Master’s in Advanced Functional Textiles and Smart Fabrics Engineering
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in functional textiles and advanced smart fabrics engineering. 12 modules covering fibres and structures, functional finishes, clothing comfort, conductive materials, textile sensors and actuators, smart fabric manufacturing, testing and standardisation, applications, garment software and circularity, with an assigned technical tutor.
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
Relate textile structure to the functional properties of fabrics.
Apply sustainable functional finishes and assess their durability.
Measure the thermal and physiological comfort of garments in the laboratory.
Design sensors and actuators integrated into textile structures.
Industrialise smart fabric manufacturing processes.
Test electronic textiles in accordance with IEC and CEN standards.
Apply circularity criteria and REACH compliance in product development.
Who it's for
- Technical textile product engineers.
- Smart fabric developers.
- Textile laboratory technicians.
- PPE engineers.
- R&D managers in sportswear.
- Textile sustainability specialists.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter the technical textiles sector.
What you'll work with
- ISO 11092 (thermal and water-vapour resistance)
- CEN/TR 16298 (smart textiles and textile products)
- IEC 63203 (wearable electronic devices and technologies)
- Regulation (EC) 1907/2006 (REACH) (chemical substances)
- Regulation (EU) 2016/425 (personal protective equipment)
- EN ISO 11612 (protective clothing against heat)
- ISO 6330 (domestic washing and drying procedures)
- Regulation (EU) 1007/2011 (textile fibre names)
- CLO 3D
- Browzwear VStitcher
- MATLAB
- KiCad
- COMSOL Multiphysics
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1Natural, man-made and synthetic fibres1.2Mechanical and thermal properties of fibres1.3Spinning and yarn structures1.4Woven fabrics and their weaves1.5Weft and warp knitting1.6Nonwovens and bonding processes1.7Technical textiles and their classification1.8Microscopic characterisation of structures1.9Behaviour under moisture and washing1.10Laboratory: identification of fibres and weaves
2.1Water- and oil-repellent finishes2.2PFAS-free alternatives2.3Flame-retardant finishes and their durability2.4Antimicrobial treatments with silver and chitosan2.5Ultraviolet protection and UPF2.6Thermoregulating finishes with PCMs2.7Coatings and laminates2.8Plasma and surface nanotechnology2.9Wash durability of finishes2.10Practical exercise: water repellency assessment
3.1Heat and moisture transfer3.2Thermal and water-vapour resistance under ISO 110923.3Air permeability3.4Moisture management and drying3.5Sensory comfort and handle3.6Sweating thermal manikins3.7Human thermoregulation models3.8Body-mapped design3.9Compression and pressure garments3.10Laboratory: sweating guarded hotplate test
4.1Metallic and coated conductive yarns4.2PEDOT:PSS conductive polymers4.3Conductive inks and textile screen printing4.4Graphene and nanotubes in textiles4.5Electrical resistance and its measurement4.6Stability under deformation4.7Durability to washing and abrasion4.8Textile-electronics interconnections4.9Track encapsulation4.10Practical exercise: characterisation of a conductive yarn
5.1Textile electrodes for ECG and EMG5.2Resistive strain sensors5.3Capacitive pressure sensors5.4Temperature and humidity sensors5.5Optical fibre sensors5.6Respiration detection in garments5.7Calibration and non-linearity5.8Hysteresis and drift in fabrics5.9Reliability in real use5.10Laboratory: textile electrode for ECG
6.1Joule-effect textile heating6.2Colour-changing textiles6.3Shape-memory alloy actuators6.4Artificial muscle fibres6.5Lighting with optical fibre and LEDs6.6Haptic and vibrotactile textiles6.7Actuator control and safety6.8Power consumption and supply6.9Integration into protective garments6.10Case study: regulated heated jacket
7.1Weaving and knitting of conductive tracks7.2Technical embroidery of circuits7.3Digital printing and functional screen printing7.4Lamination and heat sealing7.5Integration of electronic modules7.6Detachable connectors and snaps7.7Seamless manufacturing7.8In-line quality control7.9Scaling from prototype to production7.10Workshop: integrating a module into a garment
8.1Tensile and tear testing8.2Martindale abrasion resistance8.3Colour fastness and washing under ISO 63308.4Testing of electronic textiles under IEC 632038.5CEN/TR 16298 smart textile standards8.6Cyclic flex testing8.7Electrical safety in skin contact8.8Electromagnetic compatibility of garments with electronics8.9Biocompatibility under ISO 109938.10Practical exercise: wash durability test protocol
9.1Cardiac monitoring garments9.2Textiles for ulcers and pressure9.3Graduated medical compression9.4Sensor-equipped PPE for workers9.5Protective clothing against heat under EN ISO 116129.6Textiles for high-performance sport9.7Automotive and interior textiles9.8Smart uniforms for emergency services9.9Textiles for older people9.10Case study: monitoring shirt for firefighters
10.1Signal acquisition from textiles10.2Processing and artefact removal10.3BLE connectivity in garments10.4Companion mobile apps10.5Event detection algorithms10.6Privacy of body data10.7Interoperability with health platforms10.8Updates and maintenance10.9User experience10.10Laboratory: app for reading a sensorised garment
11.1Environmental impact of the textile sector11.2Recyclability of electronic textiles11.3EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles11.4REACH Regulation and restricted substances11.5OEKO-TEX and bluesign certifications11.6Ecodesign and disassembly11.7Life cycle assessment11.8Extended producer responsibility11.9Digital product passport11.10Workshop: circular redesign of a smart garment
12.1User need and specification12.2Selection of fibres and structure12.3Sensor or actuator design12.4Garment prototyping12.5Performance and durability testing12.6User validation12.7Regulatory and safety analysis12.8Environmental assessment of the product12.9Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
How you'll learn
Training is 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 the programme is compatible with full-time work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is CLO 3D, Browzwear VStitcher, MATLAB, KiCad and COMSOL Multiphysics, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: wash durability tests on conductive tracks, sweating thermal manikin measurements and prototyping of sensorised garments with volunteers. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: ISO 11092, CEN/TR 16298, IEC 63203, Regulation (EC) 1907/2006 (REACH), Regulation (EU) 2016/425, EN ISO 11612, ISO 6330, Regulation (EU) 1007/2011.
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 CLO 3D, Browzwear VStitcher, MATLAB, KiCad and COMSOL Multiphysics, 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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