Master’s in Design Engineering & DfX
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in design engineering and DfX. 12 modules covering design for manufacturing, assembly, reliability, service, environment, cost, safety and verification, plus digital DfX tools and organisation, with an assigned technical tutor.
Master’s in Design Engineering & DfX — studying from Australia
Product design and human-machine interface work is important across Australian industries, from consumer goods and medical devices to mining equipment and transport systems. Designers and engineers collaborate on usability, ergonomics and visual interfaces, with growing attention to accessibility standards and user research. Australia has active design communities in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, supported by universities and design agencies. Employers include manufacturers, software companies, consultancies and in-house product teams in large organisations.
Fees for Australia: A$11,000 (AUD), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Australia
Typical roles
Questions from Australia
Does a SEIUM qualification count for professional design recognition in Australia?
Australian design practice is recognised through bodies such as the Design Institute of Australia, which runs professional membership, and Engineers Australia covers engineering-related design. SEIUM's private qualifications are not accredited by these bodies. Employers and the relevant body decide whether it counts toward recognition.
Which Australian employers need HMI and product design skills?
Australia has product design studios, software companies, automotive and medical device firms, and consultancies needing interface and product designers. Employers usually look closely at your portfolio and user research work. A SEIUM qualification may complement this, but its weight is determined by each employer.
Can I study this part-time from Australia and what language level is needed?
Yes, the courses are 100% online, so you can study from home across Australia without a student visa. Teaching is in English, so you need solid English proficiency. Durations range from 300 to 1,900 hours, with an assigned technical tutor, instalment payments, and possible employer sponsorship.
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
Integrate DfX criteria from the earliest design phases.
Apply design-for-manufacturing rules for different processes.
Reduce part count and assembly time with the Boothroyd-Dewhurst method.
Improve reliability through FMEA, Weibull analysis and robust design.
Design maintainable, sustainable products that meet a target cost.
Ensure conformity with product safety regulations.
Evaluate redesigns with digital DFMA and costing tools.
Who it's for
- Product design engineers who want to build manufacturability and cost into their designs from day one.
- DfM and DFA engineers looking for a structured, method-based approach.
- Reliability engineers working with FMEA, Weibull and accelerated testing.
- Product cost engineers involved in target costing and value analysis.
- Conformity and CE marking engineers responsible for product safety.
- Product development managers leading multidisciplinary teams.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to move into the household appliance sector.
What you'll work with
- ISO 12100:2010 (safety of machinery: risk assessment and risk reduction)
- Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 (Machinery Regulation)
- EN 12973:2020 (value management)
- IEC 60812:2018 (failure mode and effects analysis)
- IEC 60300-3-10 (dependability management: maintainability)
- ISO 11469:2016 (identification and marking of plastics)
- IEC 60335-1 (safety of household electrical appliances)
- Directive 2012/19/EU (WEEE) (waste electrical and electronic equipment)
- Boothroyd Dewhurst DFMA
- Autodesk Moldflow
- aPriori
- SOLIDWORKS
- ReliaSoft Weibull++
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1The DfX family of methods1.2Integration between design and engineering1.3Concurrent and simultaneous engineering1.4Cost of change by phase1.5Measurable product specifications1.6Pugh decision matrices1.7QFD and the house of quality1.8DfX metrics in development1.9Integrated multidisciplinary teams1.10Case study: QFD for a cordless drill
2.1Design rules for injection moulding2.2Sheet metal part design2.3Machining and tool accessibility2.4Die casting and sand casting2.5Design for additive manufacturing2.6Process capability and tolerances2.7Manufacturing cost estimation2.8DfM reviews with suppliers2.9Mould filling simulation2.10Lab: Moldflow analysis of a housing
3.1The Boothroyd and Dewhurst method3.2Reducing part count3.3Efficient handling and insertion3.4Selection of joints and fasteners3.5Error-proof design3.6Automatic and robotic assembly3.7Optimal assembly sequences3.8DFA efficiency index3.9Vehicle line assembly3.10Practical: DFA redesign of a mechanism
4.1Design for reliability (DfR)4.2FMEA according to the AIAG-VDA handbook4.3Weibull failure analysis4.4HALT and ALT accelerated testing4.5Taguchi robust design4.6P-diagrams and noise factors4.7Reliability of series and parallel systems4.8Fault tree analysis4.9Warranty and field data4.10Workshop: design FMEA of an actuator
5.1Accessibility of wear components5.2Mean time to repair (MTTR)5.3Integrated diagnostics and self-diagnosis5.4Service-oriented modularity5.5Special and standard tools5.6Technical service documentation5.7Maintainability according to IEC 60300-3-105.8Spare parts strategy5.9Remote service and updates5.10Case study: maintainability of a professional coffee machine
6.1Ecodesign integrated into DfX6.2Simplified LCA at the conceptual phase6.3Disassembly for recycling6.4Selection of low-impact materials6.5Energy efficiency in use6.6Sustainable packaging design6.7Marking of plastics according to ISO 114696.8The WEEE Directive and design6.9Product environmental indicators6.10Practical: environmental redesign of a small household appliance
7.1Design to target cost7.2Target costing and market price7.3Value analysis according to EN 129737.4Teardown and cost benchmarking7.5Should-cost models7.6Platforms and modularity7.7Commonality across products7.8Make-or-buy decisions7.9Lifecycle cost7.10Workshop: value analysis of a component
8.1Inherently safe design8.2Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/12308.3Risk assessment according to ISO 121008.4Use of harmonised standards8.5Electrical safety according to IEC 60335-18.6CE marking and the technical file8.7Protection of vulnerable users8.8Liability for defective products8.9Reasonably foreseeable misuse of the product8.10Lab: risk assessment of a machine
9.1Design for verification (DfV)9.2Test points in electronics (DfT)9.3Verification and validation plans9.4Design qualification testing9.5Simulation as verification evidence9.6Sampling and inspection in production9.7Traceability from requirements to tests9.8Prototypes for design validation9.9Formal design review9.10Practical: DVP&R plan for a component
10.1Automatic DfX checks in CAD10.2Boothroyd Dewhurst DFMA software10.3Cost estimation with aPriori10.4Early CAE simulation10.5Design rule management10.6DfX integration in PLM10.7Topology optimisation for manufacturing10.8AI for design review10.9Standard part libraries10.10Lab: DFMA analysis of a complete product
11.1DfX at development milestones11.2Multidisciplinary design reviews11.3A culture of design-factory collaboration11.4Early supplier involvement11.5Lessons-learned databases11.6DfX maturity indicators11.7Training designers in manufacturing11.8Change management in engineering11.9Balancing conflicting criteria11.10Case study: DfX programme at a household appliance manufacturer
12.1Selection of the existing product12.2Baseline DfX analysis12.3Prioritisation of DfX criteria12.4Conceptual redesign of the product12.5Detailed redesign in CAD12.6Manufacturing and cost evaluation12.7Reliability and service evaluation12.8Before-and-after comparison of results12.9Master'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 Boothroyd Dewhurst DFMA, Autodesk Moldflow, aPriori, SOLIDWORKS and ReliaSoft Weibull++, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: DFMA analysis of real disassembled products, failure mode analysis in multidisciplinary teams and mould filling simulation. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: ISO 12100:2010, Regulation (EU) 2023/1230, EN 12973:2020, IEC 60812:2018, IEC 60300-3-10, ISO 11469:2016, IEC 60335-1, Directive 2012/19/EU (WEEE).
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 Boothroyd Dewhurst DFMA, Autodesk Moldflow, aPriori, SOLIDWORKS, ReliaSoft Weibull++, 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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