Diploma in High-Torque Hydraulic Systems
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in high-torque hydraulic systems: 8 modules covering high-torque drives, hydraulic motors, high-torque circuits, gearboxes and transmission, electrohydraulic control, thermal management and fluids, and simulation and validation, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in High-Torque Hydraulic Systems — studying from South Africa
Classic vehicle restoration is a niche but active interest in South Africa, supported by owners' clubs, specialist workshops and historic motorsport events. Restoration work draws on skills in mechanical engineering, materials and heritage conservation. Specialists source parts, rebuild engines and conserve bodywork for vintage and classic cars and motorcycles. Clubs and heritage organisations help maintain the community and promote conservation practice.
Fees for South Africa: R 27 900 (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, so they are not official state degrees. Restoration work is not generally a regulated title, though ECSA registration applies to engineering roles and the SABS covers relevant standards. Recognition of a private qualification is decided by clients, employers or the relevant body, so check with them first.
How might this qualification be used by employers in South Africa in restoration and classic vehicles?
The classic vehicle sector is largely made up of specialist workshops, collectors and small firms that value demonstrable craftsmanship and reputation over formal credentials. A private qualification may add technical depth to your profile, but its impact depends on individual clients and employers. Speak to people in the field to see how they would regard 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 taught in English, so you can study from home without a student visa. Master's programmes total 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours. You get an assigned technical tutor, can pay in instalments, and may seek employer sponsorship. Ask SEIUM about time-zone and workload details before committing.
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
Select high-torque hydraulic drives.
Compare types of hydraulic motor.
Design circuits for high-torque loads.
Size gearboxes and transmissions.
Implement electrohydraulic torque control.
Manage the system’s thermal behaviour and fluids.
Simulate and validate high-torque drives.
Who it's for
- Mobile hydraulics engineers
- Drive engineers
- Hydraulic test technicians
- Drilling rig product engineers
- Winch and crane specialists
- Applications engineers
- Engineering or science graduates looking to move into construction machinery
What you'll work with
- ISO 4413:2010 (hydraulic fluid power: general rules and safety requirements for systems and components)
- ISO 4391 (hydraulic fluid power: pumps, motors and integral transmissions, parameter definitions and symbols)
- ISO 4409 (hydraulic fluid power: methods of testing and presenting basic steady-state performance of pumps and motors)
- ISO 1219-1 (graphical symbols and circuit diagrams)
- ISO 4406 (method for coding the level of contamination by solid particles)
- ISO 13849-1 (safety of machinery: safety-related parts of control systems)
- Simcenter Amesim
- Automation Studio
- MATLAB/Simulink with Simscape Fluids
- Festo FluidSIM
8 modules
1.1Torque requirements in winches and tracks1.2Low-speed high-torque (LSHT) motors1.3High-speed motors with gearboxes1.4Starting torque and stall torque1.5Applications: drums, drills, winches1.6Comparison with electric drives1.7Selection by duty cycle1.8Smoothness requirements at low speed1.9The manufacturer market1.10Workshop: calculating the torque of a winch
2.1Radial piston motors2.2Gerotor and geroler orbital motors2.3Axial piston motors2.4Volumetric and hydromechanical efficiency2.5Characteristics according to ISO 43912.6Motor testing to ISO 44092.7Internal leakage and case drain2.8Integrated brakes2.9Selection from catalogues2.10Practical: selecting a radial piston motor
3.1Open and closed circuits3.2Counterbalance valves3.3Control of overrunning loads3.4Holding brakes and their release3.5Freewheeling circuits3.6Overpressure protection3.7Speed control at low load3.8Circuit diagrams to ISO 1219-13.9Functional safety to ISO 13849-13.10Case study: circuit for a rescue winch
4.1Planetary wheel drives4.2Drum gearboxes4.3Ratio selection4.4Radial and axial loads4.5Gearbox lubrication4.6Overall efficiency4.7Motor-gearbox assembly4.8Noise and vibration4.9Gearbox maintenance4.10Laboratory: sizing a track drive
5.1Variable displacement pumps5.2Pressure and flow control5.3Two-speed motors5.4Electronic torque control5.5Speed and pressure sensors5.6Mobile controllers5.7Power limiting5.8Fault diagnosis5.9Operator interfaces5.10Practical: tuning torque control on a test bench
6.1Heat generation at high torque6.2Circuit cooling6.3Fluids for low-speed operation6.4Viscosity and cold starting6.5Contamination to ISO 44066.6Case drain filtration6.7Cavitation at low pressure6.8Seals and temperature6.9Oil analysis6.10Case study: thermal balance of a drilling rig
7.1Modelling in Simcenter Amesim7.2Modelling in Automation Studio7.3Load and start-up dynamics7.4Performance testing7.5Durability testing7.6Field measurement7.7Model-test correlation7.8Failure analysis7.9Technical documentation7.10Laboratory: simulating start-up under load
8.1Definition of the application8.2Torque and speed requirements8.3Selection of motor and gearbox8.4Circuit design8.5Control strategy8.6Thermal management8.7Validation plan8.8Conclusions8.9Report 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 each intake, so it can be combined with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Simcenter Amesim, Automation Studio, MATLAB/Simulink with Simscape Fluids and Festo FluidSIM, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures for hydraulic motor performance tests, winch circuit design with counterbalance valves and thermal balance of high-torque drives. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final integrated project.
Standards covered: ISO 4413:2010, ISO 4391, ISO 4409, ISO 1219-1, ISO 4406, ISO 13849-1.
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 Festo FluidSIM, 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), 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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