Master’s in Joints, Adhesives and Sealing for Interior/Exterior
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in joints, adhesives and sealing for interior and exterior applications. 12 modules covering mechanical joints and snap-fits, adhesive chemistry, surface preparation, adhesive joint design, plastic welding, sealing, industrial application processes, testing and durability, quality to DIN 2304-1 and design for disassembly, with an assigned technical tutor.
Master’s in Joints, Adhesives and Sealing for Interior/Exterior — studying from South Africa
Materials and manufacturing underpin South Africa's mining, metals, automotive and heavy engineering industries. The country's rich mineral base supports research and production in metallurgy, polymers and advanced materials, and the CSIR and universities contribute to materials science. Quality management and standards compliance are essential for exporters, supported by the South African Bureau of Standards. Engineers in this field work on process control, materials testing and continuous improvement across production lines.
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, not official state degrees, and are not accredited by any South African body. For quality and manufacturing, relevant bodies include the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) and professional engineering institutions, with ECSA handling professional registration. Recognition of a private qualification rests with employers or those bodies, so confirm acceptance with them before you enrol.
How might this qualification be used by employers in South Africa in materials and manufacturing?
Manufacturers, materials suppliers and quality departments value practical knowledge of materials behaviour, process control and quality systems. A private advanced qualification can strengthen a CV, especially combined with shop-floor or engineering experience. Its value is judged by each employer, so discuss it with potential employers in your industry to gauge how it would be received.
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 in English, so you can study from home and do not need a student visa. Master's programmes take 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours. You get an assigned technical tutor, can pay fees in instalments, and may seek employer sponsorship. Check the time-zone and workload details with SEIUM directly.
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 joining technologies according to functional and design requirements.
Design reliable mechanical joints and snap-fits.
Understand the chemistry and application of industrial adhesives.
Prepare surfaces to ensure adhesion.
Design sealing and watertightness systems.
Test and validate the durability of joints.
Design joints compatible with disassembly and recycling.
Who it's for
- Joining and adhesives engineers.
- Sealing engineers working on doors, glazing and lamps.
- Bonding process engineers in production plants.
- Plastic part designers who need to specify joints.
- Materials laboratory technicians.
- Process quality engineers.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter the automotive sector.
What you'll work with
- DIN 2304-1 (adhesive bonding technology — quality requirements for bonding processes)
- ISO 4587 (adhesives — lap shear strength of rigid-to-rigid bonded assemblies)
- ISO 11339 (adhesives — T-peel test for flexible-to-flexible bonded assemblies)
- ISO 8510-2 (adhesives — 180° peel test for flexible-to-rigid assemblies)
- ISO 9142 (adhesives — laboratory ageing conditions for testing bonded joints)
- EN 15870 (adhesives — determination of tensile strength of butt joints)
- ISO 6892-1 (metallic materials — tensile testing at room temperature)
- Ansys Mechanical
- Abaqus
- CATIA V5
- Minitab
12 modules
1.1Classification of joining technologies1.2Mechanical, thermal and chemical joints1.3Functional requirements of a joint1.4Visible and hidden joints in design1.5Influence of the joint on perceived quality1.6Interior versus exterior joints1.7Multi-criteria joint selection1.8Cost and cycle time of each technology1.9Joints and end-of-life disassembly1.10Case study: joint inventory of a door panel
2.1Plastic clips and fasteners2.2Snap-fits: cantilever, annular and torsional2.3Calculation of insertion and retention forces2.4Self-tapping screws in plastic2.5Blind and self-piercing rivets2.6Sheet metal clinching2.7Heat-staked and ultrasonic threaded inserts2.8Tolerances in snap-fit joints2.9Noise and play in mechanical joints2.10Practical exercise: design and calculation of a snap-fit
3.1Adhesion mechanisms3.2Surface energy and wetting3.3Structural epoxy adhesives3.4Polyurethanes for glazing and panels3.5Acrylics and methacrylates3.6Cyanoacrylates and fast-curing adhesives3.7Reactive hot-melt adhesives3.8Silicones and MS polymers3.9Double-sided adhesive tapes3.10Lab: contact angle measurement
4.1Cleaning and degreasing4.2Atmospheric plasma treatment4.3Corona and flame treatment4.4Primers and activators4.5Abrasion and shot blasting4.6Low-energy surfaces such as PP and TPO4.7Contamination control4.8Verification with test inks4.9Influence of release agents4.10Practical exercise: plasma activation of a polypropylene
5.1Lap and butt joint geometries5.2Stress distribution in the joint5.3Adhesive thickness and bond-line control5.4Finite element calculation of joints5.5Hybrid riveted and bonded joints5.6Differential thermal expansion5.7Joining dissimilar materials5.8Design for the application process5.9Repairability of bonded joints5.10Case study: adhesive joint of a spoiler
6.1Ultrasonic welding6.2Vibration welding6.3Hot plate welding6.4Laser transmission welding6.5Infrared welding6.6Heat staking and riveting6.7Energy director design6.8Polymer compatibility6.9Weld quality control6.10Lab: ultrasonic welding of a housing
7.1EPDM and TPE weatherstrips7.2Door seal profile design7.3Closing force and compression7.4Glazing and roof seals7.5Seam sealants7.6Sealing of headlamps and rear lamps7.7Door membranes7.8Ventilation and pressure equalisation7.9Aerodynamic noise from sealing7.10Practical exercise: design of a door weatherstrip
8.1Dispensing of one-component adhesives8.2Mixing of two-component adhesives8.3Application robots8.4Vision-based bead inspection8.5Thermal, UV and moisture curing8.6Open times and handling8.7Fixturing during curing8.8Automated tape application8.9Cleaning and maintenance of equipment8.10Case study: robotic glazing bonding cell
9.1Lap shear tests9.2T-peel and 90-degree peel tests9.3Tensile tests on joints9.4Cataplasm ageing9.5Salt spray and corrosion9.6Climatic ageing cycles9.7Rain watertightness tests9.8Fatigue testing of joints9.9Failure mode analysis9.10Lab: peel test of a tape
10.1Adhesive testing standards10.2Quality in adhesive application10.3DIN 2304 bonding standard10.4Qualification of bonding personnel10.5Emissions and odour in interiors10.6Restricted substances in adhesives10.7Health and safety with isocyanates10.8Process documentation10.9Supplier audits10.10Workshop: control plan for a bonding process
11.1Bio-based adhesives11.2Heat-releasable joints11.3Debond-on-demand adhesives11.4Recycling of bonded parts11.5VOC reduction11.6Recyclable seals and weatherstrips11.7Mono-material assembly design11.8Carbon footprint of processes11.9Ecodesign requirements11.10Case study: redesign of a joint for disassembly
12.1Selection of the component to study12.2Joint requirements12.3Analysis of technological alternatives12.4Detailed joint design12.5Joint simulation12.6Prototype and testing12.7Cost analysis12.8Final proposal and recommendations12.9Master's Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
How you'll learn
The programme is delivered 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 it is compatible with your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Ansys Mechanical, Abaqus, CATIA V5 and Minitab, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Exercises are based on real procedures: shear and peel testing of joints, snap-fit design and calculation, and development of robotic bonding processes. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: DIN 2304-1, ISO 4587, ISO 11339, ISO 8510-2, ISO 9142, EN 15870, ISO 6892-1.
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
- 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 Ansys Mechanical, Abaqus, CATIA V5 and Minitab, 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.
Related programmes
Master’s in Advanced Functional Textiles and Smart Fabrics Engineering
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in functional textiles and advanced smart fabrics engineering. 12 modules covering fibres and structures, functional finishes, clothing comfort, conductive materials,…
Master’s in Sustainable CMF and Bio-Materials
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in sustainable CMF and bio-materials: biopolymers, recycled materials, VOC/odour and ageing. 12 modules covering responsible colour, material and finish, biopolymers,…
Master’s in SiC/GaN Power Electronics for e-Mobility
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in SiC/GaN power electronics for e-mobility, structured in 12 modules covering wide-bandgap devices, loss characterisation, gate drives, power stage design,…
More in Materials, Manufacturing & Quality
All Materials, Manufacturing & Quality programmes → · How to apply · Fees & financing · Scholarships