Postgraduate Diploma in Mechatronic Design and Fatigue Testing
Online 800-hour Postgraduate Diploma in Mechatronic Design and Fatigue Testing. 8 modules covering VDI 2206, ISO 1099 and SolidWorks. Dedicated tutor and open enrolment.
Postgraduate Diploma in Mechatronic Design and Fatigue Testing — studying from the United Kingdom
Robotics and automation are growing across the United Kingdom, from manufacturing and logistics to healthcare and research. Universities including Bristol, Oxford, Imperial College London and Edinburgh host robotics research, while the Robotics and Autonomous Systems hub and the Advanced Robotics Hub support collaboration with industry. Manufacturers, logistics operators and automation integrators employ engineers in control systems, sensing, programming and systems integration. Safety standards for collaborative robots shape deployment across industries.
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
Which UK bodies recognise robotics and control engineering, and how does SEIUM's training fit?
The Institution of Engineering and Technology and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers are the main UK professional bodies for control and automation engineers. Chartered status is awarded through the Engineering Council via accredited routes. SEIUM's private qualifications are not accredited by any national body, so any recognition by these institutions is their own decision.
Will UK robotics and automation employers value a private online qualification?
UK robotics and automation employers usually weigh practical projects, programming skills and relevant experience heavily. A private qualification can support your CV where it reflects applied control or robotics work, particularly a strong final project. Employers decide how much value to attach to it, so tailor your application to their stated requirements.
Can I balance this with a UK job, and is there support in English?
Yes. The programmes are 100% online, taught in English, and you are assigned a technical tutor for support. Study ranges from 300 to 1,900 hours, so plan your schedule accordingly. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible. No student visa is required because you study from within the UK.
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 the VDI 2206 methodology to the design of mechatronic systems.
Size mechanical transmission and guidance components.
Understand fatigue mechanisms and their characterisation.
Calculate fatigue life using analytical methods and finite element analysis.
Plan and carry out standardised fatigue tests.
Assess the durability of electronic and mechanical components.
Validate mechatronic designs through test-simulation correlation.
Who it's for
- Mechatronic design engineer who wants to specialise in Mechatronic Design and Fatigue Testing.
- Fatigue calculation engineer who wants to specialise in Mechatronic Design and Fatigue Testing.
- Test laboratory technician who wants to specialise in Mechatronic Design and Fatigue Testing.
- Reliability engineer who wants to specialise in Mechatronic Design and Fatigue Testing.
- Product engineer who wants to specialise in Mechatronic Design and Fatigue Testing.
- Validation engineer who wants to specialise in Mechatronic Design and Fatigue Testing.
- Graduates in engineering or science who want to enter the automotive sector.
What you'll work with
- VDI 2206
- ISO 1099
- ASTM E466
- ASTM E606
- ISO 12107
- IEC 60068-2-6
- ISO 281
- Regulation (EU) 2023/1230
8 modules · 800 h
1.1VDI 2206 methodology for mechatronic design1.2V-model for mechatronic systems1.3Functional and non-functional requirements1.4System and subsystem architecture1.5Selection of actuators and transmissions1.6Selection of sensors and electronics1.7Model-based design with MBSE1.8Concurrent mechanical, electronic and software engineering1.9Functional analysis and block diagrams1.10Practical: architecture of a mechatronic linear axis
2.1Sizing of shafts and joints2.2Bearings and nominal life2.3Linear guides and ball screws2.4Gearboxes and gears2.5Calculation of bolted joints according to VDI 22302.6Stress concentrators2.7Materials and surface treatments2.8Tolerances and fits2.9Material selection using Ashby diagrams2.10Laboratory: sizing of a ball screw
3.1Cyclic loads and load spectra3.2S-N curves and fatigue limit3.3Haigh and Goodman diagrams3.4Effect of notch, size and surface finish3.5Low-cycle fatigue and ε-N curves3.6Fracture mechanics and crack growth3.7Cumulative damage and Miner's rule3.8Rainflow cycle counting3.9Fatigue of composite materials and polymers3.10Workshop: fatigue life calculation of a notched shaft
4.1Stress analysis with FEM4.2Multiaxial fatigue criteria4.3Fatigue of welded joints4.4Fatigue of 3D-printed components4.5Frequency-domain fatigue analysis4.6Fatigue post-processing tools4.7Validation of the numerical model4.8Optimisation for durability4.9Service loads from multibody simulation4.10Practical: fatigue analysis of a bracket
5.1Servo-hydraulic and resonant machines5.2Design of standardised specimens5.3Constant-amplitude testing5.4Variable-amplitude testing5.5Testing of components and subassemblies5.6Strain gauging and data acquisition5.7Thermography in fatigue testing5.8Fractographic analysis of fracture surfaces5.9Fatigue testing on component test rigs5.10Laboratory: fatigue test of a specimen
6.1Fatigue of electronic components6.2Fatigue of solder joints on boards6.3Accelerated life testing6.4Arrhenius and Coffin-Manson models6.5Vibration and shock in electronics6.6Wear in transmissions6.7Statistical reliability using Weibull6.8Design for reliability6.9Analysis of thermal effects in power electronics6.10Case study: accelerated test of an actuator
7.1Design validation plan7.2Correlation between test and simulation7.3Combined environmental testing7.4Field failure analysis7.5Design documentation7.6Machinery Directive and CE marking7.7Configuration management7.8Design improvement after testing7.9Design review and technical risk management7.10Case study: DVP&R plan for a mechatronic system
8.1Mechatronic system requirements8.2Conceptual design and architecture8.3Detailed mechanical design8.4Fatigue calculation8.5Test plan8.6Testing and correlation8.7Improvement proposals8.8Analysis of results8.9Report and presentation8.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM Institute campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and a dedicated technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: 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 SolidWorks, ANSYS Mechanical with nCode, MATLAB/Simulink, Siemens NX, Weibull++, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real fatigue testing procedures on servo-hydraulic machines, durability calculation of brackets and shafts, and accelerated life testing of actuators. 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.
Apply the VDI 2206 methodology to the design of mechatronic systems.
Size mechanical transmission and guidance components.
Understand fatigue mechanisms and their characterisation.
Calculate fatigue life using analytical methods and finite element analysis.
Plan and carry out standardised fatigue tests.
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 totals 800 hours, spread over 6 to 8 months. That is an average of 10 to 15 hours per week, compatible with a full-time job.
You will work with SolidWorks, ANSYS Mechanical with nCode, MATLAB/Simulink, Siemens NX, Weibull++. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
An SEIUM Institute diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrating project. It is an in-house qualification, not an official title from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a Course or Postgraduate Diploma in the same area are recognised in the advanced programme. Check the recognition policy when enrolling.
Related programmes
Postgraduate Diploma in Food/Pharma Applications and Hygienic Certification
Online 800-hour Postgraduate Diploma in Food/Pharma Applications and Hygienic Certification. 8 modules covering EN 1672-2, ISO 14159 and Siemens TIA Portal. Dedicated tutor and open enrolment.
Diploma in Vibrations/Thermal and Health Index
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in vibration/thermal monitoring and Health Index. 8 modules covering ISO 17359:2018, ISO 20816-1 and ISO 18434-1, with Python (SciPy and…
Postgraduate Diploma in HIL/SIL Orchestration and Virtual Bench
800-hour online Postgraduate Diploma in HIL/SIL Orchestration and Virtual Bench. 8 modules with ASAM XIL 2.2, ASAM OpenSCENARIO and dSPACE SCALEXIO with AutomationDesk. Assigned tutor and…
More in Robotics, Automation & Control
All Robotics, Automation & Control programmes → · How to apply · Fees & financing · Scholarships