Diploma in Redundant and Fail-Safe I&C
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in redundant and fail-safe instrumentation and control (I&C). 8 modules covering nuclear I&C, redundancy and fail-safe principles, sensors and acquisition, digital I&C, reliability analysis, standards and qualification, and the operations interface and cybersecurity, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in Redundant and Fail-Safe I&C — studying from Canada
Canada's defence sector is centred on procurement and sustainment through the Department of National Defence and Defence Research and Development Canada. Industrial activity spans land vehicles, naval systems, avionics and electronics, with firms in Ontario, Québec, Nova Scotia and British Columbia. Companies such as General Dynamics Land Systems Canada and Lockheed Martin Canada are notable employers, alongside a broad base of small and medium suppliers. Engineers work on systems integration, vehicle protection, logistics and sustainment, operating within strict security and export control frameworks.
Fees for Canada: C$1,400 (Canadian dollar), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Canada
Typical roles
Questions from Canada
Which Canadian bodies or processes govern defence engineering recognition?
Defence engineering in Canada often involves government procurement and security clearances, and engineers typically hold provincial Professional Engineer licences where a title is required. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not official state degrees or accredited by a national body, so they do not confer licensing or clearance. Recognition is for employers or the relevant body to decide, so verify this first.
Would Canadian defence or land systems employers accept this training?
Canadian defence employers and contractors generally rely on security clearance, licensing and demonstrated experience. A private qualification may support your application, but it is unlikely to replace those requirements, and its acceptance is up to each employer. A SEIUM final project can help show applied skill, so discuss expectations with prospective employers early.
Can I study remotely while working, and what are the costs and language demands?
Yes, the programmes are fully online, so you can study from Canada or elsewhere without a student visa, and fit sessions around work. Specialist courses are 300 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 and master's 1,900. Teaching is in English, supported by an assigned technical tutor. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship may be available.
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 the functions of I&C in nuclear power plants.
Apply redundancy, diversity and fail-safe principles.
Select and calibrate qualified sensors.
Design verifiable digital safety systems.
Analyse the reliability of redundant systems.
Apply equipment qualification standards.
Integrate human factors and cybersecurity into I&C.
Who it's for
- Instrumentation and control engineers in nuclear or process plants.
- Safety systems engineers.
- Software V&V specialists working on safety-critical code.
- Reliability analysts.
- Equipment qualification engineers.
- Industrial cybersecurity specialists.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to move into nuclear energy.
What you'll work with
- IEC 61513 (nuclear power plant I&C: general requirements)
- IEEE 603 (criteria for safety systems)
- IEC 60880 (software for category A systems)
- IEC 61226 (classification of I&C functions)
- IAEA SSG-39 (design of I&C in nuclear power plants)
- IEEE 323 (environmental qualification)
- IEC 62645 (cybersecurity of nuclear I&C)
- RiskSpectrum
- MATLAB Simulink
- Ansys SCADE
- LabVIEW
- Isograph FaultTree+
8 modules
1.1I&C functions in a power plant1.2Safety classification of systems1.3Reactor protection system1.4Engineered safety features actuation systems1.5Plant control1.6Nuclear and process instrumentation1.7Control room1.8Evolution from analogue to digital1.9Operating experience1.10Case study: I&C architecture of a PWR
2.1Single failure criterion2.2Channel redundancy2.32-out-of-4 voting logic2.4Independence and separation2.5Diversity and defence in depth2.6Fail-safe design2.7De-energise to trip2.8Common cause failures2.9Periodic testing2.10Workshop: analysis of a 2-out-of-4 logic
3.1Neutron detectors3.2Thermocouples and RTDs3.3Pressure and level transmitters3.4Flow measurement3.5Environmental qualification3.6Response time3.7Calibration and drift3.8Cables and penetrations3.9Post-accident instrumentation3.10Lab: calibration of a pressure transmitter
4.1Qualified digital platforms4.2FPGAs in safety systems4.3Category A software4.4IEC 60880 for software4.5Independent verification and validation4.6Inter-division communications4.7Self-diagnostics4.8I&C cybersecurity4.9Modernisation of analogue systems4.10Practical exercise: V&V plan for safety software
5.1FMEA of I&C systems5.2Fault trees5.3Channel unavailability5.4Test intervals5.5Diagnostic coverage5.6CCF analysis5.7Diversity against CCF5.8Integration into the PSA5.9Software reliability5.10Lab: unavailability calculation with periodic testing
6.1IEC 615136.2IEC 61226 on classification6.3IEEE 6036.4IEEE 7-4.3.26.5IEEE 344 seismic qualification6.6IEEE 323 environmental qualification6.7Electromagnetic compatibility6.8IAEA SSG-39 guides6.9CSN requirements6.10Case study: qualification plan for a piece of equipment
7.1Control room design7.2NUREG-0711 human factors7.3Alarms and displays7.4Emergency procedures7.5IEC 62645 on cybersecurity7.6Security zones and levels7.7Configuration management7.8Maintenance and surveillance7.9Operator training7.10Case study: cybersecurity analysis of a system
8.1Defining the function8.2Safety classification8.3Redundant architecture8.4Sensor selection8.5Digital platform8.6Reliability analysis8.7Qualification plan8.8Conclusions8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so it fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is RiskSpectrum, MATLAB Simulink, Ansys SCADE, LabVIEW and Isograph FaultTree+, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures for instrumentation calibration, voting logic analysis and unavailability calculations. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final project.
Standards covered: IEC 61513, IEEE 603, IEC 60880, IEC 61226, IAEA SSG-39, IEEE 323, IEC 62645.
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
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
- 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 800 hours over 6–8 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with RiskSpectrum, MATLAB Simulink, Ansys SCADE, LabVIEW and Isograph FaultTree+, 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 final project. 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 are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector (no university degree required), 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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