Diploma in Advanced Off-Road Hydraulics
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in advanced off-road hydraulics. 8 modules covering mobile hydraulic circuits, electrohydraulic control, steering and brakes, hydrostatic transmissions, fluids and filtration, modelling and safety, with ISO 4413, ISO 13849-1 and Simcenter Amesim, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in Advanced Off-Road Hydraulics — studying from South Africa
Mining, agriculture and construction make off-road and specialised machinery central to South Africa's economy. Mining equipment manufacturers and service providers support the country's extensive gold, platinum and coal operations, while agricultural machinery serves commercial farming. Engineers working on heavy vehicles and special machines focus on hydraulics, drivetrains and durability under harsh conditions. The South African Bureau of Standards and the Mine Health and Safety Council set relevant standards and safety requirements.
Fees for South Africa: R 24 000 (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 professional bodies in South Africa for this area?
SEIUM qualifications are private and not accredited by any South African body. Engineering registration is handled by ECSA, and machinery safety standards are linked to SABS and the Department of Employment and Labour's regulations. Recognition of a private qualification is decided by employers or the relevant body, so confirm this with them before you enrol.
How might this qualification be used by employers in South Africa in off-road and special vehicles?
Mining, agriculture, construction and vehicle-conversion firms value practical machinery knowledge and proven problem-solving. A private qualification can support your application, especially with hands-on experience, but it carries no official status. Its weight depends on each employer, so ask potential employers in your field how they would view it.
Can I study this programme alongside full-time work from South Africa, and is there a time zone or language issue?
The programme is 100% online and in English, so you can study from home without a student visa. Master's programmes take 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours. Each student has an assigned technical tutor, fees can be paid in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible. Check time-zone and workload expectations with SEIUM directly.
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 open-centre and load-sensing mobile hydraulic circuits.
Design electrohydraulic control systems.
Understand hydraulic steering and braking systems.
Size hydrostatic transmissions for off-road traction.
Manage fluids, filtration and thermal balance.
Simulate and validate complex hydraulic systems.
Apply safety and reliability criteria in mobile hydraulics.
Who it's for
- Mobile hydraulics engineers designing circuits for machinery.
- Electrohydraulic control engineers programming mobile controllers.
- Machinery diagnostic technicians troubleshooting hydraulic systems in the field.
- Off-highway product engineers developing new machines.
- Hydrostatic transmission specialists working on traction drives.
- Machinery validation engineers planning and running tests.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to move into construction machinery.
What you'll work with
- ISO 4413:2010 (safety requirements for hydraulic systems)
- ISO 5010 (steering requirements for earth-moving machinery)
- ISO 13849-1 (safety-related parts of control systems)
- ISO 4406 (hydraulic fluid cleanliness codes)
- ISO 1219-1 (graphical symbols for fluid power)
- ISO 25119 (functional safety for agricultural and forestry tractors and machinery)
- SAE J1939 (CAN communication for heavy vehicles)
- Simcenter Amesim
- Automation Studio
- MATLAB/Simulink with Simscape Fluids
- Danfoss PLUS+1 GUIDE
8 modules
1.1Open-centre and closed-centre circuits1.2Load-sensing systems1.3LUDV flow-sharing systems1.4Piston pumps with pressure compensator1.5Sectional and monoblock directional valves1.6Cylinders and motors in implements1.7Hydraulic and electrohydraulic pilot control1.8Reading ISO 1219 schematics1.9Energy losses and circuit efficiency1.10Workshop: analysis of the circuit of a wheel loader
2.1Proportional valves and servo valves2.2Solenoids and PWM current2.3Programmable mobile controllers2.4Joysticks and operator inputs2.5Position, pressure and angle sensors2.6Closed-loop control of implements2.7CAN communication and SAE J19392.8Programming with Danfoss PLUS+1 GUIDE2.9Diagnosis of electrohydraulic faults2.10Practical exercise: position control of a cylinder
3.1Hydrostatic steering with an orbitrol unit3.2Articulated steering in machinery3.3ISO 5010 requirements3.4Emergency steering3.5Wet multi-disc hydraulic brakes3.6Brake accumulators3.7Spring-applied parking brakes3.8Priority valves3.9Steering and braking tests3.10Case study: steering diagnosis on an articulated dumper
4.1Closed pump-motor circuits4.2Charge pump and circuit flushing4.3Radial and axial piston motors4.4Automotive control and engine anti-stall4.5Traction on low-grip terrain4.6Slip control and differential lock4.7Travel speeds and ranges4.8Efficiency and heating4.9Diagnosis of hydrostatic transmissions4.10Lab: adjusting a closed circuit on the test bench
5.1Selection of hydraulic fluids5.2HEES and HETG biodegradable fluids5.3ISO 4406 cleanliness classes5.4Filtration system design5.5Aeration, cavitation and foaming5.6Heat exchangers and fans5.7System thermal balance5.8Reservoirs and breathers5.9In-service oil analysis5.10Practical exercise: thermal balance of a mobile system
6.1Modelling pumps and valves6.2Simulation in Simcenter Amesim6.3Simscape Fluids in MATLAB6.4Dynamics of implements and loads6.5Stability of load-sensing systems6.6Analysis of oscillations and water hammer6.7Validation with field measurements6.8Energy optimisation6.9Digital twin of the system6.10Lab: simulation of a crane boom
7.1ISO 4413 requirements7.2Functional safety ISO 13849-1 and ISO 251197.3Load-holding valves7.4Hose burst protection7.5Residual energy hazards7.6FMEA failure mode analysis7.7Condition-based maintenance7.8Leak management and the environment7.9Training for operators and technicians7.10Case study: FMEA of a lifting system
8.1Definition of the machine and its functions8.2Performance requirements8.3Circuit design8.4Component selection8.5Electrohydraulic control strategy8.6Simulation and verification8.7Safety analysis8.8Test plan8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training 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 standards and applied exercises. The working software is Simcenter Amesim, Automation Studio, MATLAB/Simulink with Simscape Fluids and Danfoss PLUS+1 GUIDE, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Exercises are based on real procedures: field diagnosis of load-sensing circuits, bench adjustment of hydrostatic transmissions and simulation of machinery implements. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: ISO 4413:2010, ISO 5010, ISO 13849-1, ISO 4406, ISO 1219-1, ISO 25119, SAE J1939.
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 Simcenter Amesim, Automation Studio, MATLAB/Simulink with Simscape Fluids and Danfoss PLUS+1 GUIDE, 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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