Master’s in Soft-Trim & Smart Surfaces
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in soft-trim and smart surfaces, structured in 12 modules covering interior trim materials and processes, trimmed part design, smart surfaces, printed electronics and sensors, ambient lighting, HMI on soft surfaces, testing, industrialisation and sustainability under FMVSS 302, ISO 3795 and VDA 270, with an assigned technical tutor.
Master’s in Soft-Trim & Smart Surfaces — 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 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, 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
Understand interior trim materials and processes.
Design trimmed parts that are manufacturable and offer high perceived quality.
Integrate sensors, lighting and heating into surfaces.
Apply printed and structural electronics to interior components.
Evaluate the usability of controls integrated into soft surfaces.
Validate trim and smart surfaces through testing.
Propose sustainable, industrialisable solutions.
Who it's for
- Soft-trim engineers.
- Interior designers.
- Printed electronics specialists.
- Interior lighting engineers.
- Interior validation engineers.
- CMF designers.
- Engineering or science graduates aiming to enter the automotive sector.
What you'll work with
- FMVSS 302 (flammability of interior materials)
- ISO 3795 (burning behaviour of interior materials)
- VDA 270 (odour testing of interior materials)
- VDA 278 (thermal desorption analysis of organic emissions)
- ISO 105-B06 (colour fastness to artificial light at high temperatures)
- ISO 6330 (domestic washing and drying procedures for textile testing)
- Directive 2014/30/EU (electromagnetic compatibility)
- IEC 62471 (photobiological safety of lamps)
- CATIA V5
- Siemens NX
- Autodesk Alias
- Ansys Speos
- Altium Designer
12 modules
1.1Soft-trim components in the cabin1.2Door panels, instrument panel and consoles1.3Seats, headliners and carpets1.4Aesthetic and comfort functions1.5Perceived quality of upholstery1.6Premium and mass-market segmentation1.7Interior trends1.8Sustainability in trim1.9Supply chain1.10Case study: teardown of a door panel
2.1Natural leather and its processing2.2Microfibres and Alcantara2.3PVC and TPO skins2.4Technical and knitted textiles2.5Polyurethane foams2.6Fillers and spacers2.7Adhesives and laminates2.8Bio-based trim materials2.9Properties and testing2.10Lab: characterisation of synthetic skins
3.1Manual and automated wrapping3.2Slush moulding of skins3.3Foam-in-place3.4Grained thermoforming3.5In-mould graining (IMG)3.6Low-pressure moulding3.7Cutting and sewing3.8Decorative and functional seams3.9Edge folding and turning3.10Practical exercise: wrapping an armrest
4.1Minimum radii and folds4.2Managing seams on the surface4.3Carriers and substrates4.4Thicknesses and padding4.5Clearances and tolerances4.6Transition zones4.7Integration of trim finishers4.8Virtual wrapping validation4.9Draping simulation4.10Workshop: design of a padded panel
5.1The smart surface concept5.2In-mould structural electronics (IMSE)5.3Printed electronics on films5.4Capacitive touch surfaces5.5Hidden-until-lit lighting5.6Contact-heated surfaces5.7Sensors in textiles5.8Integration into soft materials5.9Reliability challenges5.10Case study: panel with hidden controls
6.1Silver and carbon conductive inks6.2Functional screen printing and inkjet6.3Capacitive and pressure sensors6.4Film heating6.5Flexible OLED and LED lighting6.6Interconnections and connectors6.7Flexible and thermoformable substrates6.8Encapsulation and circuit protection6.9Durability tests6.10Lab: printed capacitive sensor
7.1Optical fibres and light guides7.2RGB LEDs and control7.3Lighting through materials7.4Micro-perforation and backlighting7.5Homogeneity and hot spots7.6Integration with HMI7.7Functional and welcome lighting7.8Interior glare regulations7.9Consumption and thermal management7.10Practical exercise: backlighting a textile
8.1Touch interaction on soft materials8.2Vibration haptic feedback8.3Gestures and swipes8.4Visibility of hidden controls8.5Driver distraction8.6Acoustic confirmation feedback8.7Preventing unintended activation8.8Usability evaluation8.9Accessibility for users with disabilities8.10Case study: user test of hidden controls
9.1Thermal and climatic ageing9.2Light fastness9.3Abrasion and scratching9.4Emissions and fogging9.5FMVSS 302 flammability9.6Durability of touch controls9.7EMC of smart surfaces9.8Life cycle tests9.9Validation with customers9.10Lab: climatic test of a panel
10.1Process selection by volume10.2Tooling and cost10.3Automation of wrapping10.4In-line quality10.5Management of electronics suppliers10.6Component traceability10.7Cycle time10.8Repairability and service10.9Scaling up new technologies10.10Workshop: cost analysis of a smart surface
11.1Recycled materials in trim11.2Mono-material design and recyclability11.3Separating electronics at end of life11.4Leather and its alternatives11.5Carbon footprint11.6Interiors for autonomous vehicles11.7Personalisation and modularity11.8Concept trends11.9Research into active materials11.10Case study: recyclable mono-material interior
12.1Selection of the part or interior12.2User and trend research12.3Material and surface concept12.4Integration of smart functions12.5Technical design of the part12.6Prototype or functional sample12.7Validation tests12.8Cost and sustainability 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. 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 CATIA V5, Siemens NX, Autodesk Alias, Ansys Speos and Altium Designer, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures: wrapping parts with synthetic skins, prototyping surfaces with capacitive sensors and climatic and light tests on trim. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: FMVSS 302, ISO 3795, VDA 270, VDA 278, ISO 105-B06, ISO 6330, Directive 2014/30/EU, IEC 62471.
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 CATIA V5, Siemens NX, Autodesk Alias, Ansys Speos and Altium Designer, 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 demonstrable 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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