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

Master’s in Powertrains for Special Machinery/Racing Engineering

Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in powertrain engineering for special machinery and motorsport, structured in 12 modules covering special powertrain requirements, high-performance engines, adapting series engines, engine calibration, competition and special transmissions, high-performance hybridisation, powertrains for special machinery, extreme thermal management, durability, bench and field testing, and regulations, 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

Define the requirements of special powertrains.

02

Design and adapt high-performance engines.

03

Calibrate engines on the bench and under extreme conditions.

04

Select competition and special transmissions.

05

Integrate high-power hybrid systems.

06

Validate durability and reliability with testing and statistics.

07

Apply technical and emissions regulations.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Competition engine engineers.
  • Engine calibration engineers.
  • Special transmission engineers.
  • Test bench engineers.
  • Reliability engineers.
  • Special machinery engineers.
  • Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter motorsport.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • Regulation (EU) 2016/1628 (emissions from non-road mobile machinery)
  • FIA International Sporting Code Appendix J (technical regulations for competition vehicles)
  • ISO 1585 (engine net power test)
  • ISO 3046-1 (reciprocating internal combustion engines)
  • ISO 6336 (gear load capacity)
  • Directive 2000/14/EC (noise emissions from outdoor equipment)
  • GT-SUITE
  • AVL Boost
  • MATLAB/Simulink
  • MoTeC M1 Tune
  • KISSsoft
Syllabus

12 modules · 1900 h

  1. 1.1Special machinery versus motorsport
  2. 1.2Extreme load cycles
  3. 1.3Required specific power output
  4. 1.4Reliability required by mission
  5. 1.5Mass and packaging
  6. 1.6Cost and short production runs
  7. 1.7Competition regulations
  8. 1.8Industrial customer requirements
  9. 1.9Prototype manufacturing
  10. 1.10Case study: specifications of an airport vehicle and a T3
  1. 2.1Engine thermodynamics
  2. 2.2Combustion and knock
  3. 2.3Variable valve lift
  4. 2.4Turbochargers and anti-lag
  5. 2.5Intake design
  6. 2.6Exhaust design
  7. 2.7High-performance materials
  8. 2.8Dry-sump lubrication
  9. 2.9Crankshaft balancing
  10. 2.10Lab: 1D simulation of an engine
  1. 3.1Selection of the base engine
  2. 3.2Strengthening internal components
  3. 3.3Programmable engine management
  4. 3.4Injection and ignition maps
  5. 3.5Additional engine cooling
  6. 3.6Intake restrictors
  7. 3.7Reliability after adaptation
  8. 3.8Preparation costs
  9. 3.9Technical documentation of the build
  10. 3.10Practical: adapting a series engine for competition
  1. 4.1Control units
  2. 4.2Injection mapping
  3. 4.3Lambda control
  4. 4.4Ignition advance
  5. 4.5Boost control
  6. 4.6Bench calibration
  7. 4.7Calibration of load transients
  8. 4.8Altitude compensation
  9. 4.9Calibration by fuel
  10. 4.10Lab: calibration on a power dyno
  1. 5.1Sequential gearboxes
  2. 5.2Dog engagement
  3. 5.3Industrial power-shift transmissions
  4. 5.4High-pressure hydrostatic transmissions
  5. 5.5Competition clutches
  6. 5.6Gearbox lubrication
  7. 5.7Gear calculation
  8. 5.8Durability of competition gears
  9. 5.9Maintenance between events
  10. 5.10Workshop: overhaul of a sequential gearbox
  1. 6.1Kinetic energy recovery
  2. 6.2High specific power motors
  3. 6.3High-power batteries
  4. 6.4High-power supercapacitors
  5. 6.5Hybrid system control
  6. 6.6Hybridisation regulations
  7. 6.7Electrical safety in motorsport
  8. 6.8Integration in the chassis
  9. 6.9Motorsport cases
  10. 6.10Case study: hybrid in rally-raid
  1. 7.1Powertrains for snow groomers
  2. 7.2Powertrains for mobile cranes
  3. 7.3Powertrains for airport vehicles
  4. 7.4Fire engines
  5. 7.5Powertrains for forestry machines
  6. 7.6Power take-offs
  7. 7.7Bespoke design
  8. 7.8Integration with equipment
  9. 7.9Regulations applicable to special machines
  10. 7.10Case study: snow groomer powertrain
  1. 8.1Extreme ambient heat
  2. 8.2Cold starting
  3. 8.3Effect of altitude
  4. 8.4Radiator design
  5. 8.5Oil cooling
  6. 8.6Air-to-air and air-to-water intercoolers
  7. 8.7Engine bay thermal simulation
  8. 8.8Climatic chamber testing
  9. 8.9Cooling pack design
  10. 8.10Practical: sizing a radiator
  1. 9.1Durability cycles
  2. 9.2Component fatigue
  3. 9.3Accelerated life testing
  4. 9.4Durability rigs
  5. 9.5Failure analysis
  6. 9.6Weibull distribution
  7. 9.7Design FMEA
  8. 9.8Design improvement
  9. 9.9Field data
  10. 9.10Lab: Weibull analysis of failures
  1. 10.1Engine test benches
  2. 10.2Chassis dynamometers
  3. 10.3Engine instrumentation on the bench
  4. 10.4Emissions measurement
  5. 10.5Data acquisition
  6. 10.6Test procedures
  7. 10.7Test bench safety
  8. 10.8Bench-to-field correlation
  9. 10.9Test reports
  10. 10.10Practical: durability test protocol
  1. 11.1FIA engine technical regulations
  2. 11.2Emissions in special machines
  3. 11.3Stage V and exemptions
  4. 11.4Regulated competition fuels
  5. 11.5Noise limits
  6. 11.6Engine certification
  7. 11.7Machine homologation
  8. 11.8Market surveillance
  9. 11.9Future evolution of regulations
  10. 11.10Case study: requirements of a special machine
  1. 12.1Definition of the application
  2. 12.2Requirements and constraints
  3. 12.3Engine selection
  4. 12.4Calibration proposal
  5. 12.5Transmission selection
  6. 12.6Thermal management of the assembly
  7. 12.7Test plan
  8. 12.8Development budget
  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 taught 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 you can combine it with your job.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is GT-SUITE, AVL Boost, MATLAB/Simulink, MoTeC M1 Tune and KISSsoft, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures for bench engine calibration, transmission durability testing and thermal validation in a climatic chamber. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.

Standards covered: Regulation (EU) 2016/1628; FIA International Sporting Code Appendix J; ISO 1585; ISO 3046-1; ISO 6336; Directive 2000/14/EC.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of Regulation (EU) 2016/1628, FIA Appendix J and ISO 1585 applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:GT-SUITE, AVL Boost, MATLAB/Simulink, MoTeC M1 Tune and KISSsoft, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Master's Thesis with defence:A complete powertrain development for a special machine or competition vehicle, from requirements and engine selection to calibration, transmission, thermal management and test plan, 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.

Application and requirements
Define the application and its requirements and regulatory constraints.
Engine selection and calibration
Select the engine, simulate it in 1D and propose a calibration strategy.
Transmission and thermal design
Select the transmission and size the cooling pack for extreme conditions.
Test plan and budget
Plan bench and field durability tests and draw up the development budget.
Master's Thesis
A complete powertrain development for a special machine or competition vehicle, from requirements and engine selection to calibration, transmission, thermal management and test plan, defended before a panel.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Competition engine engineerEngine calibration engineerSpecial transmission engineerTest bench engineerReliability engineerSpecial machinery engineer
Admissions & scholarships

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.

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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 GT-SUITE, AVL Boost, MATLAB/Simulink, MoTeC M1 Tune and KISSsoft, 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 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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