Diploma in Traceability, AFE and Galvanic Isolation
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in traceability, AFE and galvanic isolation. 8 modules covering measurement traceability, analogue front-ends, low-noise and low-drift design, galvanic isolation principles and technologies, electrical safety and certification, and isolated measurement systems, with an assigned technical tutor.
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
Establish the metrological traceability of an acquisition system.
Design low-noise, low-drift analogue front-ends.
Assess AFE performance using ENOB and dynamic range.
Coordinate insulation in accordance with IEC 60664-1.
Select isolation technologies according to CMTI and certification.
Verify the electrical safety of isolated measuring equipment.
Integrate traceable measurement and isolation into a complete product.
Who it's for
- Analogue design engineers building precision acquisition front-ends.
- Instrumentation engineers responsible for traceable measurement.
- Electrical safety engineers working with insulation coordination.
- Battery system engineers measuring high-voltage packs.
- Certification engineers preparing equipment for IEC 61010-1 and CE marking.
- Electrical metrology technicians in calibration laboratories.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter the instrumentation sector.
What you'll work with
- ISO/IEC 17025:2017 (competence of testing and calibration laboratories)
- IEC 61010-1 (safety requirements for electrical equipment for measurement, control and laboratory use)
- IEC 60664-1 (insulation coordination for equipment within low-voltage systems)
- IEC 60747-17 (magnetic and capacitive couplers for basic and reinforced insulation)
- IEC 62368-1 (safety of audio/video, information and communication technology equipment)
- JCGM 100:2008 (GUM, guide to the expression of uncertainty in measurement)
- IEC 60601-1 (safety and essential performance of medical electrical equipment)
- LTspice
- TI Analog Engineer's Calculator
- Analog Devices LTpowerCAD
- KiCad
- LabVIEW
8 modules
1.1Traceability chain to the SI1.2National metrology institutes1.3Laboratory accreditation according to ISO/IEC 170251.4Uncertainty as an attribute of traceability1.5Calibration of multimeters and reference sources1.6Voltage references and their drift1.7Standard resistors and precision dividers1.8Metrological control in the factory1.9Traceability records and evidence1.10Practical: traceability of an acquisition system
2.1Architecture of an acquisition AFE2.2Instrumentation amplifiers2.3Programmable gain amplifiers2.4Anti-aliasing filters and filter order2.5SAR and sigma-delta converters2.6Voltage references and buffers2.7Integrated AFEs for battery measurement2.8AFEs for biopotentials and sensors2.9Noise, ENOB and dynamic range2.10Lab: measuring the ENOB of an AFE
3.1Noise sources in analogue circuits3.2Resistor and amplifier noise3.3Chopper and auto-zero techniques3.4Thermal drift of offset and gain3.5Thermoelectric EMFs on the board3.6Leakage currents and guarding3.7Analogue layout and ground separation3.8Effects of humidity and contamination3.9In-system calibration and self-calibration3.10Workshop: layout of a 24-bit stage
4.1Reasons for functional and safety isolation4.2Ground loops and common-mode rejection4.3Creepage and clearance distances4.4Basic, supplementary and reinforced insulation4.5Overvoltage categories and pollution degree4.6Working voltage and test voltage4.7Partial discharges in barriers4.8Insulation lifetime and ageing4.9CMTI and common-mode transients4.10Case study: insulation coordination of a piece of equipment
5.1Optocouplers and their degradation5.2Silicon dioxide capacitive isolators5.3Magnetic and transformer-based isolators5.4Isolated amplifiers and sigma-delta modulators5.5Isolated power supplies5.6Isolated SPI and I2C data transmission5.7Isolated RS-485 and CAN interfaces5.8Radiated emissions from isolated converters5.9Selection by application and certification5.10Practical: current measurement with an isolated modulator
6.1IEC 61010-1 requirements for measuring equipment6.2IEC 62368-1 requirements6.3Component certification according to VDE 0884-116.4Dielectric strength (hipot) testing6.5Leakage current measurement6.6Measurement categories CAT II, III and IV6.7Technical file and CE marking6.8Electric shock hazards and protection6.9Common mistakes in isolated designs6.10Case study: certification of an acquisition module
7.1Measurement in high-voltage batteries7.2Acquisition in power converters7.3Current measurement with an isolated shunt7.4Electrical grid monitoring7.5Medical instrumentation with isolation7.6Synchronisation of isolated channels7.7Insulation fault diagnosis7.8Metrological validation of the assembly7.9Mechanical and thermal integration7.10Workshop: high-voltage measurement channel
8.1Metrological and safety requirements8.2AFE and isolation architecture8.3Schematic design and component selection8.4Insulation coordination and distances8.5Calibration and traceability plan8.6Uncertainty budget8.7Safety and performance tests8.8Conclusions and future work8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
Delivered 100% online on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so the programme fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is LTspice, TI Analog Engineer's Calculator, Analog Devices LTpowerCAD, KiCad and LabVIEW, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: dielectric strength tests on isolated equipment, calibration of acquisition channels against a standard and noise and ENOB measurement on test benches. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final integrating project.
Standards covered: ISO/IEC 17025:2017, IEC 61010-1, IEC 60664-1, IEC 60747-17, IEC 62368-1, JCGM 100:2008 (GUM), IEC 60601-1.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
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 software.
- English sufficient to read 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 totals 800 hours over 6–8 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with LTspice, TI Analog Engineer's Calculator, Analog Devices LTpowerCAD, KiCad and LabVIEW, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector (no university degree required), a computer able to run the programme software, and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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