Master’s in API Design Engineering
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in API design engineering, structured in 12 modules covering REST design, OpenAPI specification, GraphQL and gRPC, asynchronous and event-driven APIs, API security, versioning, gateways and API management, implementation and testing, domain-specific APIs and API governance, with an assigned technical tutor.
Master’s in API Design Engineering — studying from Ireland
Ireland has a substantial electronics and telecommunications sector, with multinational semiconductor, networking and communications firms operating design, test and engineering centres across the country. Universities such as Trinity College Dublin, University College Cork and the Tyndall National Institute contribute research in microelectronics, photonics and communications. Engineers in this area design embedded systems, firmware, RF systems and telecommunications networks for industrial and consumer applications. Standards and spectrum management are overseen by national telecommunications and standards bodies.
Fees for Ireland: €8,920 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Ireland
Typical roles
Questions from Ireland
Which Irish bodies recognise electronics and telecom engineering qualifications?
Engineers Ireland is the main professional body for engineers and runs chartered registration. Telecoms and spectrum matters are regulated by ComReg, the Commission for Communications Regulation. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not state-awarded, and they are not accredited by any national body, so recognition depends on employers or the relevant body.
Do Irish electronics and telecom employers value private online study?
Ireland has a strong electronics, semiconductor and telecoms presence, and employers there usually emphasise hands-on competence, certifications where relevant and experience. A private online qualification may add to your profile, but its value is decided by each employer, and no outcome can be promised. Show practical embedded or RF work alongside it.
Is it feasible alongside work, and what should I expect from the tutoring?
The programme is 100% online and taught in English, so it suits working professionals who can manage their own time. No student visa is needed to study from Ireland. Master's programmes total 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 and specialist courses 300. Each student is assigned a technical tutor, fees can be paid in instalments, and employer sponsorship may be possible.
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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
Design APIs centred on the needs of their consumers.
Apply good REST design practice and specification with OpenAPI.
Select the right API style among REST, GraphQL, gRPC and events.
Protect APIs with standard authentication and authorisation mechanisms.
Manage the versioning and evolution of APIs without breaking consumers.
Deploy APIs behind gateways with management policies.
Develop a complete API with its specification, testing and governance.
Who it's for
- API architects
- Backend developers
- Integration engineers
- API product managers
- Application security engineers
- Platform engineers
- Engineering or science graduates looking to move into banking and fintech
What you'll work with
- OpenAPI Specification 3.1 (HTTP API description format)
- IETF RFC 9110 (HTTP semantics)
- IETF RFC 6749 (OAuth 2.0 authorisation framework)
- IETF RFC 9457 (Problem Details for HTTP APIs)
- AsyncAPI 3.0 (event-driven API specification)
- IETF RFC 7519 (JSON Web Token)
- OWASP API Security Top 10 (most critical API security risks)
- Directive (EU) 2015/2366 (PSD2, payment services)
- Swagger Editor
- Postman
- Stoplight Spectral
- Kong Gateway
- k6
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1What an API is and who consumes it1.2API styles: REST, RPC, events and queries1.3Consumer-oriented design1.4The API as a product1.5The API life cycle1.6Design-first versus code-first1.7Corporate style guides1.8Developer experience1.9Adoption metrics1.10Case study: analysis of a reference public API
2.1Resources and URI modelling2.2HTTP methods and semantics2.3Status codes2.4Representations and content negotiation2.5Pagination, filtering and sorting2.6Idempotency and optimistic concurrency2.7Hypermedia and HATEOAS2.8Error handling with Problem Details2.9HTTP caching headers2.10Workshop: designing the API for a booking system
3.1Structure of OpenAPI 3.13.2Schemas with JSON Schema3.3Components and reuse3.4Interactive documentation with Swagger UI3.5Linting with Spectral3.6Client and server code generation3.7Mocks from the specification3.8Request validation3.9Managing specifications in repositories3.10Practical exercise: complete OpenAPI specification with linting
4.1Schema and types in GraphQL4.2Queries, mutations and subscriptions4.3The N+1 problem and DataLoader4.4Schema federation4.5Serialisation with Protocol Buffers4.6gRPC services and streaming4.7gRPC in microservices4.8Comparison of styles4.9Transcoding between REST and gRPC4.10Lab: gRPC service with bidirectional streaming
5.1Fundamentals of event-driven architectures5.2Specification with AsyncAPI 3.05.3Webhooks and their reliability5.4Messaging with Kafka and RabbitMQ5.5The CloudEvents standard format5.6Delivery guarantees and idempotency5.7Schemas and schema registry5.8Transactional outbox pattern5.9Server-Sent Events and WebSockets5.10Practical exercise: AsyncAPI documentation for an ordering system
6.1OWASP API Security Top 106.2OAuth 2.0 and its flows6.3Identity with OpenID Connect6.4JWT tokens and their validation6.5Object-level authorisation6.6Rate limiting6.7Input validation6.8mTLS between services6.9Secrets and key management6.10Lab: protecting an API with OAuth 2.0
7.1Backward compatibility7.2Versioning strategies7.3Breaking changes and how to manage them7.4Deprecation and retirement7.5Contract testing with Pact7.6Automatic change detection7.7Communication with consumers7.8Changelog and release notes7.9Life cycle governance7.10Workshop: migration plan to a major version
8.1Functions of an API gateway8.2Kong, Apigee and Azure API Management8.3Traffic policies8.4Developer portals8.5API monetisation8.6Usage analytics8.7Key and plan management8.8API gateway versus service mesh8.9Multi-cloud gateway deployment8.10Practical exercise: configuring Kong with rate limiting
9.1FastAPI, Spring Boot and Express frameworks9.2Schema-based validation9.3Contract and component testing9.4Load testing with k69.5Automated security testing9.6API observability9.7Performance and latency9.8Documentation kept in sync with the code9.9Integration into pipelines9.10Lab: FastAPI API with automated tests
10.1Open banking APIs and PSD210.2Healthcare APIs with HL7 FHIR10.3IoT and device APIs10.4Industrial APIs with OPC UA10.5Public administration APIs10.6APIs for artificial intelligence10.7Payment APIs10.8Open data APIs10.9Sector interoperability standards10.10Case study: analysis of a FHIR API
11.1The enterprise API programme11.2Catalogue and discovery11.3Design review11.4Standards and style guides11.5API quality indicators11.6API platform teams11.7Partner ecosystems11.8Legal aspects and terms of use11.9Regulatory compliance of APIs11.10Workshop: corporate API style guide
12.1Definition of the domain and consumers12.2API design12.3Formal specification in OpenAPI12.4Security and governance12.5Service implementation12.6Testing and documentation12.7Deployment behind a gateway12.8Conclusions on the API design12.9Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
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 the intake, so you can combine it with your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Swagger Editor, Postman, Stoplight Spectral, Kong Gateway and k6, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures: designing and specifying APIs with OpenAPI and AsyncAPI, protecting APIs with OAuth 2.0 and rate limiting, and running contract and load tests on services. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: OpenAPI Specification 3.1, IETF RFC 9110, IETF RFC 6749, IETF RFC 9457, AsyncAPI 3.0, IETF RFC 7519, OWASP API Security Top 10, Directive (EU) 2015/2366.
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's 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 Swagger Editor, Postman, Stoplight Spectral, Kong Gateway and k6, 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 university 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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