Diploma in Functional Safety in Human-Machine Operations
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in functional safety in human-machine operations. 8 modules covering human-machine systems, human error, functional safety with the human in the loop, safe interface design, automation and situational awareness, task analysis and validation, and regulations, organisation and ethics, applied to MIL-STD-1472H, IEC 61508 and ISA-18.2, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in Functional Safety in Human-Machine Operations — studying from South Africa
South Africa has a established defence industry centred on companies such as Denel and Paramount Group, with capabilities in land systems, armoured vehicles and munitions. The sector supports engineering roles in systems integration, vehicle design and test and evaluation. Defence procurement and export controls are overseen by government bodies, and the industry works closely with the South African National Defence Force. Engineers in this field typically combine mechanical, electrical and systems skills.
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 regulate or recognise defence and military engineering professionals?
Engineers in South Africa are registered through ECSA under the Engineering Profession Act, and defence programmes are guided by institutions such as the South African National Defence Force and Armscor, which set their own requirements. SEIUM is a private online institute, and its qualifications are not state degrees or accredited by a national body. Recognition is decided by these bodies and your employer, so confirm with them first.
Would this qualification help me find work in South Africa's defence or land systems sector?
South Africa has a defence industry with state-linked entities and private contractors, and employers usually require security clearances, relevant experience and recognised qualifications. A private online programme may support your application but does not guarantee employment or clearance. Check requirements with prospective employers, as roles in this sector can be sensitive and tightly controlled.
Can I study alongside a job, and are there funding options?
The course is 100% online and taught in English, so you need strong English, and 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 with an assigned technical tutor. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible, so ask whether your employer would fund part of the training.
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 human-machine systems as sociotechnical systems.
Analyse human error using recognised models.
Integrate human action into safety functions.
Design interfaces that prevent errors.
Manage automation and situational awareness.
Validate tasks and procedures with users.
Apply human engineering standards according to ethical criteria.
Who it's for
- Human factors specialists.
- Functional safety engineers.
- Designers of safety-critical interfaces.
- Human reliability analysts.
- Systems engineers.
- Cognitive ergonomics researchers.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to move into defence.
What you'll work with
- MIL-STD-1472H (human engineering design criteria)
- IEC 61508 (functional safety of E/E/PE systems)
- ISA-18.2 (alarm management)
- ISO 9241-210 (human-centred design)
- Def Stan 00-251 (human factors integration)
- MIL-STD-46855A (human engineering programme)
- EEMUA 191 (alarm systems)
- IMPRINT
- Tobii Pro Lab
- MATLAB
- Cameo Systems Modeler
- Figma
8 modules
1.1The concept of a sociotechnical system1.2Levels of automation1.3Functions allocated to the human1.4Interaction on military platforms1.5Interaction in industry and transport1.6Errors in interaction1.7Significant accidents1.8Human factors and safety1.9Regulatory framework1.10Case study: analysis of the AF447 accident
2.1Reason's Swiss cheese model2.2Rasmussen's SRK taxonomy2.3Slips, lapses and mistakes2.4Violations2.5HFACS analysis2.6Performance shaping factors2.7Fatigue and shift work2.8Stress and workload2.9Just culture2.10Workshop: HFACS analysis of an incident
3.1IEC 61508 and human factors3.2Allocation of safety functions3.3Human reliability: THERP and HEART3.4Operator response time3.5Alarms and alarm management3.6EEMUA 191 and ISA-18.23.7Safety functions with manual action3.8Validation of human actions3.9Integration into the safety case3.10Practical exercise: HEART quantification of a task
4.1Principles of user-centred design4.2ISO 9241-2104.3Design of displays and controls4.4Error prevention by design4.5Confirmations and interlocks4.6Interfaces in degraded situations4.7Physical ergonomics4.8Multimodal interfaces4.9Heuristic evaluation4.10Lab: heuristic evaluation of a console
5.1Endsley's situational awareness model5.2Skill degradation5.3Automation bias5.4Automation surprises5.5Control transitions5.6Adaptive autonomy5.7Calibrated trust5.8SAGAT measurement5.9Mode design5.10Practical exercise: measuring situational awareness in a simulator
6.1Hierarchical task analysis6.2Cognitive task analysis6.3STPA applied to human controllers6.4Task simulation6.5User trials6.6NASA-TLX workload measures6.7Eye tracking6.8Procedure validation6.9Evidence documentation6.10Lab: STPA analysis with a human controller
7.1MIL-STD-1472H7.2Def Stan 00-2517.3MIL-STD-46855A7.4Integrating human factors into programmes7.5Education and training7.6Fatigue management7.7Shared responsibility7.8Ethics of automation design7.9Meaningful human control7.10Case study: human factors integration plan
8.1System definition8.2Task analysis8.3Error identification8.4Safety functions8.5Interface design8.6Validation plan8.7Safety case8.8Conclusions8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
The programme is delivered 100% online on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so it fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is IMPRINT, Tobii Pro Lab, MATLAB, Cameo Systems Modeler and Figma, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Real procedures are studied, including heuristic evaluations of interfaces, situational awareness measurements in a simulator and STPA task analyses. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final capstone project.
Standards covered: MIL-STD-1472H, IEC 61508, ISA-18.2, ISO 9241-210, Def Stan 00-251, MIL-STD-46855A, EEMUA 191.
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 capable of running 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 IMPRINT, Tobii Pro Lab, MATLAB, Cameo Systems Modeler, Figma, 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.
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