Diploma in Off-Highway Inverters and Power Electronics
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in inverters and power electronics for off-highway machinery. 8 modules covering power semiconductors including SiC and GaN, inverter topologies, electric machine control, thermal and mechanical design, EMC, safety and reliability, 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
Understand the functions of power electronics in machinery.
Select power semiconductors, including SiC and GaN.
Design inverter and converter topologies.
Implement electric machine control.
Solve thermal and mechanical design in harsh environments.
Meet electromagnetic compatibility requirements.
Ensure the safety and reliability of the equipment.
Who it's for
- Power electronics engineers
- Motor control engineers
- Hardware engineers
- EMC engineers
- Electronics reliability engineers
- Electrical integration engineers
- Engineering or science graduates looking to move into construction machinery
What you'll work with
- IEC 61800-5-1 (safety of adjustable speed electrical power drive systems)
- ISO 6469-3 (electrical safety of electrically propelled vehicles)
- ISO 13766-1 (earth-moving machinery: electromagnetic compatibility)
- ISO 14982 (agricultural and forestry machinery: electromagnetic compatibility)
- CISPR 25 (vehicle radio disturbance characteristics)
- IEC 60747 (semiconductor devices)
- IEC 60068-2 (environmental testing)
- ISO 16750 (environmental conditions and testing for electrical equipment in road vehicles)
- PLECS
- LTspice
- MATLAB/Simulink with Simscape Electrical
- Ansys Icepak
8 modules
1.1Functions: traction, implements and auxiliaries1.2DC/AC, DC/DC and AC/DC converters1.3Bus voltages and architectures1.4Environmental requirements for machinery1.5Differences from the automotive sector1.6Load cycles and overloads1.7Manufacturers and market status1.8Semiconductor value chain1.9Cost and reliability1.10Workshop: electrical architecture of an electric tractor
2.1Silicon MOSFETs2.2IGBTs and power diodes2.3Silicon carbide (SiC)2.4Gallium nitride (GaN)2.5Conduction and switching losses2.6Safe operating area2.7Packages and modules2.8Datasheets according to IEC 607472.9Device selection2.10Practical exercise: loss calculation for a SiC module
3.1Two-level three-phase inverter3.2Multilevel inverters3.3Sinusoidal and space-vector PWM modulation3.4Dead times and distortion3.5Bidirectional DC/DC converters3.6Isolated converters3.7On-board chargers3.8Converters for 24 V auxiliaries3.9Simulation with PLECS3.10Lab: simulation of a three-phase inverter
4.1Field-oriented control4.2Direct torque control4.3Position sensors and resolvers4.4Sensorless control4.5Field weakening4.6Induction motor control4.7Implementation on microcontrollers4.8Current loop calibration4.9Motor test bench trials4.10Practical exercise: FOC control in Simulink
5.1Heat dissipation and thermal resistance5.2Liquid cooling5.3Design with Ansys Icepak5.4Thermal cycling and solder fatigue5.5Vibration and shock IEC 60068-25.6IP67 and IP69K sealing5.7Condensation and conformal coating5.8DC-link capacitors and their service life5.9Enclosure design5.10Case study: thermal design of an inverter for a dumper
6.1Sources of switching interference6.2Conducted and radiated emissions6.3ISO 13766-1 and ISO 14982 requirements6.4CISPR 25 testing6.5Input and output filters6.6Shielding and grounding6.7Common-mode currents6.8Power PCB design6.9Pre-compliance testing6.10Lab: measurement of conducted emissions
7.1Electrical safety IEC 61800-5-17.2Safety ISO 6469-37.3Functional safety ISO 19014 and ISO 251197.4Safe torque off functions7.5Insulation fault detection7.6Reliability prediction7.7Accelerated life testing7.8Field failure analysis7.9Environmental testing ISO 167507.10Case study: FMEA of a traction inverter
8.1Application specification8.2Topology selection8.3Semiconductor selection8.4Thermal design8.5Control strategy8.6EMC design8.7Test and validation plan8.8Cost analysis8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with your tutor
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 it is compatible with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is PLECS, LTspice, MATLAB/Simulink with Simscape Electrical and Ansys Icepak, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Cases are studied on real procedures for characterising inverters on motor test benches, electromagnetic compatibility testing and thermal validation of converters. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final project.
Standards covered: IEC 61800-5-1, ISO 6469-3, ISO 13766-1, ISO 14982, CISPR 25, IEC 60747, IEC 60068-2, ISO 16750.
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 able to run 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 PLECS, LTspice, MATLAB/Simulink with Simscape Electrical, Ansys Icepak, 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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