Master’s in Functional Safety of Machinery
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in functional safety of machinery: 12 modules covering safety requirements specification, EN ISO 13849 and EN IEC 62061 design, safety software, protective devices, safe drives, validation, human factors, cybersecurity and safety management, with an assigned technical tutor.
Master’s in Functional Safety of Machinery — studying from New Zealand
Robotics and automation are increasingly important in New Zealand, especially in dairy processing, food manufacturing, forestry, horticulture and logistics. Research groups at the University of Auckland and the University of Canterbury lead in robotics and control engineering, and firms in these regions develop automated systems for primary industries. Engineers work on process control, industrial automation and robotic integration for manufacturers and technology providers.
Fees for New Zealand: NZ$15,700 (New Zealand dollar), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in New Zealand
Typical roles
Questions from New Zealand
Which New Zealand bodies recognise robotics and control engineering?
Engineering New Zealand is the professional body, and the Chartered Professional Engineer pathway is the recognised route to professional status. Universities such as the University of Auckland and the University of Canterbury offer accredited engineering degrees. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not accredited by any national body, so their recognition rests with employers or the relevant body.
Do robotics and automation employers in New Zealand value this training?
New Zealand has demand for automation skills in dairy processing, food manufacturing, forestry, and advanced manufacturing. Employers generally value practical project experience and programming ability highly. A SEIUM qualification can strengthen a CV, but whether it counts is for each employer to decide.
Is the programme workable alongside a full-time job in New Zealand?
Yes. The programme is 100% online and taught in English, so you can study from anywhere in New Zealand without a student visa. Master's programmes total 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours. You have an assigned technical tutor, and fees are payable in instalments or sponsored by an employer where possible.
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
Master the concepts of functional safety and the machinery safety life cycle.
Apply EN ISO 13849-1, EN IEC 62061 and IEC 61508 to real control systems.
Specify safety functions and calculate PL and SIL with SISTEMA and PAScal.
Design safety-related software and select protective devices and safe drives.
Validate safety functions with analysis, fault injection and response-time tests.
Integrate cybersecurity and human factors into the safety concept.
Lead the functional safety of new, modified or retrofitted machinery.
Who it's for
- Control system design engineers in machine-building companies.
- PLC programmers who implement safety functions.
- Electrical design engineers responsible for safety circuits.
- Compliance engineers preparing machinery for CE marking.
- System integrators assembling lines and robot cells.
- Plant and maintenance engineers who modify existing machines.
- Engineering graduates seeking to specialise in machinery safety.
What you'll work with
- EN ISO 13849-1 and -2 (safety-related parts of control systems)
- EN IEC 62061 (functional safety of machinery control systems)
- IEC 61508 (functional safety of E/E/PE systems)
- ISO 12100 (risk assessment)
- IEC 61800-5-2 (safety functions of power drive systems)
- EN ISO 13850 (emergency stop)
- EN ISO 14119 (interlocking devices)
- EN ISO 13855 (positioning of protective devices)
- IEC 61496 (electro-sensitive protective equipment)
- IEC 62443 (industrial cybersecurity)
- Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230
- SISTEMA (IFA)
- Pilz PAScal
- Siemens Safety Evaluation Tool
- TIA Portal STEP 7 Safety
- TwinCAT Safety
- Isograph Reliability Workbench
12 modules
1.1Hazard, risk, harm and safety function1.2Functional safety within ISO 12100 risk reduction1.3Standards landscape: IEC 61508, ISO 13849 and IEC 620611.4The safety life cycle for machinery1.5Random, systematic and common cause failures1.6Reliability basics: failure rate, MTTF and PFH1.7Safety integrity: performance level and SIL1.8Roles, responsibilities and competence1.9Typical mistakes in safety projects1.10Exercise: identifying the safety functions of a machine
2.1Control system requirements in Regulation (EU) 2023/12302.2Transition from Directive 2006/42/EC2.3Harmonised standards and presumption of conformity2.4The safety requirements specification2.5Determining the required PL with the risk graph2.6SIL assignment under IEC 620612.7Functional safety plan2.8Verification and validation plan2.9Documentation and traceability2.10Exercise: safety requirements specification for a palletiser
3.1Designated architectures: categories B, 1, 2, 3 and 43.2MTTFd estimation and B10d values3.3Diagnostic coverage3.4Common cause failure scoring3.5Simplified method for PL determination3.6Fault exclusion and its justification3.7Combining subsystems in series3.8Use of manufacturer reliability data3.9Modelling in SISTEMA3.10Exercise: PL calculation of a two-channel interlock
4.1Scope of EN IEC 620614.2Basic subsystem architectures A to D4.3PFH calculation4.4Systematic capability4.5Safety requirements for software4.6Using element data from suppliers4.7Choosing between EN ISO 13849-1 and EN IEC 620614.8Proof test and diagnostic test intervals4.9Complex elements developed to IEC 615084.10Exercise: SIL verification of a speed monitoring function
5.1Safety PLCs and certified function blocks5.2Limited variability languages5.3Software safety requirements5.4The V-model for safety software5.5Coding rules and PLCopen Safety5.6Modular design and parameterisation5.7Static analysis and code review5.8Software testing and coverage5.9Version control and change management5.10Exercise: safety program for a door interlocking system
6.1Interlocking devices and coded actuators (EN ISO 14119)6.2Light curtains and laser scanners (IEC 61496)6.3Minimum distances and approach speeds (EN ISO 13855)6.4Emergency stop devices (EN ISO 13850)6.5Enabling devices and hold-to-run controls6.6Safety relays and contactors with mirror contacts6.7Pressure-sensitive mats and edges (ISO 13856)6.8Fluid power safety valves6.9Operating mode selection6.10Exercise: component selection for a safety function
7.1Drive safety functions to IEC 61800-5-2: STO, SS1, SS2, SOS7.2Safely limited speed and position7.3Brake control and brake testing7.4Vertical axes and gravity-loaded axes7.5Safe encoders and position feedback7.6Safety fieldbuses: PROFIsafe, FSoE and CIP Safety7.7Response time calculation7.8Stop categories and stopping performance7.9Robot safety controllers7.10Exercise: safely limited speed for maintenance mode
8.1Validation plan and principles8.2Validation by analysis and by testing8.3Fault lists and fault exclusions8.4Fault injection testing8.5Validation of safety software8.6Response time measurement8.7Stopping performance measurement8.8Validation records8.9Independent assessment8.10Exercise: validation report of a safety function
9.1Incentives to defeat protective devices9.2Manual intervention and special operating modes9.3Maintenance and troubleshooting tasks9.4Ergonomic design of control devices9.5Muting and blanking of protective devices9.6Lockout/tagout and isolation of energy9.7Reset and restart functions9.8Information for use on safety functions9.9Operator and maintenance training9.10Exercise: defeating risk analysis
10.1Protection against corruption in Regulation (EU) 2023/123010.2IEC 62443 for machine builders10.3ISO/TR 22100-4 guidance10.4Threat modelling for machine control10.5Security zones and conduits10.6Secure remote maintenance10.7Patch management versus safety revalidation10.8Cyber Resilience Act obligations10.9Coordinating safety and security life cycles10.10Exercise: security risk assessment of a safety controller
11.1Functional safety management system11.2Competence management11.3Modification of machines in service11.4Retrofit of safety functions11.5Periodic proof testing11.6Field data and failure monitoring11.7Management of suppliers and components11.8Cost and planning of safety projects11.9Functional safety audits11.10Exercise: safety retrofit plan for a production line
12.1Choosing the topic and scope of the work12.2State of the art and literature review12.3Problem statement and objectives12.4Applied research methodology12.5Technical development supervised by your thesis director12.6Analysis of results and discussion12.7Conclusions and future work12.8Writing the dissertation12.9Preparing the defence12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel and assessment
How you'll learn
100% online training 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, which makes the programme compatible with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is SISTEMA (IFA), Pilz PAScal, Siemens Safety Evaluation Tool, TIA Portal STEP 7 Safety, TwinCAT Safety and Isograph Reliability Workbench, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures from a safety PLC test rig, a safe drive bench and a machine guarding validation cell. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: EN ISO 13849-1 and -2, EN IEC 62061, IEC 61508, ISO 12100, IEC 61800-5-2, EN ISO 13850, EN ISO 14119, EN ISO 13855, IEC 61496, IEC 62443, Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230.
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
- Undergraduate 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.
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 SISTEMA (IFA), Pilz PAScal, Siemens Safety Evaluation Tool, TIA Portal STEP 7 Safety, TwinCAT Safety and Isograph Reliability Workbench, 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.
An undergraduate degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent professional experience, plus 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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