Master’s in HUD, Cockpit AR/MR and 3D Visualisation: Projection
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in HUD, cockpit AR/MR and 3D visualisation: projection, occlusion, luminance, regulations and testing. 12 modules covering projection optics, picture generation units, HUD architectures, windscreens, calibration and warping, augmented reality, human factors, testing and type approval, with ISO 15008, SAE J1757-1 and ISO 26262, and an assigned technical tutor.
Master’s in HUD, Cockpit AR/MR and 3D Visualisation: Projection — studying from Canada
Product design and human-machine interface work is well established in Canada across automotive, aerospace, medical devices and consumer electronics. Design studios and engineering firms in Toronto, Montréal, Waterloo and Vancouver develop user interfaces for vehicles, industrial equipment and healthcare technology. Usability and accessibility requirements are shaped by national standards and provincial legislation, including the Accessible Canada Act at the federal level. Typical employers include manufacturers, software companies and design consultancies.
Fees for Canada: C$13,900 (Canadian dollar), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Canada
Typical roles
Questions from Canada
Is design or HMI work in Canada regulated, and how does SEIUM fit in?
Product and HMI design is generally not a licensed profession in Canada, unlike engineering, which is regulated by provincial associations issuing Professional Engineer licences. SEIUM's qualifications are private, not official state degrees and not accredited by a national body. Recognition is decided by employers or relevant bodies, so confirm acceptance with them before enrolling.
Do Canadian product and interface design employers value this kind of study?
Canadian design employers, including software firms in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, usually focus on portfolios, user research and shipped work. A SEIUM qualification may add to your profile, especially with a strong final project, but whether it is valued depends on each employer. Build your portfolio alongside your studies.
How much time does this need alongside work, and how is it paid for?
The courses are fully online, so you can study from home at your own pace. Specialist courses take 300 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 and master's 1,900, so consider your weekly availability. Teaching is in English with an assigned technical tutor. Fees can be paid in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible, which you can ask your employer about.
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 geometrical optics to the design of projection systems.
Select picture generation technologies.
Design HUD and combiner architectures.
Correct distortion and calibrate projection systems.
Integrate augmented reality content with low latency.
Assess the human factors of in-cabin projection.
Plan HUD testing and industrialisation.
Who it's for
- HUD optical engineers.
- Display systems engineers.
- Optical calibration engineers.
- Augmented reality specialists.
- Display validation engineers.
- Human factors engineers.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to move into the automotive industry.
What you'll work with
- ISO 15008 (in-vehicle visual information presentation)
- SAE J1757-1 (standard metrology for vehicular displays)
- ISO 26262 (road vehicle functional safety)
- UNECE Regulation No. 43 (safety glazing)
- UNECE Regulation No. 125 (driver's forward field of vision)
- IEC 60825-1 (safety of laser products)
- ISO 9241-303 (requirements for electronic visual displays)
- Ansys Zemax OpticStudio
- Ansys Speos
- CODE V
- Unreal Engine
- MATLAB
12 modules
1.1Geometrical optics and ray tracing1.2Lenses, mirrors and aberrations1.3Virtual image and image distance1.4Eyebox and exit pupil1.5Field of view and magnification1.6Display photometry1.7Polarisation and sunlight1.8The windscreen as a combiner1.9Optical tolerances1.10Case study: optical requirements of a series-production HUD
2.1Backlit TFT-LCDs2.2DLP and DMD micromirrors2.3LCoS2.4MEMS laser scanning2.5MicroLED2.6Brightness, contrast and dynamic range2.7Thermal management of the source2.8Reliability and service life2.9Technology comparison2.10Lab: characterisation of a PGU
3.1Combiner HUD3.2Windscreen HUD3.3Aspheric and freeform mirrors3.4Dual image plane3.5Wide-field AR-HUD3.6Holographic HUDs3.7Waveguides3.8Installation volume3.9Packaging trade-offs3.10Practical: preliminary design of a HUD in Zemax
4.1Windscreens with PVB wedge4.2Ghost image and its correction4.3Reflective coatings4.4Curvature and distortion4.5Compatibility with polarised sunglasses4.6Per-vehicle calibration4.7Heating and sensors in the windscreen4.8Manufacturing tolerances4.9Optical testing of windscreens4.10Lab: measurement of double image
5.1Distortion models5.2Software pre-distortion5.3Calibration on the assembly line5.4Calibration cameras5.5Dynamic eye position5.6Eye tracking5.7Vibration compensation5.8Adjustment for driver height5.9Image quality validation5.10Practical: image warping algorithm
6.1Registration of content with the real world6.2Motion-to-photon latency6.3Fusion with camera and maps6.4Perceived depth and vergence6.5Accommodation conflict6.6Navigation overlays6.7Hazard highlighting6.8Content stabilisation6.9Registration errors and how they are perceived6.10Case study: latency budget of an AR-HUD
7.1In-cabin projectors7.2Transparent displays7.3Projection on side windows7.4Holographic displays7.5Dashboard projection7.6Lighting and visibility7.7Diffusing surfaces7.8Laser eye safety7.9Integration into interior design7.10Practical: side-window projection concept
8.1Visual workload and distraction8.2Re-accommodation time8.3Legibility in sunlight8.4Night vision and glare8.5Users who wear glasses8.6Motion sickness and comfort8.7NHTSA distraction guidelines8.8Simulator testing8.9Gaze metrics8.10Workshop: legibility study with users
9.1HUD electronic architecture9.2Graphics processors9.3Video interfaces9.4Rendering software9.5Communication with ADAS9.6Cybersecurity9.7Functional safety to ISO 262629.8Diagnostics and updates9.9Power management9.10Lab: real-time rendering pipeline
10.1Luminance and contrast measurement10.2Reverse sunlight testing10.3Environmental testing10.4Electromagnetic compatibility10.5Field of view requirements10.6Regulation 125 and visibility10.7On-road validation10.8Technical documentation10.9Series production quality10.10Case study: test plan for a HUD
11.1Manufacturing of freeform mirrors11.2Optical assembly and alignment11.3In-line quality control11.4Optical supply chain11.5Cost per field of view11.6Integration with the windscreen11.7HUD suppliers11.8Technology roadmaps11.9Patents and intellectual property11.10Practical: cost analysis of two architectures
12.1System requirements12.2PGU selection12.3Optical design12.4Tolerance analysis12.5Calibration and warping12.6AR content12.7User evaluation12.8Industrialisation plan12.9Master's Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
How you'll learn
Training is 100% online on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable materials, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so the programme fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Ansys Zemax OpticStudio, Ansys Speos, CODE V, Unreal Engine and MATLAB, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: luminance and contrast measurement, ghost-image tests on windscreens and legibility trials in a simulator. Assessment is continuous for each module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: ISO 15008, SAE J1757-1, ISO 26262, UNECE Regulation No. 43, UNECE Regulation No. 125, IEC 60825-1, ISO 9241-303.
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 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 Ansys Zemax OpticStudio, Ansys Speos, CODE V, Unreal Engine and MATLAB, 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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