Postgraduate Diploma in High-Load Powertrains and SFI Safety
Online 800-hour Postgraduate Diploma in High-Load Powertrains and SFI Safety. 8 modules with SFI Spec 1.1 clutches and flywheels, SFI Spec 6.1 bellhousings and Holley EFI. Assigned tutor and enrolment open.
Postgraduate Diploma in High-Load Powertrains and SFI Safety — studying from New Zealand
New Zealand has a modest automotive industry, with most vehicle engineering centred on aftermarket parts, commercial vehicle body building, and the import and distribution of vehicles. Motorsport is a significant sector, with Hamilton and the Waikato region hosting a dense cluster of racing teams and engineering firms, and the Motorsport New Zealand body governing the national championships. Automotive engineers commonly work for importers, dealer networks, fleet operators and specialist fabrication businesses, and the sector also serves the country's large agricultural vehicle market.
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
Is automotive engineering a regulated title in New Zealand, and which bodies matter here?
The title Chartered Professional Engineer is regulated and administered by Engineering New Zealand, which sets competence standards for registration. Vehicle standards and certification in New Zealand are overseen by the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not accredited by a national body, so recognition by employers or Engineering New Zealand is not something SEIUM can promise.
What kinds of automotive and motorsport employers hire engineers in New Zealand?
New Zealand's automotive sector includes vehicle importers, workshops and fleet operators, motorsport teams and specialist fabrication and engineering firms, along with companies supplying parts and servicing. Roles often reward hands-on experience and clear technical reporting. A private qualification can support an application, but whether an employer values it is their decision and cannot be assumed.
How much time does a programme need, and can an employer help fund it?
Specialist courses take about 300 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and master's programmes 1,900 hours, all online in English with an assigned technical tutor and a final project. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible. Choose a pace you can sustain alongside work, and check with your employer early about any funding or study leave arrangements.
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
Analyse the loads of high specific-output engines.
Select reinforced internal components.
Calibrate electronic engine management safely.
Size transmissions for extreme power.
Apply SFI specifications to a vehicle.
Verify containment and driver protection systems.
Manage the risks associated with high-load powertrains.
Who it's for
- Competition engine tuner who wants to specialise in High-Load Powertrains and SFI Safety.
- Vehicle safety technician who wants to specialise in High-Load Powertrains and SFI Safety.
- ECU calibrator who wants to specialise in High-Load Powertrains and SFI Safety.
- Transmission technician who wants to specialise in High-Load Powertrains and SFI Safety.
- Competition technical inspector who wants to specialise in High-Load Powertrains and SFI Safety.
- Drag racing crew chief who wants to specialise in High-Load Powertrains and SFI Safety.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter drag racing.
What you'll work with
- SFI Spec 1.1 clutches and flywheels
- SFI Spec 6.1 bellhousings
- SFI Spec 18.1 harmonic dampers
- SFI Spec 29.1 flexplates
- SFI Spec 25.1 chassis
- SFI Spec 16.1 harnesses
- SFI Spec 3.2A fire suits
- NHRA Rulebook
8 modules · 800 h
1.1Brake mean effective pressure and thermal load1.2Large-displacement V8 engines for acceleration1.3Supercharging with positive-displacement blowers1.4Large twin turbochargers1.5Fuels: race gasoline, methanol and nitromethane1.6Compression ratio and detonation1.7Solid billet aluminium blocks and heads1.8Mechanical limits of the reciprocating assembly1.9Service life per pass1.10Case study: load analysis of a supercharged engine
2.1Billet forged crankshafts2.2Aluminium and steel connecting rods2.3Forged pistons and piston rings2.4ARP bolts and torque specification2.5Camshafts and valve springs2.6Dry-sump lubrication2.7Head gaskets and chamber sealing2.8Bearings and clearances2.9Inspection of parts between rounds2.10Workshop: post-pass inspection protocol
3.1Programmable competition ECUs3.2Fuel injection and ignition maps3.3Staged boost control3.4Knock and EGT sensors3.5Dyno calibration3.6Engine protection strategies3.7Engine data logging3.8Alcohol and methanol injection3.9Calibration safety3.10Laboratory: time-based boost calibration in Holley EFI
4.1SFI-certified clutches and flywheels4.2Torque converters for high power4.3Driveshafts and their critical speed4.4Reinforced universal joints4.59-inch rear axles4.6High-strength axle shafts4.7Typical transmission failures4.8Containment shields4.9Preventive transmission maintenance4.10Practical: calculating the critical speed of a driveshaft
5.1Origin and role of the SFI Foundation5.2Product certification process5.3Labelling and expiry dates5.4Driver safety specifications5.5Drivetrain component specifications5.6Chassis specifications5.7Verification at technical inspection5.8Relationship with the NHRA rulebook5.9Team responsibility5.10Case study: SFI audit of a drag vehicle
6.1SFI 6.1 bellhousings6.2Automatic transmission shields6.3SFI 18.1 harmonic dampers6.4SFI 29.1 flexplates6.5Transmission blankets6.6Roll cages and chassis certification6.7SFI 16.1 harnesses6.8SFI 3.2A fire suits6.9Brake parachutes6.10Practical: containment component checklist
7.1Fuel and methanol fires7.2On-board extinguishing systems7.3Catastrophic engine failures7.4Supercharger and blanket explosions7.5Emergency procedures on track7.6Rescue and response teams7.7Team training7.8Analysis of historical incidents7.9Safety culture within the team7.10Case study: analysis of a clutch failure
8.1Category definition and objectives8.2Engine specification8.3Drivetrain selection8.4SFI certification plan8.5Risk analysis8.6Maintenance plan8.7Technical documentation for the file8.8Vehicle safety review8.9Report 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 timetable: 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 Holley EFI, Racepak DataLink II, Performance Trends Engine Analyzer, Microsoft Excel, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied using real verification procedures for SFI-certified components, calibration of supercharged engines, and inspection of parts after a pass. Assessment is continuous per 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.
Analyse the loads of high specific-output engines.
Select reinforced internal components.
Calibrate electronic engine management safely.
Size transmissions for extreme power.
Apply SFI specifications to a vehicle.
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 regulation 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 works with Holley EFI, Racepak DataLink II, Performance Trends Engine Analyzer, Microsoft Excel. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
An own diploma from SEIUM upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrating project. It is in-house training, not an official Ministry qualification.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Check the recognition policy when you enrol.
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