Master’s in Joining, Adhesives and Interior Sealing Engineering
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in joining, adhesives and sealing engineering for vehicle interiors. 12 modules covering mechanical fasteners, adhesive chemistry, surface preparation, joint design, application processes, sealing, plastic welding, durability testing, regulations and industrialisation, with an assigned technical tutor.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this programme. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Select the right joining technology for each interior part.
Design reliable clips, snap-fits and mechanical fasteners.
Choose adhesives according to chemistry, substrate and service conditions.
Prepare low-energy surfaces for durable adhesion.
Design and calculate adhesive joints and sealing joints.
Validate joints through durability and emissions testing.
Industrialise bonding processes in accordance with DIN 2304-1.
Who it's for
- Joining and adhesives engineers working on interior components.
- Interior engineers responsible for trim, panels and modules.
- Bonding process engineers running application lines.
- Sealing and tightness specialists dealing with water, dust and acoustic sealing.
- Materials laboratory technicians carrying out peel, shear and emissions tests.
- Special process quality engineers qualifying and auditing joining processes.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to move into the automotive sector.
What you'll work with
- DIN 2304-1:2020 (adhesive bonding technology: quality requirements for bonding processes)
- EN 1465:2009 (determination of tensile lap-shear strength of bonded assemblies)
- ISO 8510-2:2006 (peel test for flexible-to-rigid bonded assemblies: 180° peel)
- VDA 278 (thermal desorption analysis of organic emissions)
- DIN 75201 (fogging characteristics of interior trim materials)
- ISO 9142:2003 (guide to laboratory ageing conditions for bonded joints)
- Regulation (EU) 2020/1149 (REACH restriction on diisocyanates)
- Directive 2000/53/EC (end-of-life vehicles)
- Abaqus
- Ansys Mechanical
- CATIA V5
- Minitab
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1Types of interior joints1.2Functional and service requirements1.3Permanent versus removable joints1.4Loads, vibration and temperature1.5Squeaks and noises originating in joints1.6Visible and aesthetic joints1.7After-sales repairability1.8Disassembly at end of life1.9Benchmarking of interior joints1.10Case study: joint inventory of a door panel
2.1Plastic and metal clips2.2Snap-fits and their calculation2.3Self-tapping screws in plastic2.4Clips and welded studs2.5Blind and plastic rivets2.6Insertion and extraction forces2.7Fastener tolerances and float2.8Line assembly ergonomics2.9Supplier catalogues and standards2.10Lab: clip extraction force test
3.1Adhesion and cohesion mechanisms3.2Surface energy and contact angle3.3Solvent-based and water-based contact adhesives3.4Hot-melts and reactive PUR3.5One-component and two-component polyurethanes3.6Structural epoxies in interiors3.7Acrylics and MMA methacrylates3.8Silicones and MS polymers3.9Double-sided adhesive tapes3.10Practical: measuring substrate surface energy
4.1Cleaning and degreasing of substrates4.2Atmospheric plasma treatment4.3Flame treatment of polyolefins4.4Corona treatment of films4.5Primers and adhesion promoters4.6Adhesion on PP and TPO4.7Contamination from release agents4.8Testing with surface tension inks4.9Shelf life of surface treatment4.10Workshop: plasma activation of PP parts
5.1Shear, peel and tensile loading5.2Single and double lap joints5.3Optimal bondline thickness5.4Stress concentrations at edges5.5Joint geometry and flanges5.6Volkersen analytical calculation5.7Finite element modelling of adhesives5.8Creep under sustained load5.9Differential thermal expansion5.10Lab: lap shear test to EN 1465
6.1Metering and mixing of two-component adhesives6.2Robotic bead application6.3Spraying of contact adhesives6.4Thermal, UV and moisture curing6.5Laminating and wrapping presses6.6Open time and handling time6.7In-line bead inspection6.8Occupational health and solvent emissions6.9Shelf-life management and storage6.10Case study: dashboard wrapping line
7.1EPDM door weatherstrips7.2Sealed grommets and cable pass-throughs7.3Acoustic sealing of cavities7.4Water tightness of the cabin7.5Dust protection7.6Body sealing compounds7.7Closed-cell foams and tapes7.8Cabin water spray tests7.9Compression seal design7.10Practical: seal design for a roof module
8.1Ultrasonic welding of thermoplastics8.2Hot plate welding8.3Linear vibration welding8.4Infrared welding8.5Laser transmission welding8.6Heat staking and infrared staking8.7Energy director design8.8Compatibility between thermoplastics8.9Weld quality control8.10Workshop: heat staking of a trim panel
9.190 and 180 degree peel tests9.2Shear strength after ageing9.3Heat and humidity climatic cycles9.4Long-term thermal ageing9.5Creep of joints at high temperature9.6Odour and emissions from adhesives9.7Condensation of volatiles (fogging)9.8Behaviour of joints under impact9.9Adhesive and cohesive failure modes9.10Lab: fogging test of an adhesive
10.1VOC emissions according to VDA 27810.2REACH restrictions on adhesives10.3Mandatory diisocyanate training10.4Debond-on-demand joints10.5Influence of adhesives on recycling10.6Bio-based adhesives10.7Joints and the End-of-Life Vehicles Directive10.8Safety data sheets10.9Occupational exposure to solvents10.10Case study: replacing a solvent-based adhesive
11.1Control of the joining process11.2Qualification of special processes11.3Bonding requirements according to DIN 2304-111.4Traceability of adhesive batches11.5Typical bonding defects11.6Managing field complaints11.7VDA 6.3 process audits11.8Operator training in adhesives11.9Continuous improvement of joints11.10Practical: control plan for a bonding process
12.1Selection of the interior assembly12.2Analysis of current joints12.3Functional and process requirements12.4Selection of joining technologies12.5Detailed design of the joints12.6Validation test plan12.7Process cost evaluation12.8Disassembly and sustainability analysis12.9Master's Thesis 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 Abaqus, Ansys Mechanical, CATIA V5 and Minitab, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: peel and shear tests after ageing, fogging and emissions tests on adhesives, and cabin water spray and tightness tests. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: DIN 2304-1:2020, EN 1465:2009, ISO 8510-2:2006, VDA 278, DIN 75201, ISO 9142:2003, Regulation (EU) 2020/1149, Directive 2000/53/EC.
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's 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 Abaqus, Ansys Mechanical, CATIA V5, Minitab, 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 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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