Postgraduate Diploma in Substation Testing, Maintenance and Cybersecurity
Online 800-hour Postgraduate Diploma in Substation Testing, Maintenance and Cybersecurity. 8 modules covering IEC 61850 (substation communications), IEC 62443-3-3 (security requirements for industrial control systems) and OMICRON Primary Test Manager. Dedicated tutor and open enrolment.
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
Identify the primary and secondary equipment of a substation.
Carry out and interpret transformer and circuit breaker tests.
Test protection and control functions with injection test sets.
Compare time-based and condition-based maintenance strategies.
Configure substation automation in accordance with IEC 61850.
Apply cybersecurity controls to substation networks.
Plan maintenance interventions that are safe for people and systems.
Who it's for
- Substation testing engineer looking to specialise in Substation Testing, Maintenance and Cybersecurity.
- High-voltage maintenance technician looking to specialise in Substation Testing, Maintenance and Cybersecurity.
- Electrical OT cybersecurity specialist looking to specialise in Substation Testing, Maintenance and Cybersecurity.
- Protection and control engineer looking to specialise in Substation Testing, Maintenance and Cybersecurity.
- Substation maintenance manager looking to specialise in Substation Testing, Maintenance and Cybersecurity.
- IEC 61850 automation engineer looking to specialise in Substation Testing, Maintenance and Cybersecurity.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter the electricity transmission sector.
What you'll work with
- IEC 61850 (substation communications)
- IEC 62443-3-3 (security requirements for industrial control systems)
- IEC 62351 (security of power system protocols)
- IEEE 1686 (cybersecurity of IEDs)
- Real Decreto 337/2014 (ITC-RAT, high-voltage installations)
- IEC 62271-1 (high-voltage switchgear: common specifications)
- IEEE C57.152 (field testing of transformers)
8 modules · 800 h
1.1Busbar configurations and switchgear1.2Power circuit breakers and mechanisms1.3Disconnectors and earthing1.4Power and measurement transformers1.5GIS versus AIS substations1.6SF6 gas and alternatives1.7DC and AC auxiliary services1.8Earthing grid and step and touch voltages1.9High-voltage regulation RD 337/20141.10Case study: reading a substation single-line diagram
2.1Insulation resistance and polarisation index2.2Tan delta and capacitance2.3Turns ratio and winding resistance2.4Frequency response analysis (SFRA)2.5Dissolved gas analysis (DGA)2.6Circuit breaker operating times2.7Contact resistance with a micro-ohmmeter2.8Partial discharges in GIS2.9Current transformer testing2.10Practical: interpreting a DGA report
3.1Secondary injection of relays3.2Line protection scheme testing3.3Transformer and busbar differential protection3.4Testing with COMTRADE files3.5GPS-synchronised end-to-end tests3.6Interlock verification3.7Automation and autoreclose testing3.8Battery and charger testing3.9Recording and traceability of results3.10Laboratory: testing a distance protection relay
4.1Corrective, preventive and predictive maintenance4.2Condition-based maintenance4.3Reliability-centred maintenance (RCM)4.4Asset health index4.5Infrared thermography4.6Online transformer monitoring4.7Asset management under ISO 550004.8Outage planning4.9Availability indicators4.10Workshop: asset criticality matrix
5.1Digital substation architecture5.2Data model and logical nodes5.3GOOSE and Sampled Values messages5.4Process bus and merging units5.5SCL language and SCD files5.6PTP IEEE 1588 time synchronisation5.7PRP and HSR redundancy5.8IEC 61850 system testing5.9Traffic analysis with Wireshark5.10Practical: analysing an SCD file
6.1Threats to electrical automation6.2Lessons from the 2015 and 2016 Ukraine attacks6.3The IEC 62443 series applied to substations6.4IEC 62351 for energy protocols6.5NERC CIP as a reference6.6Segmentation into zones and conduits6.7Remote access management6.8Hardening of IEDs and engineering workstations6.9Security monitoring in OT6.10Laboratory: assessing a substation network
7.1Change and configuration management7.2Firmware and patch control7.3Configuration backups7.4Maintenance laptops and removable media7.5Incident response in the substation7.6NIS2 Directive and essential operators7.7Law 8/2011 on critical infrastructure7.8Staff training and awareness7.9Periodic security audits7.10Case study: contractor access procedure
8.1Description of the substation under study8.2Asset inventory and criticality8.3Equipment test plan8.4Condition-based maintenance plan8.5IEC 61850 architecture and communications8.6Cybersecurity risk assessment8.7Protection and monitoring measures8.8Implementation plan and costs8.9Report and presentation8.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
Fully online training on the SEIUM Institute campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and a dedicated 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 OMICRON Primary Test Manager, OMICRON Test Universe, Wireshark, DIgSILENT PowerFactory, Nozomi Guardian, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied using real procedures for transformer ratio and winding resistance tests, frequency response, circuit breaker timing tests and cybersecurity audits of substation networks. 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.
Identify the primary and secondary equipment of a substation.
Carry out and interpret transformer and circuit breaker tests.
Test protection and control functions with injection test sets.
Compare time-based and condition-based maintenance strategies.
Configure substation automation in accordance with IEC 61850.
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 standards documentation.
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 comprises 800 hours in total, spread over 6 to 8 months. That is between 10 and 15 hours per week on average, compatible with a full-time job.
The programme works with OMICRON Primary Test Manager, OMICRON Test Universe, Wireshark, DIgSILENT PowerFactory and Nozomi Guardian. 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 can be credited towards the advanced programme. Please check the credit recognition policy when you enrol.
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