Master’s in Route Engineering: Country Permits and Test Frameworks.
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in country-by-country permits and testing frameworks for automated vehicles, structured in 12 modules covering testing of automated vehicles, the authorisation frameworks of Spain, the EU, Germany, the UK, the US, China, Japan and other markets, test centres, safety management, data and reporting, insurance and liability, and multi-country regulatory strategy, 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
Understand the types of automated vehicle testing and their risks.
Apply the Spanish framework for test authorisation.
Compare the permit frameworks of Europe, the UK, the US and Asia.
Select suitable test centres and zones.
Design safety management systems for testing.
Manage the data and reports required by authorities.
Develop multi-country regulatory strategies.
Who it's for
- Regulatory affairs specialists for autonomous vehicles.
- Public road testing managers.
- Operations safety managers.
- Autonomous mobility consultants.
- Test data analysts.
- Pilot deployment project managers.
- Engineering or science graduates aiming to enter the automotive industry.
What you'll work with
- DGT Instruction 15/V-113 (Spanish authorisation of automated vehicle tests)
- Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1426 (type approval of automated driving systems)
- Automated Vehicles Act 2024 (UK framework for self-driving vehicles)
- German Straßenverkehrsgesetz, 2021 amendment (autonomous driving in Germany)
- NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01 (US crash reporting for ADS and Level 2 ADAS)
- California Code of Regulations, Title 13, Article 3.7 (autonomous vehicle testing in California)
- Singapore TR 68 (technical reference for autonomous vehicles)
- Directive (EU) 2024/2853 (liability for defective products)
- CARLA
- Python (pandas)
- QGIS
- ROS 2 (rosbag)
- Power BI
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1The need for real-world testing1.2Types of testing: track, closed areas and public roads1.3Maturity stages and associated testing1.4Stakeholders: manufacturer, operator and authority1.5Risks of testing1.6Lessons from testing incidents1.7Third-party safety1.8Public communication of testing1.9International trends in permits1.10Case study: an incident during public road testing
2.1DGT instruction for automated vehicle testing2.2The DGT ES-AV programme2.3Application requirements2.4Safety driver2.5Mandatory testing insurance2.6Authorised areas and routes2.7Incident reporting2.8Coordination with local councils2.9Draft sustainable mobility law2.10Practical exercise: preparing an authorisation application to the DGT
3.1Regulation (EU) 2022/14263.2Small-series type approval3.3German autonomous driving law3.4Technical supervision in Germany3.5Authorised operating areas3.6France and its testing framework3.7The Netherlands and its experimental law3.8Nordic country frameworks3.9European harmonisation of testing3.10Case study: comparing requirements in Germany and France
4.1Automated Vehicles Act 20244.2Code of practice for testing4.3Authorised self-driving entities4.4Pilot service programmes4.5User responsibility4.6Insurance and liability4.7Operator oversight4.8Test centres4.9Implementation timeline4.10Practical exercise: analysis of obligations under the Automated Vehicles Act
5.1NHTSA federal framework5.2FMVSS exemptions5.3Standing General Order on incident reporting5.4California: DMV and CPUC permits5.5Arizona and Texas5.6State testing requirements5.7Disengagement reports5.8Autonomous lorry testing5.9Federal regulatory debate5.10Lab: analysis of California disengagement reports
6.1Testing in China: municipal licences6.2Pilot zones in Beijing, Shanghai and Wuhan6.3Chinese national standards6.4Japan: Level 4 and the Road Traffic Act6.5South Korea6.6Singapore and its TR 68 framework6.7United Arab Emirates6.8Australia and New Zealand6.9Comparison of approaches6.10Case study: launching a robotaxi service in Asia
7.1Test tracks for automation7.2Test cities7.3Cross-border test corridors7.4Supporting connected infrastructure7.5Mobility regulatory sandboxes7.6Facilities in Spain7.7Selecting test centres7.8Costs and planning7.9Public–private cooperation in testing7.10Workshop: selecting a test centre for a campaign
8.1Operator safety management system8.2Route risk analysis8.3Safety driver training8.4Intervention procedures8.5Remote fleet monitoring8.6Operational limits of testing8.7Incident management8.8Emergency drills in testing8.9Internal safety audits8.10Practical exercise: risk analysis of an urban test route
9.1Test data logging9.2Reports to authorities9.3Accident notification9.4Safety metrics9.5Open data and publication9.6Protection of third-party data9.7Video recording on public roads9.8Using data for type approval9.9Communication with the public9.10Lab: safety indicators from test logs
10.1Civil liability in testing10.2Specific insurance for autonomous vehicles10.3Manufacturer liability10.4Operator liability10.5Product Liability Directive10.6National liability regimes10.7Claims and litigation10.8Claims management10.9Insurance industry trends10.10Case study: insurance policy for a test fleet
11.1Planning regulatory routes11.2Requirements matrix by country11.3Reuse of evidence11.4Relations with authorities11.5Permit timeline11.6Regulatory affairs teams11.7Regulatory risk management11.8Scaling from testing to service11.9Lessons from global operators11.10Workshop: permit roadmap across four countries
12.1Defining the system and service12.2Regulatory analysis by country12.3Selecting test environments12.4Safety plan12.5Data and reporting plan12.6Insurance and liability12.7Permit roadmap12.8Conclusions and future work12.9Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
How you'll learn
100% online training 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 the intake, so the programme can be combined with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is CARLA, Python (pandas), QGIS, ROS 2 (rosbag) and Power BI, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Exercises are based on real procedures for preparing test permit applications, risk analysis of test routes and analysis of disengagement reports. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: DGT Instruction 15/V-113 (authorisation of automated driving vehicle tests), Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1426, Automated Vehicles Act 2024 (United Kingdom), German Straßenverkehrsgesetz as amended in 2021 (autonomous driving), NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01, California Code of Regulations, Title 13, Article 3.7, Singapore TR 68, Directive (EU) 2024/2853 (liability for defective products).
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
- 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.
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 CARLA, Python (pandas), QGIS, ROS 2 (rosbag) and Power BI, 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, plus a suitable computer, an internet connection 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.
Related programmes
Master’s in Railway Certification Engineering
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in railway certification engineering, structured in 12 modules covering the railway system and its regulation, vehicle authorisation, rolling stock and…
Master’s in Oceania & MENA Type-Approval Engineering
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in Oceania and MENA vehicle type-approval engineering. 12 modules covering Australia's Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018, the Australian Design Rules,…
Master’s in Environmental Compliance & Global Emissions Engineering
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in environmental compliance and global emissions engineering: 12 modules covering vehicle and industrial emissions regulation, carbon markets and CBAM, emissions…
More in Regulation, Safety, RAMS & Homologation
All Regulation, Safety, RAMS & Homologation programmes → · How to apply · Fees & financing · Scholarships