Postgraduate Diploma in Fault Management, OMS and Restoration
Online 800 h Postgraduate Diploma in Fault Management, OMS and Restoration. 8 modules covering IEEE 1366 (distribution reliability indices), IEC 61968 (distribution application integration) and OpenDSS. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Postgraduate Diploma in Fault Management, OMS and Restoration — studying from South Africa
Energy is a defining sector in South Africa, with Eskom operating the bulk of the national generation and transmission network and independent power producers increasingly contributing renewable capacity. Grid modernisation, renewable integration and distribution management create steady demand for engineers. The National Energy Regulator of South Africa oversees electricity regulation, while municipalities manage local distribution. Energy engineers typically work on generation, transmission, protection and system planning.
Fees for South Africa: R 20 400 (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 energy and networks engineers, and would SEIUM count?
Energy engineers in South Africa are registered through ECSA, and the electricity sector is regulated by NERSA. Utilities and networks often require registered professionals for certain work. SEIUM is a private online institute, and its qualifications are not official state degrees or accredited by a national body. Recognition is for employers and the relevant body to decide, so verify this before enrolling.
Will this qualification help me find work with energy or network employers in South Africa?
South Africa's energy sector includes Eskom, municipalities, independent power producers and grid-related firms, which typically hire registered and experienced engineers. A private online qualification may support your application but does not guarantee a role. Check with target employers how they view it, and combine it with practical experience where possible.
How do I manage the workload, and can I get help with fees?
The programme is fully online and taught in English, so you need good 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, with an assigned technical tutor and a final project. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship may be possible, so ask your employer whether they would support the cost.
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
Analyse the types of faults in distribution networks.
Configure protection schemes in distribution.
Apply fault location methods.
Understand the functions of an outage management system.
Design FLISR automatic restoration schemes.
Plan the management of major weather events.
Improve service quality indices based on incident analysis.
Who it's for
- Distribution operations engineer who wants to specialise in Fault Management, OMS and Restoration.
- Control centre operator who wants to specialise in Fault Management, OMS and Restoration.
- OMS/ADMS systems engineer who wants to specialise in Fault Management, OMS and Restoration.
- Distribution protection engineer who wants to specialise in Fault Management, OMS and Restoration.
- Service quality analyst who wants to specialise in Fault Management, OMS and Restoration.
- Incident management manager who wants to specialise in Fault Management, OMS and Restoration.
- Graduates in engineering or sciences seeking to enter the electricity distribution sector.
What you'll work with
- IEEE 1366 (distribution reliability indices)
- IEC 61968 (distribution application integration)
- IEEE C37.114 (fault location)
- IEC 60255 (measuring relays and protection equipment)
- IEC 61850 (substation communications)
- EN 50160 (voltage characteristics)
- Real Decreto 1955/2000 (quality of service)
8 modules · 800 h
1.1Types of faults and their causes1.2Short-circuit calculation in distribution1.3Neutral earthing regime and earth faults1.4High-impedance faults1.5Transient and permanent faults1.6Automatic reclosing1.7Quality indicators: TIEPI and NIEPI1.8Regulation of supply continuity1.9Incident statistics1.10Workshop: analysis of one year's incidents on an MV network
2.1Overcurrent protection2.2Protection coordination2.3Reclosers and sectionalisers2.4Fuses and their coordination2.5Directional earth-fault protection2.6Fault detection in compensated neutral systems2.7Impact of distributed generation2.8Adaptive protection2.9Protection settings2.10Practice: coordination study of a feeder
3.1Fault passage indicators3.2Impedance-based location3.3Travelling-wave location3.4Use of smart meter data3.5Fault detectors in underground networks3.6Fault location in cables3.7Integration with GIS3.8Data-driven location algorithms3.9Accuracy and validation3.10Laboratory: impedance-based location algorithm
4.1Functions of an OMS4.2Integration with GIS, SCADA and CIS4.3Customer call management4.4Prediction of the faulted element4.5Work order management4.6Crew management4.7Estimation of restoration time4.8Customer communication4.9OMS indicators4.10Case study: incident workflow in an OMS
5.1Centralised and distributed FLISR architecture5.2Automatic section isolation5.3Reconfiguration and load transfer5.4Capacity constraints5.5Network automatons and remote control5.6Communications for automation5.7Integration in the ADMS5.8Continuity benefits5.9Testing and commissioning5.10Laboratory: simulation of a FLISR sequence
6.1Weather events and mass outages6.2Contingency plans6.3Restoration prioritisation6.4Resource logistics6.5Mutual aid between distribution companies6.6Mobile generation and generator sets6.7Public communication6.8Coordination with civil protection6.9Post-event analysis6.10Practice: response plan for a storm
7.1Root cause analysis of incidents7.2Interruption analytics7.3Investment planning for continuity7.4Optimisation of remote-control locations7.5Valuation of energy not supplied7.6Regulatory quality incentives7.7Continuity-oriented maintenance7.8Benchmarking between distribution companies7.9Resilience indicators7.10Case study: optimal recloser location
8.1Network characterisation8.2Analysis of historical incidents8.3Review of the protection scheme8.4Fault location strategy8.5FLISR automation design8.6Integration with the OMS8.7Benefits assessment8.8Deployment plan8.9Report and presentation8.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
Fully 100 % online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it possible to combine the programme with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is OpenDSS, Oracle Utilities NMS, ArcGIS Utility Network, DIgSILENT PowerFactory, Python (pandas), in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied using real simulation procedures for fault analysis in distribution networks, configuration of FLISR schemes and analysis of service quality indices. Assessment is continuous by module, 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.
Analyse the types of faults in distribution networks.
Configure protection schemes in distribution.
Apply fault location methods.
Understand the functions of an outage management system.
Design FLISR automatic restoration schemes.
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 command of Spanish to follow technical regulatory texts.
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 comprises 800 hours in total, spread over 6 to 8 months. That is 10 to 15 hours per week on average, compatible with a full-time job.
We work with OpenDSS, Oracle Utilities NMS, ArcGIS Utility Network, DIgSILENT PowerFactory, Python (pandas). Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
An SEIUM own diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrating project. It is in-house training, not an official Ministry qualification.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised towards the higher programme. Check the recognition policy when you enrol.
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