Diploma in Open Architectures (MOSA/CMOSS) in Defence
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in open architectures (MOSA/CMOSS) in defence, structured in 8 modules covering modular open systems, hardware and software standards, vehicle architectures, interface modelling, cybersecurity and certification, and acquisition strategy, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in Open Architectures (MOSA/CMOSS) in Defence — studying from New Zealand
New Zealand's defence engineering sector is centred on the New Zealand Defence Force, which operates land, sea and air capabilities, with major bases at Linton and Burnham. Defence procurement and sustainment are managed through the Ministry of Defence, and local firms support maintenance, communications and vehicle systems. Land systems engineering is closely linked to the country's agricultural and forestry sectors, where ruggedised vehicles and equipment are developed and maintained.
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 is defence and military engineering recognised in New Zealand?
Engineering registration is handled by Engineering New Zealand, and defence procurement and security clearances are managed through the New Zealand Defence Force and government procurement processes. Security clearance requirements can matter more than academic credentials for some roles. SEIUM is a private institute, and its qualifications are not accredited by a national body, so recognition rests with the employer.
What defence and land systems employers operate in New Zealand?
Opportunities arise with the New Zealand Defence Force, Defence Technology Agency, defence industry suppliers and engineering firms serving land systems and vehicles. Many roles require citizenship or security clearance. A private online qualification may support an application, but it does not guarantee a position, and clearance and experience usually weigh more heavily.
Is it possible to study from New Zealand without a visa, and can my employer pay?
Yes, programmes are 100% online and taught in English, so no student visa is needed to study from home. Each includes an assigned technical tutor and a final project. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible. Specialist courses take 300 hours, diplomas 800 and master's 1,900, so plan your workload carefully.
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 the principles of the MOSA approach.
Apply modular hardware standards such as OpenVPX and SOSA.
Develop portable software in accordance with FACE.
Design vehicle architectures in line with NGVA and GVA.
Manage interfaces through modelling.
Integrate cybersecurity and certification into modular systems.
Define acquisition strategies based on open systems.
Who it's for
- Open systems architects looking to specialise in MOSA/CMOSS.
- Embedded hardware engineers working with OpenVPX and SOSA.
- Avionics software engineers developing portable components.
- Vehicle integration engineers on modular land platforms.
- Standards conformance specialists.
- Technology acquisition managers in defence programmes.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter the defence sector.
What you'll work with
- VITA 65 (OpenVPX) (modular embedded computing architecture)
- Technical Standard for SOSA Reference Architecture (sensor open systems architecture)
- FACE Technical Standard Edition 3.1 (future airborne capability environment)
- STANAG 4754 (NGVA) (NATO generic vehicle architecture)
- DEF STAN 23-009 (GVA) (UK generic vehicle architecture)
- ARINC 653 (partitioning for avionics software)
- IEEE 1003.1 (POSIX) (portable operating system interface)
- VITA 46 (VPX baseline standard)
- Cameo Systems Modeler
- VxWorks 653
- Sparx Enterprise Architect
- MATLAB
8 modules
1.1The MOSA concept1.2Legal framework: 10 U.S.C. 44011.3Benefits and costs1.4Key interfaces1.5Modularity1.6Technical data rights1.7Reuse1.8Vendor lock-in1.9European approaches1.10Case study: identification of key interfaces
2.1OpenVPX VITA 652.2SOSA reference architecture2.3CMOSS standards2.4VITA 46 and VITA 482.5Backplanes and slots2.6Conduction and air cooling2.7Processing and RF cards2.8Module interoperability2.9Conformance2.10Lab: defining an OpenVPX profile
3.1The FACE standard3.2FACE architecture segments3.3Safety and general-purpose profiles3.4Conformance process3.5ARINC 653 partitioning3.6POSIX API3.7Transport middleware3.8Component portability3.9FACE data models3.10Workshop: FACE-conformant component
4.1The VICTORY framework4.2Generic Vehicle Architecture DEF STAN 23-0094.3NGVA according to STANAG 47544.4Modular land platforms4.5Vehicle data model4.6Integration of sensors and effectors4.7Power management4.8Crew interface4.9Programme experience4.10Practical exercise: NGVA architecture of a vehicle
5.1Interface control documents5.2Modelling with SysML5.3Interface management5.4Data models5.5Versioning5.6Interface validation5.7Tools5.8Shared repositories5.9Interface governance5.10Case study: interface model of a subsystem
6.1Security in open architectures6.2Isolation between partitions6.3Trusted hardware6.4Conformance and certification6.5Airworthiness of modular systems6.6Integration testing6.7Incremental certification6.8Vulnerability management6.9Supply chain6.10Workshop: risk analysis of a modular architecture
7.1Contracting strategies7.2Data rights7.3Competition between suppliers7.4Life-cycle costs7.5Supply chain7.6Industrial ecosystems7.7Standards governance7.8Lessons from programmes7.9SMEs in open architectures7.10Case study: MOSA strategy for a programme
8.1System selection8.2Key interfaces8.3Hardware architecture8.4Software architecture8.5Interface model8.6Conformance plan8.7Acquisition strategy8.8Conclusions8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
The programme is 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 Cameo Systems Modeler, VxWorks 653, Sparx Enterprise Architect and MATLAB, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Exercises are based on real procedures for defining OpenVPX hardware profiles, developing FACE-conformant components and modelling NGVA vehicle interfaces. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: VITA 65 (OpenVPX), Technical Standard for SOSA Reference Architecture, FACE Technical Standard Edition 3.1, STANAG 4754 (NGVA), DEF STAN 23-009 (GVA), ARINC 653, IEEE 1003.1 (POSIX), VITA 46.
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 Cameo Systems Modeler, VxWorks 653, Sparx Enterprise Architect 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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