Postgraduate Diploma in Chronobiology, Jet Lag and Circadian Rhythms
Online 800-hour Postgraduate Diploma in Chronobiology, Jet Lag and Circadian Rhythms. 8 modules covering CIE S 026/E:2018 (response to light mediated by photoreceptors), Directive 2003/88/EC (organisation of working time) and ActiLife (ActiGraph). Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Postgraduate Diploma in Chronobiology, Jet Lag and Circadian Rhythms — studying from New Zealand
Health engineering in New Zealand covers medical devices, biomechanics, rehabilitation technology and occupational safety, with significant activity in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. The Medsafe regulator within the Ministry of Health oversees medical device approval, and the Accident Compensation Corporation plays a central role in workplace injury prevention and safety. Biomechanics research is supported by university groups and by the country's strong sports science community.
Fees for New Zealand: NZ$3,550 (New Zealand dollar), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in New Zealand
Typical roles
Questions from New Zealand
Will this qualification be recognised by Engineering New Zealand in New Zealand?
Engineering New Zealand is the professional body for engineers here and runs the Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng) pathway. SEIUM's qualifications are private qualifications, not official state degrees, and are not accredited by any national body. Recognition for any purpose is decided by the employer or the relevant body, so check with them before relying on it for registration.
Would a biomechanics or wearables background help me find work in New Zealand?
Interest in wearables and workplace safety exists across New Zealand's health technology, rehabilitation, sport science and occupational health sectors. Whether an employer values a SEIUM qualifications depends on the employer's own assessment of your skills and experience. A portfolio of applied projects is often what carries the most weight in hiring decisions.
Can I study this while working full time in New Zealand?
Yes. The programme is fully online and taught in English, so you can study from anywhere, including from home, and you do not need a student visa for that. Master's programmes total 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours, with an assigned technical tutor. Fees can be paid in instalments, and employer sponsorship is 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
Explain the fundamentals of the circadian clock and its regulation.
Quantify the effect of light on the circadian system according to CIE S 026.
Analyse the regulation of sleep and its disorders.
Design strategies to mitigate jet lag.
Assess the risk of fatigue in shift work.
Use actigraphy and sleep monitoring devices.
Develop a circadian management plan for a demanding environment.
Who it's for
- Fatigue management specialist who wishes to specialise in Chronobiology, Jet Lag and Circadian Rhythms.
- Applied chronobiology consultant who wishes to specialise in Chronobiology, Jet Lag and Circadian Rhythms.
- Occupational prevention technician in shift work who wishes to specialise in Chronobiology, Jet Lag and Circadian Rhythms.
- Circadian lighting designer who wishes to specialise in Chronobiology, Jet Lag and Circadian Rhythms.
- Sleep researcher who wishes to specialise in Chronobiology, Jet Lag and Circadian Rhythms.
- Shift and rota planner who wishes to specialise in Chronobiology, Jet Lag and Circadian Rhythms.
- Graduates in engineering or science seeking to enter aviation.
What you'll work with
- CIE S 026/E:2018 (response to light mediated by photoreceptors)
- Directive 2003/88/EC (organisation of working time)
- Regulation (EU) No 83/2014 (flight time limitations)
- Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 (driving and rest times)
- ICAO Doc 9966 (fatigue risk management)
- Royal Decree 1561/1995 (special working hours)
8 modules · 800 h
1.1Circadian, ultradian and infradian rhythms1.2Suprachiasmatic nucleus1.3Clock genes and molecular loops1.4Synchronisers: light, food and activity1.5Melatonin and cortisol1.6Chronotypes1.7Body temperature and rhythm1.8Peripheral rhythms1.9Study methods1.10Practical: determining chronotype with the MEQ questionnaire
2.1Melanopsin-containing retinal ganglion cells2.2Phase response curve2.3Equivalent melanopic illuminance2.4CIE S 026 standard2.5Indoor light exposure2.6Blue light and screens2.7Dynamic lighting2.8Measurement with light dosimeters2.9Exposure recommendations2.10Laboratory: melanopic measurement of an environment
3.1Sleep Stages 3.2 Borbély’s Two-Process Model 3.3 Polysomnography 3.4 Actigraphy 3.5 Sleep Debt 3.6 Sleep Inertia 3.7 Strategic Naps 3.8 Circadian Rhythm Disorders 3.9 Sleep Hygiene 3.10 Workshop: Analysis of Actigraphy Data
4.1Physiology of time-zone desynchronisation4.2Eastward and westward travel4.3Symptoms and performance4.4Light exposure planning4.5Melatonin as a chronobiotic4.6Meal and exercise timing4.7Planning tools4.8Jet lag in athletes4.9Jet lag in aircrew4.10Case study: adaptation plan for a transoceanic flight
5.1Night shifts and health5.2Shift roster design5.3Rapid versus slow rotation5.4Flight time limitations in aviation5.5FRMS fatigue management systems5.6Biomathematical fatigue models5.7Fatigue-related accidents5.8Operational countermeasures5.9European working time regulations5.10Practical: roster assessment with a fatigue model
6.1Wearables for sleep and rhythm6.2Validation against polysomnography6.3Distal skin temperature6.4Heart rate variability6.5Algorithms for estimating circadian phase6.6Recommendation applications6.7Health data privacy6.8Device limitations6.9Field studies6.10Laboratory: comparison of a wearable with actigraphy
7.1Space missions and rhythm7.2Polar bases7.3Submarines and isolation7.4Sustained military operations7.5Hospitals and healthcare staff7.6Long-haul pilots7.7Lighting in remote stations7.8Cognitive performance7.9Ethics of intervention7.10Case study: lighting design for an Antarctic base
8.1Definition of population and problem8.2Initial assessment8.3Intervention design8.4Light exposure plan8.5Monitoring plan8.6Data analysis8.7Evaluation of results8.8Recommendations8.9Report and presentation8.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
Fully 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 study with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is ActiLife (ActiGraph), luox (CIE S 026 tool), R, MATLAB, Python (pandas), in free, academic or evaluation versions. Case studies are based on real actigraphy procedures and sleep diaries, melanopic light exposure measurement, and shift planning with biomathematical fatigue models. Assessment is continuous across modules, 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.
Explain the fundamentals of the circadian clock and its regulation.
Quantify the effect of light on the circadian system according to CIE S 026.
Analyse the regulation of sleep and its disorders.
Design strategies to mitigate jet lag.
Assess the risk of fatigue in shift work.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. A university degree is not required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme’s software.
- Sufficient 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 comprises 800 hours in total, spread over 6 to 8 months. That is between 10 and 15 hours per week on average, compatible with a full-time job.
The programme uses ActiLife (ActiGraph), luox (CIE S 026 tool), R, MATLAB, Python (pandas). Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the open-source alternative where one exists.
An SEIUM own diploma upon passing the 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 diploma in the same area can be credited towards the advanced programme. Please check the credit transfer policy when you enrol.
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