Master’s in Occupational Biomechanics and Industrial Ergonomics Engineering
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in occupational biomechanics and industrial ergonomics engineering: 12 modules covering workplace ergonomics, the legal framework of prevention, manual handling, repetitive movements and postures, workstation design, field instrumentation, digital human simulation, exoskeletons, psychosocial factors, the physical environment and ergonomics programme management, with Law 31/1995, ISO 11228 and Siemens Jack, with an assigned technical tutor.
Master’s in Occupational Biomechanics and Industrial Ergonomics Engineering — studying from Malta
Malta's healthcare system relies on public hospitals alongside a growing private sector, creating demand for engineers in medical devices, clinical technology and facilities. The Medicines Authority and the Health Directorate set regulatory expectations that shape work on medical equipment. Biomechanics and wearable technology are emerging interests, particularly in rehabilitation, sports science and occupational safety. Professionals in this area often collaborate with clinicians, distributors and regulators to ensure devices meet national and European requirements.
Fees for Malta: €6,920 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Malta
Typical roles
Questions from Malta
Is this programme recognised by a professional body in Malta for engineers working in health, biomechanics or wearables?
SEIUM Institute's qualifications are its own private qualifications. They are not official Maltese state degrees and are not accredited by any national body. In Malta, engineering titles are regulated through the Malta Council for Professions and the Chamber of Engineers, and medical devices fall under the Medicines Authority. Recognition of a private qualification is decided by employers or the relevant body, so check with them before enrolling.
Will employers in Malta value this training for roles in wearables or operational safety?
Employers in Malta's health technology, manufacturing and safety-related sectors decide for themselves how much weight to give a private online qualification. Many weigh practical experience and a final project heavily. SEIUM's programmes include a final project, but whether it helps your career in Malta depends on your employer's view. Speaking with prospective employers beforehand is the most reliable way to find out.
Can I study this alongside a full-time job in Malta, and is employer funding possible?
The programmes are 100% online and taught in English, so you can study from home without a student visa. Master's programmes are 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours, so plan your weekly time accordingly. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible. Each student gets an assigned 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
Identify risk factors for work-related musculoskeletal disorders.
Apply the NIOSH, OCRA, RULA and REBA methods in line with ISO standards.
Design workstations from anthropometric data.
Measure postures and exertions with portable field instrumentation.
Simulate workstations with digital humans before implementation.
Assess the effectiveness and risks of occupational exoskeletons.
Manage ergonomics programmes integrated into ISO 45001.
Who it's for
- Senior ergonomics and psychosociology technicians.
- Process engineers specialising in ergonomics.
- Occupational risk prevention consultants.
- Industrial exoskeleton specialists.
- Plant health and safety managers.
- Digital human simulation analysts.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter the automotive and components sector.
What you'll work with
- Law 31/1995 on Occupational Risk Prevention (Spanish occupational health and safety framework)
- Royal Decree 487/1997 (manual handling of loads)
- ISO 11228-1, 11228-2 and 11228-3 (ergonomics of manual handling)
- ISO 11226 (evaluation of static working postures)
- Royal Decree 488/1997 (work with display screen equipment)
- ISO 45001 (occupational health and safety management systems)
- EN 1005-2 (manual handling of machinery)
- ISO/TS 15066 (collaborative robots)
- Siemens Jack
- DELMIA Ergonomics
- Ergo/IBV
- Xsens MVN Analyze
- Captiv
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1Physical, cognitive and organisational ergonomics1.2Work-related musculoskeletal disorders1.3Lumbar mechanics and intradiscal pressure1.4Cumulative fatigue model1.5Anthropometry applied to workstations1.6Individual factors and ageing1.7Economic cost of MSDs1.8Prevention organisation within the company1.9Participatory ergonomics and safety culture1.10Case study: MSD diagnosis in a plant
2.1Law 31/1995 on Occupational Risk Prevention2.2Royal Decree 487/1997 on manual handling of loads2.3Royal Decree 488/1997 on display screen equipment2.4Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC2.5INSST technical guides2.6Risk assessment and prevention planning2.7Health surveillance and fitness for work2.8Responsibilities and audits2.9Framework Directive 89/391/EEC on safety and health2.10Workshop: legal review of an ergonomic assessment
3.1The revised NIOSH lifting equation3.2ISO 11228-1 lifting and carrying3.3Snook and Ciriello tables3.4Pushing and pulling under ISO 11228-23.5The BAuA KIM method3.6Mechanical aids and manipulators3.7Design of packaging and handles3.8Training in handling techniques3.9Patient handling and the MAPO method3.10Practical: NIOSH assessment of a palletising workstation
4.1The OCRA method and checklist4.2ISO 11228-3 repetitive tasks4.3The revised Strain Index4.4RULA and REBA methods4.5ISO 11226 static postures4.6Upper limb assessment4.7Job rotation and breaks4.8Hand tool design4.9Assessment of the cervical spine at display screens4.10Case study: OCRA index on an assembly line
5.1Anthropometric databases5.2ISO 14738 anthropometric requirements5.3Working heights and reaches5.4Seated, standing and sit-stand workstations5.5Design of controls and actuators5.6Clearances and accessibility5.7Design for extreme percentiles5.8Adjustable workstations and personalisation5.9Workstation design for workers with disabilities5.10Workshop: anthropometric redesign of an inspection workstation
6.1Inertial sensors for posture6.2Field electromyography6.3Electrogoniometry and hand dynamometry6.4Pressure insoles and push forces6.5Heart rate monitoring6.6Markerless motion capture6.7Wearables and worker privacy6.8Validation of measurements on the shop floor6.9Video analysis with pose estimation6.10Lab: inertial recording of postures over a shift
7.1Digital manikins in Jack and Siemens Process Simulate7.2Ergonomics in DELMIA and digital twins7.3Reach and visibility analysis7.4Virtual load assessment7.5Virtual reality for workstation validation7.6Integration into process engineering7.7Ergonomics at the product design stage7.8Limitations of digital models7.9Simulation of postures in maintenance7.10Practical: ergonomic simulation of an assembly station
8.1Classification of occupational exoskeletons8.2Passive shoulder and lumbar exoskeletons8.3Active exoskeletons and control8.4Assessment of biomechanical effectiveness8.5Risks and unintended effects8.6Worker acceptance and usability8.7Collaborative robotics and ISO/TS 150668.8Pilot implementation on the shop floor8.9Laboratory testing of exoskeletons8.10Case study: exoskeleton pilot in logistics
9.1Mental workload and the NASA-TLX method9.2Work pace and time pressure9.3Psychosocial factors and the FPSICO method9.4Shift work and fatigue9.5Lean manufacturing and ergonomics9.6Worker participation and ergo-groups9.7Interaction between physical and psychosocial factors9.8Absenteeism management9.9Teleworking and home workstation ergonomics9.10Workshop: ergo-group for a line problem
10.1Lighting of workplaces and EN 12464-110.2Thermal environment and ISO 773010.3Noise and Royal Decree 286/200610.4Hand–arm and whole-body vibration10.5Indoor air quality10.6Royal Decree 486/1997 on workplaces10.7Environment design for older people10.8Environmental measurements and uncertainty10.9Heat stress and the WBGT method10.10Practical: hand–arm vibration assessment with ISO 5349
11.1ISO 45001 management system11.2MSD indicators and prioritisation11.3Cost–benefit analysis of interventions11.4Ergonomics in equipment purchasing11.5Integration into the design of new lines11.6Training and prevention culture11.7Communication with management and the safety committee11.8Monitoring and continuous improvement11.9Internal audits of the ergonomics programme11.10Case study: three-year corporate ergonomics programme
12.1Selection of the company and process12.2Initial identification of ergonomic risks12.3Assessment with standardised methods12.4Instrumented field measurements12.5Simulation of design alternatives12.6Intervention proposal and costs12.7Implementation and follow-up plan12.8Assessment of expected effectiveness12.9Master's Thesis 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 it is compatible with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Siemens Jack, DELMIA Ergonomics, Ergo/IBV, Xsens MVN Analyze and Captiv, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures for ergonomic assessments on assembly lines, inertial recordings of postures during real shifts and exoskeleton pilots in logistics warehouses. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: Law 31/1995 on Occupational Risk Prevention, Royal Decree 487/1997, ISO 11228-1, 11228-2 and 11228-3, ISO 11226, Royal Decree 488/1997, ISO 45001, EN 1005-2, ISO/TS 15066.
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
- A university degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
- An 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 Siemens Jack, DELMIA Ergonomics, Ergo/IBV, Xsens MVN Analyze and Captiv, 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 programme's 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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