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Master'sDesign, HMI & Product Applications open

Master’s in Lighting Engineering & Perception

Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in lighting and perception engineering, structured in 12 modules covering human vision, photometry and colorimetry, colour perception, glare and visual comfort, non-visual effects of light, lighting technology, interior lighting design, vehicle lighting, lighting simulation, applied perceptual research and sustainability, 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

Explain how human vision works under different lighting conditions.

02

Measure photometric, colorimetric and melanopic quantities.

03

Evaluate glare, flicker and visual comfort.

04

Apply the non-visual effects of light to the design of spaces.

05

Design interior and product lighting in accordance with EN 12464-1.

06

Simulate and validate lighting proposals with professional tools.

07

Plan perceptual studies with statistical and ethical rigour.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Lighting designers.
  • Lighting engineers.
  • Researchers in visual perception.
  • Photometry and metrology specialists.
  • Human-centric lighting consultants.
  • Luminaire product engineers.
  • Engineering or science graduates aiming to enter architectural lighting.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • EN 12464-1:2021 (lighting of indoor work places)
  • CIE S 026/E:2018 (metrology for ipRGC-influenced responses to light)
  • IEC 62471:2006 (photobiological safety of lamps and lamp systems)
  • EN 17037:2018 (daylight in buildings)
  • EN 15193-1:2017 (energy requirements for lighting)
  • Regulation (EU) 2019/2020 (ecodesign requirements for light sources)
  • ANSI/IES TM-30-20 (method for evaluating light source colour rendition)
  • UNECE Regulation No 149 (road illumination devices for vehicles)
  • DIALux evo
  • Relux
  • Ansys Speos
  • Radiance
  • LMK LabSoft
Syllabus

12 modules · 1900 h

  1. 1.1. Anatomy of the eye and photoreceptors
  2. 1.2. Photopic, mesopic and scotopic vision
  3. 1.3. Luminous efficiency function V(λ)
  4. 1.4. Light and dark adaptation
  5. 1.5. Spatial contrast sensitivity
  6. 1.6. Visual acuity and age
  7. 1.7. Eye movements and fixations
  8. 1.8. ipRGC ganglion cells
  9. 1.9. Peripheral vision and motion detection
  10. 1.10. Laboratory: measurement of contrast sensitivity
  1. 2.1. Flux, intensity, illuminance and luminance
  2. 2.2. Goniophotometry and IES and LDT files
  3. 2.3. CIE 1931 and CIELAB colour spaces
  4. 2.4. Correlated colour temperature
  5. 2.5. Colour rendering Ra and TM-30
  6. 2.6. Melanopic metrics under CIE S 026
  7. 2.7. Spectroradiometry and spectral measurement
  8. 2.8. Uncertainty in photometric measurement
  9. 2.9. Calibration of luminance meters and spectrometers
  10. 2.10. Practical exercise: spectral characterisation of LED sources
  1. 3.1. Colour constancy and chromatic adaptation
  2. 3.2. CIECAM02 and CAM16 appearance models
  3. 3.3. The Helmholtz-Kohlrausch effect on brightness
  4. 3.4. Illuminant and observer metamerism
  5. 3.5. Perception of light quality
  6. 3.6. Emotional associations of colour and light
  7. 3.7. Cultural differences in lighting preference
  8. 3.8. Colour vision deficiencies
  9. 3.9. Colour difference ΔE2000
  10. 3.10. Workshop: evaluation of metamerism in a light booth
  1. 4.1. Disability glare and veiling luminance
  2. 4.2. Discomfort glare and the De Boer scale
  3. 4.3. UGR index for interiors
  4. 4.4. Headlamp glare in night-time driving
  5. 4.5. Flicker and stroboscopic effect: PstLM and SVM
  6. 4.6. Visual fatigue in prolonged tasks
  7. 4.7. Luminance of displays and surroundings
  8. 4.8. Luminance ratios in the visual field
  9. 4.9. Glare in older users
  10. 4.10. Practical exercise: UGR calculation in an office
  1. 5.1. The circadian system and the suprachiasmatic nucleus
  2. 5.2. Melatonin suppression by light
  3. 5.3. Acute effects on alertness and performance
  4. 5.4. Integrative human-centric lighting
  5. 5.5. Lighting for shift work
  6. 5.6. Blue light hazard and myths
  7. 5.7. Photobiological safety under IEC 62471
  8. 5.8. Daily exposure recommendations
  9. 5.9. Quality of the scientific evidence
  10. 5.10. Case study: circadian lighting in a hospital
  1. 6.1. LED physics and phosphor conversion
  2. 6.2. OLED and surface sources
  3. 6.3. Laser sources and remote phosphor conversion
  4. 6.4. Drivers, dimming and power factor
  5. 6.5. Thermal management and L70 lifetime
  6. 6.6. Lenses, reflectors and light guides
  7. 6.7. Micro-optics and diffusers
  8. 6.8. DALI-2 control and wireless protocols
  9. 6.9. Lumen maintenance under LM-80
  10. 6.10. Laboratory: luminaire measurement on a goniophotometer
  1. 7.1. EN 12464-1 requirements by task
  2. 7.2. Layers of general, task and accent lighting
  3. 7.3. Daylight in buildings under EN 17037
  4. 7.4. Visual hierarchy and modelling
  5. 7.5. Lighting for offices and work environments
  6. 7.6. Retail lighting and product perception
  7. 7.7. Museums and preventive conservation
  8. 7.8. Hospital and healthcare lighting
  9. 7.9. Energy efficiency and LENI under EN 15193-1
  10. 7.10. Workshop: lighting project for an office in DIALux
  1. 8.1. Adaptive headlamps and LED matrix
  2. 8.2. Driver perception in night-time driving
  3. 8.3. Pedestrian visibility with dipped beam
  4. 8.4. Light signature and brand recognition
  5. 8.5. Interior ambient lighting and spatial perception
  6. 8.6. Displays and reflections in the cabin
  7. 8.7. External communication light signals
  8. 8.8. UNECE 149 photometric requirements
  9. 8.9. Rear lamps and reaction time
  10. 8.10. Practical exercise: perceptual study of light signatures
  1. 9.1. Illuminance calculation by radiosity
  2. 9.2. Spectral ray tracing
  3. 9.3. Physically based rendering
  4. 9.4. HDR photography and luminance maps
  5. 9.5. Calibrated luminance cameras
  6. 9.6. Virtual reality for lighting studies
  7. 9.7. Validating simulation against measurement
  8. 9.8. Comparison of DIALux, Relux and Speos
  9. 9.9. Visual communication of lighting proposals
  10. 9.10. Laboratory: luminance map with an HDR camera
  1. 10.1. Classical and adaptive psychophysical methods
  2. 10.2. Magnitude and category scales
  3. 10.3. Experimental design for lighting studies
  4. 10.4. Statistical analysis with mixed models
  5. 10.5. Light booths and test rooms
  6. 10.6. Field studies with users
  7. 10.7. Ethics and informed consent
  8. 10.8. Eye tracking in lit environments
  9. 10.9. Physiological measures of response to light
  10. 10.10. Case study: colour temperature preference experiment
  1. 11.1. Ecodesign under Regulation (EU) 2019/2020
  2. 11.2. Energy labelling under Regulation (EU) 2019/2015
  3. 11.3. Repairable and circular luminaires
  4. 11.4. Life cycle assessment of luminaires
  5. 11.5. Lighting criteria in WELL and LEED
  6. 11.6. Light pollution and the night sky
  7. 11.7. CE marking and applicable directives
  8. 11.8. Green public procurement of lighting
  9. 11.9. WEEE waste management
  10. 11.10. Workshop: life cycle assessment of a luminaire
  1. 12.1. Defining the perceptual problem
  2. 12.2. Review of the scientific literature
  3. 12.3. Design of the study or project
  4. 12.4. Photometric and spectral measurements
  5. 12.5. Simulation and lighting prototype
  6. 12.6. Perceptual study with users
  7. 12.7. Analysis of the results obtained
  8. 12.8. Lighting design recommendations
  9. 12.9. Master's Thesis report
  10. 12.10. Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

A 100% online programme on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable materials, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so the programme is compatible with full-time work.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is DIALux evo, Relux, Ansys Speos, Radiance and LMK LabSoft, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: psychophysical experiments in a light booth, measurements with a goniophotometer and spectroradiometer, and luminance maps with an HDR camera. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.

Standards covered: EN 12464-1:2021, CIE S 026/E:2018, IEC 62471:2006, EN 17037:2018, EN 15193-1:2017, Regulation (EU) 2019/2020, ANSI/IES TM-30-20 and UNECE Regulation No 149.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of EN 12464-1, CIE S 026 and IEC 62471 applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:DIALux evo, Relux, Ansys Speos, Radiance and LMK LabSoft, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Master's Thesis with defence:a perceptual lighting study or project combining photometric and spectral measurement, simulation, user testing and design recommendations, 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.

Spectral characterisation
Characterise the spectrum of LED sources and measure a luminaire on a goniophotometer.
Glare and comfort analysis
Calculate UGR in an office and assess visual comfort conditions.
Interior lighting project
Design the lighting of an office in DIALux in line with EN 12464-1.
Perceptual experiment
Run a colour temperature preference experiment and HDR luminance mapping.
Master's Thesis
Carry out a perceptual lighting study with measurement, simulation and user testing, defended before a panel.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Lighting designerLighting engineerVisual perception researcherPhotometry and metrology specialistHuman-centric lighting consultantLuminaire product engineer
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • A university degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
  • An 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 DIALux evo, Relux, Ansys Speos, Radiance and LMK LabSoft, 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 university degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), a computer able to run the 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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