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Master'sEnergy and Networks Applications open

Master’s in Distribution Protection and Coordination Engineering

Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in distribution protection and coordination engineering. 12 modules covering short-circuit calculation, neutral earthing, instrument transformers, overcurrent and earth fault protection, auto-reclosing, distributed generation, LV protection, IEC 61850 digital protection, microgrids and relay testing, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration1900 h
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute diploma
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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Calculate short-circuit currents in distribution networks.

02

Analyse the behaviour of different neutral earthing systems.

03

Set overcurrent and earth fault protection.

04

Coordinate relays, fuses and reclosers.

05

Assess the impact of distributed generation on protection.

06

Design protection for microgrids.

07

Plan testing and maintenance of protection systems.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Protection engineers.
  • Distribution network engineers.
  • Protection testing technicians.
  • Generation connection engineers.
  • Incident analysis specialists.
  • Electrical maintenance engineers.
  • Engineering or science graduates aiming to move into electricity distribution.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • IEC 60909-0 (short-circuit currents)
  • IEC 60255-151 (functional requirements for overcurrent protection)
  • IEC 61869-2 (current transformers)
  • Royal Decree 337/2014 (Spanish high-voltage regulation, ITC-RAT 13 earthing)
  • Royal Decree 842/2002 (Spanish low-voltage electrotechnical regulations)
  • IEEE C37.112 (inverse-time characteristics)
  • Royal Decree 1955/2000 (transmission, distribution and quality of service)
  • IEEE 1547-2018 (interconnection of distributed resources)
  • DIgSILENT PowerFactory
  • ETAP
  • CYMTCC
  • Omicron Test Universe
  • MATLAB/Simulink
Syllabus

12 modules · 1900 h

  1. 1.1Types of faults in medium and low voltage
  2. 1.2Short-circuit calculation according to IEC 60909
  3. 1.3Contribution of motors and generation
  4. 1.4Resistive and high-impedance faults
  5. 1.5Evolving and intermittent faults
  6. 1.6Fault statistics on overhead networks
  7. 1.7Thermal and dynamic effects
  8. 1.8Fault records
  9. 1.9Incident analysis
  10. 1.10Case study: analysis of an oscillographic fault record
  1. 2.1Isolated neutral
  2. 2.2Solidly earthed neutral
  3. 2.3Impedance-earthed neutral
  4. 2.4Compensated neutral with Petersen coil
  5. 2.5Neutral earthing in Spanish networks
  6. 2.6Overvoltages by earthing system
  7. 2.7Network capacitive currents
  8. 2.8Personal safety
  9. 2.9Choice of earthing system
  10. 2.10Practical exercise: calculation of earth fault currents by earthing system
  1. 3.1Current transformers
  2. 3.2Saturation and protection classes
  3. 3.3Voltage transformers
  4. 3.4Core-balance CTs for earth faults
  5. 3.5Low-power sensors
  6. 3.6Burden sizing
  7. 3.7Wiring and polarity
  8. 3.8Instrument transformer testing
  9. 3.9Errors and their effect on protection
  10. 3.10Laboratory: saturation analysis of a current transformer
  1. 4.1Functions 50 and 51
  2. 4.2IEC and IEEE curves
  3. 4.3Directional protection 67
  4. 4.4Feeder settings
  5. 4.5Protection of distribution transformers
  6. 4.6Coordination of time-current curves
  7. 4.7Expulsion and current-limiting fuses
  8. 4.8Fuse–relay coordination
  9. 4.9Coordination of cascaded relays
  10. 4.10Practical exercise: coordination of a feeder with relays and fuses
  1. 5.1Protection 50N and 51N
  2. 5.2Directional earth fault 67N
  3. 5.3Wattmetric earth fault protection
  4. 5.4Detection in compensated neutral networks
  5. 5.5High-impedance faults
  6. 5.6Transient-based algorithms
  7. 5.7Restricted earth fault protection
  8. 5.8Sensitivity and selectivity
  9. 5.9Testing of earth fault protection
  10. 5.10Laboratory: setting of wattmetric protection
  1. 6.1Reclosers and their logic
  2. 6.2Reclosing cycles
  3. 6.3Sectionalisers and their coordination
  4. 6.4Recloser–fuse coordination
  5. 6.5Fuse-saving schemes
  6. 6.6Automatic transfer schemes
  7. 6.7Fault passage indicators
  8. 6.8Remote control and restoration
  9. 6.9Impact on quality of service
  10. 6.10Case study: reclosing scheme for a rural overhead line
  1. 7.1Inverter contribution to faults
  2. 7.2Protection blinding
  3. 7.3Sympathetic tripping on feeders
  4. 7.4Unintentional islanding
  5. 7.5Anti-islanding protection of generators
  6. 7.6Connection requirements
  7. 7.7Fault ride-through
  8. 7.8Coordination with reclosing
  9. 7.9Adaptive protection solutions
  10. 7.10Practical exercise: analysis of blinding caused by photovoltaic generation
  1. 8.1Protection of the MV/LV transformer
  2. 8.2Fuses in MV switchgear
  3. 8.3LV circuit breakers
  4. 8.4Selectivity at low voltage
  5. 8.5Residual current protection
  6. 8.6Surge protection
  7. 8.7Earthing installations
  8. 8.8Step and touch voltages
  9. 8.9Maintenance of protection
  10. 8.10Laboratory: calculation of step and touch voltages
  1. 9.1Multifunction numerical relays
  2. 9.2IEC 61850 in distribution
  3. 9.3Logic schemes using GOOSE
  4. 9.4Communication-assisted protection
  5. 9.5Line differential protection
  6. 9.6Event recording and oscillography
  7. 9.7Setting groups
  8. 9.8Settings management
  9. 9.9Relay cybersecurity
  10. 9.10Practical exercise: selectivity logic using GOOSE
  1. 10.1Protection in island mode
  2. 10.2Reduced fault currents
  3. 10.3Adaptive protection in microgrids
  4. 10.4Microgrid differential protection
  5. 10.5Voltage-based protection
  6. 10.6Protection in meshed LV networks
  7. 10.7Storage and protection
  8. 10.8Centralised protection schemes
  9. 10.9Laboratory testing
  10. 10.10Case study: protection scheme for an industrial microgrid
  1. 11.1Coordination studies
  2. 11.2Calculation tools
  3. 11.3Relay testing with injection test sets
  4. 11.4End-to-end testing
  5. 11.5Analysis of unwanted trips
  6. 11.6Maintenance of protection
  7. 11.7Settings audit
  8. 11.8Settings documentation
  9. 11.9Performance indicators
  10. 11.10Workshop: analysis of an unwanted trip
  1. 12.1Selection of the study network
  2. 12.2Short-circuit calculation
  3. 12.3Neutral earthing and earth faults
  4. 12.4Coordination study
  5. 12.5Integration of distributed generation
  6. 12.6Automation schemes
  7. 12.7Test plan
  8. 12.8Conclusions and future work
  9. 12.9Master's Thesis report
  10. 12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

The programme is 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 it can be combined with work.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is DIgSILENT PowerFactory, ETAP, CYMTCC, Omicron Test Universe and MATLAB/Simulink, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Work is based on real procedures for feeder protection coordination studies, relay testing by secondary injection and analysis of fault records. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.

Standards covered: IEC 60909-0, IEC 60255-151, IEC 61869-2, Royal Decree 337/2014, Royal Decree 842/2002, IEEE C37.112, Royal Decree 1955/2000, IEEE 1547-2018.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of IEC 60909-0, IEC 60255-151 and IEC 61869-2 applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:DIgSILENT PowerFactory, ETAP, CYMTCC, Omicron Test Universe and MATLAB/Simulink, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Master's Thesis with defence:A complete protection study of a distribution network, from short-circuit calculation and earthing to coordination, DG integration, automation and test plan, defended before a panel.
Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

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

Calculate short circuits
Compute fault currents to IEC 60909 and earth fault currents for the earthing system.
Coordinate the feeder
Coordinate relays, fuses and reclosers on the study feeder.
Integrate distributed generation
Analyse protection blinding caused by photovoltaic generation and propose solutions.
Plan the testing
Define relay testing by secondary injection and GOOSE selectivity logic.
Master's Thesis
Present the full protection study with its test plan, defended before a panel.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Protection engineerDistribution network engineerProtection testing technicianGeneration connection engineerIncident analysis specialistElectrical maintenance engineer
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • University degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
  • 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.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The programme totals 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.

You work with DIgSILENT PowerFactory, ETAP, CYMTCC, Omicron Test Universe and MATLAB/Simulink, 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 Master's Thesis. 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 in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.

A degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), 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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