Diploma in Rotorcraft Design and Configuration
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in rotorcraft design and configuration. 8 modules covering rotary-wing configurations, rotor aerodynamics, conceptual sizing, hub and blade dynamics, stability and control, transmission and systems, structures and CS-27/CS-29 certification, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in Rotorcraft Design and Configuration — 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$2,050 (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
Compare rotary-wing configurations against mission requirements.
Apply momentum theory and blade element theory to the rotor.
Carry out the conceptual sizing of a helicopter and estimate its power and weights.
Analyse blade dynamics, ground resonance and vibrations.
Assess stability and handling qualities using ADS-33E criteria.
Integrate transmission, engines and systems into the configuration.
Establish the CS-27 or CS-29 certification basis of an aircraft.
Who it's for
- Helicopter design engineers
- Rotor aerodynamics engineers
- Dynamics and vibration engineers
- Aircraft configuration engineers
- Rotorcraft certification engineers
- eVTOL project engineers
- Engineering or science graduates looking to join helicopter manufacturers
What you'll work with
- CS-27 (EASA) (small rotorcraft)
- CS-29 (EASA) (large rotorcraft)
- ADS-33E-PRF (handling qualities requirements for military rotorcraft)
- 14 CFR Part 27 (FAA normal category rotorcraft)
- 14 CFR Part 29 (FAA transport category rotorcraft)
- ICAO Annex 16, Volume I (aircraft noise)
- MIL-STD-1290A (light fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft crash resistance)
- SAE ARP4754A (development of civil aircraft and systems)
- NASA NDARC
- CAMRAD II
- FLIGHTLAB
- OpenVSP
- MATLAB
8 modules
1.1Conventional helicopter with tail rotor1.2Coaxial and tandem rotors1.3Intermeshing rotors1.4Autogyros and gyrodynes1.5High-speed compound configurations1.6eVTOL multirotors and lift+cruise1.7Fenestron and NOTAR as anti-torque systems1.8Historical evolution of configurations1.9Selection criteria according to the mission1.10Case study: configurations for mountain rescue
2.1Momentum theory in hover2.2Blade element theory2.3Figure of merit and disc loading2.4Forward flight and advance ratio2.5Retreating blade stall2.6Compressibility at the blade tip2.7Vortex ring state2.8Ground effect and autorotation2.9Blade twist and aerofoil selection2.10Lab: BEMT calculation of a rotor in hover
3.1Mission requirements and flight profile3.2Initial weight estimation3.3Radius, solidity and tip speed3.4Power required in hover and cruise3.5Ceiling, range and endurance3.6Engine selection and power margin3.7Height-velocity diagram3.8Sizing convergence loops3.9Parametric sensitivity studies3.10Practical exercise: sizing a light helicopter
4.1Articulated, teetering and rigid rotors4.2Flap, lead-lag and pitch motions4.3Bearingless hubs and elastomeric bearings4.4Natural frequencies and the Campbell diagram4.5Ground resonance4.6Blade aeroelastic instabilities4.7Vibrations transmitted to the fuselage4.8Vibration absorbers and isolators4.9Composite blades4.10Lab: Campbell diagram of a blade
5.1Collective, cyclic and pedal controls5.2Swashplate and mixing units5.3Helicopter stability derivatives5.4Characteristic dynamic modes5.5Handling qualities according to ADS-33E5.6Stability augmentation systems5.7Fly-by-wire control in helicopters5.8Inter-axis coupling5.9Pilot workload5.10Practical exercise: mode analysis with a linearised model
6.1Turboshaft engines and their integration6.2Main gearbox6.3Tail rotor drive6.4Run-dry capability6.5HUMS monitoring6.6Crash-resistant fuel systems6.7Hydraulic and electrical systems6.8Hybridisation and electric propulsion6.9Systems weight estimation6.10Case study: transmission of a twin-engine helicopter
7.1Fuselage architecture and loads7.2Skid and wheeled landing gear7.3Crashworthiness and energy-absorbing seats7.4Fatigue of dynamic components7.5Damage tolerance in critical parts7.6CS-27 and CS-29 certification bases7.7Category A and B requirements7.8Means of compliance and testing7.9Noise certification according to ICAO7.10Workshop: CS-27 compliance matrix
8.1Mission definition8.2Reasoned configuration selection8.3Rotor and power sizing8.4Weight and balance estimation8.5Performance analysis8.6Stability and control assessment8.7Proposed certification basis8.8Conceptual drawing of the aircraft8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
Training is 100% online 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 you can combine the programme with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is NASA NDARC, CAMRAD II, FLIGHTLAB, OpenVSP and MATLAB, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: conceptual sizing of a helicopter for a defined mission, analysis of a rotor using blade element theory and compliance assessment against CS-27. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: CS-27 (EASA), CS-29 (EASA), ADS-33E-PRF, 14 CFR Part 27, 14 CFR Part 29, ICAO Annex 16, Volume I, MIL-STD-1290A, SAE ARP4754A.
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. A university degree is not required.
- An 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.
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 NASA NDARC, CAMRAD II, FLIGHTLAB, OpenVSP and MATLAB, 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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