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Master’s in Aerospace/Defence Compliance: DO-160/DO-254

Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in aerospace/defence compliance (DO-160/DO-254, documentation and environmental testing). 12 modules covering airborne equipment certification, DO-160 environmental, electrical and EMC testing, the DO-254 hardware life cycle, FPGA/ASIC development and advanced verification, system safety, test planning, configuration and quality management, components and obsolescence, and continued airworthiness, applied to RTCA DO-160G, RTCA DO-254 and SAE ARP4754A with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration12–14 months
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute diploma
Enrol now View syllabus Ask an advisor

Master’s in Aerospace/Defence Compliance: DO-160/DO-254 — studying from Australia

Electronics and embedded systems underpin a wide range of Australian industries, including defence, mining automation, medical devices and consumer technology. The telecommunications sector is significant, with ongoing investment in fibre, mobile networks and satellite communications for remote regions. Research organisations such as CSIRO and university groups contribute to advances in sensing, communications and signal processing. Engineers typically work on hardware design, firmware development, testing and certification. Employers include telecommunications carriers, defence contractors, instrumentation companies and product manufacturers.

Fees for Australia: A$14,200 (AUD), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.

Relevant bodies in Australia

  • Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA)
  • Engineers Australia
  • Standards Australia
  • Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman

Typical roles

  • Embedded Systems Engineer
  • Electronics Design Engineer
  • Firmware Engineer
  • Telecommunications Engineer

Questions from Australia

Is this qualification recognised for electronics engineering in Australia?

SEIUM's qualifications are private and not official state degrees, and they are not accredited by Engineers Australia or the Australian Communications and Media Authority. Recognition for electronics and telecom roles generally depends on accredited degrees, licences and experience. Employers or the relevant body make the final decision.

Which Australian employers hire embedded and telecom engineers?

Australia has telecommunications carriers, defence electronics firms, medical device makers, mining technology companies and IoT developers. Employers mostly assess your hands-on skills, project record and certifications. Ask prospective employers whether they would consider a private online qualification.

Can I study this part-time while working, and how is it supported?

The courses are 100% online and taught in English, so you can study from anywhere in Australia without needing a student visa. Specialist courses take 300 hours, diplomas 800 and master's 1,900. Each student has an assigned technical tutor, fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship may be possible.

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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Understand the certification framework for airborne equipment.

02

Plan environmental and electrical tests to DO-160.

03

Apply the DO-254 hardware life cycle.

04

Verify FPGAs and ASICs according to their design assurance level.

05

Integrate safety assessment into development.

06

Manage configuration, quality and obsolescence.

07

Prepare documentation for the certification authority.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Avionics certification engineers.
  • DO-254 hardware engineers.
  • Environmental test engineers working to DO-160.
  • Systems safety engineers.
  • FPGA verification engineers.
  • Aerospace quality assurance managers.
  • Engineering or science graduates looking to enter civil aviation.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • RTCA DO-160G (environmental conditions and test procedures for airborne equipment)
  • RTCA DO-254 (design assurance guidance for airborne electronic hardware)
  • SAE ARP4754A (development of civil aircraft and systems)
  • SAE ARP4761 (safety assessment process for civil airborne systems)
  • EN 9100 (quality management for aviation, space and defence)
  • FAA AC 20-152A (development assurance for airborne electronic hardware)
  • EASA CS-ETSO (European technical standard orders)
  • SAE AS5553 (counterfeit electronic parts – avoidance and detection)
  • Siemens Questa
  • AMD Vivado
  • IBM DOORS
  • Jama Connect
  • Aldec ALINT-PRO
Syllabus

12 modules

  1. 1.1EASA and FAA authorities
  2. 1.2Type certificates and TSO/ETSO
  3. 1.3Relationship between ARP4754A, DO-178C, DO-254 and DO-160
  4. 1.4Design assurance levels (DAL)
  5. 1.5Role of the applicant and the supplier
  6. 1.6RTCA and EUROCAE documents
  7. 1.7Certification planning
  8. 1.8Interaction with the authority
  9. 1.9Lessons from certification projects
  10. 1.10Case study: certification map of an avionics unit
  1. 2.1Structure of DO-160G
  2. 2.2Equipment categories
  3. 2.3Temperature and altitude
  4. 2.4Temperature variation
  5. 2.5Humidity
  6. 2.6Operational and crash safety shock
  7. 2.7Vibration
  8. 2.8Explosiveness
  9. 2.9Waterproofness and fluids susceptibility
  10. 2.10Practical exercise: DO-160 environmental test matrix
  1. 3.1Sand, dust and fungus
  2. 3.2Salt fog
  3. 3.3Magnetic effect
  4. 3.4Power input
  5. 3.5Voltage spikes
  6. 3.6Conducted susceptibility
  7. 3.7Radiated susceptibility
  8. 3.8Radio frequency emission
  9. 3.9Indirect and direct lightning
  10. 3.10Lab: preparing a radiated susceptibility test
  1. 4.1Scope and complex hardware
  2. 4.2Hardware life cycle
  3. 4.3The PHAC
  4. 4.4Hardware requirements
  5. 4.5Conceptual and detailed design
  6. 4.6Implementation
  7. 4.7Verification and validation
  8. 4.8Configuration management
  9. 4.9Process assurance
  10. 4.10Practical exercise: structure of a PHAC
  1. 5.1HDL coding standards
  2. 5.2Code reviews
  3. 5.3Simulation and coverage
  4. 5.4Formal verification
  5. 5.5Hardware testing
  6. 5.6Timing analysis
  7. 5.7Tools and their qualification
  8. 5.8COTS components and IP
  9. 5.9Requirements traceability
  10. 5.10Lab: verification of a VHDL module with coverage
  1. 6.1Levels A and B and additional requirements
  2. 6.2Elemental analysis
  3. 6.3Robustness testing
  4. 6.4Independent verification
  5. 6.5Hardware safety analysis
  6. 6.6Single-event upsets
  7. 6.7Validation of derived requirements
  8. 6.8SOI reviews
  9. 6.9Common audit findings
  10. 6.10Case study: preparing a SOI 3 review
  1. 7.1ARP4761 and safety assessment
  2. 7.2FHA, PSSA and SSA
  3. 7.3Fault tree analysis
  4. 7.4FMEA and FMES
  5. 7.5Common cause analysis
  6. 7.6DAL allocation
  7. 7.7Safety requirements for hardware
  8. 7.8Relationship with DO-254
  9. 7.9Documentation
  10. 7.10Practical exercise: FHA of an avionics function
  1. 8.1Laboratory selection
  2. 8.2Test plan and procedures
  3. 8.3Equipment-under-test configuration
  4. 8.4Acceptance criteria
  5. 8.5Qualification testing
  6. 8.6Deviation records
  7. 8.7Test report
  8. 8.8Environmental qualification form
  9. 8.9Handling failures during testing
  10. 8.10Lab: vibration test procedure
  1. 9.1Hardware configuration management
  2. 9.2Change control
  3. 9.3Baselines
  4. 9.4Problem reporting
  5. 9.5Process quality assurance
  6. 9.6AS9100 and the quality system
  7. 9.7Internal audits
  8. 9.8Suppliers and subcontractors
  9. 9.9Archiving and retention
  10. 9.10Workshop: configuration management plan
  1. 10.1Component selection
  2. 10.2Use of COTS in avionics
  3. 10.3Industrial-grade commercial electronics
  4. 10.4Obsolescence management
  5. 10.5Counterfeit components (AS5553)
  6. 10.6Radiation effects
  7. 10.7Component derating
  8. 10.8Reliability to MIL-HDBK-217
  9. 10.9Component management plan
  10. 10.10Case study: replacing an obsolete component
  1. 11.1Minor and major changes
  2. 11.2Impact on certification
  3. 11.3Partial re-testing
  4. 11.4Reuse of certification data
  5. 11.5Change documentation
  6. 11.6Continued airworthiness
  7. 11.7Defect reporting
  8. 11.8Airworthiness directives
  9. 11.9Relationship with the operator
  10. 11.10Practical exercise: impact analysis of a design change
  1. 12.1Equipment and its function
  2. 12.2Classification and DAL
  3. 12.3Certification plan
  4. 12.4DO-160 matrix
  5. 12.5DO-254 hardware plan
  6. 12.6Verification strategy
  7. 12.7Safety analysis
  8. 12.8Configuration management
  9. 12.9Master's Thesis report
  10. 12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
Methodology, software & labs

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 each intake, so it fits around your job.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Siemens Questa, AMD Vivado, IBM DOORS, Jama Connect and Aldec ALINT-PRO, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures for DO-160 environmental tests, FPGA verification with coverage and stage of involvement reviews. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.

Standards covered: RTCA DO-160G, RTCA DO-254, SAE ARP4754A, SAE ARP4761, EN 9100, FAA AC 20-152A, EASA CS-ETSO, SAE AS5553.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of RTCA DO-160G, RTCA DO-254 and SAE ARP4754A applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:Siemens Questa, AMD Vivado, IBM DOORS, Jama Connect and Aldec ALINT-PRO, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Master's Thesis with defence:Certification package for an avionics unit, from DAL classification and certification plan to DO-160 matrix, DO-254 hardware plan, verification strategy and safety analysis, defended before a panel.
Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Certification map
Map the certification route and DAL of an avionics unit.
DO-160 test matrix
Build the environmental and EMC test matrix and a test procedure.
DO-254 plan and verification
Draft the PHAC and verify a VHDL module with coverage.
Safety and configuration
Carry out an FHA and write a configuration management plan.
Master's Thesis
Complete certification package for an avionics unit, defended before a panel.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Avionics certification engineerDO-254 hardware engineerEnvironmental test engineerSystems safety engineerFPGA verification engineerAerospace quality assurance manager
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • University degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
  • 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.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The programme totals 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.

You work with Siemens Questa, AMD Vivado, IBM DOORS, Jama Connect and Aldec ALINT-PRO, 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 Master's Thesis. 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 in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.

A degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), 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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