Master'sElectromobility, Batteries & Hydrogen Applications open

Master’s in Battery Thermal Management and Safety

Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in battery thermal management and safety — thermal CFD, thermal runaway propagation and intumescent materials. 12 modules covering cell thermal behaviour, thermal modelling, cooling and heating systems, pack CFD, thermal runaway, propagation and mitigation, abuse testing, functional safety and BMS, regulations and type approval, and life-cycle safety, 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 Battery Thermal Management and Safety — studying from Australia

Australia holds significant critical mineral resources, including lithium, nickel and cobalt, which supports a growing interest in battery supply chains and processing. The government's hydrogen and battery strategies aim to build domestic capability in clean energy technologies. Electric vehicle adoption is increasing, and charging infrastructure is expanding across major cities and highways. Engineers contribute to battery design, electrical systems, hydrogen production and storage, and charging networks. Employers include mining companies, energy firms, research institutions and emerging battery and hydrogen developers.

Fees for Australia: A$11,000 (AUD), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.

Relevant bodies in Australia

Clean Energy Regulator
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA)
Standards Australia

Typical roles

Battery Engineer
Electrification Engineer
Hydrogen Systems Engineer
Charging Infrastructure Engineer

Questions from Australia

Which Australian bodies cover batteries, electromobility and hydrogen engineering?

Engineers Australia is the main professional body, and Standards Australia develops relevant technical standards. Hydrogen and battery projects also fall under state and federal energy and safety regulators. SEIUM's private qualifications are not accredited by these bodies, so recognition depends on the employer or regulator.

What careers in Australia's batteries and hydrogen sectors could this support?

Australia has growing battery manufacturing and storage projects, hydrogen developments, and electric vehicle and charging infrastructure work. Employers typically value demonstrated technical competence and project experience. A SEIUM qualification may help, but acceptance is decided by each employer.

Can I manage this online alongside a job in Australia?

Yes, the programmes are fully online and taught in English, so you can study from Australia with no student visa required. Specialist courses are 300 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 and master's 1,900, with an assigned technical tutor and final project. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship may be possible.

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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

Analyse heat generation and transfer in cells.

Model the electrothermal behaviour of cells and packs.

Design battery cooling and heating systems.

Understand the mechanisms of thermal runaway.

Design measures to mitigate propagation.

Plan abuse and safety tests.

Apply battery safety regulations.

Profile

Who it's for

Battery thermal management engineers.
Battery safety engineers.
CFD engineers.
Abuse testing engineers.
Functional safety engineers.
Battery type-approval engineers.
Engineering or science graduates looking to move into electric automotive.

Standards & tools

What you'll work with

UNECE Regulation No. 100 (electric powertrain safety)
UN GTR No. 20 (electric vehicle safety)
UN 38.3 (lithium battery transport testing)
IEC 62619 (safety of industrial lithium batteries)
UL 9540A (thermal runaway fire propagation testing)
Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 (EU Batteries Regulation)
ISO 6469-1 (on-board rechargeable energy storage safety)
ISO 26262 (road vehicle functional safety)
Ansys Fluent
Simcenter STAR-CCM+
COMSOL Multiphysics
MATLAB Simulink
GT-SUITE

Syllabus

12 modules

1.1Reversible and irreversible heat generation
1.2Entropy and heat of reaction
1.3Anisotropic thermal conductivity
1.4Specific heat of cells
1.5Optimal operating temperatures
1.6Effect of temperature on service life
1.7Thermal gradients within the cell
1.8Cell calorimetry
1.9Comparison by format
1.10Case study: thermal balance of a cell under fast charging

2.1Lumped-parameter models
2.2Coupled electrothermal models
2.33D finite element models
2.4Electrochemical-thermal models
2.5Thermal resistance networks
2.6Parameter identification
2.7Reduced-order models for the BMS
2.8Validation with thermocouples
2.9Simulation tools
2.10Lab: electrothermal model in Simulink

3.1Air cooling
3.2Liquid cooling with cold plates
3.3Immersion cooling
3.4Phase change materials
3.5Thermal interface materials (TIM)
3.6Cooling channel design
3.7Pressure drop and pumping
3.8Integration with the vehicle circuit
3.9Comparison of solutions
3.10Practical: cold plate design

4.1Low-temperature performance
4.2Lithium plating during cold charging
4.3PTC heaters
4.4Integrated heat pumps
4.5Cell self-heating
4.6Preconditioning
4.7Operation in hot climates
4.8Management while parked
4.9Thermal energy consumption
4.10Lab: preheating strategy

5.1Pack meshing
5.2Flow in plates and manifolds
5.3Conjugate heat transfer
5.4Temperature uniformity
5.5Fast-charging simulation
5.6Drive cycles
5.7Design optimisation
5.8Reduced-order models
5.9Correlation with tests
5.10Practical: CFD of a liquid-cooled module

6.1Thermal runaway mechanisms
6.2Temperature-driven exothermic reactions
6.3SEI and electrolyte decomposition
6.4Internal short circuit
6.5Vent gases and their composition
6.6ARC calorimetry
6.7Influence of chemistry
6.8Abuse test data
6.9Thermal runaway modelling
6.10Lab: interpretation of ARC tests

7.1Cell-to-cell propagation
7.2Thermal barriers and materials
7.3Spacing and module design
7.4Vent gas management
7.5Valves and exhaust channels
7.6Early detection
7.7Escape time requirements
7.8Propagation tests
7.9Design for safety
7.10Practical: design of barriers between cells

8.1Overcharge and overdischarge
8.2External short circuit
8.3Nail penetration
8.4Crush
8.5Fire exposure
8.6Water immersion
8.7Vibration and mechanical shock
8.8Thermal cycling
8.9Laboratories and protocols
8.10Case study: abuse test plan

9.1BMS safety functions
9.2Temperature monitoring
9.3Sensor placement
9.4Thermal anomaly detection
9.5Disconnection and contactors
9.6ISO 26262 applied to batteries
9.7HARA analysis
9.8Fault diagnosis
9.9Safety during charging
9.10Lab: thermal diagnostic strategy

10.1UNECE Regulation 100
10.2GTR 20 on EV safety
10.3UN 38.3 for transport
10.4IEC 62619 for stationary batteries
10.5UL 9540A
10.6Regulation (EU) 2023/1542
10.7China's GB 38031 requirements
10.8Technical documentation
10.9Testing bodies
10.10Workshop: regulatory compliance matrix

11.1Manufacturing and quality control
11.2Battery transport
11.3Safe storage
11.4Fire brigade response
11.5Rescue in accidents
11.6Second life and safety
11.7Recycling and dismantling
11.8Fires in car parks
11.9Lessons from incidents
11.10Case study: EV fire response protocol

12.1Thermal and safety requirements
12.2Cell thermal model
12.3Cooling concept
12.4Pack simulation
12.5Thermal runaway analysis
12.6Mitigation measures
12.7Test plan
12.8Regulatory compliance
12.9Master's Thesis report
12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel

Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

100% online learning 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 it with work.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Ansys Fluent, Simcenter STAR-CCM+, COMSOL Multiphysics, MATLAB Simulink and GT-SUITE, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: ARC calorimetry of cells, thermal runaway propagation tests and thermal testing of packs in a climatic chamber. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.

Standards covered: UNECE Regulation No. 100, UN GTR No. 20, UN 38.3, IEC 62619, UL 9540A, Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 (batteries), ISO 6469-1, ISO 26262.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.

Standards-based learning:guided reading of UNECE Regulation No. 100, UN GTR No. 20 and UN 38.3 applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.

Industry software:Ansys Fluent, Simcenter STAR-CCM+, COMSOL Multiphysics, MATLAB Simulink and GT-SUITE, in free, academic or evaluation versions.

Master's Thesis with defence:a complete battery thermal and safety design, from the cell thermal model to mitigation, test plan and regulatory compliance, 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.

Requirements and cell model

Define thermal and safety requirements and build the cell thermal model.

Cooling concept and pack simulation

Design the cooling concept and simulate the pack with CFD.

Thermal runaway analysis

Analyse thermal runaway and its propagation through the pack.

Mitigation and test plan

Specify mitigation measures and the abuse and safety test plan.

Master's Thesis

A complete thermal and safety design with its regulatory compliance, defended before a panel.

Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Battery thermal management engineerBattery safety engineerCFD engineerAbuse testing engineerFunctional safety engineerBattery type-approval engineer

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 Ansys Fluent, Simcenter STAR-CCM+, COMSOL Multiphysics, MATLAB Simulink and GT-SUITE, 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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