Master’s in Directed Energy Systems (Laser/Microwave)
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in directed energy systems (laser/microwave). 12 modules covering electromagnetic radiation physics, high-power laser and microwave sources, atmospheric propagation, adaptive optics, power and thermal management, laser safety to IEC 60825-1 and ICNIRP, and law and arms control, with an assigned technical tutor.
Master’s in Directed Energy Systems (Laser/Microwave) — studying from Australia
Defence is one of Australia's largest engineering employers, with major programmes in land systems, naval platforms, aircraft and integrated systems managed through the Department of Defence. Land systems engineering supports armoured vehicles, weapons and logistics equipment, often through prime contractors and local industry partners. Industry involvement is strongly encouraged through the Defence industry policy framework. Engineers work on sustainment, capability development, systems integration and safety assurance, typically in Canberra, Adelaide, Melbourne and regional defence precincts.
Fees for Australia: A$14,200 (AUD), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Australia
Typical roles
Questions from Australia
How does defence engineering recognition work in Australia?
Defence engineering in Australia is largely run through the Department of Defence and its industry partners, which set their own security clearance and qualification requirements. Engineers Australia is the professional body for accreditation. SEIUM's private qualifications are not accredited by these bodies, so recognition is for employers or the relevant body to decide.
Which Australian employers hire in defence and land systems?
Australia has defence prime contractors, the Department of Defence, and specialist land systems firms. Many of these roles require Australian security clearances, which depend on citizenship and background checks rather than course completion. Ask employers how they weigh private qualifications against experience and clearance requirements.
Is the course manageable with a job, and does it need a visa?
The programmes are 100% online and taught in English, so you can study from Australia without a student visa. Specialist courses take 300 hours, diplomas 800 and master's 1,900. An assigned technical tutor supports you, 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 physics of high-power electromagnetic radiation.
Know the main high-power laser and microwave sources.
Model the atmospheric propagation of beams.
Apply adaptive optics and beam control techniques.
Design power and thermal management systems.
Apply laser and electromagnetic field safety standards.
Assess the legal and ethical frameworks governing directed energy systems.
Who it's for
- High-power laser engineers moving into directed energy systems.
- Microwave engineers working with high-power sources and antennas.
- Adaptive optics specialists focused on beam control and wavefront correction.
- Laser safety officers responsible for high-power installations.
- Power systems engineers dealing with energy storage and thermal management.
- Photonics researchers interested in high-power applications.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter the defence sector.
What you'll work with
- IEC 60825-1 (safety of laser products)
- CCW Protocol IV (1995) (blinding laser weapons)
- ICNIRP Guidelines (2020) (electromagnetic field exposure limits)
- Royal Decree 486/2010 (artificial optical radiation)
- Royal Decree 299/2016 (electromagnetic fields)
- ANSI Z136.1 (safe use of lasers)
- Wassenaar Arrangement, Category 6 (export controls on sensors and lasers)
- MATLAB
- CST Studio Suite
- Zemax OpticStudio
- COMSOL Multiphysics
- ANSYS Mechanical
12 modules
1.1Maxwell's equations1.2Electromagnetic waves and polarisation1.3Radiation-matter interaction1.4Absorption, reflection and scattering1.5The spectrum from lasers to microwaves1.6Power, energy and intensity1.7Spatial and temporal coherence1.8Gaussian beams1.9Diffraction limit1.10Workshop: calculating the divergence of a Gaussian beam
2.1Principles of stimulated emission2.2Fibre lasers2.3Solid-state lasers2.4Disc lasers2.5Spectral and coherent beam combining2.6Efficiency and thermal management2.7M² beam quality2.8High-power industrial lasers2.9State of the art2.10Laboratory: measuring M² beam quality
3.1Vacuum tubes: klystrons and magnetrons3.2Gyrotrons3.3Virtual cathode oscillators3.4Solid-state sources3.5Pulsed power generators3.6High-power antennas3.7Civil applications: accelerators and fusion3.8Industrial microwave heating3.9State of the art3.10Practical exercise: simulation of a resonant cavity
4.1Molecular absorption4.2Aerosol scattering4.3Atmospheric turbulence4.4The Cn² parameter4.5Thermal blooming4.6Microwave propagation in the atmosphere4.7Propagation models4.8Measuring atmospheric conditions4.9Transmission windows4.10Laboratory: propagation simulation with turbulence
5.1Beam directors5.2Wavefront sensors5.3Deformable mirrors5.4Adaptive optics in astronomy5.5Tracking and pointing5.6Line-of-sight stabilisation5.7High-power windows and optics5.8Laser-induced damage in optics5.9Optical coatings5.10Practical exercise: correction loop with a deformable mirror
6.1Electrical supply architectures6.2Storage: batteries and supercapacitors6.3Power conditioning6.4High-density thermal management6.5Liquid cooling6.6Integration into platforms6.7Overall system efficiency6.8Reliability and maintenance6.9Electrical safety6.10Case study: energy balance of a system
7.1Heating and ablation7.2Damage thresholds7.3Thermal effects in composites7.4Microwave interaction with electronics7.5Electromagnetic compatibility7.6Hardening of electronics7.7Susceptibility testing7.8Laser materials processing7.9Thermal modelling7.10Laboratory: thermal model of laser-material interaction
8.1Laser classification to IEC 60825-18.2Maximum permissible exposure8.3Nominal ocular hazard zones8.4Microwave safety and ICNIRP limits8.5Royal Decree 486/2010 on optical radiation8.6Royal Decree 299/2016 on electromagnetic fields8.7Laser safety officer8.8Safety in test facilities8.9Aviation and space safety8.10Practical exercise: calculating the nominal ocular hazard distance
9.1High-power laser manufacturing9.2Free-space optical communications9.3Wireless power transmission9.4Space debris removal9.5Inertial confinement fusion9.6Plasma heating with gyrotrons9.7Medicine and lasers9.8Protection of infrastructure against drones9.9Scientific research9.10Case study: microwave power transmission
10.1End-to-end models10.2Propagation simulation10.3Electromagnetic simulation with CST10.4Thermal simulation10.5Test facilities10.6Performance metrics10.7Model validation10.8Uncertainty management10.9Test documentation10.10Laboratory: integrated model in MATLAB
11.1International humanitarian law11.2CCW Protocol IV on blinding laser weapons11.3Article 36 legal review11.4Proportionality and distinction11.5Export controls on lasers11.6The Wassenaar Arrangement11.7Ethical debates on new weapons11.8Transparency and oversight11.9Strategic stability11.10Case study: simulated legal review
12.1Choice of topic12.2State of the art12.3Objectives and scope12.4Methodology12.5Modelling and simulation12.6Analysis of results12.7Safety and ethics assessment12.8Conclusions12.9Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
How you'll learn
The programme is delivered 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 can be combined with your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is MATLAB, CST Studio Suite, Zemax OpticStudio, COMSOL Multiphysics and ANSYS Mechanical, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures for beam quality measurement, atmospheric propagation simulation and laser safety calculations. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: IEC 60825-1, CCW Protocol IV (1995), ICNIRP Guidelines (2020), Royal Decree 486/2010, Royal Decree 299/2016, ANSI Z136.1 and the Wassenaar Arrangement, Category 6.
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
- A university degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
- 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 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 MATLAB, CST Studio Suite, Zemax OpticStudio, COMSOL Multiphysics and ANSYS Mechanical, 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 university degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), a computer able to run the programme 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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