Diploma in Safety of Drives (SIL/PL) and STO/SS1
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in drive safety (SIL/PL) and STO/SS1. 8 modules covering functional safety in drives, risk assessment, IEC 61800-5-2 stop functions, architectures and quantitative parameters, hardware STO implementation, safety software and communications, and verification and certification, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in Safety of Drives (SIL/PL) and STO/SS1 — studying from Malta
Malta has a well-developed telecommunications sector, with a history of hosting submarine cable landing points and a substantial base of network and communications providers. The island's regulatory environment supports digital infrastructure, and this has encouraged companies in embedded systems, network engineering and electronics design. Employers include telecommunications operators, software and hardware developers, and multinational technology firms with Maltese engineering teams. Engineers with knowledge of wireless systems, network security and embedded programming find steady demand.
Fees for Malta: €1,290 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Malta
Typical roles
Questions from Malta
How are electronics and telecom engineers recognised professionally in Malta?
Engineering titles in Malta are regulated by the Chamber of Engineers (KSU) under the Engineering Profession Act. Telecommunications is overseen by the Malta Communications Authority, which regulates licensing and spectrum. A SEIUM qualification is a private one, not a state degree and not accredited by a national body, so recognition depends on employers and the relevant authority.
Which Maltese employers hire embedded systems and telecom engineers?
Malta has telecoms operators, electronics manufacturers and component suppliers, iGaming and technology firms that use embedded hardware, and defence and maritime electronics companies. Employers typically assess hands-on design experience and certifications. A private qualification can help your profile, especially alongside practical projects.
Can I fit this programme around work, and what are the practical requirements?
The programme is 100% online and taught in English, with an assigned technical tutor. You can study from Malta without a student visa. Choose a course length that matches your available time, from 300 hours up to 1,900. Ask about fee instalments and employer sponsorship before enrolling.
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 functional safety lifecycle to electrical drives.
Determine the required PL and SIL through risk assessment.
Specify STO, SS1 and SS2 stop functions according to IEC 61800-5-2.
Calculate the MTTFd, DC, CCF and PFHd of a safety function.
Design dual-channel STO circuits with diagnostics.
Configure safety communications such as PROFIsafe and FSoE.
Verify and validate safety functions for certification.
Who it's for
- Functional safety engineers working on machinery and drives.
- Drive engineers integrating STO, SS1 and SLS functions.
- Machine designers responsible for CE conformity of their equipment.
- Certification engineers preparing safety files for notified bodies.
- Automation system integrators configuring PROFIsafe or FSoE networks.
- Safety software engineers developing to IEC 61508-3.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter machinery manufacturing.
What you'll work with
- IEC 61800-5-2 (adjustable speed drives, functional safety requirements)
- ISO 13849-1 (safety-related parts of control systems, general principles for design)
- IEC 62061 (functional safety of safety-related control systems for machinery)
- IEC 61508 (functional safety of electrical/electronic/programmable electronic safety-related systems)
- ISO 12100 (safety of machinery, risk assessment and risk reduction)
- IEC 60204-1 (electrical equipment of machines)
- ISO 13849-2 (safety-related parts of control systems, validation)
- IEC 61784-3 (functional safety fieldbuses)
- IFA SISTEMA
- Siemens Safety Evaluation Tool
- Pilz PAScal
- exida exSILentia
- Sick Safexpert
8 modules
1.1Functional safety lifecycle1.2Risk, hazard and risk reduction1.3Machinery Directive and Regulation (EU) 2023/12301.4Safety functions integrated in drives1.5SIL levels according to IEC 61508 and IEC 620611.6PL levels according to ISO 13849-11.7Relationship between SIL and PL1.8Responsibilities of manufacturer and integrator1.9Documentation and technical file1.10Case study: identifying safety functions
2.1Risk assessment according to ISO 121002.2Risk graph for the required PL2.3SIL assignment according to IEC 620612.4Safety requirements specification2.5Response time and safety distances2.6Operating modes and mode selection2.7Human factors and defeating of safeguards2.8Validation of the risk assessment2.9Review after machine modifications2.10Workshop: determining the PLr of a function
3.1Safe torque off (STO)3.2Safe stop 1 (SS1) and its variants3.3Safe stop 2 (SS2) and safe operating stop (SOS)3.4Stop categories 0, 1 and 2 of IEC 60204-13.5Safely limited speed (SLS)3.6Safe brake control (SBC)3.7Direction and position monitoring3.8Reaction times of the functions3.9Combining functions in applications3.10Practical: SS1 sequence with ramp monitoring
4.1Categories B, 1, 2, 3 and 44.2Mean time to dangerous failure (MTTFd)4.3Diagnostic coverage (DC)4.4Common cause failures (CCF)4.5PFHd and probability of dangerous failure4.6Hardware fault tolerance (HFT)4.7Safe failure fraction (SFF)4.8Proof test intervals and mission time4.91oo1, 1oo2 and 2oo3 architectures4.10Lab: calculating PL with SISTEMA
5.1Dual-channel PWM pulse blocking5.2STO status monitoring and feedback5.3Pulse testing and short-circuit detection5.4Design of safety-rated gate drivers5.5Physical separation of channels5.6Diagnostics and start-up tests5.7Effects of IGBT and diode failures5.8Safety power supplies and relays5.9Wiring and safety inputs5.10Case study: dual-channel STO circuit
6.1Software requirements according to IEC 61508-36.2Certified languages and tools6.3PROFIsafe and FSoE protocols6.4CIP Safety over EtherNet/IP6.5Black channel and error detection6.6Safe parameterisable configuration6.7Verification and testing of safety software6.8Version and change management6.9Cybersecurity and functional safety6.10Practical: configuring PROFIsafe on a drive
7.1Verification and validation plan7.2Fault injection tests7.3Validation according to ISO 13849-27.4Assessment by a notified body7.5Certification of drives with integrated functions7.6Functional safety management (FSM)7.7Assessment of component suppliers7.8Maintenance and periodic testing7.9Incident logging and lessons learned7.10Case study: validating an SLS function
8.1Description of the machine and drive8.2Risk assessment8.3Specification of safety functions8.4Architecture and SIL and PL calculation8.5Design of STO and SS18.6Verification and validation plan8.7Conformity documentation8.8Conclusions and recommendations8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
Delivered 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 fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is IFA SISTEMA, Siemens Safety Evaluation Tool, Pilz PAScal, exida exSILentia and Sick Safexpert, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: PL calculation with component libraries, fault injection tests on STO circuits and validation of stop functions on a real machine. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final integrating project.
Standards covered: IEC 61800-5-2, ISO 13849-1, IEC 62061, IEC 61508, ISO 12100, IEC 60204-1, ISO 13849-2, IEC 61784-3.
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
- 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.
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 IFA SISTEMA, Siemens Safety Evaluation Tool, Pilz PAScal, exida exSILentia and Sick Safexpert, 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 programme 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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