Diploma in RAM Materials and Military Standards
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in radar-absorbing materials (RAM) and military standards, structured in 8 modules covering electromagnetic absorption theory, absorbing materials and structures, manufacturing and application, military specifications (MIL-STD-810H), electromagnetic simulation and export regulation (EU Common Military List, Law 53/2007), with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in RAM Materials and Military Standards — 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 16 700 (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 the theory of electromagnetic absorbers.
Select absorbing materials and fillers.
Design multilayer and frequency-selective absorbing structures.
Define manufacturing and coating application processes.
Apply military and environmental specifications.
Optimise designs through electromagnetic simulation.
Analyse the export control framework for these materials.
Who it's for
- Electromagnetic materials engineers.
- Functional coatings specialists.
- Electromagnetic simulation engineers.
- Coating application technicians.
- Export control specialists.
- Metamaterials researchers.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter the defence sector.
What you'll work with
- MIL-STD-810H (environmental engineering considerations and laboratory tests)
- EU Common Military List (EU list of military goods subject to export control)
- Spanish Law 53/2007 (control of foreign trade in defence and dual-use material)
- MIL-PRF-85285 (high-solids polyurethane aircraft coatings)
- MIL-DTL-53039 (chemical agent resistant coatings (CARC))
- Regulation (EC) 1907/2006 REACH (registration, evaluation and restriction of chemicals)
- IEEE Std 1128-1998 (evaluation of RF absorber performance)
- ASTM D5568 (measurement of permittivity and permeability by waveguide)
- CST Studio Suite
- Ansys HFSS
- COMSOL Multiphysics
- MATLAB
8 modules
1.1Maxwell's equations in material media1.2Input impedance of a layer1.3Resonant absorbers1.4Broadband absorbers1.5The Dallenbach absorber1.6Circuit analogue absorbers1.7Frequency selective surfaces1.8Loss mechanisms1.9Angle of incidence and polarisation1.10Practical exercise: design of a Dallenbach absorber
2.1Ferrites2.2Carbonyl iron2.3Carbon black2.4Carbon nanotubes2.5Graphene2.6MXenes2.7Conductive polymers2.8Loaded foams2.9Absorbing paints2.10Laboratory: formulation of a loaded composite
3.1Radar-absorbing structural composites3.2Honeycomb panels3.3Metamaterials3.4Frequency selective surfaces in radomes3.5Edge treatment3.6Joints and discontinuities3.7Integration into structures3.8Mechanical trade-offs3.9Structural durability3.10Workshop: design of a frequency selective surface with CST
4.1Spray application4.2Sheets and adhesives4.3Thickness control4.4Coating cure4.5In-service maintenance4.6Coating repair4.7Safety during application4.8Quality control4.9Thickness measurement4.10Case study: application procedure for a panel
5.1MIL-STD-810H environmental requirements5.2MIL-PRF-85285 coatings5.3MIL-DTL-53039 CARC coatings5.4REACH and chromate restrictions5.5Reflectivity measurement to IEEE 11285.6Permittivity measurement to ASTM D55685.7AQAP quality requirements5.8Protection of technical information5.9Specification management5.10Case study: requirements matrix for a coating
6.1FDTD and FEM methods6.2Periodic boundary conditions6.3Dispersive material models6.4Optimisation using genetic algorithms6.5Radar cross-section of simple geometries6.6Validation against measurements6.7Simulation with CST and HFSS6.8Uncertainty in material properties6.9Digital twin of the coating6.10Practical exercise: multilayer optimisation with a genetic algorithm
7.1The EU Common Military List7.2The Wassenaar Arrangement7.3Spanish Law 53/20077.4ITAR categories7.5The REACH Regulation7.6Occupational health with nanomaterials7.7Waste management7.8Professional ethics7.9Civil applications of absorbers7.10Case study: export classification of an absorber
8.1Band and thickness requirements8.2Material selection8.3Structure design8.4Electromagnetic simulation8.5Manufacturing plan8.6Environmental requirements8.7Regulatory analysis8.8Validation 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 each intake, so the programme can be combined with your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is CST Studio Suite, Ansys HFSS, COMSOL Multiphysics and MATLAB, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures for permittivity and permeability measurement, coating ageing tests and reflectivity measurement in an anechoic chamber. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: MIL-STD-810H, EU Common Military List, Spanish Law 53/2007, MIL-PRF-85285, MIL-DTL-53039, Regulation (EC) 1907/2006 REACH, IEEE Std 1128-1998, ASTM D5568.
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 CST Studio Suite, Ansys HFSS, COMSOL Multiphysics and MATLAB, 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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