Master'sEnergy and Networks Applications open

Master’s in ADMS Engineering

Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in ADMS engineering. 12 modules covering SCADA and communications, CIM network models and GIS, real-time analysis, outage management, FLISR and VVO optimisation, DERMS, smart metering integration, analytics and AI, cybersecurity and ADMS project implementation, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration1900 h

ModeOnline

LanguageEnglish

Start datesSet by the faculty

AwardSEIUM Institute diploma

Enrol now View syllabus Ask an advisor

Master’s in ADMS Engineering — studying from New Zealand

New Zealand's energy sector is distinctive for its high share of renewable generation, drawn from hydroelectric, geothermal and wind resources. Transpower operates the national grid, while distribution networks are run by regional lines companies, and the Electricity Authority regulates the wholesale and retail markets. Energy engineers are employed across generation, transmission, distribution and retail, with demand growing as the country works towards its renewable electricity goals.

Fees for New Zealand: NZ$17,700 (New Zealand dollar), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.

Relevant bodies in New Zealand

Electricity Authority
Transpower New Zealand
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA)

Typical roles

Power Systems Engineer
Network Planning Engineer
Grid Engineer
Energy Project Engineer

Questions from New Zealand

What professional recognition applies to energy and network engineers in New Zealand?

Engineering New Zealand administers Chartered Professional Engineer registration, which is widely used in the energy sector. The Electricity Authority oversees the electricity market, and the Electricity Engineers' Association is an industry body. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not accredited by any national body, so recognition is decided by employers or the relevant body.

Who employs energy and network engineers in New Zealand?

Major employers include electricity lines companies, generators, transmission operators, gas network businesses and consultancies. Roles often value registration, field experience and knowledge of New Zealand's grid and regulation. A private qualification may support your CV, but it does not guarantee employment or a particular career outcome.

Can I study from New Zealand with a full-time job, and does an employer need to fund it?

Yes. The programmes are 100% online and taught in English, so you can study from New Zealand without a student visa. You will have an assigned technical tutor and complete a final project. Specialist courses take 300 hours, diplomas 800 and master's programmes 1,900. Fees can be paid in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible.

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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

Describe the functions and architecture of an ADMS.

Integrate SCADA, GIS and CIM models.

Apply real-time network analysis to distribution.

Manage outages with OMS systems.

Implement optimisation applications such as FLISR and VVO.

Integrate distributed energy resources into operations.

Plan the implementation of an ADMS project.

Profile

Who it's for

ADMS systems engineers.
Distribution control centre operators.
Smart grid solution architects.
DERMS specialists.
Network data analysts.
Grid digitalisation project managers.
Engineering or science graduates aiming to move into electricity distribution.

Standards & tools

What you'll work with

IEC 61968 (application integration in distribution, CIM)
IEC 61970 (EMS application programme interface, CIM)
IEC 60870-5-104 (telecontrol)
IEC 61850 (communication in substations)
IEC 62351 (security of power system communications)
IEC 62443 (security of industrial automation systems)
IEEE 2030.5 (smart energy profile for distributed resources)
Royal Decree 1955/2000 (quality of service)
OpenDSS
DIgSILENT PowerFactory
GridLAB-D
Python (pandapower, scikit-learn)
QGIS

Syllabus

12 modules · 1900 h

1.1Evolution from SCADA to ADMS
1.2Functions of an ADMS
1.3Relationship with OMS, DERMS and GIS
1.4Distribution control centres
1.5Challenges of the active network
1.6The ADMS solutions market
1.7Quantifiable benefits of ADMS
1.8International success stories
1.9Implementation roadmap
1.10Case study: maturity of a distribution control centre

2.1Distribution SCADA architecture
2.2Remote terminal units (RTUs)
2.3IEC 60870-5-104 and DNP3 protocols
2.4IEC 61850 in distribution
2.5PLC, radio and cellular communications
2.6Private LTE networks
2.7Data acquisition and alarms
2.8Operator human-machine interface
2.9System availability
2.10Laboratory: integrating an RTU via IEC 60870-5-104

3.1Connected network model
3.2Common Information Model IEC 61968 and IEC 61970
3.3Integration between GIS and ADMS
3.4Network data quality
3.5Management of topological changes
3.6Low-voltage modelling
3.7Customer-to-network connectivity
3.8Operational network diagrams
3.9Network digital twin
3.10Practical exercise: connectivity validation of a GIS model

4.1Real-time topology processor
4.2State estimation in distribution
4.3Real-time load flow
4.4Online short-circuit analysis
4.5Load forecasting
4.6Contingency analysis
4.7Switching simulation
4.8Study mode
4.9Accuracy under low observability
4.10Laboratory: state estimation with pseudo-measurements

5.1Outage management system (OMS)
5.2Customer calls and incident analysis
5.3Fault location prediction
5.4Crew management
5.5Planning of work and outages
5.6Customer communication
5.7Calculation of quality indices
5.8Management of extreme events
5.9Integration with smart meters
5.10Case study: managing a storm episode with OMS

6.1FLISR: fault location, isolation and service restoration
6.2Optimal network reconfiguration
6.3Volt-var optimisation (VVO)
6.4Conservation voltage reduction
6.5Loss minimisation
6.6Congestion management
6.7Phase balancing
6.8Optimisation under uncertainty
6.9Validation of benefits
6.10Practical exercise: volt-var control on a feeder with photovoltaics

7.1Functions of a DERMS
7.2Monitoring of distributed generation
7.3Inverter control
7.4Virtual power plants
7.5Grid-connected storage
7.6Electric vehicles as a resource
7.7Coordination with aggregators
7.8IEEE 2030.5 and OpenADR protocols
7.9Dynamic operating envelopes
7.10Laboratory: control of distributed generation on a congested network

8.1AMI systems and their integration
8.2Meter events for OMS
8.3Voltage data for VVO
8.4Low-voltage visibility
8.5Detection of neutral faults
8.6Meter data management (MDM)
8.7Latencies and volumes
8.8Advanced metering analytics
8.9Use cases
8.10Practical exercise: using meter events to detect outages

9.1Demand forecasting with machine learning
9.2Anomaly detection
9.3Predictive maintenance of assets
9.4Fault classification
9.5Reinforcement learning in control
9.6Predictive digital twins
9.7Data platforms
9.8Explainability for operators
9.9Model governance
9.10Laboratory: feeder load forecasting with neural networks

10.1Threats to ADMS systems
10.2IEC 62351 for protocols
10.3IEC 62443 for control systems
10.4Segmentation between OT and IT networks
10.5Identity management
10.6Security monitoring
10.7Interoperability between systems
10.8Integration testing
10.9Incident recovery
10.10Workshop: risk analysis of ADMS–AMI integration

11.1Requirements analysis
11.2Technical system specification
11.3Vendor selection
11.4Data migration
11.5Acceptance testing
11.6Operator training
11.7Change management
11.8Success indicators
11.9Maintenance and evolution
11.10Case study: phased ADMS implementation plan

12.1Selection of the network and use cases
12.2Network model and data
12.3ADMS architecture design
12.4Selected advanced applications
12.5Integration of distributed resources
12.6Benefit assessment
12.7Implementation plan
12.8Conclusions and future work
12.9Master's Thesis report
12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel

Methodology, software & labs

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 OpenDSS, DIgSILENT PowerFactory, GridLAB-D, Python (pandapower, scikit-learn) and QGIS, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Work is based on real procedures for simulating FLISR and VVO applications, integrating AMI data into OMS and state estimation in distribution networks. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.

Standards covered: IEC 61968, IEC 61970, IEC 60870-5-104, IEC 61850, IEC 62351, IEC 62443, IEEE 2030.5, Royal Decree 1955/2000.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.

Standards-based learning:guided reading of IEC 61968, IEC 61970 and IEC 60870-5-104 applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.

Industry software:OpenDSS, DIgSILENT PowerFactory, GridLAB-D, Python (pandapower, scikit-learn) and QGIS, in free, academic or evaluation versions.

Master's Thesis with defence:A complete ADMS project, from network model and architecture design to advanced applications, DER integration, benefit assessment and implementation plan, defended before a panel.

Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.

Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Build the network model

Validate the connectivity of a GIS-based CIM network model.

Estimate the network state

Run state estimation with pseudo-measurements on the study network.

Optimise operations

Simulate FLISR and volt-var control on a feeder with photovoltaics.

Integrate DER and AMI

Control distributed generation and use meter events to detect outages.

Master's Thesis

Present the complete ADMS architecture with its implementation plan, defended before a panel.

Career opportunities

Where this takes you

ADMS systems engineerDistribution control centre operatorSmart grid solution architectDERMS specialistNetwork data analystGrid digitalisation project manager

Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

University degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
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.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The programme totals 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.

You work with OpenDSS, DIgSILENT PowerFactory, GridLAB-D, Python (pandapower, scikit-learn) and QGIS, 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 Master's Thesis. 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 in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.

A degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), 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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