Master’s in Safety by Design Engineering
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in safety by design engineering. 12 modules covering risk assessment, machinery safety, functional safety, electrical and thermal safety, consumer and children's products, warnings, automotive safety, cybersecurity by design and CE certification, with 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
Apply the hierarchy of inherently safe design measures.
Carry out risk assessments in accordance with ISO 12100.
Design safety functions according to ISO 13849 and IEC 62061.
Apply functional safety under IEC 61508 and ISO 26262.
Design effective, standardised warnings and instructions.
Integrate cybersecurity into product safety.
Prepare the technical file and CE marking.
Who it's for
- Product safety engineers responsible for hazard analysis and safe design.
- Functional safety engineers working with IEC 61508, ISO 26262 or ISO 13849.
- CE marking technicians preparing technical files and declarations of conformity.
- Regulatory compliance managers overseeing product safety obligations.
- Machinery safety engineers designing guards, interlocks and safety functions.
- Product cybersecurity analysts linking security threats to physical safety.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to move into the industrial machinery sector.
What you'll work with
- ISO 12100:2010 (safety of machinery: risk assessment and risk reduction)
- ISO 13849-1:2023 (safety-related parts of control systems)
- IEC 61508 (functional safety of E/E/PE safety-related systems)
- Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 (Machinery Regulation)
- Regulation (EU) 2023/988 (General Product Safety Regulation)
- ISO 26262:2018 (road vehicles: functional safety)
- IEC 62443 (industrial automation and control systems security)
- Regulation (EU) 2024/2847 (Cyber Resilience Act)
- SISTEMA
- Ansys medini analyze
- Isograph Reliability Workbench
- Microsoft Threat Modeling Tool
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1Hierarchy of measures: eliminate, protect, inform1.2Inherently safe product design1.3Mechanical, electrical and thermal hazards1.4Intended use and reasonably foreseeable misuse1.5Vulnerable users and children1.6Human factors in safety1.7Safety culture in engineering1.8Historical accidents and lessons learned1.9Safety throughout the lifecycle1.10Case study: analysis of a product recall
2.1The assessment process according to ISO 121002.2Systematic hazard identification2.3Estimating severity and probability2.4Risk graphs and matrices2.5Product HAZOP studies2.6Safety-oriented FMEA2.7Fault trees and event trees2.8The ALARP criterion and acceptability2.9Documenting residual risk2.10Lab: risk assessment of a scooter
3.1Requirements of Regulation (EU) 2023/12303.2Fixed and movable guards3.3Safety distances according to ISO 138573.4Interlocking devices to ISO 141193.5Emergency stop according to ISO 138503.6Safety functions of the control system3.7Performance level (PL) according to ISO 13849-13.8Machinery SIL according to IEC 620613.9Validation of safety functions3.10Practical: PL calculation for an interlock
4.1The general framework of IEC 615084.2Functional safety in vehicles: ISO 262624.3The safety lifecycle4.4HARA hazard and risk analysis4.5Determining the ASIL level4.6Redundant architectures and fault tolerance4.7Diagnostic coverage and metrics4.8Safe software development4.9Independent assessment and audits4.10Workshop: HARA of an electric parking brake
5.1Protection against electric shock5.2Insulation classes and double insulation5.3Creepage and clearance distances5.4Fire risk and self-extinguishing materials5.5Lithium battery safety5.6Hot surfaces according to ISO 13732-15.7Household appliances according to IEC 60335-15.8Audio/video equipment according to IEC 62368-15.9Laboratory type testing5.10Case study: fire in an electric scooter
6.1The General Product Safety Regulation6.2Toy safety: EN 71-16.3Small parts and the test cylinder6.4Choking and strangulation hazards6.5Button batteries and ingestion6.6Furniture stability and tip-over6.7Childcare articles6.8Chemical substances in children's products6.9Warnings and hazard pictograms6.10Practical: risk assessment of a toy
7.1Safety signs according to ISO 38647.2Warnings according to ANSI Z5357.3Standardised ISO 7010 pictograms7.4Instructions for use: IEC/IEEE 82079-17.5Comprehensibility of warnings7.6Translation and localisation7.7Permanent product labelling7.8Digital instructions and QR codes7.9Real-world effectiveness of warnings7.10Workshop: redesigning the warnings of a power tool
8.1Passive safety by design8.2Active safety and braking8.3ADAS systems and their limits8.4SOTIF according to ISO 214488.5Micromobility safety: EN 171288.6Pedestrian and cyclist protection8.7Euro NCAP assessment8.8Vehicle recall campaigns8.9General Safety Regulation 2019/21448.10Case study: analysis of an airbag recall
9.1The relationship between safety and security9.2STRIDE threat modelling9.3TARA risk analysis9.4Industrial security: IEC 624439.5The EU Cyber Resilience Act9.6Vehicle cybersecurity: ISO/SAE 214349.7Secure firmware updates9.8Privacy by design9.9Impact of cyberattacks on physical safety9.10Practical: TARA of a connected device
10.1Safety test plans10.2Notified bodies and modules10.3CE marking and the EU declaration10.4The manufacturer's technical file10.5Market surveillance and Safety Gate10.6Managing product recalls10.7The Product Liability Directive10.8Product liability insurance10.9Evidence for legal defence10.10Lab: technical file for a machine
11.1Product safety management systems11.2The product safety officer11.3Safety reviews at each milestone11.4Product safety indicators11.5Post-market product surveillance11.6Safety requirements for suppliers11.7Just culture and internal reporting11.8Safety training for designers11.9Internal safety audits11.10Case study: product safety system in an SME
12.1Selection of the product and scope12.2Analysis of the context of use12.3Complete risk assessment12.4Proposed safe design measures12.5Safety functions and their validation12.6Information, warnings and instructions12.7Verification and test plan12.8Summary technical file12.9Master's Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
How you'll learn
Training is 100% online 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 is compatible with full-time work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is SISTEMA, Ansys medini analyze, Isograph Reliability Workbench and Microsoft Threat Modeling Tool, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: risk assessments of real products, calculation and validation of safety functions, and review of warnings and instructions with users. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: ISO 12100:2010, ISO 13849-1:2023, IEC 61508, Regulation (EU) 2023/1230, Regulation (EU) 2023/988, ISO 26262:2018, IEC 62443, Regulation (EU) 2024/2847.
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 SISTEMA, Ansys medini analyze, Isograph Reliability Workbench, Microsoft Threat Modeling Tool, 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 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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