Postgraduate DiplomaHealth, Biomechanics, Wearables & Operational Safety Applications open

Postgraduate Diploma in Life Cycle Testing and Electrical Safety

Online 800-hour Postgraduate Diploma in Life Cycle Testing and Electrical Safety. 8 modules covering IEC 60601-1 (safety of medical electrical equipment), IEC 62368-1 (safety of ICT and consumer electronics equipment) and ReliaSoft Weibull++. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.

Duration800 h
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute diploma

Postgraduate Diploma in Life Cycle Testing and Electrical Safety — studying from South Africa

Health technology and occupational safety are important in South Africa, where mining, manufacturing and healthcare all require strong safety engineering. The Medicines Control Council regulates medical devices, and the Department of Employment and Labour enforces workplace health and safety legislation. Hospitals, medical device distributors and research groups at universities use biomechanics and wearable technology to improve care and worker protection. Demand exists for engineers who can combine human factors knowledge with regulatory compliance.

Fees for South Africa: R 16 700 (South African rand), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.

Relevant bodies in South Africa

  • South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA)
  • Department of Employment and Labour
  • South African Bureau of Standards (SABS)

Typical roles

  • Biomedical Engineer
  • Human Factors Engineer
  • Occupational Safety Engineer
  • Medical Device Engineer

Questions from South Africa

Will a SEIUM qualification be recognised by the professional bodies in South Africa for this area?

SEIUM qualifications are private qualifications, not official state degrees, and they are not accredited by any South African body. Engineering registration in South Africa is handled by the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA), which registers people based on their own accredited training and experience. Recognition of a private qualification is therefore decided by individual employers or the relevant professional body, so check with them before enrolling.

How might this qualification be used by employers in South Africa in health-related engineering or occupational safety?

Employers in medical devices, occupational health, and workplace safety may value advanced, specialised knowledge in biomechanics and wearable technology, especially when paired with practical experience. Because the qualification is private rather than state-recognised, its weight depends on each employer's view. Speak to potential employers in your sector about whether they would consider it alongside your existing qualifications and work history.

Can I study this programme alongside full-time work from South Africa, and is there a time zone or language issue?

The programme is 100% online and taught in English, so you can study from home without a student visa. Master's programmes total 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours, with an assigned technical tutor and fees payable in instalments. Employer sponsorship is possible. Confirm the schedule and time-zone expectations with SEIUM before enrolling, as these details are not covered here.

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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Apply statistical reliability models to the product life cycle.

02

Design accelerated life tests with justified acceleration factors.

03

Plan mechanical and environmental tests according to the IEC 60068 series.

04

Evaluate the electrical safety of medical equipment in accordance with IEC 60601-1.

05

Verify the safety of consumer electronics according to IEC 62368-1.

06

Investigate failures using FMEA and root cause analysis.

07

Manage a comprehensive validation testing programme.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Reliability engineer who wants to specialise in Life Cycle Testing and Electrical Safety.
  • Qualification test engineer who wants to specialise in Life Cycle Testing and Electrical Safety.
  • Electrical safety engineer who wants to specialise in Life Cycle Testing and Electrical Safety.
  • Failure analysis engineer who wants to specialise in Life Cycle Testing and Electrical Safety.
  • Testing laboratory manager who wants to specialise in Life Cycle Testing and Electrical Safety.
  • Product validation engineer who wants to specialise in Life Cycle Testing and Electrical Safety.
  • Graduates in engineering or science who want to move into healthcare technology.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • IEC 60601-1 (safety of medical electrical equipment)
  • IEC 62368-1 (safety of ICT and consumer electronics equipment)
  • IEC 60068-2 (environmental testing)
  • IEC 62353 (recurrent testing of medical electrical equipment)
  • IEC 60812 (failure modes and effects analysis)
  • IEC 61649 (Weibull analysis)
  • JESD22-A104 (temperature cycling)
  • MIL-HDBK-217F (reliability prediction)
Syllabus

8 modules · 800 h

  1. 1.1Bathtub curve and failure rates
  2. 1.2Weibull and exponential distributions
  3. 1.3MTBF, MTTF and their interpretation
  4. 1.4Arrhenius and Eyring models
  5. 1.5Acceleration factors for temperature and humidity
  6. 1.6Prediction with MIL-HDBK-217 and SN 29500
  7. 1.7Device mission profile
  8. 1.8Product service life requirements
  9. 1.9Statistical analysis of censored data
  10. 1.10Workshop: Weibull fitting of failure data
  1. 2.1ALT test design
  2. 2.2HALT for limit finding
  3. 2.3HASS in production
  4. 2.4Temperature cycling and thermal shock
  5. 2.5Damp heat according to IEC 60068-2-78
  6. 2.6Salt spray tests
  7. 2.7Connector insertion cycles
  8. 2.8Wear of buttons and hinges
  9. 2.9Sample size determination
  10. 2.10Practice: accelerated test plan for a connector
  1. 3.1Free fall according to IEC 60068-2-31
  2. 3.2Sinusoidal and random vibration
  3. 3.3Mechanical shock IEC 60068-2-27
  4. 3.4IP protection ratings according to IEC 60529
  5. 3.5UV exposure and plastic degradation
  6. 3.6Artificial sweat and chemical testing
  7. 3.7Abrasion and scratch resistance
  8. 3.8Fixturing and test jigs
  9. 3.9Data recording and acceptance criteria
  10. 3.10Laboratory: drop test with damage analysis
  1. 4.1Structure of IEC 60601-1
  2. 4.2MOOP and MOPP means of protection
  3. 4.3Patient and contact leakage currents
  4. 4.4Applied parts type B, BF and CF
  5. 4.5Clearances and creepage distances
  6. 4.6Dielectric strength tests
  7. 4.7Power supply from external sources
  8. 4.8Requirements for battery-powered equipment
  9. 4.9Particular standards IEC 60601-2-x
  10. 4.10Practice: measurement of leakage currents
  1. 5.1IEC 62368-1 and energy source classification
  2. 5.2Basic, supplementary and reinforced safeguards
  3. 5.3Thermal hazards on contact surfaces
  4. 5.4Energy sources ES1, ES2 and ES3
  5. 5.5Fire protection PS1 to PS3
  6. 5.6Materials and UL 94 classification
  7. 5.7Power supplies and chargers
  8. 5.8CE marking and declaration of conformity
  9. 5.9Differences from the medical field
  10. 5.10Case study: risk assessment of a charger
  1. 6.1Design and process FMEA
  2. 6.2Fault tree analysis FTA
  3. 6.3X-ray inspection and microsectioning
  4. 6.4Solder joint and fatigue analysis
  5. 6.5Corrosion and electrochemical migration
  6. 6.6Capacitor failures and cracked MLCCs
  7. 6.7Root cause analysis with 8D
  8. 6.8Field return management
  9. 6.9Design feedback
  10. 6.10Case study: 8D analysis of field failures
  1. 7.1Master validation plan
  2. 7.2Selection of an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratory
  3. 7.3Test planning and cost
  4. 7.4Engineering versus production samples
  5. 7.5Nonconformity management
  6. 7.6Test reports and CB Scheme
  7. 7.7Maintaining certification when changes occur
  8. 7.8Risk management according to ISO 14971
  9. 7.9Product technical file
  10. 7.10Practice: master validation plan with schedule
  1. 8.1Product definition and usage profile
  2. 8.2Reliability requirements
  3. 8.3Accelerated test plan
  4. 8.4Electrical safety plan
  5. 8.5FMEA analysis
  6. 8.6Interpretation of simulated results
  7. 8.7Service life estimation
  8. 8.8Corrective action plan
  9. 8.9Report and presentation
  10. 8.10Final review with the tutor
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

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 ReliaSoft Weibull++, Minitab, Ansys Sherlock, Fluke Ansur, advanced Excel, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied using real procedures for climatic chambers and thermal shock, accelerated life test rigs, dielectric strength tests and leakage current measurements. Assessment is continuous across each module plus the final integrating project.

Accreditable laboratories(EN ISO/IEC 17025) with rotor bench, EMC/Lightning pre-compliance, HIL/SIL, vibration/acoustics.
Evidence-driven final project:safety case, test plan, compliance dossier and operating limits.
Industry mentoring:lecturers with experience in training, , eVTOL/UAM and flight test.
Flexible format(hybrid/online), international cohorts and support from SEIUM Career Services.
Ethics and safety:a safety-by-design approach, cyber-OT, DIH and compliance as its pillars.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Product definition and usage profile

Apply statistical reliability models to the product life cycle.

Reliability requirements

Design accelerated life tests with justified acceleration factors.

Accelerated test plan

Plan mechanical and environmental tests according to the IEC 60068 series.

Electrical safety plan

Evaluate the electrical safety of medical equipment in accordance with IEC 60601-1.

FMEA analysis

Verify the safety of consumer electronics according to IEC 62368-1.

Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Reliability engineerQualification test engineerElectrical safety engineerFailure analysis engineerTesting laboratory managerProduct validation engineer
Admissions & scholarships

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 level of Spanish to follow technical standards documentation.

Ready to start?

Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The programme comprises 800 hours in total, spread over 6 to 8 months. That is an average of 10 to 15 hours per week, compatible with a full-time job.

The programme works with ReliaSoft Weibull++, Minitab, Ansys Sherlock, Fluke Ansur and advanced Excel. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.

SEIUM's own diploma upon passing continuous assessment and the final integrating project. It is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.

Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are credited towards the advanced programme. Check the credit transfer policy when you enrol.

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