Postgraduate Diploma in Relay Coordination and Characteristic Curves
Online Postgraduate Diploma of 800 h in Relay Coordination and Characteristic Curves. 8 modules covering IEC 60255-151 (overcurrent protection), IEEE C37.112 (inverse-time curves) and ETAP. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Postgraduate Diploma in Relay Coordination and Characteristic Curves — 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
Understand the protection philosophy of electrical systems.
Interpret and adjust time-current curves.
Coordinate overcurrent protection in radial and meshed networks.
Adjust distance and differential protection.
Use specialised software for coordination studies.
Adapt coordination to the presence of distributed generation.
Analyse real faults using oscillographic records.
Who it's for
- Protection engineer who wants to specialise in Relay Coordination and Characteristic Curves.
- Electrical studies engineer who wants to specialise in Relay Coordination and Characteristic Curves.
- Relay testing technician who wants to specialise in Relay Coordination and Characteristic Curves.
- Substation engineer who wants to specialise in Relay Coordination and Characteristic Curves.
- Network incident analyst who wants to specialise in Relay Coordination and Characteristic Curves.
- Commissioning engineer who wants to specialise in Relay Coordination and Characteristic Curves.
- Graduates in engineering or science who wish to enter electrical transmission and distribution.
What you'll work with
- IEC 60255-151 (overcurrent protection)
- IEEE C37.112 (inverse-time curves)
- IEC 60909 (short-circuit currents)
- IEC 60255-121 (distance protection)
- IEEE 242 (protection and coordination in industrial systems)
- IEC 61869 (measurement transformers)
- IEC 61850 (substation communications)
8 modules · 800 h
1.1Objectives: selectivity, speed and sensitivity1.2Protection zones and overlaps1.3Primary and backup protection1.4Current transformers and saturation1.5Voltage transformers1.6Electromechanical, static and digital relays1.7IEC 60255 relay standards1.8ANSI codes for protection functions1.9Short-circuit calculation to IEC 609091.10Case study: protection zones of a substation
2.1Overcurrent protection 50 and 512.2IEC normal, very and extremely inverse curves2.3IEEE C37.112 curves2.4Pickup setting and time dial2.5Fuse curves and their coordination2.6Low-voltage circuit breaker curves2.7Cable and transformer damage curves2.8Inrush current and motor starting2.9Log-log coordination plots2.10Laboratory: plotting curves in a spreadsheet
3.1Coordination margin between relays3.2Coordination in radial networks3.3Coordination with fuses and reclosers3.4Directional protection 67 in rings3.5Earth fault protection 51N and 67N3.6Transformer protection in coordination3.7Coordination in medium and low voltage3.8Logic selectivity by blocking3.9Common coordination errors3.10Practical exercise: coordination of an industrial network
4.1Distance protection 21 and zones4.2Mho and quadrilateral characteristics4.3POTT and PUTT teleprotection schemes4.4Line differential protection 87L4.5Transformer differential protection 87T4.6Busbar differential protection 87B4.7Percentage settings and harmonic restraint4.8Power swings and blocking4.9Lines with series compensation4.10Workshop: setting distance zones
5.1Modelling in ETAP and PowerFactory5.2Relay and curve libraries5.3Automated short-circuit studies5.4Automatic coordination and verification5.5Arc flash studies5.6Exporting settings to relays5.7Management of settings databases5.8Validation with dynamic simulation5.9Coordination study reports5.10Laboratory: coordination study in PowerFactory
6.1Limited contribution from inverters6.2Protection blinding6.3Sympathetic tripping6.4Changes in power flow direction6.5Adaptive protection with IEC 618506.6Anti-islanding protection6.7Automatic reclosing with generation6.8Interconnection protection requirements6.9Coordination with voltage dips6.10Case study: impact of a PV plant on coordination
7.1Relay testing with injection test sets7.2Synchronised end-to-end testing7.3Analysis of oscillography records7.4COMTRADE format7.5Analysis of incorrect operations7.6Protection maintenance7.7Protection reliability indicators7.8Management of settings changes7.9Documentation and traceability7.10Practical exercise: analysis of a COMTRADE record
8.1Definition of the study network8.2Short-circuit calculation8.3Selection of protection functions8.4Overcurrent settings8.5Distance and differential settings8.6Graphical verification of coordination8.7Analysis of cases with distributed generation8.8Settings table and test plan8.9Report and presentation8.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
A 100% online programme 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 study with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is ETAP, DIgSILENT PowerFactory, CAPE, OMICRON Test Universe, SKM PowerTools, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied using real procedures from protection coordination studies, relay testing with injection test sets and analysis of oscillography records. 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.
Understand the protection philosophy of electrical systems.
Interpret and adjust time-current curves.
Coordinate overcurrent protection in radial and meshed networks.
Adjust distance and differential protection.
Use specialised software for coordination studies.
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 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.
Frequently asked questions
The programme comprises 800 hours in total, spread over 6 to 8 months. That averages between 10 and 15 hours per week, compatible with a full-time job.
The work is carried out with ETAP, DIgSILENT PowerFactory, CAPE, OMICRON Test Universe and SKM PowerTools. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
An SEIUM diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the 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 recognised in the higher programme. Check the recognition policy when you enrol.
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