Diploma in Front-Ends, ADC/DAC and References
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in front-ends, ADC/DAC and references. 8 modules covering ADC architectures and characterisation, analogue drivers, voltage references, DACs and acquisition system design, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in Front-Ends, ADC/DAC and References — studying from New Zealand
Electronics and telecommunications are significant New Zealand industries, with Chorus operating the national fibre network and Spark, One NZ and 2degrees providing mobile services. Embedded systems and electronics design are strong in Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington, serving agricultural technology, medical devices and industrial automation. Engineers in this field work for telecommunications providers, electronics manufacturers and research groups, and the Radio Spectrum Management team within the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment oversees spectrum use.
Fees for New Zealand: NZ$2,960 (New Zealand dollar), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in New Zealand
Typical roles
Questions from New Zealand
How do New Zealand bodies recognise electronics and telecom engineers?
Engineering New Zealand is the body for engineering registration, including Chartered Professional Engineer status. Telecommunications is overseen by the Commerce Commission and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, and radio spectrum is managed by MBIE. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not accredited by a national body, so employers decide their weight.
Which New Zealand employers hire embedded systems and telecom engineers?
Employers include telecommunications operators, electronics manufacturers, device makers, defence and aerospace suppliers, and research institutions. Hiring often prioritises practical embedded work, firmware projects and certifications relevant to the role. A private online qualification may help your application, but it does not guarantee an offer.
Is this manageable online from New Zealand, and what study load should I expect?
The programmes are online and in English, so no student visa is needed to study from New Zealand. Each has an assigned technical tutor and a final project. Specialist courses are 300 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 and master's programmes 1,900. Fees can be paid in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible, so check funding options first.
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
Select ADC and DAC architectures according to the application.
Characterise converters using standardised static and dynamic methods.
Design drivers and filters for high-resolution converters.
Choose and apply low-noise, low-drift voltage references.
Design acquisition systems with a noise and error budget.
Implement mixed-signal layout and system calibration.
Validate an acquisition chain against its specifications.
Who it's for
- Analogue design engineers working with precision converters.
- Mixed-signal engineers who need a solid grasp of ADC/DAC characterisation.
- Instrumentation engineers designing measurement and data acquisition systems.
- Converter applications engineers supporting customers in the field.
- Acquisition hardware engineers in medical, industrial or automotive equipment.
- Semiconductor test engineers responsible for converter validation.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter instrumentation and measurement.
What you'll work with
- IEEE 1241-2010 (terminology and test methods for analogue-to-digital converters)
- IEEE 1658-2011 (terminology and test methods for digital-to-analogue converters)
- IEEE 1057-2017 (digitising waveform recorders)
- JCGM 100:2008 GUM (guide to the expression of uncertainty in measurement)
- IEC 60748-4 (semiconductor devices: interface integrated circuits)
- AEC-Q100 (stress test qualification for automotive integrated circuits)
- LTspice
- TINA-TI
- Analog Devices Virtual Eval
- MATLAB
8 modules
1.1Sample and hold1.2SAR: principle and timing1.3Delta-sigma: oversampling and noise shaping1.4Pipeline and subranging1.5Flash and folding1.6Continuous-time ADCs1.7Selection by resolution, speed and power consumption1.8SPI, LVDS and parallel digital interfaces1.9Critical reading of datasheets1.10Case study: choosing an ADC for an acquisition system
2.1Static errors: offset, gain, INL and DNL2.2SNR, SINAD, ENOB and SFDR2.3Quantisation noise and thermal noise2.4Aperture jitter2.5Histogram test according to IEEE 12412.6Four-parameter sine fit2.7Harmonic distortion and intermodulation2.8Measurement with coherent FFT2.9Evaluation boards and measurement set-up2.10Lab: dynamic characterisation of a SAR ADC
3.1Charging the SAR sampling capacitor3.2Driver amplifiers and RC filter3.3Fully differential amplifiers (FDA)3.4Programmable gain and instrumentation3.5Active anti-aliasing filters3.6Amplifier noise: en, in and 1/f3.7Common-mode range and supply3.8Stability with capacitive loads3.9Settling simulation in LTspice3.10Practical exercise: RC driver for an 18-bit SAR
4.1Bandgap and buried-zener references4.2Thermal drift and ppm/°C coefficient4.3Reference noise and filtering4.4Long-term stability4.5Thermal and soldering hysteresis4.6Reference buffer and dynamic load4.7References shared between converters4.8Reference decoupling and layout4.9Calibration and compensation4.10Workshop: comparing references on a thermal bench
5.1String, R-2R and current-steering architectures5.2Delta-sigma DACs for audio5.3Specifications: INL, DNL and glitch5.4Settling time and slew5.5Reconstruction filters5.6High-speed DACs for RF5.7Voltage and current outputs5.8Applications in control and signal generation5.9Characterisation according to IEEE 16585.10Lab: DAC with reconstruction filter
6.1Noise budget and total error6.2Gain chain and dynamic range6.3Galvanic isolation of signal and power6.4Clean power supplies for converters6.5Sampling clocks and jitter6.6Mixed-signal layout and grounding6.7Input protection6.8System calibration6.9Uncertainty according to the GUM6.10Case study: precision acquisition for strain gauges
7.1Production testing of converters7.2Measurement automation7.3Low-signal medical instrumentation7.4Energy and power metering7.5Industrial control systems7.6High-resolution audio7.7Automotive data acquisition7.8Typical errors in real designs7.9Schematic review7.10Practical exercise: design review of a commercial front-end
8.1Measurement specification8.2ADC and reference selection8.3Analogue front-end design8.4Noise and error budget8.5System simulation8.6Prototype and measurements8.7Comparison with specifications8.8Technical report on the chain8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with your tutor
How you'll learn
Training is 100% online on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable materials, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within the intake, making it compatible with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is LTspice, TINA-TI, Analog Devices Virtual Eval and MATLAB, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied on real procedures for dynamic ADC characterisation with coherent FFT, thermal drift measurement of references and settling simulation in LTspice. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final project.
Standards covered: IEEE 1241-2010, IEEE 1658-2011, IEEE 1057-2017, JCGM 100:2008 (GUM), IEC 60748-4, AEC-Q100.
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.
- Internet connection and a computer able to run 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 LTspice, TINA-TI, Analog Devices Virtual Eval and MATLAB, 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 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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