Diploma in Protocol Analysis and Gap-to-Stars
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in protocol analysis and gap-to-stars. 8 modules covering NCAP assessment programmes, adult occupant protection, child protection, vulnerable road user protection, safety assist, gap-to-stars analysis and development simulation and testing, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in Protocol Analysis and Gap-to-Stars — studying from Ireland
Ireland's regulated industries, including aviation, medical devices, energy, transport and food, require rigorous safety, reliability and compliance processes. Engineers in regulation, safety and homologation roles prepare certification evidence, perform reliability and risk analysis and manage conformity assessment. Key regulators such as the Health and Safety Authority, the Irish Aviation Authority and the Health Products Regulatory Authority set requirements that span multiple sectors. National standards are maintained by the National Standards Authority of Ireland, which represents Ireland within European and international standardisation.
Fees for Ireland: €1,490 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Ireland
Typical roles
Questions from Ireland
Which Irish bodies handle regulation and homologation, and does this qualification relate to them?
In Ireland, regulatory and safety matters involve bodies such as the Health and Safety Authority and the National Standards Authority of Ireland for standards work. Professional engineering status is typically pursued through Engineers Ireland. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not accredited by these bodies, so they do not grant registration, approval or homologation rights.
How do Irish employers in RAMS and safety-critical sectors regard private online qualifications?
Employers in safety-critical industries in Ireland usually require verifiable competence and recognised certifications for RAMS and homologation roles. A private online qualification may complement your experience, but whether it counts is entirely at the employer's discretion. There is no guarantee of recognition or of any role.
How much time does the programme take, and can I pay in instalments?
The programme is fully online and taught in English, so you can study from Ireland at your own pace. Durations are 300, 800 or 1,900 hours depending on the course. Fees can be paid in instalments, employer sponsorship is possible if your company agrees, and each student receives 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 NCAP programmes and their protocols.
Analyse adult and child occupant protection.
Evaluate vulnerable road user protection.
Assess safety assist systems.
Carry out gap-to-stars analyses.
Correlate simulation with development testing.
Develop a rating strategy for a vehicle.
Who it's for
- Passive safety engineers.
- Active safety engineers.
- NCAP protocol analysts.
- Crash simulation engineers.
- Safety strategy managers.
- Test engineers.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter vehicle manufacturing.
What you'll work with
- Euro NCAP assessment protocols (vehicle safety rating)
- UN Regulation No 94 (frontal impact)
- UN Regulation No 95 (side impact)
- UN Regulation No 127 (pedestrian protection)
- UN Regulation No 129 (child restraint systems)
- Regulation (EU) 2019/2144 (general vehicle safety)
- UN Regulation No 152 (advanced emergency braking)
- LS-DYNA
- Madymo
- Oasys Primer
- Ansys
- MATLAB
8 modules
1.1History and objectives of NCAP programmes1.2Euro NCAP and its assessment areas1.3Other regional assessment programmes1.4Star rating system and thresholds1.5Protocols and update schedule1.6Relationship between NCAP and type approval1.7Influence of NCAP on design1.8Publication and communication of results1.9Future trends in protocols1.10Case study: comparison of results across a segment
2.1Frontal impact tests2.2Side impact with barrier and pole2.3Rear impact and whiplash protection2.4Hybrid III and THOR dummies2.5Injury criteria by body region2.6Modifiers and penalties2.7Rescue and extrication of occupants2.8Far-side occupant protection2.9Calculating the area score2.10Practical: calculating an adult occupant score
3.1Tests with Q-series child dummies3.2Child restraint systems assessed3.3Installation and compatibility of child seats3.4Detection of children left behind3.5Frontal airbags and their deactivation3.6Child protection area score3.7User information in the owner's manual3.8Typical penalty cases3.9Design improvements for child restraint3.10Workshop: child seat compatibility analysis
4.1Head and leg impacts4.2Active bonnets and their deployment4.3Autonomous emergency braking for pedestrians and cyclists4.4Autonomous emergency braking for motorcyclists4.5Front-end scoring maps4.6Pedestrian-oriented front-end design4.7Sensors and environment perception4.8Vulnerable road user test scenarios4.9Vulnerable road user area score4.10Practical: head impact map
5.1Car-to-car autonomous emergency braking5.2Lane support systems5.3Intelligent speed assistance5.4Driver state monitoring5.5Track test scenarios5.6Human-machine interface and warnings5.7Safety assist area score5.8Robustness tests of systems5.9Evolution of safety assist protocols5.10Case study: scoring an AEB system
6.1The concept of gap versus target6.2Use of simulation and test data6.3Identifying weak points6.4Prioritising improvements by points6.5Relationship between cost and points gained6.6Scenarios with a risk of losing stars6.7Technical decision matrix6.8Tracking the star target6.9Communicating results to management6.10Workshop: gap-to-stars analysis of a vehicle
7.1Finite element crash simulation7.2Numerical dummy models7.3Correlation between simulation and testing7.4Subsystem and component tests7.5ADAS development testing7.6Planning the test campaign7.7Management of test prototypes7.8Analysis of test results7.9Writing the technical report7.10Practical: correlation of a frontal impact simulation
8.1Selection of the vehicle to be studied8.2Analysis of current protocols8.3Estimation of the baseline score8.4Gap analysis by area8.5Prioritised improvement plan8.6Development test plan8.7Cost and timing analysis8.8Executive report for management8.9Report 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. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so the programme fits around your work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is LS-DYNA, Madymo, Oasys Primer, Ansys and MATLAB, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures for NCAP score analysis, frontal and side impact simulations and ADAS track tests. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: Euro NCAP assessment protocols, UN Regulations No 94, 95, 127, 129 and 152, and Regulation (EU) 2019/2144.
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 LS-DYNA, Madymo, Oasys Primer, Ansys 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 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 is required.
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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