Master’s in PEM Fuel Cells, ISO 19880, 350/700 bar, LH₂ and Material Compatibility Engineering
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in PEM fuel cell engineering, ISO 19880, 350/700 bar storage, LH₂ and materials compatibility. 12 modules covering PEM electrochemistry, MEA components, fuel cell systems, high-pressure and liquid hydrogen storage, hydrogen embrittlement, stations to ISO 19880, refuelling protocols, hydrogen quality, safety and validation testing, with an assigned technical tutor.
Master’s in PEM Fuel Cells, ISO 19880, 350/700 bar, LH₂ and Material Compatibility Engineering — studying from New Zealand
Regulation, safety and reliability engineering is well established in New Zealand, underpinned by a strong regulatory framework for health and safety, transport, building and electrical equipment. WorkSafe New Zealand administers workplace health and safety law, while Standards New Zealand develops and publishes national standards. Professionals in this area support compliance, certification and risk assessment for manufacturers, infrastructure operators and public agencies.
Fees for New Zealand: NZ$17,700 (New Zealand dollar), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in New Zealand
Typical roles
Questions from New Zealand
Which New Zealand bodies set the rules for safety and compliance engineering?
WorkSafe New Zealand regulates workplace health and safety, and the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi handles vehicle and transport compliance. Engineering New Zealand is the professional body, including the Chartered Professional Engineer pathway. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not accredited by any national body, so their recognition is decided by employers or the relevant body.
Do New Zealand employers hire RAMS and safety engineers?
Yes. Reliability, availability, maintainability and safety roles exist across infrastructure, energy, transport, and manufacturing. Employers typically look for demonstrated competence against recognised standards and professional registration where relevant. A private qualification can support an application, but employers decide how much it counts.
Can I study this alongside work, and do I need a visa?
Yes to both parts. The programme is 100% online and taught in English, so no student visa is needed to study from New Zealand. You get an assigned technical tutor and complete a final project. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible. Programme lengths range from 300 to 1,900 hours.
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 electrochemistry and components of the PEM fuel cell.
Design fuel cell systems and their control.
Select storage solutions at 350 and 700 bar.
Evaluate the use of liquid hydrogen in mobility.
Apply hydrogen materials compatibility criteria.
Interpret the ISO 19880 series and refuelling protocols.
Plan testing and safety analysis of hydrogen systems.
Who it's for
- Fuel cell systems engineers.
- Hydrogen storage engineers working on high-pressure or cryogenic tanks.
- Materials specialists dealing with hydrogen service.
- Refuelling station engineers.
- Process safety engineers.
- Electrochemistry researchers moving towards applied engineering.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter the automotive sector.
What you'll work with
- ISO 19880-1:2020 (gaseous hydrogen fuelling stations)
- ISO 14687:2019 (hydrogen fuel quality)
- SAE J2601 (light-duty vehicle refuelling protocols)
- UN R134 (hydrogen vehicles)
- SAE J2579 (hydrogen fuel systems)
- ISO 17268:2020 (refuelling connection devices)
- ISO 11114-4:2017 (materials compatibility with gases)
- MATLAB/Simulink
- COMSOL Multiphysics
- DNV Phast
- Ansys Fluent
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1Oxidation and reduction reactions1.2Reversible potential and the Nernst equation1.3Activation, ohmic and concentration losses1.4Polarisation curve1.5Efficiency and heat balance1.6Oxygen reduction kinetics1.7Proton transport in the membrane1.8Water management1.9Electrochemical degradation mechanisms1.10Lab: fitting a polarisation curve
2.1Perfluorosulfonic acid membranes2.2Platinum and alloy catalysts2.3Catalyst layers and ionomer2.4Gas diffusion layers2.5Metallic and graphite bipolar plates2.6Gaskets and sealing2.7Flow field design2.8Assembly manufacturing2.9Component characterisation2.10Practical exercise: comparison of bipolar plates for automotive use
3.1Air compressor and humidification3.2Anode recirculation and ejectors3.3Nitrogen and water purging3.4Cooling circuit3.5Boost DC/DC converter3.6System control3.7Cold start3.8Dynamic operation over driving cycles3.9Lifetime extension strategies3.10Lab: dynamic system model in Simulink
4.1Hydrogen compressibility4.2Type I to IV tanks4.3Carbon fibre and filament winding4.4Polymer liner and permeation4.5Valves and regulators4.6Thermally activated pressure relief devices4.7Hydraulic cycling tests4.8Localised fire tests4.9Service life and decommissioning4.10Case study: pressure selection for a truck versus a passenger car
5.1Liquefaction and the Claude cycle5.2Ortho- and para-hydrogen5.3Insulated cryogenic tanks5.4Evaporation and boil-off management5.5High-pressure cryogenic pumps5.6sLH₂ and CcH₂ refuelling5.7Cryogenic hazards and burns5.8Applications in trucks and ships5.9Regulations applicable to LH₂5.10Practical exercise: boil-off balance of an LH₂ tank
6.1Hydrogen embrittlement6.2HEDE and HELP mechanisms6.3Austenitic and ferritic steels6.4Aluminium alloys6.5Polymers and elastomers6.6Slow strain rate testing6.7Fatigue testing in hydrogen6.8ISO 11114-4 and SAE J25796.9Materials selection6.10Lab: interpreting embrittlement tests
7.1Structure of the ISO 19880 series7.2General requirements of Part 17.3Dispensers and Part 27.4Valves and Part 37.5Compressors and Part 47.6Hoses and Part 57.7Fittings and Part 67.8O-rings and Part 77.9Quality control and Part 87.10Workshop: ISO 19880-1 checklist for a station
8.1SAE J2601 protocol at 70 MPa8.2Pre-cooling to −40 °C8.3Fill rate and temperature8.4Infrared communication8.5SAE J2600 and ISO 17268 receptacles8.6Heavy-duty refuelling8.7Measurement of dispensed mass8.8Dispenser testing8.9Field issues8.10Practical exercise: calculating a fill curve
9.1ISO 14687 Grade D specification9.2Effect of CO and H₂S9.3Inert contaminants and dilution9.4Sampling to ISO 19880-99.5Laboratory analytical techniques9.6Quality assurance along the chain9.7PSA purification9.8In-line sensors9.9Traceability of hydrogen batches9.10Case study: sampling plan for a station
10.1Flammability properties10.2Leak dispersion10.3Detonation and deflagration10.4ATEX hazardous area classification10.5Hydrogen detectors10.6Natural and forced ventilation10.7Safety distances10.8Quantitative risk analysis10.9Historical hydrogen incidents10.10Lab: dispersion simulation with Phast
11.1Fuel cell bench testing11.2Accelerated degradation protocols11.3Tank testing to UN R13411.4Component testing to EC 7911.5Station validation11.6Vehicle durability testing11.7Specialist hydrogen testing laboratories11.8High-pressure instrumentation11.9Data analysis11.10Workshop: test plan for a 700 bar system
12.1Definition of the technical problem12.2State-of-the-art review12.3Technology selection12.4Modelling and calculation12.5Materials analysis12.6Regulatory requirements of the design12.7Proposed validation plan12.8Technical conclusions and future work12.9Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
How you'll learn
100% online training 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 each intake, making it compatible with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is MATLAB/Simulink, COMSOL Multiphysics, DNV Phast and Ansys Fluent, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied through real procedures: characterising the polarisation curve of a PEM fuel cell, selecting materials compatible with high-pressure hydrogen and simulating the dispersion of a leak at a station. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: ISO 19880-1:2020, ISO 14687:2019, SAE J2601, UN R134, SAE J2579, ISO 17268:2020, ISO 11114-4:2017.
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
- University degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's 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 MATLAB/Simulink, COMSOL Multiphysics, DNV Phast and Ansys Fluent, 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 university degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), 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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