Diploma in IMA, Partitioning and RTOS in Avionics
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in IMA, partitioning and RTOS in avionics. 8 modules covering integrated modular avionics, spatial and temporal partitioning, ARINC 653 APEX services, certifiable operating systems, multicore platforms and DO-297 certification with RTCA DO-297, ARINC 653 and VxWorks 653, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in IMA, Partitioning and RTOS in Avionics — studying from Australia
Australia's aerospace sector spans defence and commercial aviation, maintenance, repair and overhaul, and a growing space industry. Key clusters sit around Adelaide's Edinburgh Parks and the Melbourne and Sydney defence precincts, with major employers including Airbus Australia Pacific, BAE Systems Australia, Boeing Defence Australia and Lockheed Martin Australia. Recreational and commercial drone operations are increasingly regulated, and advanced air mobility is emerging as a research and policy priority. Engineers working in this area typically support airworthiness, systems integration, structures and avionics across both crewed and uncrewed platforms.
Fees for Australia: A$2,850 (AUD), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Australia
Typical roles
Questions from Australia
Does a SEIUM qualification help me get recognised by a professional body in Australia?
SEIUM qualifications are private qualifications, not official state degrees, and they are not accredited by any Australian body. Engineers Australia accredits university engineering degrees, and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) regulates drone and aviation operations. Recognition of a private qualification is decided by the employer or the relevant body, so check with them before enrolling.
Will this course help me find work in Australian aerospace, drones or space?
Australia has aerospace and defence employers, drone operators and space-sector companies, and skills in these areas are valued. Whether a SEIUM qualification counts for a given role depends on the employer, who will usually weigh your experience and portfolio alongside any private credential. Ask prospective employers how they view it.
Can I study this part-time while working, and does the time zone suit Australia?
The programmes are fully online and taught in English, so you can study from anywhere in Australia, with no student visa needed for home study. Master's programmes total 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours, so plan your weekly load realistically. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship may be possible.
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 architecture of integrated modular avionics.
Design the spatial and temporal partitioning of a platform.
Develop applications with ARINC 653 APEX services.
Select certifiable real-time operating systems.
Analyse interference on multicore platforms according to AMC 20-193.
Verify the timing behaviour of partitioned applications.
Apply the DO-297 incremental acceptance process.
Who it's for
- Real-time software engineers.
- IMA platform integrators.
- Embedded operating systems engineers.
- Software certification engineers.
- Avionics architects.
- Timing verification engineers.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter the avionics sector.
What you'll work with
- RTCA DO-297 (integrated modular avionics development and certification)
- ARINC 653 (avionics application software standard interface)
- RTCA DO-178C (airborne software assurance)
- AMC 20-193 (use of multicore processors)
- RTCA DO-254 (airborne electronic hardware assurance)
- SAE ARP4754B (development of civil aircraft and systems)
- ARINC 664 Part 7 (AFDX deterministic Ethernet)
- VxWorks 653
- LynxOS-178
- INTEGRITY-178 tuMP
- PikeOS
- Rapita RVS
8 modules
1.1From federated avionics to IMA1.2IMA platforms and modules1.3Shared resources1.4Platform supplier, application supplier and integrator1.5Examples on the A380 and B7871.6Second-generation IMA1.7Weight and maintenance benefits1.8Integration risks1.9Configuration data1.10Workshop: reference IMA architecture
2.1The partition concept2.2MMU and memory protection2.3Cyclic scheduling2.4Time windows2.5Major frame and minor frame2.6I/O partitioning2.7Health monitor2.8Partitioning robustness2.9Partitioning verification2.10Practical exercise: designing a scheduling table
3.1APEX interface3.2Processes and priorities3.3Sampling and queuing ports3.4Inter-partition communication3.5Error handling with the Health Monitor3.6XML configuration3.7ARINC 653 Parts 1, 2 and 33.8Application portability3.9Common mistakes3.10Lab: APEX application with two partitions
4.1Requirements of an aeronautical RTOS4.2Separation kernels4.3Hypervisors4.4Real-time scheduling4.5Interference analysis4.6Device drivers4.7Certification packages4.8Comparison of commercial products4.9Selection criteria4.10Case study: selecting an RTOS for an FCC
5.1Shared resources and interference5.2AMC 20-193 objectives5.3Interference channels5.4Cache and shared memory5.5WCET on multicore5.6Interference mitigations5.7Measurement with performance counters5.8Deterministic configurations5.9Robustness5.10Practical exercise: measuring memory interference
6.1DO-178C in IMA environments6.2Requirements per partition6.3Integration on the platform6.4Application testing6.5Execution time analysis6.6Tracing tools6.7Structural coverage6.8Incremental modification6.9Configuration control6.10Lab: timing analysis of a partition
7.1Certification tasks 1 to 67.2Incremental acceptance7.3Platform configuration data7.4Responsibilities of each role7.5IMA certification plan7.6Application modifications7.7Configuration changes7.8Common findings7.9Lessons from programmes7.10Case study: acceptance of a new application
8.1Functions to be integrated8.2Partition architecture8.3Time scheduling8.4APEX configuration8.5Multicore analysis8.6Verification plan8.7Certification plan8.8Conclusions8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100% online programme on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within the intake, so it fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is VxWorks 653, LynxOS-178, INTEGRITY-178 tuMP, PikeOS and Rapita RVS, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures: designing partition scheduling tables, developing APEX applications and measuring interference on multicore processors. Assessment is continuous per module plus the final project.
Standards covered: RTCA DO-297, ARINC 653, RTCA DO-178C, AMC 20-193, RTCA DO-254, SAE ARP4754B, ARINC 664 Part 7.
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
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
- Internet connection and a computer able to run 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 800 hours over 6–8 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with VxWorks 653, LynxOS-178, INTEGRITY-178 tuMP, PikeOS and Rapita RVS, 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 final project. 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 are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector (no university degree required), a computer able to run the 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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