Master’s in Sustainability and Ethics in Restoration Engineering
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in sustainability and ethics engineering for restoration. 12 modules covering conservation ethics, life cycle assessment, low-impact processes, workshop environmental management, fuels, the circular economy, documentation and heritage, ESG reporting and sustainable business models, 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
Apply the ethical principles of conservation to historic vehicles.
Quantify the environmental impact of a restoration through LCA.
Replace polluting processes with lower-impact alternatives.
Implement an environmental management system in a workshop.
Document interventions using heritage and traceability criteria.
Prepare credible, verifiable sustainability reports.
Design sustainable business models for the classic-vehicle sector.
Who it's for
- Sustainability consultants working in restoration
- Environmental managers at classic-vehicle workshops
- Curators of automotive heritage
- Vehicle collection managers
- Auditors of restoration processes
- ESG reporting specialists in the sector
- Engineering or science graduates looking to move into classic-vehicle restoration
What you'll work with
- FIVA Charter of Turin (2013) (international guidelines for the preservation of historic vehicles)
- ISO 14040 (life cycle assessment: principles and framework)
- ISO 14044 (life cycle assessment: requirements and guidelines)
- ISO 14001 (environmental management systems)
- Real Decreto 892/2013, Reglamento de Vehículos Históricos (Spanish Historic Vehicles Regulation)
- Directive (EU) 2022/2464 (CSRD) (corporate sustainability reporting)
- Directive 2008/98/EC (Waste Framework Directive)
- openLCA
- SimaPro
- Agisoft Metashape
- Microsoft Power BI
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1The Venice Charter applied to the vehicle1.2Principles of the Charter of Turin1.3Conserve, preserve, restore or replicate1.4Originality, authenticity and integrity1.5Minimum intervention and reversibility1.6Documentary value of patina1.7Unrestored survivor vehicles1.8Originality versus road safety1.9Codes of professional conduct for restorers1.10Case study: conserving or restoring a survivor
2.1ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 methodology2.2System boundaries for a classic vehicle2.3Carbon footprint of a restoration2.4Inventory of materials and energy2.5Impact of paints and coatings2.6Real use and annual mileage2.7Comparison with a new vehicle2.8Inventory databases2.9Interpreting and communicating results2.10Laboratory: simplified LCA of a restoration
3.1Waterborne and low-VOC paints3.2Decorative chrome plating with trivalent chromium3.3Shot blasting versus chemical stripping3.4Dry-ice and laser stripping3.5Reconditioning original parts3.6Recovery of metals and alloys3.7Solvent substitution3.8Management of oils and fluids3.9Reverse logistics for packaging3.10Practical: process audit of a workshop
4.1ISO 14001 systems in workshops4.2Hazardous waste and authorised waste managers4.3Spray-booth emissions4.4Hydrocarbon separators and discharges4.5Energy efficiency of facilities4.6Water consumption and parts washing4.7Process environmental indicators4.8Internal environmental audit4.9Credible environmental communication4.10Workshop: waste management plan
5.1Synthetic fuels and e-fuels5.2Compatibility with E10 petrol5.3Biofuels and elastomers5.4Low-emission zones and exemptions5.5Responsible use and limited mileage5.6The ethical debate on electric conversion5.7Real-world emissions of a classic5.8Efficient carburettor tuning5.9European mobility policies5.10Case study: adapting a classic to E10
6.1Spare-parts supply chains6.2Additive manufacturing of discontinued parts6.3Breakers' yards and the second-hand market6.4Certified reconditioning of components6.5Club parts banks6.6Digital passport and traceability6.7Industrial property and reproductions6.8Quality of reproduced parts6.9Logistics for rare parts6.10Practical: circular spare-parts plan
7.1Honest description of interventions7.2Chassis numbers and forgeries7.3Replicas and continuation cars7.4Auctions and due diligence7.5Conflicts of interest in valuations7.6Transparent communication with the client7.7Social responsibility of the sector7.8Generational succession and trades7.9Training apprentices7.10Case study: detecting a forged identity
8.1Standardised intervention records8.2FIVA Identity Card8.3Photographic and digital archive8.4Record of materials used8.5Inventory of original parts removed8.6Safekeeping of replaced parts8.7Industrial heritage and museums8.8Legal protection of movable heritage8.93D digitisation of the vehicle8.10Practical: complete documentary file
9.1Environmental metrics for a workshop9.2The CSRD Directive and its standards9.3EU taxonomy of activities9.4GHG Protocol Scopes 1, 2 and 39.5Applicable certifications and labels9.6Communication without greenwashing9.7Verifiable environmental claims9.8Reports for clients and insurers9.9Sector benchmarks9.10Case study: sustainability report for a workshop
10.1Restoration as a long-term service10.2Preventive maintenance contracts10.3Shared use and hire of classics10.4Responsible tourism and events10.5Green financing for equipment10.6Residual value and sustainability10.7Investment in clean processes10.8Partnerships with museums and clubs10.9Knowledge transfer10.10Case study: business plan for a sustainable workshop
11.1Heritage narrative of the vehicle11.2Disseminating good practice11.3Exhibitions and museography11.4Social media and transparency11.5Relations with public authorities11.6Lobbies and classic-vehicle federations11.7Educating younger audiences11.8Stories of exemplary restorations11.9Social impact indicators11.10Practical: outreach campaign for a club
12.1Defining the case study12.2Ethical framework for the intervention12.3Environmental diagnosis of the process12.4LCA of the proposed restoration12.5Selection of low-impact processes12.6Documentation and reversibility plan12.7Sustainability indicators12.8Economic viability of the proposal12.9Master's Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
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 openLCA, SimaPro, Agisoft Metashape and Microsoft Power BI, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: life cycle assessment of restorations, environmental audits of workshops and heritage documentation of vehicles. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: FIVA Charter of Turin (2013); ISO 14040; ISO 14044; ISO 14001; Real Decreto 892/2013, Reglamento de Vehículos Históricos; Directive (EU) 2022/2464 (CSRD); Directive 2008/98/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 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.
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 openLCA, SimaPro, Agisoft Metashape and Microsoft Power BI, 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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