Postgraduate Diploma in Dependency Assessment and User-Centred Design
Online 800-hour Postgraduate Diploma in Dependency Assessment and User-Centred Design. 8 modules covering ISO 9241-210 (human-centred design), ISO 9999 (assistive products, classification) and Figma. Personal tutor assigned and enrolment open.
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 concepts of dependency and disability according to the ICF.
Apply validated dependency assessment instruments.
Carry out functional assessments using instrumentation.
Plan user research studies with dependent people.
Design assistive products in line with user-centred design principles.
Prototype and evaluate solutions with real users.
Integrate the product into the assistive services ecosystem.
Who it's for
- Assistive product designer who wants to specialise in Dependency Assessment and User-Centred Design.
- Dependency assessor who wants to specialise in Dependency Assessment and User-Centred Design.
- User experience researcher who wants to specialise in Dependency Assessment and User-Centred Design.
- Occupational therapist specialising in technology who wants to specialise in Dependency Assessment and User-Centred Design.
- Rehabilitation engineer who wants to specialise in Dependency Assessment and User-Centred Design.
- Accessibility consultant who wants to specialise in Dependency Assessment and User-Centred Design.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter social services.
What you'll work with
- ISO 9241-210 (human-centred design)
- ISO 9999 (assistive products, classification)
- International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF, WHO)
- Law 39/2006 (promotion of personal autonomy and care for dependent persons)
- Royal Decree 174/2011 (dependency assessment scale)
- EN 17161 (design for all)
- ISO 21542 (accessibility of the built environment)
8 modules · 800 h
1.1Dependency, disability and frailty: concepts1.2WHO ICF classification1.3Law 39/2006 on the promotion of personal autonomy1.4Degrees of dependency and benefits1.5Epidemiology of ageing and dependency1.6Basic and instrumental activities of daily living1.7Environmental factors and barriers1.8Social model of disability1.9UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities1.10Case study: functional profile of an older person
2.1Dependency assessment scale (BVD)2.2Barthel Index2.3Lawton and Brody Scale2.4Katz Index2.5Mini-Mental State Examination and cognitive screening2.6Tinetti Scale and fall risk2.7Short Physical Performance Battery2.8Zarit Burden Interview for caregiver strain2.9Reliability and validity of instruments2.10Practice: applying the Barthel Index to case studies
3.1Inertial sensors for assessing mobility3.2Instrumented Timed Up and Go3.3Daily activity measured with wearables3.4Force and balance platforms3.5Handgrip dynamometry3.6Assessment of the home environment3.7Environmental sensors and activity patterns3.8Validation against clinical scales3.9Interpretation of longitudinal data3.10Laboratory: instrumented TUG with IMU
4.1User-centred design according to ISO 9241-2104.2Contextual research in the home4.3Interviews with users and carers4.4Personas and empathy maps4.5User experience maps4.6Hierarchical task analysis4.7User requirements and context of use4.8Research with people with cognitive impairment4.9Ethics in research with dependent users4.10Workshop: creating personas for an assistive product
5.1ISO 9999 classification of assistive products5.2Principles of universal design5.3Anthropometrics of older people and people with disabilities5.4Ergonomics of grips and controls5.5Interfaces for low vision5.6Interfaces for limited manual dexterity5.7Cognitive simplification of interaction5.8Materials, hygiene and safety5.9Adaptation and personalisation5.10Case study: redesigning a smart pill dispenser
6.1Low- and high-fidelity prototypes6.2Rapid prototyping with 3D printing6.3Usability testing with dependent users6.4Metrics of effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction6.5SUS scale and QUEST questionnaire6.6Adapted heuristic evaluation6.7Testing in real environments and living labs6.8Analysis of use errors6.9Design iteration based on results6.10Practice: usability testing of a prototype
7.1Design of health and social care services7.2Service blueprint7.3Assistive products in the care plan7.4Prescription and funding of assistive products7.5Applicable medical device regulation7.6CE marking of assistive products7.7User training and support7.8Follow-up and prevention of abandonment7.9Impact on the degree of dependency7.10Workshop: blueprint of a telecare service
8.1Definition of the user and the problem8.2Functional assessment of target users8.3User research8.4Design requirements8.5Concepts and prototype8.6Evaluation with users8.7Iteration and final design8.8Implementation plan8.9Report and presentation8.10Final review with the tutor
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: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it possible to combine the programme with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Figma, SolidWorks, IBM SPSS Statistics, Dovetail, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied using real procedures for instrumented functional assessments, prototype testing with users, interviews and contextual observation in the home. Assessment is continuous, module by module, plus the final integrative project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Understand the concepts of dependency and disability according to the ICF.
Apply validated dependency assessment instruments.
Carry out functional assessments using instrumentation.
Plan user research studies with dependent people.
Design assistive products in line with user-centred design principles.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. A university degree is not required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- A sufficient level of Spanish to follow technical regulatory texts.
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, spread over 6 to 8 months. That is an average of between 10 and 15 hours per week, compatible with a full-time job.
The programme works with Figma, SolidWorks, IBM SPSS Statistics and Dovetail. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrative project. It is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a Course or Postgraduate Diploma in the same area are credited towards the higher-level programme. Please check the credit transfer policy when you enrol.
Related programmes
Postgraduate Diploma in Communication with Authorities and Stakeholders
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in communication with authorities and stakeholders, with 8 modules covering stakeholder mapping, relations with authorities, technical communication, public participation, crisis…
Postgraduate Diploma in Risk Assessment and Operational Controls
Online 800-hour Postgraduate Diploma in Risk Assessment and Operational Controls. 8 modules covering ISO 31000 (risk management), IEC 31010 (risk assessment techniques) and advanced Excel. Assigned…
Postgraduate Diploma in Ergonomic Health Surveillance and Plant KPIs
Online 800-hour Postgraduate Diploma in Ergonomic Health Surveillance and Plant KPIs. 8 modules covering Law 31/1995 on Occupational Risk Prevention (art. 22), Royal Decree 843/2011 (healthcare…
More in Health, Biomechanics, Wearables & Operational Safety
All Health, Biomechanics, Wearables & Operational Safety programmes → · How to apply · Fees & financing · Scholarships