Postgraduate Diploma in Secure Acquisition of ECG/PPG/EEG/EMG
Online Postgraduate Diploma of 800 h in Secure Acquisition of ECG/PPG/EEG/EMG. 8 modules with IEC 60601-1 (medical electrical equipment safety), IEC 60601-1-2 (electromagnetic compatibility) and LTspice. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Postgraduate Diploma in Secure Acquisition of ECG/PPG/EEG/EMG — 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: €1,790 (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
Describe the origin and characteristics of biopotentials and optical signals.
Design amplification, filtering and conversion stages for ECG, PPG, EEG and EMG.
Apply patient electrical safety requirements.
Ensure the electromagnetic compatibility of the acquisition system.
Assess and improve signal quality in the presence of artefacts.
Protect the transmission and storage of physiological data.
Plan the validation and CE marking of the system.
Who it's for
- Biomedical hardware engineer who wants to specialise in Secure Acquisition of ECG/PPG/EEG/EMG.
- Sensor engineer who wants to specialise in Secure Acquisition of ECG/PPG/EEG/EMG.
- Electrical safety compliance engineer who wants to specialise in Secure Acquisition of ECG/PPG/EEG/EMG.
- Medical device validation engineer who wants to specialise in Secure Acquisition of ECG/PPG/EEG/EMG.
- Signal processing engineer who wants to specialise in Secure Acquisition of ECG/PPG/EEG/EMG.
- Regulatory affairs specialist who wants to specialise in Secure Acquisition of ECG/PPG/EEG/EMG.
- Graduates in engineering or sciences seeking to enter the medical devices sector.
What you'll work with
- IEC 60601-1 (medical electrical equipment safety)
- IEC 60601-1-2 (electromagnetic compatibility)
- IEC 60601-2-25 (electrocardiographs)
- IEC 60601-2-26 (electroencephalographs)
- IEC 60601-2-40 (electromyographs)
- ISO 80601-2-61 (pulse oximeters)
- IEC 62304 (medical device software)
8 modules · 800 h
1.1Physiological origin of ECG, EEG and EMG1.2Photoplethysmography: optical principle1.3Typical amplitudes and bandwidths1.4Wet, dry and textile electrodes1.5Electrode-skin interface and impedance1.6Motion artefacts1.7Electrode placement and the 10-20 system1.8Reflective and transmissive PPG sensors1.9Sensor selection by application1.10Laboratory: ECG recording with different electrodes
2.1Instrumentation amplifiers2.2Common-mode rejection2.3Active right-leg circuit2.4Analogue anti-aliasing filters2.5A/D conversion: resolution and sampling rate2.6Integrated front-ends for biopotentials2.7Optical front-ends for PPG2.8Noise and noise budget2.9Power consumption and low-power design2.10Practical: designing an ECG front-end
3.1IEC 60601-1: general requirements3.2Applied parts type B, BF and CF3.3Leakage currents and limits3.4Insulation and means of protection3.5Defibrillation protection3.6Battery power and charging3.7IEC 60601-2-25 and 2-263.8IEC 60601-1-11 for home healthcare environments3.9Electrical safety testing3.10Workshop: insulation analysis of an ECG wearable
4.1IEC 60601-1-24.2Immunity to electrostatic discharge4.350 Hz mains interference4.4Radio emissions from the device4.5Shielding and PCB design4.6Coexistence with BLE and Wi-Fi4.7Testing in accredited laboratories4.8EMC risk management4.9EMC documentation4.10Practical: EMC test plan for an EMG sensor
5.1Signal quality indices for ECG and PPG5.2Loose electrode detection5.3Digital filtering: FIR and IIR5.4Baseline drift removal5.5Notch and adaptive filters5.6Motion artefact reduction using an accelerometer5.7Source separation by ICA in EEG5.8Validation against reference equipment5.9Bland-Altman agreement metrics5.10Laboratory: artefact filtering in an EMG recording
6.1On-device data encryption6.2BLE security: pairing and bonding6.3Integrity and timestamps6.4Synchronisation of multiple sensors6.5Storage and packet loss6.6Cybersecurity according to IEC 81001-5-16.7GDPR and biometric data6.8EDF and DICOM formats for signals6.9Interoperability with FHIR6.10Case study: threat model of a connected Holter monitor
7.1Device classification under the MDR7.2Risk management under ISO 149717.3Essential performance requirements7.4IEC 62304 for device software7.5Clinical validation of accuracy7.6ISO 10993 biocompatibility of electrodes7.7Usability in the home environment7.8Technical documentation7.9Post-market surveillance7.10Practical: risk matrix for a PPG sensor
8.1Definition of signals and use8.2Sensor selection8.3Front-end design8.4Electrical safety analysis8.5EMC plan8.6Signal quality processing8.7Data security8.8Validation plan8.9Report and presentation8.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
Fully 100 % online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded lectures and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it possible to combine the programme with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is LTspice, Altium Designer, MATLAB, Python (SciPy), LabVIEW, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied using real procedures for leakage current tests, electromagnetic compatibility chambers and validation with patient simulators. 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.
Describe the origin and characteristics of biopotentials and optical signals.
Design amplification, filtering and conversion stages for ECG, PPG, EEG and EMG.
Apply patient electrical safety requirements.
Ensure the electromagnetic compatibility of the acquisition system.
Assess and improve signal quality in the presence of artefacts.
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 command of Spanish to follow technical regulatory texts.
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 consists of 800 hours in total, spread over 6 to 8 months. That is between 10 and 15 hours per week on average, compatible with a full-time job.
The programme works with LTspice, Altium Designer, MATLAB, Python (SciPy) and LabVIEW. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM Institute own diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrative project. This is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a Course or Postgraduate Diploma in the same area are credited towards the higher programme. Check the recognition policy when you enrol.
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