Master’s in Safety by Design (Interior & Cockpit)
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in safety by design for vehicle interiors and cockpits, structured in 12 modules covering impact biomechanics, dummies and test methods, regulations and consumer protocols, safe interior design, restraint systems, seats, safe cockpit HMI, passive safety simulation and functional safety under UNECE R21, UNECE R94 and the Euro NCAP Assessment Protocol, with an assigned technical tutor.
Master’s in Safety by Design (Interior & Cockpit) — studying from Australia
Materials science and advanced manufacturing support Australian industries including mining, aerospace, defence, food processing and infrastructure. Research organisations such as CSIRO and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation contribute to materials characterisation and development. Quality management and conformity with standards are essential, particularly in regulated sectors. Engineers work on material selection, process improvement, additive manufacturing and quality assurance. Employers include manufacturers, mining equipment suppliers, research bodies and certification organisations.
Fees for Australia: A$15,800 (AUD), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Australia
Typical roles
Questions from Australia
Is this qualification recognised by Engineers Australia or quality bodies such as Quality Australia?
SEIUM qualifications are private and not accredited by Engineers Australia or any national body. Quality-related certifications in Australia, such as those from independent certification bodies, are separate credentials that you must pursue on their own terms. Recognition of SEIUM's programmes is determined by employers or the relevant body, so verify this with them directly.
Which Australian manufacturing and quality employers might value this training?
Manufacturers in sectors such as mining equipment, automotive, aerospace supply chains and building materials employ materials and quality engineers. Whether they value a private qualification depends on each company's hiring criteria. Relevant experience and the practical final project can help demonstrate your capability to them.
Can I study online from Australia while working, and is payment flexible?
Yes, the programme is fully online and taught in English, so no student visa is required to study from home in Australia. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible. Consider the programme length, from 300 to 1,900 hours, and plan your study time around your work commitments.
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
Understand injury biomechanics and assessment criteria.
Interpret interior safety regulations and consumer protocols.
Design panels, controls and surfaces that absorb impact energy.
Integrate belts, airbags and seats into cabin design.
Reduce driver distraction through cockpit design.
Simulate impact scenarios with explicit finite elements.
Anticipate safety requirements for autonomous vehicle interiors.
Who it's for
- Passive safety engineers.
- Vehicle interior designers.
- Restraint systems engineers.
- Crash simulation analysts.
- Safe HMI specialists.
- Type approval engineers.
- Engineering or science graduates aiming to enter the automotive sector.
What you'll work with
- UNECE R21 (interior fittings)
- UNECE R94 (frontal collision occupant protection)
- Euro NCAP Assessment Protocol (consumer safety rating)
- UNECE R17 (seats, anchorages and head restraints)
- UNECE R16 (safety belts and restraint systems)
- FMVSS 201 (occupant protection in interior impact)
- ISO 26262 (road vehicle functional safety)
- ISO 21448 (safety of the intended functionality, SOTIF)
- LS-DYNA
- ESI Virtual Performance Solution (PAM-CRASH)
- ANSA
- Madymo
12 modules
1.1Injury mechanisms in crashes1.2Human tolerance to acceleration1.3HIC, Nij and Viscous Criterion injury criteria1.4Head, neck and thorax injuries1.5Lower limb injuries1.6Differences by sex, age and stature1.7AIS severity scale1.8Accident research data1.9Out-of-position occupants1.10Case study: analysis of an accident database
2.1The Hybrid III family2.2THOR frontal impact dummy2.3WorldSID and BioRID2.4Q-series child dummies2.5THUMS virtual human models2.6Instrumentation and calibration2.7Sled tests2.8Component tests2.9Correlation between test and simulation2.10Lab: analysis of dummy signals
3.1UNECE R94 and R95 impact regulations3.2UNECE R21 interior fittings3.3UNECE R17 seats and head restraints3.4UNECE R16 safety belts3.5Euro NCAP protocols3.6FMVSS 201 and 2083.7IIHS protocols3.8Regulations for autonomous vehicles3.9Evolution of requirements3.10Workshop: requirements map for an interior
4.1Head impact zones4.2Minimum radii and edges4.3Energy absorption in trim4.4Instrument panels and knee impact4.5Consoles and armrests4.6Pillars and roof4.7Energy-absorbing foam materials4.8Projection of loose objects4.9Large screens and their safety4.10Practical exercise: redesign of a dashboard for head impact
5.1Belts with pretensioner and load limiter5.2Frontal and knee airbags5.3Side and curtain airbags5.4Far-side centre airbags5.5Systems for rear occupants5.6i-Size child restraint5.7Deployment and out-of-position occupants5.8Firing algorithms5.9Integration into interior design5.10Case study: airbag integration in a new steering wheel
6.1Seat structure6.2Active and adaptive head restraints6.3Whiplash tests6.4Seat anchorages6.5Swivel seats in autonomous vehicles6.6Reclined postures and submarining6.7Comfort versus safety6.8Dynamic seat tests6.9Foam behaviour6.10Lab: head restraint test
7.1Driver distraction7.2Visual-manual distraction standards7.3Location of screens and controls7.4Physical versus touch controls7.5Head-up displays and their placement7.6Driver monitoring systems (DMS)7.7Warnings and alert escalation7.8Retractable steering wheels in automated driving7.9Workload assessment7.10Practical exercise: distraction study with eye tracking
8.1Explicit finite elements8.2LS-DYNA and PAM-CRASH8.3Modelling foams and plastics8.4Airbag simulation8.5Virtual dummy models8.6Active human models8.7Parameter optimisation8.8Model validation8.9Simulation load management8.10Case study: head impact simulation in LS-DYNA
9.1ISO 26262 in restraint systems9.2SOTIF ISO 214489.3Occupancy sensors9.4Integration with ADAS9.5Integrated active-passive safety9.6Pre-crash and reversible pretensioning9.7Rescue and eCall9.8Cockpit cybersecurity9.9Validation of safety software9.10Workshop: HARA analysis of a restraint system
10.1Interiors of autonomous vehicles10.2Face-to-face and swivel seats10.3Lounge space and restraint10.4Sustainable materials and safety10.5Interiors of shared vehicles10.6Vulnerable users and diversity10.7Interiors of light vehicles10.8Access ergonomics10.9Inclusive restraint design10.10Case study: safe lounge interior concept
11.1Euro NCAP star targets11.2Test planning11.3Passive safety costs11.4Restraint system suppliers11.5Type approval and conformity11.6Change management11.7Lessons from recall campaigns11.8Communication with design and marketing11.9Safety indicators11.10Workshop: test plan for a new model
12.1Selection of the interior to study12.2Requirements analysis12.3Safety benchmark12.4Design proposal12.5Simulation model12.6Results and injury criteria12.7Design optimisation12.8Physical validation plan12.9Master's Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
How you'll learn
100% online training 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 LS-DYNA, ESI Virtual Performance Solution (PAM-CRASH), ANSA and Madymo, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures: head impact simulations on interior panels, sled tests with instrumented dummies and driver distraction studies. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: UNECE R21, UNECE R94, Euro NCAP Assessment Protocol, UNECE R17, UNECE R16, FMVSS 201, ISO 26262, ISO 21448.
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
- 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.
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 LS-DYNA, ESI Virtual Performance Solution (PAM-CRASH), ANSA and Madymo, 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 demonstrable professional experience), plus 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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