Postgraduate Diploma in Version Management and Over-the-Air Compliance
Online 800-hour Postgraduate Diploma in Version Management and Over-the-Air Compliance. 8 modules covering UNECE R156, Regulation (EU) 2018/858 and PTC Windchill. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Postgraduate Diploma in Version Management and Over-the-Air Compliance — 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 27 900 (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
Manage the software configuration of a vehicle range.
Control versions and compatibility between ECUs and calibrations.
Assess the impact of updates on type approval.
Plan OTA compliance across different markets.
Ensure version traceability down to each vehicle.
Prepare evidence for compliance audits.
Govern the regulatory risks of updates.
Who it's for
- Software configuration manager looking to specialise in Version Management and Over-the-Air Compliance.
- OTA compliance manager looking to specialise in Version Management and Over-the-Air Compliance.
- Type approval engineer looking to specialise in Version Management and Over-the-Air Compliance.
- Software release manager looking to specialise in Version Management and Over-the-Air Compliance.
- Automotive process auditor looking to specialise in Version Management and Over-the-Air Compliance.
- Regulatory analyst looking to specialise in Version Management and Over-the-Air Compliance.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to join car manufacturers.
What you'll work with
- UNECE R156
- Reglamento (UE) 2018/858
- ISO 24089:2023
- ISO 26262-8:2018
- ISO/IEC/IEEE 828
- Automotive SPICE 4.0
- UNECE R155
- GB 44496-2024
8 modules · 800 h
1.1Configuration items in a vehicle1.2Baselines and configuration states1.3Management according to ISO/IEC/IEEE 8281.4ISO 26262-8 requirements on configuration1.5Automotive SPICE SUP.8 process1.6Identification of ECU and software versions1.7Variants by market, equipment and year1.8Manufacturer configuration databases1.9Functional and physical configuration audits1.10Case study: configuration matrix for a model range
2.1Semantic versioning schemes2.2Compatibility matrices between ECUs2.3Software and calibration dependencies2.4Calibration management with A2L and HEX2.5Software bills of materials (SBOM)2.6AI model versions as configuration2.7Long-term maintenance branches2.8End of support and obsolescence2.9Configuration management tools2.10Workshop: compatibility matrix for a multi-ECU update
3.1Type approval under Regulation (EU) 2018/8583.2RXSWIN identifier and approved systems3.3Criteria for impact on type approval3.4Type approval extensions after updates3.5Relationship with the after-sales service3.6Updates to regulated ADAS systems3.7Documentation required by UNECE R1563.8Conformity of production3.9Update records per vehicle3.10Practice: type approval impact assessment of an ALKS change
4.1UNECE WP.29 framework and the 1958 Agreement4.2Requirements in the European Union4.3NHTSA requirements in the United States4.4Requirements in China: MIIT and GB 444964.5Japan and Korea: adoption of R1564.6Data protection and international transfers4.7Software export restrictions4.8Managing regulatory differences by version4.9Regulatory monitoring and regulatory changes4.10Case study: OTA compliance plan for three markets
5.1Software release process5.2Approval committees and sign-offs5.3Technical and customer release notes5.4Traceability from requirements to versions5.5Verification evidence per version5.6Artefact archiving and reproducibility5.7Immutable record of updates by VIN5.8Required record retention5.9Lifecycle management tools5.10Laboratory: release workflow with VIN-level traceability
6.1Audits of the update management system6.2Preparing evidence for the after-sales service6.3Sampling of audited updates6.4Common non-conformities6.5Compliance indicators6.6Supplier audits6.7Controlled document management6.8Periodic internal audits6.9Continuous process improvement6.10Practice: mock audit of an SUMS
7.1Roles and responsibilities within the organisation7.2Compliance risk management7.3Emergency updates and their control7.4Recalls via OTA7.5Manufacturer's legal liability7.6Relationship with cybersecurity under R1557.7On-demand functions and their regulation7.8Training and competences7.9Compliance dashboard7.10Workshop: corporate version governance policy
8.1Selection of the vehicle platform8.2Configuration management plan8.3Compatibility matrix8.4Type approval impact assessment8.5Multi-market compliance plan8.6Traceable release process8.7Audit plan8.8Compliance dashboard8.9Report 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. 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 PTC Windchill, Siemens Teamcenter, Vector vCDM, Git, Jira, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied using real procedures for type approval impact assessments, audits of update management systems, and multi-ECU compatibility verification on the bench. Assessment is continuous across each 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.
Manage the software configuration of a vehicle range.
Control versions and compatibility between ECUs and calibrations.
Assess the impact of updates on type approval.
Plan OTA compliance across different markets.
Ensure version traceability down to each vehicle.
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 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 an average of 10 to 15 hours per week, compatible with a full-time job.
You will work with PTC Windchill, Siemens Teamcenter, Vector vCDM, Git and Jira. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the open-source alternative where one exists.
An own diploma from SEIUM upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrative project. This is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area can be credited towards the advanced programme. Please consult the credit recognition policy when enrolling.
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