Diploma in FIA Safety Validation and Testing
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in FIA safety validation and testing, with 8 modules covering passive safety, homologated safety equipment, vehicle safety structures, dynamic impact testing, impact simulation, fire and systems testing and laboratory quality, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in FIA Safety Validation and Testing — studying from New Zealand
Vehicle restoration and classic engine work in New Zealand is supported by an active enthusiast community and a well-established network of specialist workshops, particularly around the main centres. Historic vehicle registration and compliance fall under the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, and the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand promotes preservation of historic vehicles. Restoration professionals often combine fabrication, engineering and heritage conservation skills.
Fees for New Zealand: NZ$2,550 (New Zealand dollar), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in New Zealand
Typical roles
Questions from New Zealand
Is restoration engineering recognised by a professional body in New Zealand?
There is no specific statutory register for classic vehicle or heritage restoration engineers in New Zealand. Heritage matters can involve Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga, and vehicle roadworthiness is governed by the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not accredited by any national body, so their value depends on the employer or client.
Where do classic restoration specialists work in New Zealand?
Work is found in independent restoration workshops, classic car dealers, museums, and specialist fabrication businesses, many clustered around the main centres. Clients and employers usually judge by workmanship and a portfolio of completed restorations. A private qualification may complement that evidence but is rarely a deciding factor on its own.
Can I study this while running or working in a workshop here?
Yes. The course is fully online and taught in English, so you can study from home in New Zealand without a student visa. Specialist courses total 300 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and master's programmes 1,900 hours. An assigned technical tutor supports you, and fees can be paid in instalments.
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
Understand impact biomechanics and human tolerance.
Know the homologation requirements for safety equipment.
Validate safety structures through calculation and testing.
Prepare and interpret dynamic impact tests.
Simulate impacts using explicit finite elements.
Carry out fire and safety-systems tests.
Apply quality and accreditation criteria in the laboratory.
Who it's for
- Motorsport safety engineers.
- Impact test engineers looking to broaden their expertise in FIA homologation.
- Crash simulation engineers.
- Homologation laboratory technicians.
- Equipment homologation managers.
- Composite structures engineers.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter motorsport.
What you'll work with
- FIA Appendix J, Article 253 (safety equipment)
- FIA Standard 8862-2009 (advanced racing seats)
- FIA Standard 8853-2016 (safety harnesses)
- FIA Standard 8860-2018 (advanced helmets)
- FIA Standard 8865-2015 (racing helmets)
- FIA FT3-1999 (safety fuel tanks)
- ISO/IEC 17025 (competence of testing laboratories)
- LS-DYNA
- Altair HyperWorks
- NI DIAdem
- ANSYS Mechanical
8 modules
1.1History of safety in motorsport1.2Impact biomechanics1.3Human tolerance to deceleration1.4Impact energy and absorption1.5Survival structures1.6Impact attenuators1.7Driver restraint1.8Head protection1.9Organisation of FIA homologation1.10Case study: analysis of a historic accident
2.1Racing seats2.2Safety harnesses2.3Helmets2.4Head restraint devices2.5Flame-resistant clothing2.6Safety fuel tanks2.7Plumbed-in extinguishers2.8Window nets2.9Technical lists of homologated equipment2.10Practical exercise: checking labels and homologations
3.1Roll bars and roll cages3.2Appendix J requirements3.3Materials and joints3.4Finite element calculation3.5Static load testing3.6Side protection3.7Impact structures in single-seaters3.8Fixings and anchorages3.9Homologation documentation3.10Laboratory: static load test of a roll hoop
4.1Impact sleds and catapults4.2Frontal crash tests4.3Side impact tests4.4Anthropomorphic test dummies4.5Accelerometers and high-speed cameras4.6Injury criteria4.7Seat testing4.8Harness testing4.9Laboratory safety4.10Workshop: preparing an impact sled test
5.1Explicit finite elements5.2Material and failure models5.3Carbon composite models5.4Dummy models5.5Validation against tests5.6Structural optimisation5.7Simulation of attenuators5.8Sensitivity analysis5.9Simulation report5.10Practical exercise: simulation of an impact attenuator
6.1Flammability testing of materials6.2Thermal resistance of clothing6.3Extinguisher testing6.4Fuel tanks and leaks6.5Circuit breakers and electrical systems6.6High-voltage batteries6.7Rollover testing6.8Testing of active safety components6.9Systems compatibility6.10Laboratory: flammability test of a material
7.1Accreditation of testing laboratories7.2Metrological traceability7.3Measurement uncertainty7.4Test procedures7.5Sample management7.6Test reports7.7Audits7.8Relationship with the FIA and national federations7.9Confidentiality with manufacturers7.10Case study: audit of a test procedure
8.1Selection of the component8.2Homologation requirements8.3Simulation plan8.4Test plan8.5Analysis of results8.6Proposed improvements8.7Homologation file8.8Final report8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
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 work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is LS-DYNA, Altair HyperWorks, NI DIAdem and ANSYS Mechanical, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: static load testing of safety structures, dynamic impact sled testing and finite element simulation of attenuators. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final integrating project.
Standards covered: FIA Appendix J, Article 253, FIA Standard 8862-2009, FIA Standard 8853-2016, FIA Standard 8860-2018, FIA Standard 8865-2015, FIA FT3-1999, ISO/IEC 17025.
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.
- 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.
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 LS-DYNA, Altair HyperWorks, NI DIAdem and ANSYS Mechanical, 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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