Postgraduate Diploma in Hydraulic Design and Heat Pumps
Online 800-hour Postgraduate Diploma in Hydraulic Design and Heat Pumps. 8 modules covering EN 14511 (heat pump testing), EN 14825 (seasonal SCOP performance) and CYPETHERM. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Postgraduate Diploma in Hydraulic Design and Heat Pumps — studying from New Zealand
New Zealand's energy sector is distinctive for its high share of renewable generation, drawn from hydroelectric, geothermal and wind resources. Transpower operates the national grid, while distribution networks are run by regional lines companies, and the Electricity Authority regulates the wholesale and retail markets. Energy engineers are employed across generation, transmission, distribution and retail, with demand growing as the country works towards its renewable electricity goals.
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
What professional recognition applies to energy and network engineers in New Zealand?
Engineering New Zealand administers Chartered Professional Engineer registration, which is widely used in the energy sector. The Electricity Authority oversees the electricity market, and the Electricity Engineers' Association is an industry body. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not accredited by any national body, so recognition is decided by employers or the relevant body.
Who employs energy and network engineers in New Zealand?
Major employers include electricity lines companies, generators, transmission operators, gas network businesses and consultancies. Roles often value registration, field experience and knowledge of New Zealand's grid and regulation. A private qualification may support your CV, but it does not guarantee employment or a particular career outcome.
Can I study from New Zealand with a full-time job, and does an employer need to fund it?
Yes. The programmes are 100% online and taught in English, so you can study from New Zealand without a student visa. You will have an assigned technical tutor and complete a final project. Specialist courses take 300 hours, diplomas 800 and master's programmes 1,900. 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
Understand how heat pumps work and the types available.
Calculate thermal loads and building demand profiles.
Apply hydraulic fundamentals to heating circuits.
Design hydraulic schemes suited to heat pumps.
Balance and control hydraulic circuits.
Integrate heat pumps into geothermal systems and district heating networks.
Verify seasonal performance after commissioning.
Who it's for
- HVAC engineer looking to specialise in Hydraulic Design and Heat Pumps.
- Thermal systems designer looking to specialise in Hydraulic Design and Heat Pumps.
- Geothermal engineer looking to specialise in Hydraulic Design and Heat Pumps.
- Commissioning technician looking to specialise in Hydraulic Design and Heat Pumps.
- Energy efficiency consultant looking to specialise in Hydraulic Design and Heat Pumps.
- District heating engineer looking to specialise in Hydraulic Design and Heat Pumps.
- Graduates in engineering or science looking to enter the building sector.
What you'll work with
- EN 14511 (heat pump testing)
- EN 14825 (seasonal SCOP performance)
- EN 12831-1 (thermal load calculation)
- Royal Decree 1027/2007 (RITE)
- EN 378 (safety in refrigeration systems)
- Regulation (EU) 2024/573 (fluorinated gases)
- VDI 4640 (thermal use of the ground)
8 modules · 800 h
1.1Thermodynamic cycle and Carnot COP1.2Air-to-water, water-to-water and ground-source heat pumps1.3Refrigerants R290, R744 and R321.4F-Gas Regulation 2024/5731.5Scroll, rotary and inverter compressors1.6Seasonal SCOP performance according to EN 148251.7Flow temperature and its effect on COP1.8Defrosting and low-temperature behaviour1.9High-temperature heat pumps for industry1.10Laboratory: COP curves using manufacturer data
2.1Load calculation according to EN 128312.2Internal and solar gains2.3DHW production and peak demand2.4Hourly demand profiles2.5Design temperature and distribution2.6Diversity factors in residential buildings2.7Load calculation tools2.8Cooling demand and reversibility2.9Requirements of the CTE DB-HE and RITE2.10Practical: load calculation for a single-family home
3.1Linear and singular pressure losses3.2Darcy-Weisbach equation3.3Pump and system curves3.4Operating point and control3.5Variable-speed pumps3.6Water hammer and expansion vessels3.7Pipe sizing by velocity3.8Thermal insulation of pipes3.9Venting, degassing and dirt separators3.10Workshop: sizing a primary circuit
4.1Primary and secondary circuits4.2Hydraulic separators and low-loss headers4.3Buffer tanks and their sizing4.4DHW production with indirect cylinder and substation4.5Legionella prevention4.6Underfloor heating circuits4.7Fan coils and low-temperature radiators4.8Schemes with hybrid boiler support4.9Integration with solar thermal4.10Case study: hydraulic scheme for a multi-family building
5.1Static and dynamic balancing5.2Pressure-independent control valves (PICV)5.3Valve authority5.4Heating curve control5.5Return temperature control5.6Short cycling and its prevention5.7Priority management for heating and DHW5.8Integration with BMS and protocols5.9Control based on electricity tariff5.10Practical: balancing a radiator circuit
6.1Vertical ground heat exchangers6.2Thermal response test (TRT)6.3Borehole field sizing6.4Open groundwater systems6.5Fifth-generation district heating networks6.6Centralised heat pumps in urban networks6.7Seasonal thermal storage6.8Waste heat recovery6.9Shallow geothermal regulations6.10Laboratory: borehole field sizing
7.1Filling, venting and pressure tests7.2Controller parameter tuning7.3On-site performance measurement7.4COP and SPF monitoring7.5Noise and vibration from outdoor units7.6Preventive maintenance7.7Diagnosing low performance7.8Economic analysis versus gas boiler7.9Grants and energy saving certificates7.10Case study: diagnosing an installation with low SPF
8.1Building characterisation and demand8.2Heat pump selection8.3Hydraulic scheme design8.4Pipe and pump sizing8.5Control strategy8.6Seasonal performance calculation8.7Economic and environmental analysis8.8Technical project documentation8.9Report and presentation8.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
icon 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 easy to combine with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The software used is CYPETHERM, TRNSYS, EED (Earth Energy Designer), advanced Excel, DesignBuilder, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied using real procedures for building thermal load calculation, hydraulic scheme design and balancing, and heat pump commissioning. Assessment is continuous, module 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.
Understand how heat pumps work and the types available.
Calculate thermal loads and building demand profiles.
Apply hydraulic fundamentals to heating circuits.
Design hydraulic schemes suited to heat pumps.
Balance and control hydraulic circuits.
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 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 800 hours, spread over 6 to 8 months. That is between 10 and 15 hours per week on average, compatible with a full-time job.
You will work with CYPETHERM, TRNSYS, EED (Earth Energy Designer), advanced Excel and DesignBuilder. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
An SEIUM diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrating project. It 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 higher programme. Check the recognition policy when you enrol.
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