Postgraduate Diploma in EMG, Processing and Neuromuscular Control
Online Postgraduate Diploma of 800 h in EMG, Processing and Neuromuscular Control. 8 modules with SENIAM Recommendations (surface EMG), ISEK Standards for EMG data communication and MATLAB. Assigned tutor and enrolment open.
Postgraduate Diploma in EMG, Processing and Neuromuscular Control — 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$2,160 (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 physiology of the motor unit and the generation of the EMG signal.
Acquire surface EMG following the SENIAM recommendations.
Filter, rectify and extract features from the EMG signal.
Integrate EMG into movement analysis.
Apply pattern recognition to classify gestures.
Design myoelectric control strategies for prostheses and exoskeletons.
Combine EMG and stimulation in rehabilitation protocols.
Who it's for
- Biomedical signal processing engineer looking to specialise in EMG, Processing and Neuromuscular Control.
- Researcher in neuromuscular control looking to specialise in EMG, Processing and Neuromuscular Control.
- Myoelectric prosthetics engineer looking to specialise in EMG, Processing and Neuromuscular Control.
- Rehabilitation engineer looking to specialise in EMG, Processing and Neuromuscular Control.
- Human-machine interface developer looking to specialise in EMG, Processing and Neuromuscular Control.
- Biomechanics laboratory technician looking to specialise in EMG, Processing and Neuromuscular Control.
- Graduates in engineering or science looking to enter orthopaedics and prosthetics.
What you'll work with
- SENIAM Recommendations (surface EMG)
- ISEK Standards for EMG data communication
- IEC 60601-2-40 (electromyographs and evoked potential equipment)
- IEC 60601-1 (safety of medical electrical equipment)
- ISO 14971 (risk management)
- Regulation (EU) 2017/745 (MDR)
8 modules · 800 h
1.1Motor unit and recruitment1.2Muscle action potential1.3Muscle fibre types1.4Force-length and force-velocity relationships1.5Central motor control and reflexes1.6Central and peripheral fatigue1.7Proprioception1.8Neuromuscular plasticity1.9Neuromuscular pathologies1.10Practice: interpreting motor unit recordings
2.1Electrodes and bipolar configuration2.2SENIAM recommendations2.3Skin preparation2.4Amplification and CMRR2.5Sampling frequency2.6High-density EMG2.7Wireless EMG2.8Artefacts and crosstalk2.9Normalisation with MVC2.10Laboratory: quadriceps EMG recording
3.1Band-pass filtering and mains noise3.2Rectification and envelope3.3RMS and mean rectified value3.4Activation onset detection3.5Spectral analysis and median frequency3.6Wavelets for EMG3.7Motor unit decomposition3.8Muscle synergies by NMF3.9Tools in Python and MATLAB3.10Workshop: processing pipeline in Python
4.1Activation patterns in gait4.2Intermuscular coordination4.3EMG in sport4.4Fatigue in repetitive tasks4.5EMG-force relationship4.6Synchronisation with kinematics4.7EMG in ergonomic assessment4.8Clinical interpretation4.9Results report4.10Case study: muscle activation in the squat
5.1Feature extraction5.2LDA and SVM classifiers5.3Neural networks for EMG5.4Gesture recognition5.5Simultaneous proportional control5.6Robustness to electrode changes5.7Adaptive training5.8Real-time evaluation5.9Public datasets5.10Laboratory: hand gesture classifier
6.1Upper-limb myoelectric prostheses6.2Targeted muscle reinnervation6.3EMG-controlled exoskeletons6.4Human-machine interfaces6.5Sensory feedback6.6Latency and real-time requirements6.7Embedded systems6.8Safety and regulation6.9User experience6.10Practice: controlling an actuator with EMG
7.1Functional electrical stimulation7.2EMG biofeedback in rehabilitation7.3Neuromuscular control after injury7.4Stroke rehabilitation7.5Rehabilitation robotics7.6Assessment of clinical outcomes7.7Clinical trials in rehabilitation7.8Telerehabilitation7.9Ethics and safety7.10Case study: knee biofeedback programme
8.1Problem definition8.2Acquisition protocol8.3Signal processing8.4Algorithm design8.5Real-time implementation8.6User evaluation8.7Results analysis8.8Conclusions8.9Report and presentation8.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
As 100 % online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: the student progresses 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 MATLAB, Python (NeuroKit2), Delsys EMGworks, OpenSim, LabVIEW, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Trials are studied using real surface EMG recording procedures in a movement laboratory, myoelectric prosthesis control on a bench, and rehabilitation protocols with biofeedback. Assessment is continuous per module plus the final integrative project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Explain the physiology of the motor unit and the generation of the EMG signal.
Acquire surface EMG following the SENIAM recommendations.
Filter, rectify and extract features from the EMG signal.
Integrate EMG into movement analysis.
Apply pattern recognition to classify gestures.
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 Spanish to follow technical standards documentation.
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 between 10 and 15 hours a week on average, compatible with a full-time job.
The course uses MATLAB, Python (NeuroKit2), Delsys EMGworks, OpenSim, LabVIEW. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM own diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrative project. It is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Consult the recognition policy when enrolling.
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