Master’s in Military-Grade Additive Manufacturing Engineering
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in military-grade additive manufacturing engineering. 12 modules covering AM processes, materials, design for additive manufacturing, process physics, post-processing, inspection and testing, qualification and certification, the additive quality system, distributed manufacturing and digital thread security, with an assigned technical tutor.
Master’s in Military-Grade Additive Manufacturing Engineering — 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$15,800 (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
Analyse additive manufacturing processes and their applications.
Select materials and control powder.
Design parts for additive manufacturing.
Understand the process physics and its defects.
Plan post-processing, inspection and testing.
Qualify machines, processes and parts to standards.
Manage distributed manufacturing and data security.
Who it's for
- Additive manufacturing engineers
- Materials engineers working with metal powders and polymers
- Process qualification engineers
- DfAM designers
- Industrial tomography specialists
- Digital spare parts managers
- Engineering or science graduates aiming to enter the defence industry
What you'll work with
- ISO/ASTM 52900 (additive manufacturing: general principles and terminology)
- ASTM F3302 (additive manufacturing of titanium alloys by powder bed fusion)
- AWS D20.1 (specification for fabrication of metal components using additive manufacturing)
- NASA-STD-6030 (additive manufacturing requirements for spaceflight systems)
- ISO/ASTM 52920 (qualification requirements for industrial additive manufacturing)
- EN 9100:2018 (quality management systems for aviation, space and defence)
- Directive 2014/34/EU (ATEX) (equipment for explosive atmospheres)
- Materialise Magics
- Ansys Additive
- nTop
- Altair Inspire
- Volume Graphics VGSTUDIO MAX
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1Process classification according to ISO/ASTM 529001.2Powder bed fusion1.3Directed energy deposition1.4Binder jetting1.5Material extrusion1.6Vat photopolymerisation1.7Additive manufacturing of metals and polymers1.8Applications in aerospace and defence1.9Legal and ethical framework1.10Case study: process selection for a spare part
2.1Metal powders: production and characterisation2.2Titanium Ti-6Al-4V2.3Nickel superalloys2.4Stainless and tool steels2.5Aluminium alloys2.6Engineering polymers: PEEK and PEKK2.7Reinforced composites2.8Powder reuse and control2.9Materials standards2.10Lab: characterisation of a metal powder
3.1DfAM design rules3.2Topology optimisation3.3Lattice structures3.4Part consolidation3.5Supports and orientation3.6Tolerances and finishes3.7Design of internal channels3.8Distortion simulation3.9Generative design tools3.10Practical: topology optimisation of a bracket
4.1Laser-material interaction4.2Melt pool and solidification4.3Microstructure and anisotropy4.4Residual stresses4.5Defects: porosity and lack of fusion4.6Process parameters4.7Process windows4.8Process simulation4.9In-situ monitoring4.10Lab: thermal process simulation with Ansys Additive
5.1Support removal5.2Stress relief treatment5.3Hot isostatic pressing5.4Heat treatments5.5Finish machining5.6Surface treatments5.7Powder removal5.8Shot blasting5.9Inspection after post-processing5.10Case study: post-processing route for a titanium part
6.1Industrial computed tomography6.2Porosity detection6.3Mechanical testing6.4Fatigue in additive parts6.5Witness coupons6.6Dimensional inspection6.7Advanced non-destructive testing6.8Acceptance criteria6.9Property databases6.10Practical: tomography analysis of a part
7.1Machine qualification7.2Process qualification7.3Material qualification7.4Part qualification7.5ASTM F3302 and related standards7.6AWS D20.1 for metal components7.7NASA-STD-6030 as a reference7.8Military airworthiness requirements7.9Part classification by criticality7.10Workshop: qualification plan for a class B part
8.1ISO/ASTM 52920 requirements8.2EN 9100 in additive manufacturing8.3Process configuration control8.4Digital traceability8.5Powder management8.6Change control8.7Audits8.8Non-conformance management8.9Continuous improvement8.10Case study: powder control procedure
9.1On-demand spare parts9.2Point-of-use manufacturing9.3Digital inventories9.4Reverse engineering of obsolete parts9.5Logistics in austere environments9.6Deployable equipment: quality challenges9.7Obsolescence management9.8Armed forces experience from open sources9.9Cost-benefit analysis9.10Practical: business case for digital spares
10.1Digital thread security10.2Protection of build files10.3Machine cybersecurity10.4Design integrity and authentication10.5Intellectual property of spare parts10.6Technical data licensing10.7Export control of technical data10.8Prevention of misuse10.9Data governance10.10Workshop: risk analysis of the additive digital thread
11.1Safety in powder handling11.2Explosive atmospheres11.3Respiratory protection11.4Waste management11.5Life cycle assessment11.6Material efficiency11.7Ethics of decentralised manufacturing11.8Legal framework11.9Professional responsibility11.10Case study: ATEX assessment of a powder facility
12.1Part selection12.2Redesign for additive manufacturing12.3Material and process selection12.4Process simulation12.5Post-processing plan12.6Qualification plan12.7Economic analysis12.8Conclusions12.9Master's Thesis 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 you can combine it with your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Materialise Magics, Ansys Additive, nTop, Altair Inspire and Volume Graphics VGSTUDIO MAX, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures for design for additive manufacturing and topology optimisation, simulation of powder bed fusion processes, and part qualification with tomography and mechanical testing. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: ISO/ASTM 52900; ASTM F3302; AWS D20.1; NASA-STD-6030; ISO/ASTM 52920; EN 9100:2018; Directive 2014/34/EU (ATEX).
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 Materialise Magics, Ansys Additive, nTop, Altair Inspire and Volume Graphics VGSTUDIO MAX, 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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