Postgraduate Diploma in Electrical Architecture, Insulation and Thermal Management
Online 800-hour Postgraduate Diploma in Electrical Architecture, Insulation and Thermal Management. 8 modules covering IEC 62368-1 (safety of audio/video and ICT equipment), IEC 62133-2 (portable lithium batteries) and Altium Designer. Dedicated tutor and open enrolment.
Postgraduate Diploma in Electrical Architecture, Insulation and Thermal Management — studying from Ireland
Ireland is a significant centre for medical technology and pharmaceuticals, with many international device manufacturers and a strong cluster of biomedical research in Galway, Limerick and Dublin. Biomechanics, wearable sensing and occupational health technologies are developed by companies, hospitals and research institutes such as the National University of Ireland Galway's research groups. Engineers in this area design medical devices, rehabilitation systems and safety monitoring solutions under strict regulatory requirements. Oversight comes from the Health Products Regulatory Authority and the Health and Safety Authority.
Fees for Ireland: €895 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Ireland
Typical roles
Questions from Ireland
Will this qualification be recognised by professional bodies in Ireland for this area?
SEIUM's qualifications are private qualifications, not official state degrees, and they are not accredited by any national body. Recognition is decided by individual employers or the relevant body. In Ireland, engineers in this field may look to Engineers Ireland for professional membership, but completing a SEIUM programme does not by itself grant membership of any body. Check requirements directly with the body concerned before enrolling.
How might this training be used by employers in Ireland working in this area?
Employers in Ireland decide for themselves how much weight to give a private online qualification. Many assess it alongside your existing experience, the final project and your portfolio. Roles in medical devices, occupational health and workplace safety may value specialist knowledge, but there is no guarantee of recognition or of any salary or promotion outcome. Ask prospective employers whether they would accept the qualification.
Can I study this alongside a full-time job, and does my employer need to fund it?
Programmes are fully online and taught in English, so you can study from home at your own pace around work. Master's programmes are 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours, so plan your weekly commitment accordingly. Fees can be paid in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible if your company agrees. Each student is assigned a technical tutor for support.
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
Define the electrical architecture of a battery-powered portable device.
Identify the safety risks of integrated batteries.
Size clearance distances, creepage distances and protective barriers.
Design compact PCBs with reliability and manufacturability criteria.
Apply passive thermal management techniques in compact enclosures.
Validate the design through thermal simulation and safety testing.
Document risk management in the product's technical file.
Who it's for
- Hardware engineer looking to specialise in Electrical Architecture, Insulation and Thermal Management.
- PCB design engineer looking to specialise in Electrical Architecture, Insulation and Thermal Management.
- Thermal management engineer looking to specialise in Electrical Architecture, Insulation and Thermal Management.
- Electrical safety compliance engineer looking to specialise in Electrical Architecture, Insulation and Thermal Management.
- Reliability engineer looking to specialise in Electrical Architecture, Insulation and Thermal Management.
- Wearable product engineer looking to specialise in Electrical Architecture, Insulation and Thermal Management.
- Graduates in engineering or science looking to enter consumer electronics.
What you'll work with
- IEC 62368-1 (safety of audio/video and ICT equipment)
- IEC 62133-2 (portable lithium batteries)
- IEC 60664-1 (insulation coordination)
- IEC 60601-1 (medical electrical equipment)
- IPC-2221 (generic PCB design)
- UN 38.3 (lithium battery transport)
8 modules · 800 h
1.1Blocks of a portable medical device1.2Energy budget by operating mode1.3Lithium batteries: cells, chemistry and capacity1.4Charge management and PMIC1.5Buck, boost and LDO converters1.6Power domains and sequencing1.7Low-power modes1.8Qi wireless charging1.9Selection of medical-grade components1.10Laboratory: measuring the power consumption profile of a wearable
2.1IEC 62133-2 for portable batteries2.2UN 38.3 for transport2.3Overcharge and overdischarge protection2.4Short circuit and PTC2.5Swelling and degradation2.6Thermal runaway and its prevention2.7State of charge and state of health estimation2.8Storage and end of life2.9EU Batteries Directive2.10Practice: failure mode analysis of a battery pack
3.1MOOP and MOPP means of protection3.2Clearance distances in air and creepage distances3.3Pollution degree and overvoltage category3.4Galvanic isolation barriers3.5Optocouplers and digital isolators3.6Isolated DC-DC converters3.7Medical external power supplies3.8Dielectric testing3.9Insulation in domestic-use devices3.10Workshop: designing the insulation barrier of a device
4.1Multilayer PCB design4.2Ground planes and return currents4.3PCB distances according to IEC 60601-14.4Safety components and their certification4.5ESD protection4.6Component derating4.7MTBF reliability using component data4.8Conformal coatings4.9Design review4.10Practice: review of insulation distances on a PCB
5.1Heat sources in portable devices5.2Conduction and dissipation through the casing5.3Contact temperature limits in IEC 60601-15.4Low-temperature burns5.5Heat sinks, graphite and phase change materials5.6Thermal management during charging5.7Firmware-based thermal control5.8Infrared thermography5.9Behaviour in hot environments5.10Workshop: thermal analysis of a device in contact with the skin
6.1Thermal simulation with CFD and FEA6.2Circuit simulation with SPICE6.3Temperature testing according to IEC 60601-16.4Environmental testing to IEC 600686.5Drop and vibration testing6.6Accelerated ageing tests6.7Validation of the thermal model6.8Test reports6.9Notified laboratories6.10Laboratory: heating test in a climatic chamber
7.1Risk management according to ISO 149717.2Essential performance7.3Single fault analysis7.4Design technical file7.5Requirements traceability7.6Hardware change control7.7Component obsolescence7.8Labelling requirements7.9MDR compliance of hardware7.10Case study: single fault analysis of the power supply
8.1Device definition8.2Energy budget8.3Power supply design8.4Insulation design8.5Thermal design8.6Simulation8.7Test plan8.8Risk analysis8.9Report and presentation8.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and a dedicated technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the intake period, which makes it possible to combine the programme with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Altium Designer, LTspice, ANSYS Icepak, KiCad, COMSOL Multiphysics, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied using real procedures for dielectric strength testing, infrared thermography and climatic chambers. Assessment is continuous, by module, plus the final integrative project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Define the electrical architecture of a battery-powered portable device.
Identify the safety risks of integrated batteries.
Size clearance distances, creepage distances and protective barriers.
Design compact PCBs with reliability and manufacturability criteria.
Apply passive thermal management techniques in compact enclosures.
Where this takes you
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's software.
- A level of Spanish sufficient to follow 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 consists of 800 hours in total, spread over 6 to 8 months. That is an average of 10 to 15 hours per week, compatible with a full-time job.
The programme works with Altium Designer, LTspice, ANSYS Icepak, KiCad and COMSOL Multiphysics. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM in-house diploma on passing continuous assessment and the integrative project. It is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area can be recognised towards the higher programme. Check the recognition policy when you enrol.
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