Diploma in Naval Hydrodynamics and CFD
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in naval hydrodynamics and CFD. 8 modules covering ship hydrodynamics, towing tank testing, CFD fundamentals, resistance and free-surface CFD, propulsion CFD, seakeeping and manoeuvring, and energy efficiency, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in Naval Hydrodynamics and CFD — studying from South Africa
South Africa has a established defence industry centred on companies such as Denel and Paramount Group, with capabilities in land systems, armoured vehicles and munitions. The sector supports engineering roles in systems integration, vehicle design and test and evaluation. Defence procurement and export controls are overseen by government bodies, and the industry works closely with the South African National Defence Force. Engineers in this field typically combine mechanical, electrical and systems skills.
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
Which South African bodies regulate or recognise defence and military engineering professionals?
Engineers in South Africa are registered through ECSA under the Engineering Profession Act, and defence programmes are guided by institutions such as the South African National Defence Force and Armscor, which set their own requirements. SEIUM is a private online institute, and its qualifications are not state degrees or accredited by a national body. Recognition is decided by these bodies and your employer, so confirm with them first.
Would this qualification help me find work in South Africa's defence or land systems sector?
South Africa has a defence industry with state-linked entities and private contractors, and employers usually require security clearances, relevant experience and recognised qualifications. A private online programme may support your application but does not guarantee employment or clearance. Check requirements with prospective employers, as roles in this sector can be sensitive and tightly controlled.
Can I study alongside a job, and are there funding options?
The course is 100% online and taught in English, so you need strong English, and no student visa is needed to study from home. Master's programmes are 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours, each with an assigned technical tutor. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible, so ask whether your employer would fund part of the training.
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
Understand ship hydrodynamics.
Interpret and extrapolate towing tank tests.
Master the fundamentals of computational fluid dynamics.
Simulate resistance with a free surface.
Model propulsion and cavitation.
Analyse seakeeping and manoeuvrability.
Apply CFD to ship energy efficiency.
Who it's for
- Hydrodynamics engineers working on hull and propeller design.
- CFD specialists moving into marine applications.
- Naval architects and marine engineers.
- Towing tank test engineers.
- Marine propulsion engineers.
- Fluid mechanics researchers.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to move into the naval sector.
What you'll work with
- ITTC 7.5-03-01-01 (uncertainty in CFD)
- ITTC 7.5-02-02-01 (resistance tests)
- ITTC-1957 (model-ship correlation line)
- IMO Resolution MSC.137(76) (standards for ship manoeuvrability)
- MARPOL Annex VI (EEDI, EEXI and CII)
- ITTC 7.5-02-03-01.4 (self-propulsion extrapolation method)
- OpenFOAM
- Star-CCM+
- ANSYS Fluent
- Rhino
- Maxsurf
8 modules
1.1Resistance to forward motion1.2Components of resistance1.3Froude and Reynolds numbers1.4Wave formation1.5Boundary layer1.6Propulsion and propellers1.7Hull-propeller interaction1.8Manoeuvrability1.9Seakeeping1.10Case study: resistance estimation using Holtrop-Mennen
2.1Hydrodynamic test tanks2.2CEHIPAR and its role2.3Towing tests2.4Self-propulsion tests2.5Open-water propeller tests2.6Wave tests2.7ITTC scaling and extrapolation2.8Experimental uncertainty2.9ITTC recommendations2.10Lab: resistance extrapolation with ITTC-57
3.1Navier-Stokes equations3.2Finite volume discretisation3.3Structured and unstructured meshing3.4Boundary conditions3.5Numerical schemes3.6Convergence3.7RANS turbulence models3.8k-omega SST models3.9Wall functions3.10Practical exercise: flow around an aerofoil in OpenFOAM
4.1VOF methods4.2Free-surface simulation4.3KCS and DTMB 5415 reference hulls4.4Hull meshing4.5Dynamic sinkage and trim4.6Verification and validation4.7Mesh independence study4.8Comparison with tests4.9Hull form optimisation4.10Lab: KCS resistance in OpenFOAM
5.1Propeller modelling5.2Actuator disc5.3Sliding meshes5.4Cavitation5.5Controllable-pitch propellers5.6Waterjets5.7Azimuth thrusters5.8Nominal and effective wake5.9Propeller noise5.10Practical exercise: open-water propeller with sliding meshes
6.1Six-degree-of-freedom motions6.2Response amplitude operators (RAO)6.3Panel methods6.4CFD in waves6.5Parametric rolling6.6Dynamic stability6.7Manoeuvrability and IMO criteria6.8Manoeuvring simulation6.9Helicopter operations6.10Case study: wave response analysis
7.1EEDI and EEXI energy efficiency7.2CII indicator7.3Hull form optimisation7.4Energy-saving devices7.5Coatings and roughness7.6Warship hulls7.7Hydrodynamic signatures7.8High-performance computing7.9Machine learning in CFD7.10Case study: wake energy-saving device
8.1Defining the ship8.2Empirical estimation8.3Meshing8.4Resistance simulation8.5Propulsion simulation8.6Validation8.7Improvement proposal8.8Conclusions8.9Report 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. No fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so it fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is OpenFOAM, Star-CCM+, ANSYS Fluent, Rhino and Maxsurf, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures for reference hull resistance simulation, open-water propeller analysis and towing tank test extrapolation. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final project.
Standards covered: ITTC 7.5-03-01-01, ITTC 7.5-02-02-01, ITTC-1957, IMO Resolution MSC.137(76), MARPOL Annex VI (EEDI, EEXI and CII), ITTC 7.5-02-03-01.4.
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 OpenFOAM, Star-CCM+, ANSYS Fluent, Rhino and Maxsurf, 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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