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Master'sRegulation, Safety, RAMS & Homologation Applications open

Master’s in US Type-Approval Engineering

Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in US vehicle certification engineering. 12 modules covering 49 CFR Part 571 Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, 40 CFR Part 86 vehicle emissions control, EPA certification, fuel economy, imports and NHTSA vPIC, 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

Understand the US self-certification system.

02

Apply the FMVSS to a vehicle programme.

03

Manage emissions certification with the EPA.

04

Calculate fuel economy and greenhouse gas compliance.

05

Plan the importation of vehicles and prototypes.

06

Interpret the requirements for electric and automated vehicles.

07

Organise a regulatory compliance programme in North America.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Regulatory compliance engineers for North America.
  • Emissions certification specialists.
  • FMVSS safety engineers.
  • Vehicle import managers.
  • Federal regulatory analysts.
  • Compliance programme managers.
  • Engineering or science graduates looking to enter the automotive sector.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • 49 CFR Part 571 (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards)
  • 40 CFR Part 86 (control of emissions from vehicles)
  • 49 CFR Part 567 (certification)
  • 40 CFR Part 1066 (chassis dynamometer test procedures)
  • 49 CFR Part 565 (vehicle identification number)
  • 49 CFR Part 531 (passenger car fuel economy)
  • 19 CFR Part 12 (importation of vehicles)
  • Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations C.R.C. c. 1038 (Canadian safety standards)
  • NHTSA vPIC
  • EPA Verify
  • LS-DYNA
  • AVL CONCERTO
  • Polarion
Syllabus

12 modules · 1900 h

  1. 1.1National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act
  2. 1.2NHTSA, EPA and CARB
  3. 1.3The self-certification principle
  4. 1.4Code of Federal Regulations
  5. 1.5Title 49 and Title 40
  6. 1.6Rulemaking processes
  7. 1.7Exemptions and petitions
  8. 1.8Differences from type approval
  9. 1.9Relationship between federal and state regulations
  10. 1.10Case study: regulatory map for a new-entrant manufacturer
  1. 2.1Structure of 49 CFR Part 571
  2. 2.2100 series: crash avoidance
  3. 2.3200 series: occupant protection
  4. 2.4300 series: post-crash integrity
  5. 2.5FMVSS 208 and airbags
  6. 2.6FMVSS 214 side impact
  7. 2.7FMVSS 135 braking
  8. 2.8FMVSS 305 electric vehicles
  9. 2.9FMVSS 127 automatic emergency braking
  10. 2.10Practical exercise: FMVSS matrix for a passenger car
  1. 3.1Manufacturer due diligence
  2. 3.2In-house and third-party testing
  3. 3.3Certification label 49 CFR 567
  4. 3.4VIN identification 49 CFR 565
  5. 3.5Registered manufacturer 49 CFR 566
  6. 3.6Multi-stage manufacturers
  7. 3.7Agent for service of process
  8. 3.8Technical compliance file
  9. 3.9NHTSA compliance audits
  10. 3.10Workshop: self-certification file
  1. 4.1Clean Air Act
  2. 4.2Tier 3 and Tier 4 standards
  3. 4.3FTP-75, HWFET and US06 procedures
  4. 4.4Certificate of conformity
  5. 4.5Test groups and families
  6. 4.6On-board diagnostics
  7. 4.7Emissions warranty
  8. 4.8Greenhouse gases
  9. 4.9Defeat devices
  10. 4.10Case study: certification plan for an engine family
  1. 5.1NHTSA CAFE programme
  2. 5.2EPA greenhouse gas standards
  3. 5.3Credits and flexibilities
  4. 5.4Electric vehicles in the calculation
  5. 5.5Off-cycle technologies
  6. 5.6Penalties and incentives
  7. 5.7Fleet planning
  8. 5.8Inflation Reduction Act
  9. 5.9Regulatory scenarios and reviews
  10. 5.10Practical exercise: CAFE compliance calculation for a fleet
  1. 6.1NHTSA Form HS-7
  2. 6.2EPA Form 3520-1
  3. 6.3NHTSA registered importers
  4. 6.4Non-conforming vehicles
  5. 6.5Temporary importation for testing
  6. 6.6CBP tariffs and customs
  7. 6.7USMCA rules of origin
  8. 6.8Ports of entry
  9. 6.9Penalties for non-compliance
  10. 6.10Case study: importing prototypes for testing
  1. 7.1Requirements for electric vehicles
  2. 7.2Battery safety and SAE J2464
  3. 7.3Minimum sound FMVSS 141
  4. 7.4Rules for vehicles without manual controls
  5. 7.5Standing General Order on crash reporting
  6. 7.6AV STEP framework
  7. 7.7Cybersecurity under NHTSA best practices
  8. 7.8Charging and SAE J1772
  9. 7.9NACS connector and SAE J3400
  10. 7.10Laboratory: requirements analysis for a robotaxi
  1. 8.1California regulations
  2. 8.2Section 177 states
  3. 8.3State inspection requirements
  4. 8.4Lemon laws
  5. 8.5Canada and CMVSS
  6. 8.6Transport Canada and declarations
  7. 8.7Equivalences between CMVSS and FMVSS
  8. 8.8Bilingual labelling in Canada
  9. 8.9Emissions in Canada
  10. 8.10Practical exercise: comparison of US and Canadian requirements
  1. 9.1Product liability
  2. 9.2Class actions over defects
  3. 9.3Documentation as a defence
  4. 9.4TREAD Act obligations
  5. 9.5Early warning reporting
  6. 9.6Defect investigations
  7. 9.7NHTSA civil penalties
  8. 9.8Integrity programmes
  9. 9.9Crisis management
  10. 9.10Case study: preliminary investigation of a defect
  1. 10.1Independent test laboratories
  2. 10.2NHTSA compliance testing
  3. 10.3Emissions laboratories
  4. 10.4Instrumentation and dummies
  5. 10.5Test repeatability
  6. 10.6Durability testing
  7. 10.7Summer and winter testing
  8. 10.8Prototype planning
  9. 10.9Testing costs
  10. 10.10Workshop: FMVSS test plan for a model
  1. 11.1Organising compliance in the US
  2. 11.2Tracking proposed rules
  3. 11.3Comments to NHTSA
  4. 11.4Coordination with the parent company
  5. 11.5Regulatory management systems
  6. 11.6Staff training
  7. 11.7Federal compliance indicators
  8. 11.8Internal compliance audits
  9. 11.9Relationship with industry associations
  10. 11.10Practical exercise: annual compliance plan
  1. 12.1Definition of the vehicle and market
  2. 12.2Analysis of federal requirements
  3. 12.3Analysis of state requirements
  4. 12.4Self-certification strategy
  5. 12.5Emissions and fuel economy plan
  6. 12.6FMVSS and EPA test plan
  7. 12.7Schedule and budget
  8. 12.8Risks of the North American programme
  9. 12.9Master's Thesis report
  10. 12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

100% online learning 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 fits around your job.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original regulation and applied exercises. The working software is NHTSA vPIC, EPA Verify, LS-DYNA, AVL CONCERTO and Polarion, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied on real procedures: preparing an FMVSS self-certification file, planning EPA emissions certification and the temporary importation of prototypes for testing. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.

Standards covered: 49 CFR Part 571, 40 CFR Part 86, 49 CFR Part 567, 40 CFR Part 1066, 49 CFR Part 565, 49 CFR Part 531, 19 CFR Part 12, Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations C.R.C. c. 1038.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of 49 CFR Part 571, 40 CFR Part 86 and 49 CFR Part 567 applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:NHTSA vPIC, EPA Verify, LS-DYNA, AVL CONCERTO and Polarion, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Master's Thesis with defence:A complete North American compliance programme for a vehicle, covering federal and state requirements, self-certification, emissions, testing, schedule and budget, 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.

FMVSS matrix
Build the FMVSS applicability matrix and test plan for a passenger car.
Self-certification file
Prepare the self-certification file with labels, VIN and manufacturer registration.
Emissions and CAFE plan
Plan EPA certification for an engine family and calculate the fleet's CAFE compliance.
Imports and automation
Plan the importation of prototypes and analyse the requirements for a robotaxi.
Master's Thesis
A complete North American compliance programme with test plan, schedule and budget, defended before a panel.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Regulatory compliance engineer for North AmericaEmissions certification specialistFMVSS safety engineerVehicle import managerFederal regulatory analystCompliance programme manager
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 NHTSA vPIC, EPA Verify, LS-DYNA, AVL CONCERTO and Polarion, 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 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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