Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Helmet Design and Impact Management
Online Postgraduate Diploma of 800 hours in Advanced Helmet Design and Impact Management. 8 modules covering UNECE Regulation No. 22 (series 06), FIM Racing Homologation Programme (FRHPhe-02) and LS-DYNA. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Helmet Design and Impact Management — studying from New Zealand
The motorcycle and two-wheeler sector in New Zealand is primarily retail, servicing, touring and recreational use, with a sizeable community of riders served by importers, dealerships and specialist workshops. Motorcycle safety and licensing fall under the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, and the Motorcycle Trade Association supports the sector. Engineers and technicians often work in dealership service departments, component importers or with small specialist manufacturers.
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
Is there a professional body in New Zealand that recognises motorcycle engineering?
There is no separate statutory register for motorcycle engineers in New Zealand. Engineering New Zealand covers the wider profession, and vehicle compliance is regulated by the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not accredited by any national body, so employers decide how much weight to give them.
Who employs motorcycle engineers in New Zealand?
Likely employers include importers and distributors, motorcycle workshops, performance and race teams, and engineering firms serving the automotive sector. Some roles relate to vehicle certification and safety. Employers generally judge candidates on hands-on ability and project evidence, and a private qualification may or may not be valued depending on the employer.
How long does the course take alongside a job in New Zealand?
The course is fully online and taught in English, so you can study from home without a student visa. Specialist courses total 300 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and master's programmes 1,900 hours. You have an assigned technical tutor, and fees can be paid in instalments or sponsored by an employer where available.
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
Translate head injury criteria into design specifications.
Define the architecture, sizing and geometry of a helmet.
Compare linear and rotational impact management strategies.
Simulate impacts using finite elements and correlate them with tests.
Model shell and liner with manufacturing criteria.
Select appropriate materials and production processes.
Plan design validation through to homologation.
Who it's for
- Helmet design engineer wishing to specialise in Advanced Helmet Design and Impact Management.
- Impact simulation engineer wishing to specialise in Advanced Helmet Design and Impact Management.
- Industrial designer of equipment wishing to specialise in Advanced Helmet Design and Impact Management.
- Materials engineer wishing to specialise in Advanced Helmet Design and Impact Management.
- Product development manager wishing to specialise in Advanced Helmet Design and Impact Management.
- Validation engineer wishing to specialise in Advanced Helmet Design and Impact Management.
- Graduates in engineering or sciences looking to enter motorcycle rider equipment.
What you'll work with
- UNECE Regulation No. 22 (series 06)
- FIM Racing Homologation Programme (FRHPhe-02)
- Regulation (EU) 2016/425
- Snell M2020
- FMVSS 218
- ISO 6487:2015
- ISO 13232 (motorcycles, crash tests)
8 modules · 800 h
1.1Functional anatomy of the skull, brain and neck1.2Focal injuries versus diffuse axonal injury1.3AIS scale and HIC and BrIC injury criteria1.4Epidemiology of head injuries in motorcyclists1.5Oblique impacts in real falls1.6Concussion thresholds and rotational tolerance1.7Translating biomechanical data into specifications1.8Market, use and segment requirements1.9Benchmarking of reference helmets1.10Practice: technical specification of a full-face helmet
2.1Layers: shell, energy-absorbing liner and comfort2.23D scanning and head databases2.3Definition of shell and interior sizes2.4Total mass and centre of gravity position2.5Field of vision and opening geometry2.6Aerodynamics, lift and wind noise2.7Ventilation and extraction channels2.8Integration of intercom and speakers2.9Trade-offs between protection, weight and comfort2.10Workshop: defining the architecture of a modular helmet
3.1Multi-density and zoned EPS liners3.2EPP foams for multiple impacts3.3Sliding layers to reduce rotation3.4Cellular structures and printed lattices3.5Viscoelastic and non-Newtonian materials3.6Shell stiffness and load distribution3.7Behaviour in kerb impact3.8Interaction between visor, mechanism and shell3.9Advantages and limitations of each solution3.10Laboratory: comparison of foam samples in drop testing
4.1Geometry preparation and meshing4.2Constitutive models for foams and composites4.3Contacts, friction and impact conditions4.4Hybrid III and human head models4.5Correlation between simulation and testing4.6Sensitivity analysis of densities4.7Liner thickness optimisation4.8BrIC prediction with virtual models4.9Uncertainty management in simulation4.10Practice: simulated oblique impact in LS-DYNA
5.1Sketching and the helmet's formal language5.2Class A surface modelling5.3Liner design and its fittings5.4Design for manufacture of the shell5.5Draft angles and parting lines5.6Visor mechanism design5.7Fastening and strap systems5.8Graphics, decoration and customisation5.9Design protection and patents5.10Workshop: parametric modelling of the liner in CATIA
6.1Injection moulding of polycarbonate and ABS6.2Lamination of carbon, aramid and glass6.3Steam moulding of EPS6.4Manufacture of optical visors6.5Painting, varnishes and thickness control6.6Assembly and torque control6.7Dimensional tolerances across sizes6.8Tooling and unit costs6.9Recyclability and carbon footprint6.10Case study: manufacturing route for a composite shell
7.1Validation plan from concept7.2Internal development tests7.3Preparation for R22.06 and the FIM programme7.4Comfort and wind-noise tests in a wind tunnel7.5On-road user trials7.6Design change management7.7Design reviews and phase gates7.8Design failure mode analysis7.9Lessons learned from development7.10Case study: validation plan for a circuit helmet
8.1Briefing and product specification8.2Proposed concept and architecture8.3CAD modelling of shell and liner8.4Simulation of critical impacts8.5Functional prototype and testing8.6Analysis of results and corrections8.7Manufacturing plan and costs8.8Homologation strategy8.9Report and presentation8.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100 % online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it possible to combine the programme with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is LS-DYNA, CATIA V5, Rhinoceros, HyperMesh, Artec Studio, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied using real helmet design and simulation procedures from concept onwards, comparative foam tests on a drop rig, and liner prototyping with additive manufacturing. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final integrating project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Translate head injury criteria into design specifications.
Define the architecture, sizing and geometry of a helmet.
Compare linear and rotational impact management strategies.
Simulate impacts using finite elements and correlate them with tests.
Model shell and liner with manufacturing criteria.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient level of Spanish to follow technical regulatory texts.
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 consists of 800 hours in total, spread over 6 to 8 months. That is an average of 10 to 15 hours per week, compatible with a full-time job.
The programme uses LS-DYNA, CATIA V5, Rhinoceros, HyperMesh and Artec Studio. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
An SEIUM Institute diploma upon passing continuous assessment and the integrating project. This is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the advanced programme. Check the recognition policy when you enrol.
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