Master’s in Craft Upholstery & Trim
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in craft upholstery and trim for classic vehicles. 12 modules covering period materials, pattern making, sewing and decorative techniques, seats, door panels, headlinings and hoods, carpets and conservation, with an assigned technical tutor.
Master’s in Craft Upholstery & Trim — 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 148 000 (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
Understand the history and styles of automotive upholstery.
Select suitable materials for each period and use.
Master manual and digital pattern making.
Apply sewing and decorative techniques.
Restore seats, door panels, headlinings and hoods.
Choose soundly between conservation and restoration.
Run a craft upholstery workshop.
Who it's for
- Classic car upholsterers seeking to refine their craft.
- Saddlers and leather trimmers moving into automotive work.
- Interior pattern makers.
- Textile and leather conservators.
- Upholstery workshop managers.
- Automotive interior designers interested in period techniques.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking a career in classic vehicle restoration.
What you'll work with
- ISO 3795 (burning behaviour of interior materials)
- FMVSS 302 (flammability of interior materials)
- UN/ECE Regulation No. 118 (burning behaviour of materials in buses and coaches)
- UN/ECE Regulation No. 17 (seats, their anchorages and head restraints)
- UN/ECE Regulation No. 21 (interior fittings)
- ISO 105-B02 (colour fastness to artificial light)
- ISO 12947-2 (Martindale abrasion resistance)
- Regulation (EC) 1907/2006 (REACH) (registration and restriction of chemicals)
- Gerber AccuMark
- Lectra Modaris
- Adobe Illustrator
12 modules
1.1The heritage of carriage trimming1.2Period materials by decade1.3Coachbuilder styles1.4Luxury and utility upholstery1.5Evolution of seats and panels1.6Hoods and roofs1.7Carpets and mats1.8Documentary sources1.9Originality and concours1.10Case study: study of the original upholstery of a model
2.1Leather: tanning and finishes2.2Vinyls and leatherette2.3Wool cloth and corduroy2.4Horsehair, cotton and foams2.5Springs and frames2.6Threads and cords2.7Hood canvas2.8Adhesives and fastenings2.9Material strength testing2.10Laboratory: abrasion and colour fastness testing
3.1Triple-feed sewing machines3.2Cylinder-arm machines3.3The upholsterer's hand tools3.4Staplers and stretchers3.5Leather cutting3.6Cutting tables3.7Irons and steam3.8Machine maintenance3.9Workshop safety3.10Workshop: setting up a triple-feed machine
4.1Taking patterns from the original4.2Patterning on the frame4.3Seam allowances and seams4.4Symmetry4.5Digital pattern making4.6Optimising hide usage4.7Hood patterns4.8Pattern archive4.9Fitting and corrections4.10Practical: patterns for a front seat
5.1Straight and French seams5.2Piping and binding5.3Buttoned (capitonné) work5.4Pleats and tucks5.5Decorative topstitching5.6Quilting5.7Embroidery and emblems5.8Hand sewing5.9Seam quality control5.10Workshop: pleated panel with piping
6.1Dismantling and documentation6.2Frames and springs6.3Spring repair6.4Traditional horsehair stuffing6.5Foam padding6.6Fitting covers6.7Period competition seats6.8Reclining seats and mechanisms6.9Anchorage safety6.10Practical: complete re-upholstery of a seat
7.1Board and wood backings7.2Moulded panels7.3Fastenings and clips7.4Pockets and armrests7.5Pillar trims7.6Upholstered dashboards7.7Trim strips and mouldings7.8Sound insulation7.9Door sealing7.10Workshop: upholstered door panel
8.1Stretched headlinings8.2Bow-type headlinings8.3Canvas hoods8.4Vinyl hoods8.5Hood frames8.6Flexible rear windows8.7Hood watertightness8.8Hood covers8.9Fitting to the vehicle8.10Practical: making a hood
9.1Wool and loop-pile carpets9.2Carpet binding9.3Floor insulation9.4Rubber mats9.5Boot trim9.6Finishers9.7Detail finishing9.8Cleaning and care9.9Conservation of original upholstery9.10Case study: complete interior of a convertible
10.1Minimum intervention criteria10.2Leather cleaning10.3Leather consolidation10.4Tear repair10.5Colour retouching10.6Textile conservation10.7Condition documentation10.8The value of originality10.9Professional ethics10.10Laboratory: conservation of an original leather seat
11.1Quotations11.2Labour times11.3Material purchasing11.4Leather suppliers11.5Customer management11.6Warranties11.7Marketing11.8Material safety regulations11.9Occupational risk prevention11.10Case study: business plan for an upholstery workshop
12.1Vehicle selection12.2Historical research12.3Interior diagnosis12.4Restoration plan12.5Pattern making12.6Making up12.7Fitting and finishing12.8Photographic dossier12.9Master's Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
How you'll learn
Training is 100% online 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 you can combine the programme with your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Gerber AccuMark, Lectra Modaris and Adobe Illustrator, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied on real procedures for flammability testing of interior materials, Martindale abrasion testing and complete re-upholstery of a classic seat. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: ISO 3795, FMVSS 302, UN/ECE Regulation No. 118, UN/ECE Regulation No. 17, UN/ECE Regulation No. 21, ISO 105-B02, ISO 12947-2, Regulation (EC) 1907/2006 (REACH).
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
- University degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
- 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 Gerber AccuMark, Lectra Modaris and Adobe Illustrator, 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 professional experience, plus 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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