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Master'sOff-Road, Special Vehicles & Machinery Applications open

Master’s in Off-Road, Special Vehicles & Machinery Engineering

Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in off-road, special vehicle and machinery engineering. 12 modules covering vehicle and machinery types, terramechanics, off-road dynamics, powertrains, mobile hydraulics, structural durability, electronics and telematics, autonomy, operator cab safety, type approval and conformity, and after-sales operation, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration1900 h
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute diploma
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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Characterise mission profiles of off-road vehicles and machinery.

02

Apply terramechanical models to traction calculations.

03

Select powertrain and hydraulic architectures.

04

Analyse structural durability under service loads.

05

Integrate electronics, telematics and automated functions.

06

Apply machinery regulations and CE marking.

07

Design maintenance plans focused on total cost of ownership.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Mobile machinery product engineers
  • Off-road vehicle engineers
  • Mobile hydraulics specialists
  • Durability engineers
  • Machinery type-approval managers
  • Service and after-sales engineers
  • Engineering or science graduates looking to move into construction machinery
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • Directive 2006/42/EC (Machinery Directive)
  • Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 (Machinery Regulation)
  • Regulation (EU) 2016/1628 (emissions from non-road mobile machinery)
  • UNE-EN 474-1 (earth-moving machinery safety)
  • UNE-EN ISO 12100 (risk assessment and risk reduction)
  • Regulation (EU) 167/2013 (agricultural and forestry vehicles)
  • ISO 3471 (roll-over protective structures (ROPS))
  • UNE-EN ISO 13849-1 (functional safety of control systems)
  • MSC Adams
  • Ansys Mechanical
  • MATLAB/Simulink
  • Simcenter Amesim
Syllabus

12 modules · 1900 h

  1. 1.1Classification: construction, agricultural, forestry and mining
  2. 1.2Mission profiles and duty cycles
  3. 1.3Manufacturers and market structure
  4. 1.4Wheeled, tracked and articulated architectures
  5. 1.5Customer requirements and total cost of ownership
  6. 1.6Electrification and autonomy as trends
  7. 1.7OEM-supplier relationships
  8. 1.8Product development in short production runs
  9. 1.9Regulations that shape design
  10. 1.10Case study: mission profile of a wheel loader
  1. 2.1Soil mechanics applied to vehicles
  2. 2.2Bekker pressure-sinkage model
  3. 2.3Janosi-Hanamoto equation
  4. 2.4Cone index and empirical methods
  5. 2.5Rolling resistance and drawbar pull
  6. 2.6Slip and tractive efficiency
  7. 2.7Soil compaction
  8. 2.8Wheels versus tracks
  9. 2.9Bevameter testing
  10. 2.10Laboratory: traction on clay soil
  1. 3.1Lateral stability and rollover
  2. 3.2Approach, departure and breakover angles
  3. 3.3Articulation and axle crossing
  4. 3.4Articulated versus Ackermann steering
  5. 3.5Longitudinal dynamics on slopes
  6. 3.6Rigid and independent axles
  7. 3.7Multibody modelling of the suspension
  8. 3.8Whole-body vibration
  9. 3.9Simulation on virtual terrain
  10. 3.10Practical: multibody model of a 4×4
  1. 4.1Stage V diesel engines
  2. 4.2Hybridisation in machinery
  3. 4.3Hydrostatic and power-shift transmissions
  4. 4.4Torque converters
  5. 4.5Planetary final drives
  6. 4.6Limited-slip differentials and locks
  7. 4.7Battery electrification
  8. 4.8On-board energy management
  9. 4.9Cooling at low speed
  10. 4.10Case study: powertrain of a telescopic handler
  1. 5.1Axial-piston and gear pumps
  2. 5.2Load-sensing circuits
  3. 5.3Proportional valves and directional control valves
  4. 5.4Cylinder design
  5. 5.5Filtration and fluid cleanliness
  6. 5.6Electrohydraulics and control
  7. 5.7Circuit efficiency
  8. 5.8Simulation of hydraulic systems
  9. 5.9Safety in pressurised circuits
  10. 5.10Laboratory: load-sensing circuit on a test bench
  1. 6.1Service loads and spectra
  2. 6.2High- and low-cycle fatigue
  3. 6.3Welded joints and detail categories
  4. 6.4Finite element analysis
  5. 6.5Accelerated durability testing
  6. 6.6In-service corrosion
  7. 6.7High-strength steels
  8. 6.8Field load acquisition
  9. 6.9Equivalent damage and service life
  10. 6.10Practical: fatigue of a loader arm
  1. 7.1Control units and E/E architecture
  2. 7.2SAE J1939 protocol
  3. 7.3ISOBUS in agriculture
  4. 7.4Sensors for harsh environments
  5. 7.5Fleet telematics
  6. 7.6Embedded software development
  7. 7.7On-board diagnostics
  8. 7.8Machine cybersecurity
  9. 7.9Over-the-air software updates
  10. 7.10Laboratory: reading J1939 frames
  1. 8.1Off-highway automation levels
  2. 8.2Perception sensors
  3. 8.3Localisation on construction and mining sites
  4. 8.4Path planning
  5. 8.5Teleoperation as an intermediate step
  6. 8.6Safety of autonomous machines
  7. 8.7Validation of automated functions
  8. 8.8Experience in mining
  9. 8.9Social and workforce acceptance
  10. 8.10Case study: architecture of an autonomous dumper
  1. 9.1ROPS and FOPS structures
  2. 9.2Operator visibility
  3. 9.3Noise at the operator station
  4. 9.4Vibration and seats
  5. 9.5Climate control and pressurisation
  6. 9.6Human-machine interface in the cab
  7. 9.7Access and climbing systems
  8. 9.8Restraint systems
  9. 9.9Operator fatigue
  10. 9.10Practical: visibility study of an excavator
  1. 10.1Machinery Directive and Regulation
  2. 10.2Type approval of agricultural tractors
  3. 10.3Emissions from non-road engines
  4. 10.4Earth-moving machinery standards
  5. 10.5Risk assessment to ISO 12100
  6. 10.6CE marking and declaration of conformity
  7. 10.7Technical construction file
  8. 10.8Functional safety of controls
  9. 10.9Market surveillance
  10. 10.10Case study: technical file for a machine
  1. 11.1Maintenance strategies
  2. 11.2Condition monitoring
  3. 11.3Total cost of ownership
  4. 11.4After-sales service and spare parts
  5. 11.5Machine logistics
  6. 11.6Fleet management
  7. 11.7Sustainability and the circular economy
  8. 11.8Service and rental models
  9. 11.9Operator training
  10. 11.10Case study: maintenance plan for a fleet
  1. 12.1Definition of the vehicle or machine
  2. 12.2Mission profile and requirements
  3. 12.3Terramechanical analysis of the target terrain
  4. 12.4Powertrain architecture
  5. 12.5Structural design and durability
  6. 12.6Safety and conformity
  7. 12.7Validation plan
  8. 12.8Economic analysis of the concept
  9. 12.9Master's Thesis report
  10. 12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

The programme 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 it can be combined with work.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is MSC Adams, Ansys Mechanical, MATLAB/Simulink and Simcenter Amesim, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: field traction measurement, structural durability testing and bench validation of hydraulic circuits. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.

Standards covered: Directive 2006/42/EC; Regulation (EU) 2023/1230; Regulation (EU) 2016/1628; UNE-EN 474-1; UNE-EN ISO 12100; Regulation (EU) 167/2013; ISO 3471; UNE-EN ISO 13849-1.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC, Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 and Regulation (EU) 2016/1628 applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:MSC Adams, Ansys Mechanical, MATLAB/Simulink and Simcenter Amesim, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Master's Thesis with defence:A concept project for an off-road vehicle or machine, from mission profile and terramechanics to powertrain, structure, conformity and economic analysis, defended before a panel.
Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Mission profile and requirements
Define the vehicle or machine, its mission profile and requirements.
Terrain analysis
Analyse the target terrain with terramechanical models.
Powertrain and structure
Design the powertrain architecture and assess structural durability.
Safety and validation
Address safety, conformity and the validation plan.
Master's Thesis
Present the economic analysis of the concept, defended before a panel.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Mobile machinery product engineerOff-road vehicle engineerMobile hydraulics specialistDurability engineerMachinery type-approval managerService and after-sales engineer
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • University degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent proven 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.

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FAQ

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 MSC Adams, Ansys Mechanical, MATLAB/Simulink and Simcenter Amesim, 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 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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