System Safety Assessment (SSAS)

This course covers the analysis and assessment phase of the system safety engineering life-cycle for a proposed product or service.

Designed for flexibility, this course can be taken on a stand-alone basis for continuing professional development (CPD) or can count towards the completion of a postgraduate award.

It does so by considering the inputs to this phase, the qualitative and quantitative analysis techniques that can be employed within this phase and the outputs from this phase in terms of evidence into the safety case regime. It also considers the changing assessment requirements as more integrated and complex systems are developed.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

• Demonstrate understanding of the principles of safety analysis throughout the lifecycle.
• Select and justify the use of appropriate safety analysis techniques throughout the lifecycle.
• Describe the collection and use of operational data for safety analysis.
• Apply safety analysis techniques whilst demonstrating understanding of their strengths and limitations.

Course delivery

This course is taught in a blended format, comprising face-to-face sessions on campus and online learning.

Face-to-face teaching will consist of three days of on campus teaching, taking place from Tuesday to Thursday of the teaching week at the University of York. The on-campus teaching will include lectures as well as extensive group exercises where you will have the opportunity to apply what you have learned through case studies.

You will also have 15 hours of self-study to complete in your own time. This includes preparatory work to finish before your on-campus sessions – which we’ll send on Friday 5 February 2027 – as well as materials to review afterward.

Assessment

Once you complete the taught element, you can opt to complete an assessment; the assessment for this course comprises coursework and an online exam.

The assessments are completed remotely and are expected to take 65 hours to complete, including revision and additional reading. The assessment is compulsory for students who require the module to be credited towards a degree award.

Progression to postgraduate awards

This module can count as credit towards the following postgraduate awards, subject to eligibility criteria. 

• Safety Critical Systems Engineering (MSc)
• Safety Critical Systems Engineering (PGDip)
• Safety Critical Systems Engineering (PGCert)

If you pursue further study, you may be eligible to credit a portion of your current course fees toward your future tuition. 

For full details, please see the terms and conditions.

Book your place

Booking for this course closes on Friday 22 January 2027.

To secure your place, please complete the two-part process below. Please also ensure you have read our terms and conditions.