Master’s in Motorcycle and Scooter Design Engineering
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in motorcycle and scooter design engineering, structured in 12 modules covering transport design process, ergonomics and packaging, digital and clay modelling, Class A surfacing, lighting, rendering and production feasibility under Regulation (EU) 168/2013 and UNECE Regulation No. 53, with an assigned technical tutor.
Master’s in Motorcycle and Scooter Design Engineering — studying from South Africa
Two-wheeler transport is significant in South Africa, both for commuting and for delivery services, and the motorcycle and scooter market has grown steadily. Local assembly and distribution of motorcycles and scooters are supported by importers and manufacturers, and the sector interacts with road safety regulation and licensing. Engineers working on two-wheelers focus on chassis design, braking systems, emissions and rider safety. Growing interest in electric scooters and light mobility is also shaping demand.
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. Professional engineering registration runs through ECSA, and motorcycle-related standards and testing involve bodies such as the SABS. Whether a SEIUM qualification is recognised is for employers or the relevant body to decide, so check before enrolling.
How might this qualification be used by employers in South Africa in the two-wheeler sector?
Motorcycle manufacturers, importers, dealers and component suppliers may value engineering depth in vehicle dynamics, powertrains or design. A private qualification can add to your profile, but it does not carry official status, so its impact depends on employer preference and your existing experience. Speak to potential employers to understand their view.
Can I study this programme alongside full-time work from South Africa, and is there a time zone or language issue?
The programme is fully online and taught in English, so you can study from South Africa without a student visa. Master's programmes require 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours, with an assigned technical tutor. Fees can be paid in instalments and employer sponsorship is possible. Ask SEIUM about time-zone expectations and weekly workload before enrolling.
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
Apply the transport design process to motorcycles and scooters.
Develop sketches, renders and concepts with a strong brand identity.
Model forms digitally, in clay and in virtual reality.
Integrate ergonomic, engineering and type-approval requirements into the design.
Create Class A quality surfaces for production.
Present and defend design proposals to management and clients.
Develop the complete design of a motorcycle or scooter.
Who it's for
- Motorcycle designers looking to deepen their design engineering skills.
- Industrial transport designers moving into two-wheeled vehicles.
- Class A digital modellers working on motorcycle and scooter surfaces.
- Clay modellers wanting to broaden into digital and VR workflows.
- Design and feasibility engineers who bridge styling and engineering.
- Scooter product managers who need a solid grasp of the design process.
- Engineering or science graduates aiming to join motorcycle and scooter manufacturers.
What you'll work with
- Regulation (EU) 168/2013 (approval and market surveillance of two- and three-wheel vehicles and quadricycles)
- Delegated Regulation (EU) 3/2014 (vehicle functional safety requirements)
- UNECE Regulation No. 53 (installation of lighting and light-signalling devices on L3 vehicles)
- UNECE Regulation No. 81 (rear-view mirrors for two-wheeled motor vehicles)
- ISO 6725 (dimensions of two-wheeled mopeds and motorcycles)
- ISO 7250-1 (basic human body measurements for technological design)
- UNECE Regulation No. 60 (driver-operated controls on mopeds and motorcycles)
- UNECE Regulation No. 50 (position, stop and direction-indicator lamps for L-category vehicles)
- Autodesk Alias
- Blender
- Gravity Sketch
- KeyShot
- CATIA ICEM Surf
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1History of motorcycle design1.2Icons of scooter design1.3Segments and typologies1.4Proportions and stance1.5Brand form language1.6Design trends1.7The designer within the company1.8Transport design process1.9Design and business1.10Case study: analysis of the identity of three brands
2.1Market studies2.2User profiles2.3Ethnography and observation2.4Product benchmarking2.5Inspiration boards2.6Defining the brief2.7Initial technical requirements2.8Vehicle target costs2.9Urban use scenarios2.10Practical exercise: brief for an electric scooter
3.1Rapid motorcycle sketching3.2Perspective and proportion3.3Shading and materials3.4Digital sketching with a tablet3.5Side and three-quarter views3.6Development of form themes3.7Concept iteration3.8Selection of proposals3.9Sketch presentation3.10Workshop: concept series for a naked bike
4.1Technical architecture as the basis of design4.2Motorcycle hard points4.3Rider ergonomic triangle4.4User anthropometry4.5Storage space in scooters4.6Footboard4.7Passenger ergonomics and safety4.8Powertrain integration4.9Battery volumes4.10Practical exercise: package layout of a scooter
5.1Polygonal volume modelling5.2Subdivision modelling5.3NURBS surface modelling5.4Modelling in Alias5.5Virtual reality for design5.6Virtual reality modelling with Gravity Sketch5.7Rapid 3D iteration5.8Design data management5.9Collaboration with engineering5.10Lab: 3D model of a fuel tank
6.1Industrial clay modelling6.2Armatures and bases6.3Modelling tools6.4Scale models6.5Full-size models6.6Model scanning6.7Clay milling6.8Physical evaluation of volumes6.9Presentation models6.10Practical exercise: scale clay model
7.1G2 and G3 continuity7.2Reflections and zebra analysis7.3Surface quality7.4Fits and gaps7.5Mouldability7.6Draft angles7.7Minimum manufacturing radii7.8Surfacing in ICEM Surf7.9Deliverables to engineering7.10Workshop: Class A surface of a side fairing
8.1Brand lighting signature8.2UNECE Regulation No. 53 on installation8.3LED headlamps8.4Rear lamps and indicators8.5Mirrors and UNECE Regulation No. 818.6Number plate and holder8.7Instrumentation in design8.8Controls and handlebar8.9Safety elements8.10Case study: brand lighting signature
9.1Photorealistic product rendering9.2Materials and textures9.3Scene lighting9.4Product animations and videos9.5Online product configurators9.6Augmented reality interfaces9.7Marketing imagery9.8Presentation to management9.9Visual communication of design9.10Lab: presentation render in KeyShot
10.1High-wheel and small-wheel scooters10.2Maxi-scooter design10.3Electric scooter design10.4Mopeds and their regulations10.5Three-wheeled vehicles10.6Design for sharing10.7Robustness and maintenance10.8Storage and practicality10.9Design for Asian markets10.10Practical exercise: scooter concept for sharing
11.1Feasibility with engineering11.2Plastics and paint processes11.3Tooling costs11.4Part simplification11.5Platforms and variants11.6Design type-approval11.7Customer-perceived quality11.8Project planning11.9Design reviews11.10Workshop: cost analysis of a fairing
12.1Research and briefing12.2Initial concepts and sketches12.3Vehicle technical package12.4Digital modelling of the vehicle12.5Physical model of the concept12.6Surfaces and details12.7Visual presentation of the project12.8Technical feasibility of the design12.9Master's Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
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, making it compatible with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Autodesk Alias, Blender, Gravity Sketch, KeyShot and CATIA ICEM Surf, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures: design concept of an electric urban scooter, scale clay modelling of a naked bike and Class A surfacing of a fairing. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: Regulation (EU) 168/2013, Delegated Regulation (EU) 3/2014, UNECE Regulation No. 53, UNECE Regulation No. 81, ISO 6725, ISO 7250-1, UNECE Regulation No. 60, UNECE Regulation No. 50.
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 Autodesk Alias, Blender, Gravity Sketch, KeyShot and CATIA ICEM Surf, 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 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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