Postgraduate Diploma in Safe Small-Format Batteries and Ultra-Low-Power BMS
Online 800-hour Postgraduate Diploma in Safe Small-Format Batteries and Ultra-Low-Power BMS. 8 modules covering IEC 62133-2 (safety of portable lithium batteries), UN 38.3 (transport of lithium batteries) and MATLAB/Simulink. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Postgraduate Diploma in Safe Small-Format Batteries and Ultra-Low-Power BMS — 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: €895 (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
Explain the electrochemistry of small-format lithium cells.
Analyse failure mechanisms and thermal runaway propagation.
Apply safety and transport regulations for lithium batteries.
Design BMS architectures with ultra-low quiescent consumption.
Implement state-of-charge and state-of-health estimation algorithms.
Define safe charging profiles with thermal control.
Plan the validation and production controls of the battery system.
Who it's for
- Battery engineer wishing to specialise in Safe Small-Format Batteries and Ultra-Low-Power BMS.
- BMS engineer wishing to specialise in Safe Small-Format Batteries and Ultra-Low-Power BMS.
- Low-power firmware engineer wishing to specialise in Safe Small-Format Batteries and Ultra-Low-Power BMS.
- Product safety engineer wishing to specialise in Safe Small-Format Batteries and Ultra-Low-Power BMS.
- Validation engineer wishing to specialise in Safe Small-Format Batteries and Ultra-Low-Power BMS.
- Wearable hardware engineer wishing to specialise in Safe Small-Format Batteries and Ultra-Low-Power BMS.
- Graduates in engineering or sciences seeking to enter the wearables sector.
What you'll work with
- IEC 62133-2 (safety of portable lithium batteries)
- UN 38.3 (transport of lithium batteries)
- Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 concerning batteries and waste batteries
- IEC 62368-1 (safety of ICT equipment)
- UL 1642 (lithium cells)
- UL 2054 (household and commercial batteries)
- IEC 60086-4 (safety of lithium primary batteries)
8 modules · 800 h
1.1Li-ion, Li-po and LiFePO4 chemistry in small format1.2Button, prismatic and pouch cells for wearables1.3Discharge curves and effective capacity1.4Internal resistance and voltage drop under pulse1.5Self-discharge and long-term storage1.6Cycle and calendar ageing1.7Effect of temperature on performance1.8Lithium primary cells versus rechargeable cells1.9Critical reading of cell datasheets1.10Laboratory: discharge characterisation of a pouch cell
2.1Dendrite formation and internal short circuit2.2Overcharging and lithium plating2.3Gas swelling of pouch cells2.4Reaction chain in thermal runaway2.5Mechanical damage: puncture and crushing2.6Manufacturing defects and contamination2.7Thermally shutdown separators2.8CID and PTC devices in cells2.9Post-mortem analysis of failed cells2.10Case study: investigation of an earphone incident
3.1IEC 62133-2 for portable lithium cells3.2UL 1642 and UL 2054 in the US market3.3UN 38.3 tests for transport3.4IEC 62368-1 and batteries in electronic equipment3.5IEC 60601-1 requirements for medical devices3.6European Battery Regulation 2023/15423.7Labelling, traceability and battery passport3.8Air transport under IATA DGR3.9Technical file and test plan3.10Practical: compliance matrix for a wearable
4.1Functions of a single-cell BMS4.2OVP, UVP, OCP and short-circuit protection4.3Back-to-back protection MOSFETs4.4Quiescent current and ship modes4.5Analogue supervisors versus digital BMS4.6Selecting commercial protection ICs4.7Integration with charger and PMIC4.8Topologies for small series-connected cells4.9Power budget of the BMS itself4.10Workshop: protection schematic with nA quiescent current
5.1Coulomb counting and its accumulated errors5.2OCV-SOC relationship and relaxation5.3Fuel gauges with impedance-track algorithms5.4Extended Kalman filter for SOC5.5State-of-health (SOH) estimation5.6Compensation for temperature and ageing5.7Factory calibration and field learning5.8Current measurement with low-value shunt5.9ADC accuracy versus consumption5.10Laboratory: fuel gauge validation with a real profile
6.1CC-CV profile and charge termination6.2JEITA charging by temperature6.3NTC measurement and sensor placement6.4Fast charging and its impact on service life6.5Heat dissipation in sealed enclosures6.6Venting and mechanical housing design6.7Protection against non-compliant chargers6.8Linear versus switching chargers6.9Thermal simulation of the battery in the product6.10Practical: adjusting charging profiles by temperature
7.1Pack safety verification plan7.2Electrical abuse testing in the laboratory7.3Drop, vibration and crush tests7.4Accelerated cycling tests7.5Battery cell supplier inspection7.6Incoming inspection and batch sampling7.7BMS firmware and regression testing7.8FMEA of the energy subsystem7.9Recall management and field alerts7.10Case study: cell supplier audit
8.1Definition of autonomy and safety requirements8.2Cell selection and justification8.3Protection circuit design8.4Fuel gauge implementation8.5Standards test plan8.6Thermal analysis of the enclosure8.7FMEA and mitigation measures8.8Results and lessons learned8.9Report and presentation8.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
Fully 100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetable: students progress at their own pace within the intake, making it possible to combine with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is MATLAB/Simulink, Python (PyBaMM), LTspice, STM32CubeIDE, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied using real procedures for thermal abuse and short-circuit testing, cycling with battery cyclers, and measurement of nanoampere-level consumption. Assessment is continuous per module plus the final integrative project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Explain the electrochemistry of small-format lithium cells.
Analyse failure mechanisms and thermal runaway propagation.
Apply safety and transport regulations for lithium batteries.
Design BMS architectures with ultra-low quiescent consumption.
Implement state-of-charge and state-of-health estimation algorithms.
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's software.
- Sufficient English to follow the reading of 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 comprises 800 total hours spread over 6 to 8 months. That is between 10 and 15 hours per week on average, compatible with a full-time job.
The course works with MATLAB/Simulink, Python (PyBaMM), LTspice, STM32CubeIDE. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM own diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrative project. It is in-house training, not an official Ministry qualification.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area can be credited towards the advanced programme. Consult the credit transfer policy when you enrol.
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