Diploma in HV and Battery Safety: UN R100/IEC
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in high-voltage and battery safety. 8 modules covering HV vehicle systems, UN Regulation No. 100, battery testing, IEC and SAE standards, post-crash safety, functional safety and BMS, and workshop safety, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in HV and Battery Safety: UN R100/IEC — studying from South Africa
The automotive sector is one of South Africa's most important manufacturing industries, with major plants in the Eastern Cape around Gqeberha, in KwaZulu-Natal and in Gauteng. Manufacturers such as Mercedes-Benz South Africa, Ford and Volkswagen South Africa operate assembly and component facilities that export vehicles and parts across Africa and beyond. The sector relies on engineers skilled in powertrain design, vehicle dynamics, quality and production systems. Motorsport activity, including circuits at Kyalami and Zwartkops, adds further demand for performance engineering.
Fees for South Africa: R 16 700 (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 automotive engineering skills, and does SEIUM count?
Professional recognition for engineers in South Africa runs through ECSA, which registers engineers, technicians and technologists under the Engineering Profession Act. Automotive trades also fall under bodies such as the MERSETA for skills development. SEIUM is a private online institute whose qualifications are not state degrees and are not accredited by a national body, so whether they are recognised is up to the employer or the relevant body to decide.
Will this programme help me find work in South Africa's automotive or motorsport industry?
South Africa has a significant automotive manufacturing and component sector, and motorsport teams and suppliers also hire engineers. Employers typically look at practical experience, recognised qualifications and references. A private online qualification can strengthen your profile in specialist areas, but it does not guarantee employment. Speak to potential employers about whether they would value it.
How does the course fit around a job, and how are fees paid?
The programme is delivered entirely online in English, with an assigned technical tutor and a final project. Master's programmes are 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours, so choose the level that matches your available time. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship may be possible. Ask your employer whether they 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
Describe the high-voltage architecture of an electric vehicle.
Apply the requirements of UN Regulation No. 100.
Plan battery safety tests.
Compare international battery standards.
Assess electrical safety after a collision.
Apply functional safety to the battery system.
Establish safe service procedures.
Who it's for
- High-voltage safety engineers.
- Battery validation engineers.
- Functional safety engineers.
- Electric vehicle type-approval engineers.
- Battery laboratory technicians.
- Workshop safety trainers.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to move into electric mobility.
What you'll work with
- UN Regulation No. 100 (electrical safety of vehicles)
- ISO 6469 (electrically propelled vehicles, safety specifications)
- IEC 62660 (lithium-ion cells for electric vehicles)
- ISO 26262 (functional safety of road vehicles)
- UN Regulation No. 94 (frontal impact)
- SAE J2464 (battery abuse testing)
- EN 50110-1 (operation of electrical installations)
- ISO 17840 (rescue sheets)
- MATLAB and Simulink
- dSPACE SCALEXIO
- Ansys Fluent
- medini analyze
8 modules
1.1400 V and 800 V voltage architectures1.2Electric powertrain components1.3Voltage classes A and B1.4Insulation and clearances1.5High-voltage connectors and cables1.6Service disconnect1.7High-voltage interlock (HVIL)1.8On-board charging systems1.9System thermal management1.10Case study: high-voltage diagram of an electric passenger car
2.1Scope and structure of the regulation2.2Protection against direct contact2.3Protection against indirect contact2.4Insulation resistance2.5Requirements for the REESS storage system2.6Functional safety and warnings2.7Hydrogen emissions2.8Requirements during charging2.9Differences between series of amendments2.10Workshop: R100 compliance matrix
3.1Vibration and mechanical shock3.2Mechanical impact and crush3.3Fire resistance3.4External short-circuit test3.5Overcharge and over-discharge protection3.6Thermal protection test3.7Thermal propagation test3.8Immersion tests3.9Sample preparation3.10Lab: R100 test plan for a battery pack
4.1IEC 62660 for cells4.2IEC 62619 for industrial batteries4.3ISO 6469 electric vehicle safety4.4SAE J2464 battery abuse4.5UL 2580 batteries for vehicles4.6GB 38031 in China4.7UN 38.3 tests for transport4.8Comparison of requirements4.9Common test strategy4.10Practical exercise: comparison of crush requirements
5.1UN Regulations No. 94 and 95 in electric vehicles5.2UN Regulation No. 137 and its electrical requirements5.3Automatic disconnection after impact5.4Electrolyte leakage5.5Delayed fire risk5.6Protection of rescuers5.7ISO 17840 rescue sheets5.8Crash tests with electrical measurement5.9Lessons from incidents5.10Case study: electrical analysis after a side impact test
6.1ISO 26262 applied to batteries6.2BMS safety functions6.3State estimation and diagnostics6.4Insulation fault detection6.5Contactor management6.6Battery HARA6.7Allocation of ASIL requirements6.8HIL validation of the BMS6.9System cybersecurity6.10Workshop: HARA of a battery management system
7.1Electrical risks for personnel7.2EN 50110 standard for electrical work7.3Personnel qualification7.4Personal protective equipment7.5De-energisation procedures7.6Storage of damaged batteries7.7Quarantine after incidents7.8Transport of defective batteries7.9Training service networks7.10Practical exercise: dead-working procedure
8.1Selecting the vehicle8.2High-voltage architecture8.3Regulatory compliance matrix8.4Battery test plan8.5Post-crash safety analysis8.6Functional safety analysis8.7Service procedures8.8Conclusions and lines of improvement8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
Training is 100% online on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable materials, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within the intake, so it fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is MATLAB and Simulink, dSPACE SCALEXIO, Ansys Fluent and medini analyze, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Exercises are based on real procedures: a thermal propagation test on a battery pack, insulation measurement after a crash test and HIL validation of the battery management system. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final integrated project.
Standards covered: UN Regulation No. 100, ISO 6469, IEC 62660, ISO 26262, UN Regulation No. 94, SAE J2464, EN 50110-1, ISO 17840.
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. A university degree is not 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 MATLAB and Simulink, dSPACE SCALEXIO, Ansys Fluent and medini analyze, 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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