Master’s in Sealing, Filtration and IP6K9K Protection Engineering
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in sealing, filtration and IP6K9K protection engineering. 12 modules covering dust and water protection, IP testing, static and dynamic seals, sealed connectors and electronics, intake and cab filtration, fluid filtration, breathers, elastomer durability and ISO 20653, with an assigned technical tutor.
Master’s in Sealing, Filtration and IP6K9K Protection 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 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. 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
Specify degrees of protection to IEC 60529 and ISO 20653.
Carry out standardised dust and water tests.
Design static and dynamic seals.
Protect connectors and electronics against water and condensation.
Size air and fluid filtration systems.
Select elastomers for durability.
Validate sealing solutions in an integrated way.
Who it's for
- Sealing engineers.
- Filtration engineers.
- Environmental validation engineers.
- Rugged electronics engineers.
- Test laboratory technicians.
- Elastomeric materials engineers.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter the construction machinery sector.
What you'll work with
- ISO 20653 (IP degrees of protection for vehicles)
- IEC 60529 (degrees of protection of enclosures)
- ISO 3601 (O-rings)
- ISO 5011 (intake air filters)
- UNE-EN 15695-1 (tractor cabs)
- ISO 12103-1 (test dust)
- ISO 815-1 (compression set)
- SolidWorks
- Ansys Mechanical
- Abaqus
- Simcenter STAR-CCM+
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1Dust and water environments in service1.2Contaminant ingress mechanisms1.3Consequences of ingress in components1.4Degrees of protection to IEC 605291.5Degrees of protection to ISO 206531.6Differences between the two standards1.7IP6K9K, IPX7 and IPX6K codes1.8Requirements by location on the machine1.9Protection specification1.10Case study: IP specification of an ECU
2.15K and 6K dust tests2.2Dust chambers and procedures2.3Temporary immersion tests2.4Water jet tests2.5High-pressure, high-temperature jet2.6Laboratory equipment2.7Acceptance criteria2.8Thermal preconditioning of samples2.9Combined and sequential tests2.10Laboratory: IPX9K test
3.1O-rings and how they work3.2Groove design to ISO 36013.3Compression and groove fill3.4NBR, FKM, EPDM and silicone elastomers3.5Flat and profile gaskets3.6Formed-in-place gaskets3.7Seal ageing3.8Chemical compatibility with fluids3.9Good assembly practice3.10Practical exercise: O-ring groove design
4.1Radial lip seals4.2Cylinder rod seals4.3Rod wipers4.4Metal face seals4.5Labyrinth seals4.6Friction and losses4.7Wear of dynamic seals4.8Contact lubrication4.9Selection of dynamic seals4.10Workshop: fitting face seals
5.1Sealed connectors for machinery5.2Grommets and cable glands5.3Potting of electronics5.4Conformal coatings5.5ePTFE membrane vents5.6Condensation in enclosures5.7Design of electronic housings5.8Design of sealed harnesses5.9Testing of sealed electronics5.10Laboratory: condensation test
6.1Characterisation of ambient dust6.2Paper and nanofibre filters6.3Cyclonic air pre-cleaners6.4Turbine pre-cleaners6.5Exhaust ejector evacuation6.6Restriction indicators6.7Testing to ISO 50116.8Air filter maintenance6.9Selection by environment6.10Case study: intake system for a quarry
7.1Pressurised cabs and their design7.2Cab categories to EN 15695-17.3HEPA and activated carbon filters7.4Positive pressure and airflow7.5Pressure and particle measurements7.6Requirements in agriculture7.7Requirements in mining7.8Cab filter maintenance7.9Cab testing7.10Practical exercise: verification of cab pressurisation
8.1Fuel filtration8.2Water separation in fuel8.3Engine oil filtration8.4Hydraulic circuit filtration8.5Coolant filtration8.6Urea solution filtration8.7Selection of fluid filters8.8Filter maintenance8.9Fluid filter testing8.10Case study: fuel in a tropical region
9.1The need for pressure equalisation9.2Types of breathers9.3Desiccant cartridge breathers9.4Microporous equalisation membranes9.5Transmission breathers9.6Axle breathers9.7Hydraulic reservoir breathers9.8Location design9.9Failures due to inadequate breathing9.10Practical exercise: selecting a breather
10.1Elastomer families10.2Thermal ageing of elastomers10.3Ozone resistance10.4Ultraviolet resistance10.5Service temperature range10.6Accelerated ageing tests10.7Compression set10.8Material selection10.9Material databases10.10Laboratory: compression set test
11.1Integrated sealing design11.2Design FMEA for sealing11.3Tolerances and stack-up11.4Validation plan11.5Field validation11.6Analysis of sealing failures11.7Continuous design improvement11.8Collaboration with suppliers11.9Warranty costs11.10Case study: sealing FMEA
12.1Selection of the system12.2Environmental requirements of the system12.3Sealing design12.4Filtration design12.5Selection of seal materials12.6Test plan12.7Analysis of results12.8Cost analysis12.9Master'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, so the programme fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is SolidWorks, Ansys Mechanical, Abaqus and Simcenter STAR-CCM+, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: IP6K9K sealing tests, air filter tests and verification of cab pressurisation. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: ISO 20653, IEC 60529, ISO 3601, ISO 5011, UNE-EN 15695-1, ISO 12103-1, ISO 815-1.
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 SolidWorks, Ansys Mechanical, Abaqus and Simcenter STAR-CCM+, 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), 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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