Master'sElectronics, Embedded Systems & Telecom Applications open

Master’s in Reliability, Derating and Design for Manufacturing

Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in electronics reliability, derating and design for manufacturing, covering HALT/HASS, MTBF and DFM/DFT. 12 modules covering reliability engineering, prediction, derating, failure mechanisms, FMEA, accelerated testing, DFM, DFT, manufacturing processes, obsolescence and field reliability, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration1,900 hours · 12–14 months

ModeOnline

LanguageEnglish

Start datesSet by the faculty

AwardSEIUM Institute diploma

Enrol now View syllabus Ask an advisor

Master’s in Reliability, Derating and Design for Manufacturing — 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: €8,920 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.

Relevant bodies in Malta

Malta Communications Authority (MCA)
Malta Digital Innovation Authority (MDIA)
Malta Standards Authority (MSA)
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Malta Section

Typical roles

Embedded Systems Engineer
Telecommunications Engineer
Network Engineer
Electronics Design Engineer

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.

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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

Calculate the reliability of electronic systems.

Apply prediction methodologies such as FIDES and MIL-HDBK-217F.

Carry out component derating analyses.

Analyse failure mechanisms and failure modes.

Design accelerated life tests.

Apply design rules for manufacturing and testing.

Manage field reliability and obsolescence.

Profile

Who it's for

Electronics reliability engineers.
Design for manufacturing engineers.
Product quality engineers.
Test engineers.
Component engineers.
Industrialisation engineers.
Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter industrial electronics.

Standards & tools

What you'll work with

MIL-HDBK-217F (reliability prediction of electronic equipment)
IEC 61709 (reference conditions and stress models for failure rates)
IPC-A-610 (acceptability of electronic assemblies)
IEC 60812 (failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA))
FIDES Guide 2022 (reliability methodology for electronic systems)
AEC-Q100 (stress qualification of automotive integrated circuits)
IPC-7351 (land pattern design for surface-mount components)
ECSS-Q-ST-30-11C (derating of EEE components for space)
ReliaSoft Weibull++
Isograph Reliability Workbench
Altium Designer
Valor NPI
Ansys Sherlock

Syllabus

12 modules

1.1Definitions of reliability and availability
1.2The bathtub curve
1.3Exponential, Weibull and lognormal distributions
1.4MTBF and MTTF
1.5Reliability of series and parallel systems
1.6Redundancy and reliability block diagrams
1.7Failure data and its analysis
1.8Reliability of electronic components
1.9Costs of unreliability
1.10Case study: reliability target for a piece of equipment

2.1MIL-HDBK-217F methodology and its application
2.2FIDES methodology and life profiles
2.3IEC 61709 and SN 29500
2.4Telcordia SR-332 method
2.5Stress and temperature factors
2.6Mission profiles
2.7Limitations of prediction
2.8Use of field data
2.9Prediction tools
2.10Lab: FIDES prediction for a circuit board

3.1Derating concept and margins
3.2Derating of resistors
3.3Derating of ceramic and electrolytic capacitors
3.4Derating of semiconductors
3.5Derating of magnetic components
3.6Derating of connectors
3.7ECSS and NAVSEA standards
3.8Circuit stress analysis
3.9Documentation of the analysis
3.10Practical exercise: derating analysis of a power supply

4.1Electromigration in interconnects
4.2Solder joint fatigue
4.3Dielectric breakdown
4.4Corrosion and electrochemical migration
4.5Tin whisker growth
4.6ESD damage
4.7Ageing of electrolytic capacitors
4.8Physics of failure
4.9Acceleration models
4.10Lab: failure analysis with microscopy

5.1Design FMEA
5.2Process FMEA
5.3AIAG-VDA seven-step methodology
5.4FMEDA for functional safety
5.5Fault tree analysis (FTA)
5.6Root cause analysis
5.7Worst-case circuit analysis
5.8Sneak circuit analysis
5.9Tracking of corrective actions
5.10Workshop: FMEA of a control board

6.1HALT limit testing
6.2HASS screening in production
6.3Accelerated life testing (ALT)
6.4Arrhenius and Coffin-Manson models
6.5Thermal cycling tests
6.6Damp heat tests
6.7Random vibration tests
6.8Reliability test plan
6.9Statistical analysis of results
6.10Practical exercise: designing a HALT profile

7.1DFM principles
7.2PCB design rules
7.3Package selection
7.4Design for SMT assembly
7.5Panelisation and assembly fixtures
7.6Footprint design to IPC-7351
7.7Assembly manufacturability
7.8Manufacturing costs
7.9Communication with the manufacturer
7.10Lab: DFM review of a PCB design

8.1Design for test (DFT)
8.2Test points and ICT
8.3Functional testing in production
8.4Board-level boundary scan
8.5Design for assembly (DFA)
8.6Automated optical inspection (AOI)
8.7X-ray inspection
8.8Solder quality to IPC-A-610
8.9Rework and repair
8.10Practical exercise: test strategy for a board

9.1Solder paste printing
9.2Component placement
9.3Reflow soldering
9.4Wave and selective soldering
9.5Thermal profile design
9.6Lead-free soldering and RoHS
9.7Cleaning and conformal coating
9.8Statistical process control
9.9Moisture sensitivity (MSL) management
9.10Case study: optimising a reflow profile

10.1Component selection
10.2AEC-Q automotive-grade components
10.3Detection of counterfeit components
10.4Obsolescence management
10.5Qualification of second sources
10.6Supply chain
10.7RoHS and REACH compliance
10.8Component databases
10.9Service life planning
10.10Workshop: obsolescence management plan

11.1Field data collection
11.2Warranty analysis
11.3Weibull analysis of returns
11.4FRACAS failure reporting systems
11.5Reliability growth
11.6Continuous design improvement
11.7Maintenance and availability
11.8Reliability programmes
11.9Communication with customers
11.10Practical exercise: Weibull analysis of warranty data

12.1Selection of the electronic product
12.2Reliability targets
12.3Prediction and derating
12.4Failure mode analysis
12.5DFM and DFT review
12.6Accelerated test plan
12.7Improvement proposals
12.8Impact assessment
12.9Master's Thesis report
12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel

Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

The programme is 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 it can be combined with full-time work.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standards and applied exercises. The working software is ReliaSoft Weibull++, Isograph Reliability Workbench, Altium Designer, Valor NPI and Ansys Sherlock, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures for HALT and HASS testing, laboratory failure analysis and warranty data analysis. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.

Standards covered: MIL-HDBK-217F, IEC 61709, IPC-A-610, IEC 60812, FIDES Guide 2022, AEC-Q100, IPC-7351, ECSS-Q-ST-30-11C.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.

Standards-based learning:guided reading of MIL-HDBK-217F, IEC 61709 and IPC-A-610 applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.

Industry software:ReliaSoft Weibull++, Isograph Reliability Workbench, Altium Designer, Valor NPI and Ansys Sherlock, in free, academic or evaluation versions.

Master's Thesis with defence:A complete reliability and manufacturability study of an electronic product, from prediction and derating to an accelerated test plan and improvement proposals, defended before a panel.

Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.

Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Product and reliability targets

Select an electronic product and set its reliability targets.

Prediction and derating

Predict reliability and carry out a derating analysis of its components.

Failure mode analysis

Analyse the failure modes of the design with FMEA and related tools.

DFM/DFT review and test plan

Review the design for manufacturing and test and define an accelerated test plan.

Master's Thesis

Present the improvement proposals and their impact in a written thesis, defended before a panel.

Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Electronics reliability engineerDesign for manufacturing engineerProduct quality engineerTest engineerComponent engineerIndustrialisation engineer

Admissions & scholarships

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 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.

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FAQ

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 ReliaSoft Weibull++, Isograph Reliability Workbench, Altium Designer, Valor NPI and Ansys Sherlock, 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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