Postgraduate DiplomaAutomotive & Motorsport Applications open

Diploma in Valuation (VC, DCF, Comparables) and Cap Tables

Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in valuation (VC, DCF, comparables) and cap tables. 8 modules covering valuation fundamentals, the venture capital method, discounted cash flows, comparables and precedent transactions, complementary early-stage methods, cap tables and exit waterfalls, and valuation in negotiation, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration6–8 months
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute diploma

Diploma in Valuation (VC, DCF, Comparables) and Cap Tables — studying from Ireland

Ireland has a modest automotive footprint, with activity centred on component supply, automotive electronics, testing and aftermarket services rather than vehicle assembly. Motorsport and performance engineering are represented by teams, specialist workshops and engineering consultancies, often linked to the Irish motorsport community. Engineers in this area work on powertrain components, vehicle dynamics, sensor integration and testing for both established manufacturers and suppliers. Regulatory oversight for road vehicles comes from national and European type-approval bodies, while industry collaboration is coordinated through automotive and engineering associations.

Fees for Ireland: €1,290 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.

Relevant bodies in Ireland

  • Department of Transport
  • Motor Industry Ireland (MII)
  • Engineers Ireland
  • Motorsport Ireland

Typical roles

  • Automotive Engineer
  • Vehicle Dynamics Engineer
  • Powertrain Test Engineer
  • Motorsport Performance Engineer

Questions from Ireland

Which Irish bodies are relevant for recognising automotive engineering qualifications?

In Ireland, Engineers Ireland is the principal professional body for engineers and runs chartered engineer registration. Automotive vehicle standards and roadworthiness fall under the Road Safety Authority and the National Car Test system. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not accredited by any national body, so their recognition is for employers or the relevant body to decide. Confirm this with them before enrolling if it matters for your career.

Where do automotive and motorsport engineers typically work in Ireland, and do employers value online study?

Ireland has automotive supply chain and engineering activity, along with motorsport and vehicle-related design roles, though it is a smaller market than larger European countries. Employers usually weigh practical experience and proven skills heavily. An online private qualification can complement a CV, but whether it is valued depends on each employer, and no outcome can be guaranteed.

How do I fit this programme around work and what language level is needed?

Study is fully online and taught in English, so you need a good working command of English for technical reading and written assignments. Master's programmes are 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours. Each student receives an assigned technical tutor. Fees can be paid in instalments, and employer sponsorship may be possible, so raise that with your employer early.

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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Apply valuation fundamentals and standards.

02

Value startups using the venture capital method.

03

Build discounted cash flow models.

04

Use comparables and precedent transactions.

05

Apply complementary methods in early stages.

06

Manage capitalisation tables and waterfalls.

07

Use valuation in negotiation and communication.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Valuation analysts looking to deepen their expertise in startup and early-stage valuation.
  • Venture capital analysts who model rounds, dilution and exit returns.
  • Startup CFOs preparing funding rounds and managing the cap table.
  • Transaction advisers working on M&A and investment deals.
  • Corporate finance consultants who need a rigorous valuation toolkit.
  • Valuation auditors reviewing fair-value estimates in portfolios.
  • Engineering or science graduates seeking to move into venture capital.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • International Valuation Standards (IVS) (global valuation standards)
  • IPEV Private Capital Valuation Guidelines (fair valuation of private equity and venture capital investments)
  • IFRS 13 Fair Value Measurement (fair value measurement)
  • IFRS 2 Share-based Payment (accounting for share-based payments)
  • Royal Legislative Decree 1/2010, Spanish Companies Act (Spanish capital companies law)
  • Law 28/2022 on start-ups (Spanish start-up law)
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Carta
  • PitchBook
  • Capital IQ
Syllabus

8 modules

  1. 1.1Value, price and fair value
  2. 1.2Market, income and cost approaches
  3. 1.3IVS International Valuation Standards
  4. 1.4IPEV Guidelines for venture capital
  5. 1.5Purpose of the valuation
  6. 1.6Assumptions and risks
  7. 1.7Early-stage valuation
  8. 1.8Valuer biases
  9. 1.9The valuation report
  10. 1.10Case study: critical reading of a valuation report
  1. 2.1Logic of the VC method
  2. 2.2Expected exit value
  3. 2.3Exit multiples
  4. 2.4Target rate of return
  5. 2.5Estimating expected dilution
  6. 2.6Probability of success
  7. 2.7First Chicago method
  8. 2.8Resulting pre-money valuation
  9. 2.9Limitations of the method
  10. 2.10Practical exercise: VC valuation of a robotics startup
  1. 3.1Projecting free cash flows
  2. 3.2Explicit forecast horizon
  3. 3.3Calculating terminal value
  4. 3.4Cost of capital and CAPM
  5. 3.5Size and specific-risk premiums
  6. 3.6Scenarios and probabilities
  7. 3.7Valuing startups with DCF
  8. 3.8Sensitivity analysis
  9. 3.9Common errors and how to avoid them
  10. 3.10Lab: DCF model in Excel
  1. 4.1Selecting comparable companies
  2. 4.2EV/revenue and EV/EBITDA multiples
  3. 4.3Adjustments for growth and margin
  4. 4.4Precedent transaction analysis
  5. 4.5Data sources
  6. 4.6Illiquidity discounts
  7. 4.7Control premiums
  8. 4.8Valuing SaaS and deeptech
  9. 4.9Triangulating methods
  10. 4.10Workshop: comparables table for a sector
  1. 5.1Berkus method for pre-revenue companies
  2. 5.2Scorecard comparison method
  3. 5.3Risk factor summation method
  4. 5.4Real options valuation
  5. 5.5Valuing intellectual property
  6. 5.6Valuing technical milestones
  7. 5.7Valuation in bridge rounds
  8. 5.8Valuing convertible notes
  9. 5.9Fair value in portfolios
  10. 5.10Practical exercise: valuation of a pre-revenue startup
  1. 6.1Building the capitalisation table
  2. 6.2Rounds and share classes
  3. 6.3Employee stock options
  4. 6.4Conversion of instruments
  5. 6.5Calculating fully diluted ownership
  6. 6.6Liquidation preferences
  7. 6.7Exit waterfall
  8. 6.8Value per share class
  9. 6.9Cap table tools
  10. 6.10Lab: waterfall with preferences
  1. 7.1Valuation in negotiation
  2. 7.2Anchoring and ranges
  3. 7.3Terms versus price
  4. 7.4Valuation in down rounds
  5. 7.5Reports for the board
  6. 7.6Valuation for incentive plans
  7. 7.7Valuation for tax purposes
  8. 7.8Auditing valuations
  9. 7.9Communication with investors
  10. 7.10Case study: negotiating a Series A
  1. 8.1Selecting the startup
  2. 8.2Business analysis
  3. 8.3Valuation using the VC method
  4. 8.4Valuation using DCF
  5. 8.5Valuation using comparables
  6. 8.6Triangulating the results obtained
  7. 8.7Cap table and scenarios
  8. 8.8Conclusions and areas for improvement
  9. 8.9Report and presentation
  10. 8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
Methodology, software & labs

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 the programme is compatible with full-time work.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standards and applied exercises. The working software is Microsoft Excel, Carta, PitchBook and Capital IQ, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Exercises are based on real procedures: valuing a startup by several methods, modelling an exit waterfall and building a sector comparables table. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final capstone project.

Standards covered: International Valuation Standards (IVS); IPEV Private Capital Valuation Guidelines; IFRS 13 Fair Value Measurement; IFRS 2 Share-based Payment; Royal Legislative Decree 1/2010, Spanish Companies Act; Law 28/2022 on start-ups.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of IVS, the IPEV Guidelines and IFRS 13 applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:Microsoft Excel, Carta, PitchBook and Capital IQ, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Final project:a full valuation of a real startup by the VC, DCF and comparables methods, with cap table and scenarios, reviewed by your tutor.
Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Business analysis
Select a real startup and analyse its business model, market and risks.
VC method valuation
Value the startup using the venture capital and First Chicago methods.
DCF and comparables
Build a DCF model and a comparables table and triangulate the results.
Cap table and waterfall
Model the cap table, dilution scenarios and the exit waterfall with preferences.
Final project
A documented valuation report with conclusions and presentation, reviewed by your tutor.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Valuation analystVenture capital analystStartup CFOTransaction adviserCorporate finance consultantValuation auditor
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
  • 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.

FAQ

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 Microsoft Excel, Carta, PitchBook and Capital IQ, 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.

Diploma in Valuation (VC, DCF, Comparables) and Cap TablesEnrol
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