Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced SOTIF: ODD, Scenarios and Insufficient Performance
Online 800-hour Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced SOTIF: ODD, Scenarios and Insufficient Performance. 8 modules covering ISO 21448:2022, ISO 34502:2022 and IPG CarMaker. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced SOTIF: ODD, Scenarios and Insufficient Performance — studying from South Africa
South Africa's automotive plants are increasingly integrating advanced driver assistance and connected vehicle technologies, driven by global manufacturers' software strategies. Local firms and research groups at universities such as Stellenbosch and the University of Pretoria contribute to vehicle electronics, sensor fusion and embedded software. Local component suppliers and the national automotive industry require engineers who can work across vehicle software, safety and validation. Compliance with national vehicle standards and road safety rules shapes how these systems are deployed.
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
Is this qualification recognised by ECSA or other South African bodies for autonomous vehicle engineering?
ECSA is the statutory body that registers engineering professionals in South Africa, and it does not automatically recognise private online programmes. SEIUM's qualifications are its own private qualifications, not official state degrees, and are not accredited by a national body. Recognition depends on your employer or the relevant professional body, so confirm their position in writing before you enrol.
Are there South African employers who would value skills in ADAS and software-defined vehicles?
South Africa's automotive sector, including local manufacturers and tier-one suppliers, increasingly uses electronic and software systems in vehicles, and technology firms also work in this space. Employers generally value demonstrable skills, relevant experience and recognised qualifications. Completing this programme may help you show specialist knowledge, but it does not guarantee a job. Discuss the programme with target employers first.
Can I study at a practical pace alongside work, and what language level is needed?
Study is online and taught in English, so strong written and spoken English is essential. Because it is remote, you need no student visa to study from home. The workload is 1,900 hours for a master's, 800 hours for a postgraduate diploma or 300 hours for a specialist course, supported by a technical tutor. Consider instalment payments, and ask your employer about sponsorship to ease the financial load.
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 ISO 21448 lifecycle to automated driving functions.
Specify complete and verifiable operational design domains.
Identify triggering conditions by sensor and function.
Quantify insufficient perception and decision performance.
Generate risk-based critical scenarios.
Estimate residual risk with robust statistical arguments.
Design field monitoring and continuous improvement plans.
Who it's for
- SOTIF engineer looking to specialise in Advanced SOTIF: ODD, Scenarios and Insufficient Performance.
- ADAS safety manager who wants to specialise in Advanced SOTIF: ODD, Scenarios and Insufficient Performance.
- Scenario validation engineer who wants to specialise in Advanced SOTIF: ODD, Scenarios and Insufficient Performance.
- Residual risk analyst who wants to specialise in Advanced SOTIF: ODD, Scenarios and Insufficient Performance.
- Perception engineer who wants to specialise in Advanced SOTIF: ODD, Scenarios and Insufficient Performance.
- Homologation consultant who wants to specialise in Advanced SOTIF: ODD, Scenarios and Insufficient Performance.
- Graduates in engineering or sciences seeking to join car manufacturers.
What you'll work with
- ISO 21448:2022
- ISO 34502:2022
- ISO 34503:2023
- ISO 26262:2018
- UL 4600
- ISO/PAS 8800:2024
- ISO/TS 5083:2025
- Reglamento (UE) 2022/1426
8 modules · 800 h
1.1Specification insufficiencies versus random failures1.2Limitations of sensor and algorithm performance1.3Model of known, unknown, safe and unsafe areas1.4Relationship between SOTIF and ISO 262621.5Reasonably foreseeable driver misuse1.6Acceptance criteria and residual risk1.7Iterative cycle of specification and verification1.8Lessons from ADAS field incidents1.9Process documentation and work products1.10Case study: classifying a phantom braking incident
2.1ODD taxonomy according to ISO 345032.2Scenario, environment and dynamics attributes2.3Weather conditions and lighting2.4Road infrastructure and road types2.5Speed limits and traffic density2.6Real-time ODD monitoring2.7ODD exit and minimal risk manoeuvre2.8Machine-readable ODD formats2.9Specification version management2.10Workshop: ODD of a motorway traffic jam assistant
3.1Concept of triggering condition3.2Systematic analysis by sensor and function3.3Guide words applied to perception3.4Effects of rain, fog and glare3.5Reflections, occlusions and atypical objects3.6Borderline cases in classification and tracking3.7Interactions with other road users3.8Prioritisation by exposure and severity3.9Recording and traceability of conditions3.10Practice: catalogue of conditions for a front camera
4.1Detection metrics: precision, recall and mAP4.2False positives versus false negatives4.3Epistemic and aleatoric uncertainty4.4Confidence calibration in neural networks4.5Radar degradation due to multipath4.6Noise and density of lidar point clouds4.7Sensor fusion and diverse redundancy4.8Out-of-distribution detection4.9Quantitative performance requirements4.10Laboratory: error analysis of a pedestrian detector
5.1Functional, logical and concrete scenarios5.2Risk-based methodology of ISO 345025.3Parameter space and sampling5.4Search for critical scenarios using optimisation5.5Criticality metrics: TTC, THW and PET5.6Cut-in, cut-out and hard braking scenarios5.7Description with ASAM OpenSCENARIO5.8Accident databases as a source5.9Scenario coverage and stopping criteria5.10Workshop: logical merging scenarios with OpenSCENARIO
6.1Validation objectives and acceptable rate6.2Statistical argument based on kilometres driven6.3Confidence intervals and the Poisson distribution6.4Importance sampling for rare events6.5Combining simulation, track and road testing6.6Long-duration fleet testing6.7Analysis of disengagements and field events6.8GAMAB criterion and risk references6.9Evidence for product release6.10Case study: calculating validation mileage
7.1Field monitoring after launch7.2Logging of event data and triggers7.3Root cause analysis of incidents7.4Updating for unknown scenarios7.5Change management and new versions7.6Feedback to ODD and requirements7.7Coordination with cybersecurity and functional safety7.8Safety metrics in operation7.9Periodic audits and assessments7.10Practice: field monitoring plan for an ALKS
8.1Selection of the automated function8.2Functional and ODD specification8.3SOTIF hazard analysis8.4Catalogue of triggering conditions8.5Design of improvement measures8.6Scenario-based verification strategy8.7Residual risk estimation8.8Release argument8.9Report 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 compatible with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is IPG CarMaker, esmini, MATLAB Automated Driving Toolbox, Foretellix Foretify, CARLA, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied using real procedures for analysing triggering conditions in simulation, validating critical scenarios on track, and analysing fleet data on open roads. Assessment is continuous per module plus the final integrative project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Apply the ISO 21448 lifecycle to automated driving functions.
Specify complete and verifiable operational design domains.
Identify triggering conditions by sensor and function.
Quantify insufficient perception and decision performance.
Generate risk-based critical scenarios.
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's software.
- Sufficient English to follow 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 consists of 800 hours in total, spread over 6 to 8 months. That is between 10 and 15 hours per week on average, compatible with a full-time job.
The work is done with IPG CarMaker, esmini, MATLAB Automated Driving Toolbox, Foretellix Foretify, CARLA. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM own diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrative project. It is in-house training, not an official qualification issued by the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are credited towards the higher programme. Check the credit transfer policy when you enrol.
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