Master’s in UN R79/R152/R157 (ALKS) Engineering, NCAP Assisted Driving, On-Road Validation.
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in UN R79, R152 and R157 (ALKS), NCAP Assisted Driving and public road validation engineering, structured in 12 modules covering the regulatory framework for assistance systems, steering, emergency braking, ALKS and DCAS regulations, Euro NCAP Assisted Driving, track testing, scenario-based and public road validation, in-service monitoring and type-approval documentation, with an assigned technical tutor.
Master’s in UN R79/R152/R157 (ALKS) Engineering, NCAP Assisted Driving, On-Road Validation. — 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
Interpret the UN Regulations applicable to assistance and automation systems.
Verify the requirements of R79, R152 and R157.
Assess systems against the Euro NCAP Assisted Driving protocol.
Plan track tests with targets and driving robots.
Apply scenario-based validation.
Design public road validation plans.
Prepare type-approval files for advanced systems.
Who it's for
- ADAS type-approval engineers.
- Validation engineers for driver assistance systems.
- NCAP protocol specialists.
- Track test engineers.
- Driving data analysts.
- Technical managers at type-approval technical services.
- Engineering or science graduates aiming to enter the automotive industry.
What you'll work with
- UNECE Regulation No. 79 (steering equipment and ACSF)
- UNECE Regulation No. 152 (advanced emergency braking for M1 and N1 vehicles)
- UNECE Regulation No. 157 (Automated Lane Keeping Systems)
- UNECE Regulation No. 171 (Driver Control Assistance Systems)
- UNECE Regulation No. 131 (advanced emergency braking for heavy vehicles)
- Regulation (EU) 2019/2144 (general vehicle safety)
- Euro NCAP Assisted Driving Protocol (consumer assessment of assisted driving)
- ISO 34502:2022 (scenario-based safety evaluation)
- CarMaker (IPG)
- esmini (OpenSCENARIO)
- dSPACE ASM
- MATLAB/Simulink
- Python (pandas)
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1The WP.29 World Forum and its working groups1.2The 1958 Agreement and UN Regulations1.3EU General Safety Regulation1.4Mandatory systems in the EU1.5Difference between assistance and automation1.6DCAS and new regulations1.7Type-approval procedures1.8Application timelines1.9Interpretations and guidance documents1.10Case study: map of regulations applicable to a new vehicle
2.1Automatically commanded steering functions (ACSF)2.2ACSF categories A to E2.3Lane keeping requirements2.4Assisted lane change2.5Corrective steering function2.6Driver warnings2.7Type-approval tests2.8Function limitations2.9Evolution towards R1712.10Practical exercise: verification of ACSF B1 requirements
3.1AEBS for passenger cars3.2Car-to-car scenarios3.3Pedestrian and cyclist scenarios3.4Speeds and speed-reduction requirements3.5Warnings and activation3.6False positives and unwarranted braking3.7Type-approval tests3.8Comparison with NCAP protocols3.9Requirements for heavy vehicles under R1313.10Lab: analysis of AEB test results
4.1Automated Lane Keeping System4.2ALKS operational design domain4.3Extension to 130 km/h and lane change4.4Transition demands4.5Minimal risk manoeuvre4.6Driver monitoring4.7Data storage system DSSAD4.8Manufacturer safety audit4.9Track testing and simulation4.10Practical exercise: compliance matrix for an ALKS
5.1Driver control assistance systems5.2Hands-off functions5.3Driver supervision5.4Allocation of responsibilities5.5Design requirements5.6System assessment5.7Field usage data5.8Relationship with R795.9Development phases5.10Case study: a motorway assistant against R171
6.1Assisted Driving protocol6.2Assistance competence6.3Driver engagement6.4Safety backup6.5ACC and LSS tests6.6Grading scores6.7Evolution towards Euro NCAP 20266.8Comparison with IIHS Safeguards6.9Lessons from published results6.10Lab: assessment with the Assisted Driving protocol
7.1Test facilities7.2Soft targets and moving platforms7.3Driving robots7.4Measurement with precision GNSS7.5Test repeatability7.6Standardised test scenarios7.7Vulnerable road user tests7.8Track safety7.9Test reports7.10Practical exercise: AEB track test campaign
8.1Scenario ontologies8.2Scenario databases8.3OpenSCENARIO and OpenDRIVE8.4Logical and concrete scenarios8.5Scenario coverage8.6High-performance simulation8.7Sampling of critical scenarios8.8Simulation credibility8.9New Assessment/Test Method (NATM)8.10Lab: defining scenarios in OpenSCENARIO
9.1Objectives of on-road testing9.2Planning validation routes9.3Safety drivers9.4Data logging9.5Disengagement analysis9.6Mileage and statistical significance9.7Incident management9.8Testing permits9.9Third-party safety9.10Case study: on-road validation of a Level 2+ system
10.1Event data recorders (EDR)10.2DSSAD storage system10.3In-service monitoring10.4Incident reporting10.5Fleet analysis10.6Software updates and type approval10.7Continuous system improvement10.8Data privacy10.9Analysis tools10.10Practical exercise: fleet data from a lane assistant
11.1Manufacturer documentation11.2Assessment of the safety management system11.3Technical service audits11.4Verification tests11.5Type-approval files11.6Type-approval extensions11.7Conformity of production11.8Relationship with R155 and R15611.9Common errors in type-approval files11.10Workshop: preparing an ALKS type-approval file
12.1System selection12.2Regulatory requirements analysis12.3Applicable NCAP requirements12.4Track test plan12.5Scenario-based validation12.6Public road validation plan12.7Type-approval file12.8Conclusions 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 material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within the intake, so the programme can be combined with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is CarMaker (IPG), esmini (OpenSCENARIO), dSPACE ASM, MATLAB/Simulink and Python (pandas), in free, academic or evaluation versions. Exercises are based on real procedures for AEB and lane assistant track tests, scenario-based validation in simulation and analysis of on-road test data. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: UNECE Regulation No. 79 (steering equipment, ACSF), UNECE Regulation No. 152 (AEBS for M1 and N1), UNECE Regulation No. 157 (ALKS), UNECE Regulation No. 171 (DCAS), UNECE Regulation No. 131 (AEBS for heavy vehicles), Regulation (EU) 2019/2144, Euro NCAP Assisted Driving Protocol, ISO 34502:2022.
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
- A university degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
- 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 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 CarMaker (IPG), esmini (OpenSCENARIO), dSPACE ASM, MATLAB/Simulink and Python (pandas), 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, plus a suitable computer, an internet connection 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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