Master’s in Coachbuilding & Carrozzeria
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in coachbuilding and carrozzeria: building aluminium and steel bodies on a chassis over wooden body bucks. Structured in 12 modules covering coachbuilding tradition, body design, modelling and bucks, hand metal shaping, joints and structure, chassis, closures, paint and finishes, bespoke interiors, workshop management and type approval, with an assigned technical tutor.
Master’s in Coachbuilding & Carrozzeria — 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 110 000 (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, 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
Analyse the coachbuilding and carrozzeria tradition.
Design bodies with quality proportions and surfaces.
Build models and bucks for metal shaping.
Shape sheet-metal panels using hand techniques.
Produce body joints and structures.
Manage bespoke finishes and interiors.
Lead and obtain approval for a one-off body project.
Who it's for
- Craft coachbuilders.
- Car designers who want to see their designs built.
- Metal shapers and panel beaters.
- Clay modellers.
- Coachbuilding workshop managers.
- Restorers of special-bodied vehicles.
- Engineering or science graduates aiming to enter coachbuilding and special bodies.
What you'll work with
- Regulation (EU) 2018/858 (vehicle type approval)
- Individual vehicle approval regulations (approval of one-off vehicles)
- Vehicle modification regulations (alterations to registered vehicles)
- Historic vehicle regulations (registration and use of historic vehicles)
- FIVA Turin Charter (conservation of historic vehicles)
- EN ISO 9606-2 (qualification of aluminium welders)
- Industrial design protection legislation (legal protection of designs)
- Autodesk Alias
- Rhinoceros
- Blender
- SolidWorks
- Artec Studio
12 modules
1.1British, French and Italian coachbuilders1.2Italian carrozzeria and its schools1.3Bespoke bodies on rolling chassis1.4Superleggera and other patented techniques1.5The relationship between designer, coachbuilder and client1.6Evolution of contemporary coachbuilding1.7One-offs and short series1.8Archives and documentary sources1.9Coachbuilding at concours d’elegance1.10Case study: analysis of a Touring body
2.1Proportions and formal language2.2Hand sketching and rendering2.3Digital design with Class A surfaces2.4Scale and models2.5Interpreting character lines2.6Ergonomics and packaging2.7Aerodynamics of classic bodies2.8Details: grilles, mouldings and lamps2.9Presenting proposals to the client2.10Workshop: sketch and orthographic views of a coupé
3.1Clay and scale models3.2Wooden bucks and their construction3.3Section templates and formers3.4Digitising models3.5CNC milling of models3.6Foam and resin bucks3.7Symmetry control3.8Transferring surfaces to templates3.9Model corrections3.10Practical: building a section buck
4.1Tools: hammers, dollies and sandbags4.2The English wheel4.3Shrinking and stretching4.4Power hammer and Pullmax4.5Shaping aluminium and steel4.6Double-curvature panels4.7Thickness control4.8Fitting panels to the buck4.9Shaping defects4.10Workshop: shaping a wing on the English wheel
5.1Gas and TIG welding of aluminium5.2Welding steel in bodywork5.3Wiring edges and folding5.4Riveting and mechanical joints5.5Superleggera-type tubular frames5.6Fixing panels to the frame5.7Hidden structural reinforcements in wheel arches5.8Galvanic corrosion between metals5.9Distortion control5.10Practical: butt welding aluminium panels
6.1Ladder and tubular chassis6.2Adapting bodies to donor chassis6.3Mounting points and brackets6.4Stiffness and handling6.5Integrating mechanicals and suspension6.6Basic structural calculation6.7Vehicle construction regulations6.8Passive safety in special bodies6.9Testing and approval of one-off vehicles6.10Case study: new body on an existing chassis
7.1Designing hinges and mechanisms7.2Gap and flush fitting7.3Locks and handles7.4Weatherseals7.5Front- and side-opening bonnets7.6Tailgates and boot lids7.7Side windows and window regulators7.8Windscreens and frames7.9Controlling vibration and noise7.10Workshop: making and fitting an aluminium door
8.1Surface preparation8.2Primers and fillers8.3Period and modern paints8.4Special colours and two-tone schemes8.5Lacquering and polishing8.6Chrome plating and anodising of details8.7Upholstery and trim8.8Mouldings and badges8.9Finish quality control8.10Lab: measuring film thickness and gloss
9.1Cabin design9.2Selecting leathers and fabrics9.3Fine woods and marquetry9.4Instruments and dashboards9.5Seats and frames9.6Headlinings and panels9.7Ergonomics of controls9.8Discreet technology integration9.9Hand finishes in leather and wood9.10Practical: wooden dashboard mock-up
10.1Organising a craft workshop10.2Planning hours and trades10.3Quoting bespoke projects10.4Managing specialist suppliers10.5Quality and documentation10.6Relationship with clients and designers10.7Intellectual property of designs10.8Occupational safety in metal shaping and welding10.9Workshop indicators10.10Case study: quotation for a one-off barchetta
11.1Individual vehicle approval11.2Modifications to existing vehicles11.3The contemporary coachbuilding market11.4Value of special bodies11.5Concours and exhibitions11.6Marketing one-off pieces11.7Continuation series and licences11.8Relationship with manufacturers11.9The builder’s liability11.10Case study: launching a five-unit series
12.1Concept and brief12.2Design and orthographic views12.3Building the model or buck12.4Panel shaping plan12.5Structure and joints12.6Finishes and interiors12.7Type approval plan12.8Budget and planning12.9Writing the thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
How you'll learn
A 100% online programme 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 fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original regulations and applied exercises. The working software is Autodesk Alias, Rhinoceros, Blender, SolidWorks and Artec Studio, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: shaping panels on the English wheel, building section bucks, and fitting aluminium doors and bonnets. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: Regulation (EU) 2018/858, individual vehicle approval and vehicle modification regulations, historic vehicle regulations, FIVA Turin Charter, EN ISO 9606-2, industrial design protection legislation.
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
- A university degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
- 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 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with Autodesk Alias, Rhinoceros, Blender, SolidWorks and Artec Studio, 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 Master's Thesis. 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 in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
A university degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
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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