Postgraduate Diploma in Tuning, Stability and Verification
Online 800-hour postgraduate diploma in tuning, stability and verification. 8 modules covering IEC 61131-3, IEC 61508 and MATLAB with Control System Toolbox. Dedicated tutor and open enrolment.
Postgraduate Diploma in Tuning, Stability and Verification — studying from Ireland
Ireland's manufacturing and technology sectors create strong demand for robotics, automation and control engineering, particularly in pharmaceuticals, medical devices, food processing and electronics. Research centres and universities contribute work in autonomous systems, sensing and control theory, with links to industry through national research programmes. Engineers in this area design, integrate and commission robotic cells, programmable logic controllers and industrial automation systems. Safety requirements for machinery and robotic systems are overseen by national safety authorities and European machinery standards.
Fees for Ireland: €1,090 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Ireland
Typical roles
Questions from Ireland
Which Irish bodies relate to robotics and control engineering, and is this qualification recognised?
Robotics and control engineers in Ireland commonly pursue membership through Engineers Ireland, and the Science Foundation Ireland-funded research ecosystem supports the field. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not accredited by any national body, so recognition is decided by employers or the relevant body rather than conferred by the programme.
How do Irish employers in automation and robotics view private online training?
Employers in Ireland's technology and manufacturing automation sectors often value demonstrable project work and practical skills. A private online qualification can support your application, including through the final project, but its weight is at each employer's discretion. No particular role or career outcome is guaranteed.
Is the programme workable alongside a job, and what language is it taught in?
The programme is taught entirely in English and delivered 100% online, so you can study from anywhere in Ireland or abroad. Durations are 300, 800 or 1,900 hours depending on the course. Fees can be paid in instalments, employer sponsorship is possible, and an assigned technical tutor supports you throughout.
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
Identify dynamic models suitable for tuning.
Tune PID controllers using classical and modern methods.
Analyse stability and robustness using margins and sensitivity.
Apply advanced and multivariable tuning strategies.
Verify controllers through MIL, SIL and HIL testing.
Evaluate the performance of control loops in the plant.
Document tuning and its verification in line with standards.
Who it's for
- Process control engineer wishing to specialise in tuning, stability and verification.
- Verification and validation engineer wishing to specialise in tuning, stability and verification.
- Instrumentation technician wishing to specialise in tuning, stability and verification.
- Commissioning engineer wishing to specialise in tuning, stability and verification.
- Loop optimisation consultant wishing to specialise in tuning, stability and verification.
- Embedded systems engineer wishing to specialise in tuning, stability and verification.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter the chemical industry.
What you'll work with
- IEC 61131-3
- IEC 61508
- IEC 61511
- ISA-5.1
- ISO 26262
- DO-178C
- ISA-75.25.01
8 modules · 800 h
1.1First-order models with delay1.2Step response identification1.3Closed-loop identification1.4Integrating and open-loop unstable models1.5Linearisation around operating points1.6Model uncertainty1.7Disturbance models1.8Validation of identified models1.9Selection of the loop sampling period1.10Practice: FOPDT identification of a furnace
2.1Ideal, series and parallel structures2.2Ziegler-Nichols rules2.3Skogestad's SIMC method2.4Lambda and IMC methods2.5Relay auto-oscillation tuning2.6Setpoint weighting and two degrees of freedom2.7Filtering of derivative action2.8Anti-windup of integral action2.9Tuning of level and pressure loops2.10Laboratory: SIMC versus Ziegler-Nichols tuning
3.1Routh-Hurwitz criterion3.2Root locus3.3Nyquist criterion3.4Gain and phase margins3.5Modulus margin and maximum sensitivity3.6Effect of delay on stability3.7Stability of sampled systems3.8Robust stability under uncertainty3.9Loop stability with actuator saturation3.10Workshop: margin analysis with Bode diagrams
4.1Tuning optimisation with IAE and ITAE indices4.2Robust tuning with Ms constraints4.3Cascade control and its tuning4.4Feedforward control of measurable disturbances4.5Loop interaction and RGA4.6Design of static and dynamic decouplers4.7Smith predictor4.8Auto-tuning and gain scheduling4.9Tuning of split-range controllers4.10Practice: tuning of a cascade loop
5.1Verification against requirements5.2Model-in-the-Loop testing of the controller5.3Software-in-the-Loop testing of the code5.4Hardware-in-the-Loop testing with a simulated plant5.5Software test coverage5.6Formal verification of properties5.7Analysis of edge cases5.8Requirements traceability5.9Automatic generation of test vectors5.10Laboratory: SIL bench for a controller
6.1Plant performance indices6.2Harris index and minimum variance6.3Oscillation detection6.4Static friction in valves6.5Analysis of loops in manual mode6.6Control loop benchmarking6.7Loop auditing tools6.8Loop improvement plan6.9Valve deadband and nonlinearities6.10Case study: audit of a plant's control loops
7.1Documentation of control parameters7.2Management of tuning changes7.3Verification in functional safety7.4Peer review of tuning7.5Test records and evidence7.6IEC 61131-3 requirements7.7Training of operations staff7.8Control maintenance indicators7.9Parameter locking and access control7.10Case study: verification report for a controller
8.1Plant selection and requirements8.2Model identification8.3Controller design and tuning8.4Stability and robustness analysis8.5MIL and SIL testing8.6HIL testing of the controller8.7Performance evaluation8.8Analysis of results8.9Report 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, 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 MATLAB with Control System Toolbox, Simulink Test, Python with python-control, Siemens PCS 7, dSPACE, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Case studies are based on real procedures for tuning temperature and pressure loops, performance auditing of control loops in the plant, and SIL and HIL verification of controllers. Assessment is continuous across modules, plus the final integrating project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Identify dynamic models suitable for tuning.
Tune PID controllers using classical and modern methods.
Analyse stability and robustness using margins and sensitivity.
Apply advanced and multivariable tuning strategies.
Verify controllers through MIL, SIL and HIL testing.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. A university degree is not required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Spanish-language proficiency sufficient to follow technical standards documentation.
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, spread over 6 to 8 months. That is between 10 and 15 hours per week on average, compatible with a full-time job.
You will work with MATLAB with Control System Toolbox, Simulink Test, Python with python-control, Siemens PCS 7, dSPACE. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor will indicate the free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrating project. This is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are credited towards the advanced programme. Please check the credit transfer policy when you enrol.
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