Postgraduate Diploma in Firmware Security and PKI for 2R
Online 800-hour Postgraduate Diploma in Firmware Security and PKI for 2R. 8 modules covering ISO/SAE 21434:2021, UNECE Regulation No. 156 and OpenSSL. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Postgraduate Diploma in Firmware Security and PKI for 2R — studying from the United Kingdom
The motorcycle and two-wheeler sector in the United Kingdom includes manufacturers, specialist component suppliers and a strong motorsport and leisure market. Triumph, with its major plant in Hinckley, and specialist firms across the Midlands and the South West contribute to design, engineering and production. Electric two-wheeler development and scooter markets are expanding alongside traditional motorcycle engineering. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency and the Motorcycle Industry Association support standards and regulation in this area.
Fees for the United Kingdom: £1,490 (Pound sterling), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in the United Kingdom
Typical roles
Questions from the United Kingdom
Are there UK professional bodies that recognise motorcycle engineering training?
The UK has no single regulated title for motorcycle engineers. Relevant bodies include the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and the Institute of the Motor Industry, which offers its own qualifications. SEIUM's courses are private and not accredited by any national body, so recognition by these organisations would be their decision and is not guaranteed.
Do UK motorcycle manufacturers, dealers or suppliers hire people with private engineering qualifications?
Hiring in the UK motorcycle sector typically values hands-on technical experience, workshop skills and relevant engineering knowledge. A private online qualification may help show specialist learning, especially alongside a strong final project, but employers decide how much weight to place on it. Ask prospective employers directly how they view such training.
How long does the programme take, and can I study while working in the UK?
Specialist courses require 300 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and master's programmes 1,900 hours. All study is online in English with an assigned technical tutor. You can study from anywhere in the UK without a visa, and fees can be paid in instalments. Employer sponsorship is possible if your employer agrees to support you.
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
Apply cryptographic algorithms suited to embedded motorcycle systems.
Design a PKI hierarchy for devices and software signing.
Integrate HSMs and secure elements into the key lifecycle.
Implement secure boot and anti-rollback protection.
Analyse firmware images to detect weaknesses.
Establish signing and distribution processes compliant with R156.
Document cryptographic governance for audit and type approval.
Who it's for
- Embedded security engineer seeking to specialise in Firmware Security and PKI for 2R.
- PKI architect seeking to specialise in Firmware Security and PKI for 2R.
- Secure firmware specialist seeking to specialise in Firmware Security and PKI for 2R.
- Vulnerability analyst seeking to specialise in Firmware Security and PKI for 2R.
- Code-signing manager seeking to specialise in Firmware Security and PKI for 2R.
- Applied cryptography consultant seeking to specialise in Firmware Security and PKI for 2R.
- Graduates in engineering or sciences seeking to enter motorcycle manufacturing.
What you'll work with
- ISO/SAE 21434:2021
- UNECE Regulation No. 156
- UNECE Regulation No. 155
- RFC 5280 (X.509 certificate profile)
- NIST FIPS 140-3
- NIST SP 800-57
- ISO 24089:2023
- ETSI TS 103 097
8 modules · 800 h
1.1AES symmetric encryption and modes of operation1.2RSA and elliptic-curve asymmetric cryptography1.3Hash functions and MAC codes1.4Digital signatures and verification1.5Random number generators1.6Microcontroller constraints in 2R1.7Post-quantum algorithms and migration1.8Common implementation errors1.9Embedded cryptographic libraries1.10Practical: signing and verification with OpenSSL
2.1X.509 certificates and extensions2.2Root and intermediate CA hierarchies2.3Policies and practice statements2.4Issuance, renewal and revocation2.5CRL versus OCSP in vehicles2.6Factory and device certificates2.7PKI for V2X communications2.8Operating a CA with an HSM2.9PKI auditing and continuity2.10Workshop: deploying a test CA with EJBCA
3.1HSMs in automotive microcontrollers3.2Secure elements and TPM3.3Key provisioning on the production line3.4Key lifecycle and rotation3.5Side-channel protection3.6Fault injection attacks3.7Secure storage in flash memory3.8Remote device attestation3.9Secure destruction at end of life3.10Laboratory: key provisioning in an evaluation HSM
4.1Immutable bootloader and root of trust4.2Signature verification at boot4.3Software integrity measurement4.4Anti-rollback and monotonic counters4.5Partitions and dual boot4.6Recovery from corrupted images4.7Secure boot on embedded Linux on the TFT4.8Performance and boot times4.9Secure debugging and authorised unlocking4.10Practical: signed bootloader on an ARM microcontroller
5.1Firmware image structure5.2Firmware extraction using binwalk5.3Reverse engineering with Ghidra5.4Obfuscation and intellectual property protection5.5Firmware encryption in transit and at rest5.6SBOM and third-party component management5.7Vulnerability analysis in dependencies5.8Secure development and coding standards5.9Security regression testing5.10Laboratory: analysis of a sample ECU image
6.1Code-signing infrastructure6.2Role separation and dual control6.3Signing in CI/CD pipelines6.4Update metadata and manifests6.5Uptane framework and repository roles6.6Distribution via workshop, app and OTA6.7RXSWIN version registry6.8Revocation of compromised keys6.9R156 integrity requirements6.10Case study: signing pipeline for a fuel injection control unit
7.1Cryptographic requirements in ISO/SAE 214347.2Conformity testing and certification7.3Corporate cryptographic policies7.4PKI provider management7.5Cryptography export control7.6Common Criteria and SESIP evaluations7.7Metrics and internal audits7.8Key incident management7.9Documentation for type approval7.10Case study: audit of a manufacturer's PKI
8.1Definition of the target embedded system8.2Key and certificate architecture8.3Secure boot design8.4Signing and distribution process8.5Security test plan8.6Residual risk analysis8.7Compliance documentation8.8PKI operation plan8.9Report and presentation8.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
Training 100 % online 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 OpenSSL, EJBCA, Ghidra, binwalk, HashiCorp Vault, in free, academic or evaluation versions. The practicals cover real procedures for setting up a test PKI with a root and intermediate authority, implementing secure boot on a development board, and analysing sample firmware images. 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.
Apply cryptographic algorithms suited to embedded motorcycle systems.
Design a PKI hierarchy for devices and software signing.
Integrate HSMs and secure elements into the key lifecycle.
Implement secure boot and anti-rollback protection.
Analyse firmware images to detect weaknesses.
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 English 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 comprises 800 hours in total over 6 to 8 months. That works out to between 10 and 15 hours per week on average, compatible with full-time work.
You work with OpenSSL, EJBCA, Ghidra, binwalk, HashiCorp Vault. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
An own diploma from SEIUM upon passing continuous assessment and the integrating project. It is in-house training, not an official Ministry qualification.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are credited towards the advanced programme. Please check the recognition policy when enrolling.
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