Military Vehicles Course: MRAP
Online 300-hour course in military vehicles: MRAP. 6 modules covering STANAG 4569 (occupant protection levels), AEP-55 (protection level assessment procedures) and ANSYS Mechanical. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Military Vehicles Course: MRAP — 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 10 200 (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
Describe, from an academic perspective, the concept of a vehicle protected against buried devices.
Interpret the regulatory frameworks for protection testing and verification.
Analyse occupant safety, seating and habitability.
Explain the mobility constraints of a high-mass vehicle.
Plan the sustainment of the platform.
Apply ethical and legal criteria in acquisition and compliance.
Prepare a technical evaluation report for the final project.
Who it's for
- Defence vehicle certification engineer looking to specialise in Military Vehicles: MRAP.
- Occupant safety engineer looking to specialise in Military Vehicles: MRAP.
- Acquisition programme analyst looking to specialise in Military Vehicles: MRAP.
- Sustainment engineer looking to specialise in Military Vehicles: MRAP.
- Quality assurance technician looking to specialise in Military Vehicles: MRAP.
- Regulatory compliance consultant looking to specialise in Military Vehicles: MRAP.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter the defence industry.
What you'll work with
- STANAG 4569 (Occupant Protection Levels)
- AEP-55 (Procedure Levels of Protection)
- MIL-STD-1474 (Noise Criteria)
- MIL-STD-1472 (Human Factors Engineering)
- Directive 2009/81/CE (Contracting in Defense and Security)
- AQAP-2110 (NATO quality assurance requirements)
- Law 53/2007 (Control of Foreign Trade of Defense Material)
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Origin of the concept and operational need1.2Institutional uses and humanitarian demining missions1.3Vehicle families by size and capacity1.4Hull geometry and its role in occupant protection1.5Ground clearance and its effect on mobility1.6High weight and its consequences for chassis and transmission1.7Trade-off between protection, mobility and transportability1.8Strategic transport and gauge limitations1.9Life cycle and modernisation programmes1.10Workshop: comparative reading of two technical datasheets
2.1Regulatory frameworks for protection classification2.2Bench tests and full-vehicle tests2.3Test instrumentation and anthropomorphic test devices2.4Injury criteria and admissible occupant limits2.5Seat verification with energy attenuation2.6Integrity of the hull and joints2.7Verification of doors, hatches and windows2.8Test report and certification2.9Test repeatability and traceability2.10Practice: interpreting a test report
3.1Suspended seats and anchorage to the roof or walls3.2Restraint systems and their correct use3.3Separation of cargo and securing of equipment3.4Protection against loose interior items3.5Air conditioning and cabin filtration3.6Ergonomics and visibility from the driving position3.7Escape routes and opening from the inside3.8Medical provision and onboard fire extinguishing3.9Boarding and evacuation procedures3.10Practice: review of the interior configuration
4.1High centre of gravity and rollover risk4.2Driving on narrow tracks and on slopes4.3Braking, distances and descending gradients4.4Behaviour in mud, sand and water crossings4.5Bridge crossings and infrastructure load limits4.6Recovery and towing of the vehicle4.7Convoy driving and spacing4.8Night and reduced-visibility driving4.9Specific driver training4.10Practice: planning a route with constraints
5.1Preventive maintenance and inspections5.2Structural inspection of the hull and joints5.3Suspension, steering and brakes on heavy vehicles5.4Tyres, running gear and their management5.5Field maintenance and mobile workshops5.6Management of critical spares5.7Repair after an incident and reuse criteria5.8Decommissioning the platform and managing equipment5.9Historical record and traceability5.10Practice: maintenance plan for a fleet
6.1Technical requirements in acquisition specifications6.2Acceptance tests and penalties6.3Export control and transfer requirements6.4Documentary traceability obligations6.5Life-cycle and sustainment costs6.6Training of drivers and maintainers6.7Obsolescence management and modernisation6.8Availability and cost indicators6.9Common mistakes in managing these fleets6.10Final project: technical acquisition and sustainment file
How you'll learn
Fully 100 % online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetable: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it possible to combine study with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is ANSYS Mechanical, MATLAB, Siemens Teamcenter, Excel avanzado, in free, academic or evaluation versions. The tests are studied through real procedures: documentary review of test certificates, ergonomics and occupant restraint analysis, and life-cycle cost study. Assessment is continuous, module by module, plus the final integrating project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Describe, from an academic perspective, the concept of a vehicle protected against buried devices.
Interpret the regulatory frameworks for protection testing and verification.
Analyse occupant safety, seating and habitability.
Explain the mobility constraints of a high-mass vehicle.
Plan the sustainment of the platform.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior degree is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient level of Spanish to follow 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 300 hours spread over 3 to 5 months. That is an average of 10 to 15 hours per week, compatible with a full-time job.
You will work with ANSYS Mechanical, MATLAB, Siemens Teamcenter, Excel avanzado. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM own diploma upon passing continuous assessment and the integrating project. It is in-house training, not an official Ministry qualification.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are credited towards the advanced programme. Check the credit transfer policy when you enrol.
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