner manufacturing and repair2.9Impedance rig tests2.10Practical exercise: design of a single-degree-of-freedom liner
3.1Noise transmission into the interior3.2Structure-borne and airborne noise3.3Fuselage insulation blankets3.4Damped interior panels3.5Viscoelastic damping3.6Tuned dynamic absorbers3.7Active noise control in the cabin3.8Systems noise: ECS and avionics3.9Sound quality and comfort3.10Case study: cabin treatment in a turboprop
4.1Acoustic finite elements4.2Statistical energy analysis (SEA)4.3Hybrid FE–SEA methods4.4Response to turbulent boundary layer4.5Structure–fluid coupling4.6Transfer path analysis4.7Blanket and trim models4.8Validation against tests4.9Optimisation of treatment weight4.10Lab: SEA model of a fuselage section
5.1Annex 16 Volume I and its chapters5.2Chapter 14 for jet and propeller aeroplanes5.3Chapters 8 and 11 for helicopters5.4Reference points: lateral, flyover and approach5.5Limits according to maximum weight5.6Cumulative margin and strategies5.7Equivalent procedures5.8Certification of VTOL aircraft5.9New standards for drones5.10Workshop: cumulative margin of an aeroplane against Chapter 14
6.1Site selection and conditions6.2Meteorological requirements6.3Measurement systems and calibration6.4Flight path tracking6.5Corrections to reference conditions6.6Certified EPNL calculation6.7Confidence intervals6.8Equivalent and analytical procedures6.9Documentation for the authority6.10Practical exercise: correcting a measurement to reference conditions
7.1ICAO Balanced Approach7.2Operating restrictions at airports7.3NADP 1 and NADP 2 procedures7.4Noise quotas and classification7.5Strategic noise maps7.6Residential sound insulation7.7Airport noise monitoring7.8Community engagement7.9Noise charges7.10Case study: impact of a night-time restriction
8.1Selection of the aircraft and acoustic problem8.2Acoustic treatment design8.3Vibroacoustic modelling8.4Estimation of the reduction achieved8.5Noise certification strategy8.6Test plan8.7Weight and cost analysis8.8Technical report8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
A 100% online programme on the SEIUM Institute campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so you can combine it with your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. You work with VA One, Simcenter 3D Acoustics, Actran, COMSOL Multiphysics and INM/AEDT, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied on real procedures: design and characterisation of acoustic liners, calculation of an aircraft's noise certification margin, and SEA modelling of cabin acoustic treatment. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final project.
Standards covered: ICAO Annex 16, Volume I; ICAO Doc 9501 (Environmental Technical Manual); 14 CFR Part 36; Regulation (EU) 598/2014; ISO 10534-2; ISO 354; FAR 25.853; SAE ARP866B.
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 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 VA One, Simcenter 3D Acoustics, Actran, COMSOL Multiphysics and INM/AEDT, 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 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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