Diploma in DDS/RTPS and QoS for Critical Systems
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in DDS/RTPS and QoS for critical systems. 8 modules covering DDS architecture, the RTPS protocol, QoS policies, critical-system design, DDS Security, middleware tuning and ROS 2 integration with OMG DDS 1.4, DDSI-RTPS 2.5 and DDS Security 1.1, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in DDS/RTPS and QoS for Critical Systems — studying from South Africa
Electronics and telecommunications are substantial sectors in South Africa, with operators such as MTN, Vodacom and Telkom supporting national connectivity. Electronics manufacturers and design houses serve automotive, industrial and consumer markets, and embedded systems engineers are needed across these industries. Research at institutions such as Stellenbosch University and the CSIR contributes to advances in communications and signal processing. Compliance with national radio spectrum rules is overseen by the national communications regulator.
Fees for South Africa: R 24 000 (South African rand), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in South Africa
Typical roles
Questions from South Africa
Which South African bodies recognise electronics and telecom engineers, and does SEIUM feature?
ECSA registers engineering professionals in South Africa, and the Electronic Communications and Postal Act means telecom roles are regulated through ICASA and related licensing. SEIUM is a private online institute whose qualifications are not official state degrees and are not accredited by a national body. Recognition is decided by employers or the relevant professional body, so check with them before enrolling.
Would this programme help me work in embedded systems or telecoms in South Africa?
South Africa has electronics manufacturers, telecom operators and technology firms that employ embedded and communications engineers. Employers typically weigh practical skills, experience and recognised qualifications. A private online qualification can strengthen your profile in specialist areas, but it does not guarantee employment. Ask prospective employers whether they would value it.
Can I study around a job, and what English level is needed?
The programme is entirely online and taught in English, so you need solid English for coursework and tutor communication. Because it is remote, no student visa is needed to study from home. Master's programmes are 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours, each supported by a technical tutor. Fees can be paid in instalments, and employer sponsorship may be 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 the DDS publish-subscribe architecture.
Analyse how the RTPS protocol and its discovery work.
Configure QoS policies for reliability, timing and redundancy.
Design critical systems with robust data models.
Protect DDS domains using DDS Security.
Tune middleware performance on different platforms.
Integrate DDS with ROS 2 and other industrial protocols.
Who it's for
- Middleware engineers working with real-time publish-subscribe.
- Distributed systems architects designing data-centric platforms.
- Defence software engineers building mission and combat systems.
- ROS 2 robotics engineers who need to master the DDS layer underneath.
- Systems integration engineers connecting DDS with OPC UA, SOME/IP or legacy systems.
- Embedded cybersecurity engineers responsible for securing distributed communications.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter the defence sector.
What you'll work with
- OMG DDS 1.4 (Data Distribution Service specification)
- OMG DDSI-RTPS 2.5 (DDS interoperability wire protocol)
- OMG DDS Security 1.1 (security model for DDS)
- OMG DDS-XTypes 1.3 (extensible and dynamic topic types)
- OMG IDL 4.2 (interface definition language)
- FACE Technical Standard Edition 3.1 (Future Airborne Capability Environment)
- ISO 26262-6:2018 (automotive functional safety, software level)
- RTI Connext DDS
- eProsima Fast DDS
- Eclipse Cyclone DDS
- ROS 2
- Wireshark (RTPS dissector)
8 modules
1.1Data-centric publish-subscribe1.2Domains, participants and topics1.3Publishers, subscribers, writers and readers1.4Global data space and cache1.5Type definition with IDL1.6Instances, keys and life cycle1.7Comparison with MQTT, OPC UA and SOME/IP1.8Commercial and open-source implementations1.9Use cases in defence, avionics and robotics1.10Lab: first publisher-subscriber with Fast DDS
2.1Structure of RTPS messages and submessages2.2SPDP and SEDP discovery2.3Stateful and stateless writers and readers2.4Heartbeats, ACKNACK and reliability2.5Fragmentation of large data2.6UDP, shared-memory and TCP transports2.7Interoperability between vendors2.8Traffic analysis with Wireshark2.9Discovery in large networks2.10Practical exercise: capture and analysis of RTPS discovery
3.1Reliability and History policies3.2Durability and persistent data3.3Deadline and Latency Budget3.4Liveliness and failure detection3.5Ownership and publisher redundancy3.6Time-Based Filter and Resource Limits3.7Partition and Presentation policies3.8Request-offered QoS compatibility3.9XML QoS profiles3.10Workshop: active redundancy with Ownership Strength
4.1Data and topic modelling4.2Communication design patterns4.3Fault tolerance and failover4.4Determinism and bounded latency4.5Time synchronisation between nodes4.6TSN networks and DDS4.7Bandwidth management4.8Integration with legacy systems4.9FACE architectures and mission systems4.10Case study: data architecture of an autonomous vehicle
5.1DDS Security architecture5.2Authentication with PKI5.3Access control with governance and permissions5.4Cryptographic message encryption5.5Security event logging5.6Performance with security enabled5.7Security in ROS 2 with SROS25.8Certificate management and revocation5.9Threats to discovery5.10Lab: secure domain with signed governance
6.1Measuring latency and throughput6.2Zero-copy and shared memory6.3Buffer and socket tuning6.4Batching and flow control6.5Discovery scalability6.6Static discovery and discovery server6.7Transport priorities6.8Middleware profiling tools6.9Tuning on embedded platforms6.10Practical exercise: latency benchmark with perftest
7.1DDS as the ROS 2 layer7.2RMW selection and configuration7.3Gateways and routing services7.4Interoperability with OPC UA and SOME/IP7.5Cross-testing between DDS implementations7.6DDS in certifiable environments7.7Evidence for DO-178C and ISO 262627.8System monitoring and diagnostics7.9Type evolution with XTypes7.10Case study: sensor integration in ROS 2
8.1System communication requirements8.2Data model and IDL8.3QoS and redundancy design8.4Security configuration8.5Node implementation8.6Performance testing8.7Failure and recovery testing8.8Architecture documentation8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final 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 timetables: you progress at your own pace within the intake, so it can be combined with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is RTI Connext DDS, eProsima Fast DDS, Eclipse Cyclone DDS, ROS 2 and Wireshark (RTPS dissector), in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied on real procedures: RTPS traffic analysis with Wireshark, middleware latency benchmarks and redundancy and failover tests. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final project.
Standards covered: OMG DDS 1.4, OMG DDSI-RTPS 2.5, OMG DDS Security 1.1, OMG DDS-XTypes 1.3, OMG IDL 4.2, FACE Technical Standard Edition 3.1, ISO 26262-6:2018.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
- Internet connection and a computer able to run the programme software.
- English sufficient 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 over 6–8 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with RTI Connext DDS, eProsima Fast DDS, Eclipse Cyclone DDS, ROS 2 and Wireshark (RTPS dissector), using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector (no university degree required), a computer able to run the software and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
Related programmes
Postgraduate Diploma in DX, Compatibility and SDK Testing
Online 800-hour Postgraduate Diploma in DX, Compatibility and SDK Testing. 8 modules with OpenAPI Specification 3.1, Semantic Versioning 2.0.0 and OpenAPI Generator. Assigned tutor and open…
Diploma in Emissions Mitigation in Power/Signal
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in emission mitigation for power and signal circuits. 8 modules covering emission sources, power converter emissions and mitigation, digital signal…
Postgraduate Diploma in Conformal Antennas and Chamber Measurement
Online 800-hour Postgraduate Diploma in Conformal Antennas and Chamber Measurement. 8 modules covering IEEE 149-2021, IEEE 1720-2012 and CST Studio Suite. Assigned tutor and enrolment open.
More in Electronics, Embedded Systems & Telecom
All Electronics, Embedded Systems & Telecom programmes → · How to apply · Fees & financing · Scholarships