Master’s in Racing Tubular Chassis and Roll Cage Engineering
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in competition tubular chassis and roll-cage engineering, structured in 12 modules covering tubular structures, tube materials, safety regulations, CAD design, finite element analysis, fabrication, tube welding, testing and certification, vehicle integration, repair and chassis workshop management, with an assigned technical tutor.
Master’s in Racing Tubular Chassis and Roll Cage Engineering — studying from South Africa
Mining, agriculture and construction make off-road and specialised machinery central to South Africa's economy. Mining equipment manufacturers and service providers support the country's extensive gold, platinum and coal operations, while agricultural machinery serves commercial farming. Engineers working on heavy vehicles and special machines focus on hydraulics, drivetrains and durability under harsh conditions. The South African Bureau of Standards and the Mine Health and Safety Council set relevant standards and safety requirements.
Fees for South Africa: R 166 000 (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. Engineering registration is handled by ECSA, and machinery safety standards are linked to SABS and the Department of Employment and Labour's regulations. Recognition of a private qualification is decided by employers or the relevant body, so confirm this with them before you enrol.
How might this qualification be used by employers in South Africa in off-road and special vehicles?
Mining, agriculture, construction and vehicle-conversion firms value practical machinery knowledge and proven problem-solving. A private qualification can support your application, especially with hands-on experience, but it carries no official status. Its weight depends on each employer, so ask potential employers in your field how they would view 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 in English, so you can study from home without a student visa. Master's programmes take 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours. Each student has an assigned technical tutor, fees can be paid in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible. Check time-zone and workload expectations 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
Design tubular structures that are efficient in stiffness and mass.
Select materials and wall thicknesses that comply with the regulations.
Apply the requirements of Article 253 of Appendix J.
Analyse chassis and cages using finite elements.
Fabricate and weld structures with qualified procedures.
Inspect and certify safety structures.
Assess damage and decide on repairs after an accident.
Who it's for
- Tubular chassis designers.
- Competition structures engineers.
- Welders specialising in chromium-molybdenum steel.
- Safety scrutineering technicians.
- Finite element analysis engineers moving into motorsport structures.
- Roll-cage fabrication workshop managers.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter motorsport.
What you'll work with
- FIA International Sporting Code Appendix J, Article 253 (safety equipment for competition vehicles)
- UNE-EN ISO 9606-1 (welder qualification)
- UNE-EN ISO 15614-1 (welding procedure qualification)
- ISO 3471 (roll-over protective structures (ROPS))
- UNE-EN 10305-1 (precision steel tubes)
- UNE-EN ISO 5817 (weld quality levels)
- ISO 9001 (quality management)
- SolidWorks
- Ansys Mechanical
- Altair HyperWorks
- Bend-Tech
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1Spaceframe, integrated cage and semi-tubular1.2Structural stiffness and strength1.3Triangulation and nodes1.4Bar and beam theory1.5Tube buckling1.6Chassis torsional stiffness1.7Structural mass and efficiency1.8Historical evolution of chassis1.9Requirements by discipline1.10Case study: comparison of topologies
2.1Cold-drawn carbon steels2.225CrMo4 chromium-molybdenum steels2.3Aluminium and titanium in structures2.4Relevant mechanical properties2.5Minimum regulatory wall thicknesses2.6Material certificates2.7Post-weld heat treatments2.8Corrosion and protection2.9Cost and availability2.10Lab: tensile test of a tubular specimen
3.1Article 253 of Appendix J3.2Homologated versus certified roll bars3.3Tube diameters and wall thicknesses3.4Main hoop and front hoop3.5Door bars3.6Body mounting plates3.7ROPS structures in off-road vehicles3.8National organisers' requirements3.9Inspection at scrutineering3.10Case study: checking a roll bar against the regulations
4.13D sketch modelling4.2Weldments in CAD4.3Suspension hard points4.4Ergonomics and driver position4.5Component integration4.6Jig table and fixture design4.7Cutting and bending drawings4.8Bill of materials4.9Revision control4.10Practical: modelling a cage in CAD
5.1Beam models5.2Shell models5.3Meshing and convergence5.4Boundary conditions5.5Virtual torsion test5.6Impact loads5.7Regulatory static loads5.8Linear buckling analysis5.9Correlation with tests5.10Lab: FEM of homologation loads
6.1Tube cutting and notching6.2CNC tube bending6.3Springback compensation6.4Assembly table6.5Positioning fixtures6.6Node dimensional tolerances6.7Tack welding and sequence6.8Distortion control6.9Final dimensional inspection6.10Workshop: tube bending and notching
7.1TIG welding of nodes7.2MIG welding in structures7.3Welding chromium-molybdenum steel7.4Preheating and cooling7.5Shielding gases7.6Distortion and sequence7.7Visual inspection of weld beads7.8Welder qualification7.9Welding procedures7.10Practical: TIG welding of a node
8.1Static homologation test8.2FIA homologation process8.3Visual inspection in certification8.4Liquid penetrant testing8.5Magnetic particle testing8.6Ultrasonic inspection8.7Bench torsion test8.8Certificates and homologation forms8.9Manufacturing traceability8.10Lab: torsion test of a chassis
9.1Suspension mounts9.2Engine mounts9.3Fuel tank housing9.4Seat mounting9.5Harness anchorages9.6Panels and bodywork9.7Access and emergency exit9.8Ease of maintenance9.9Centre of gravity9.10Case study: suspension mounts on a tubular chassis
10.1Post-accident inspection10.2Crack detection10.3Repair criteria10.4Tube replacement10.5Repair limits10.6Damage documentation10.7In-service fatigue10.8Internal tube corrosion10.9Storage of chassis and cages10.10Case study: damage report after a rollover
11.1Quotes and lead times11.2Production planning11.3ISO 9001 quality11.4Customer relations11.5Workshop safety11.6Chassis workshop equipment11.7Marketing certified cages11.8Manufacturer liability11.9Manufacturer insurance11.10Case study: fabrication quote for a cage
12.1Requirements definition12.2Analysis of the applicable regulations12.3CAD design of the structure12.4Finite element analysis12.5Fabrication plan12.6Welding procedure12.7Validation tests12.8Fabrication budget12.9Master's Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
How you'll learn
The programme is taught 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 it with your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is SolidWorks, Ansys Mechanical, Altair HyperWorks and Bend-Tech, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures for chassis torsion testing, weld inspection on structures and roll-bar verification. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: FIA International Sporting Code Appendix J, Article 253; UNE-EN ISO 9606-1; UNE-EN ISO 15614-1; ISO 3471; UNE-EN 10305-1; UNE-EN ISO 5817; ISO 9001.
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 SolidWorks, Ansys Mechanical, Altair HyperWorks and Bend-Tech, 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 degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), 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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