Master'sMotorcycles & 2-Wheelers Applications open

Master’s in PEM Fuel Cells for Transport

Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in PEM fuel cells for transport. 12 modules covering PEM electrochemistry, stack components, balance of plant, on-board hydrogen storage, hybridisation and energy management, durability, road, rail, maritime and air applications, safety, testing and market, applying UNECE R134, GTR 13 and MATLAB/Simulink, 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 PEM Fuel Cells for Transport — studying from Australia

Motorcycles and two-wheeled vehicles are a significant part of Australian transport and recreation, with strong demand for motorcycles, scooters and e-bikes in urban and regional areas. Engineers working in this field contribute to chassis and powertrain design, rider safety systems and emissions compliance. National vehicle standards and rider safety initiatives shape product development and testing. Employers include motorcycle importers and distributors, component suppliers, accessory makers and e-mobility start-ups.

Fees for Australia: A$15,800 (AUD), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.

Relevant bodies in Australia

Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI)
Australian Motorcycle Industry Association
Standards Australia
Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts

Typical roles

Motorcycle Design Engineer
Two-Wheeler Test Engineer
Rider Safety Engineer
E-Mobility Product Engineer

Questions from Australia

Will a SEIUM qualification be recognised for motorcycle engineering roles in Australia?

SEIUM qualifications are private and not accredited by any Australian national body. Recognition for engineering or vehicle compliance roles is decided by individual employers and relevant bodies. Vehicle safety and compliance in Australia are governed by national design rules, which apply regardless of your qualification, so check requirements with the employer.

Which Australian employers work in motorcycle and two-wheeler engineering?

Motorcycle and scooter importers, distributors, component suppliers, dealer service networks and performance workshops are examples of Australian employers in this field. Whether they value a private qualification depends on their policies. Practical experience and a strong final project portfolio are typically persuasive in this industry.

Is the course suitable for someone working full time in Australia?

The programmes are delivered 100% online in English with an assigned technical tutor, so you can study from home at times that suit you. Fees are payable in instalments, and employers may sponsor you. Check the hours required for your chosen programme and make sure your schedule allows steady progress.

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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

Understand PEM fuel cell electrochemistry.

Analyse stack components and manufacturing.

Design the system balance of plant.

Integrate on-board hydrogen storage.

Develop hybridisation and energy management strategies.

Assess durability and degradation mechanisms.

Evaluate applications, costs and market.

Profile

Who it's for

Fuel cell engineers
Hydrogen systems engineers
Energy management engineers
Stack durability specialists
Test engineers
Vehicle integration engineers
Engineering or science graduates looking to move into the automotive and heavy-duty vehicle sector

Standards & tools

What you'll work with

UNECE R134 (safety of hydrogen-fuelled vehicles)
GTR 13 (global technical regulation on hydrogen and fuel cell vehicles)
ISO 14687 (hydrogen fuel quality)
ISO 23273 (fuel cell road vehicles — safety specifications)
IEC 62282-2-100 (fuel cell modules — safety)
SAE J2579 (fuel systems in fuel cell and hydrogen vehicles)
ISO 26262 (road vehicle functional safety)
ISO 6469-3 (electrically propelled road vehicles — electrical safety)
MATLAB/Simulink
COMSOL Multiphysics
GT-SUITE
AVL Cruise M

Syllabus

12 modules

1.1Anode and cathode reactions
1.2Thermodynamics and reversible potential
1.3Oxygen reduction kinetics
1.4Activation, ohmic and concentration losses
1.5Polarisation curve
1.6Efficiency and heating value
1.7Influence of pressure and temperature
1.8Water management in the membrane
1.9High-temperature PEM fuel cells
1.10Case study: fitting a polarisation curve

2.1Perfluorosulfonic acid membranes
2.2Platinum catalyst layers
2.3Reduction of platinum loading
2.4Gas diffusion layers
2.5Metallic and graphite bipolar plates
2.6Gaskets and sealing
2.7Flow channel design
2.8Stack compression and assembly
2.9Large-scale manufacturing
2.10Lab: characterisation of an MEA

3.1Hydrogen supply and recirculation
3.2Recirculation ejectors and blowers
3.3Nitrogen and water purge
3.4High-speed air compressors
3.5Membrane humidifiers
3.6Cooling circuit
3.7Sensors and valves
3.8Parasitic loads of the system
3.9Compact system design
3.10Practical exercise: balance of plant for a 100 kW system

4.1Type III and Type IV tanks
4.2350 and 700 bar pressures
4.3UNECE Regulation R134
4.4GTR 13 on hydrogen vehicles
4.5Tank valves and regulators
4.6Liquid hydrogen in trucks
4.7Cryo-compressed hydrogen storage
4.8Integration of tanks into the chassis
4.9Tank safety testing
4.10Case study: tank integration in a bus

5.1Fuel cell–battery hybrid architectures
5.2Sizing of the fuel cell and the battery
5.3Fuel cell DC/DC converters
5.4Energy management strategies
5.5Regenerative braking in fuel cell vehicles
5.6Cold start
5.7Degradation control
5.8Optimisation of hydrogen consumption
5.9Simulation over driving cycles
5.10Lab: energy strategy in Simulink

6.1Membrane degradation mechanisms
6.2Catalyst degradation
6.3Carbon support corrosion
6.4Start-up and shutdown cycles
6.5Hydrogen and air contaminants
6.6Accelerated durability testing
6.7US DOE protocols
6.8Mitigation strategies
6.9State-of-health diagnosis
6.10Practical exercise: analysis of a durability test

7.1Fuel cell passenger cars
7.2Hydrogen city buses
7.3Long-haul heavy trucks
7.4Light commercial vehicles
7.5Comparison with battery electric vehicles
7.6Experience from European fleets
7.7Total cost of ownership
7.8Refuelling and logistics
7.9Deployment projects in Spain
7.10Case study: TCO of a truck fleet

8.1Fuel cell trains
8.2Ships and boats with fuel cells
8.3Hydrogen regional aircraft
8.4Long-endurance drones
8.5Machinery and forklifts
8.6Sector-specific requirements
8.7Regulations for each sector
8.8Systems integration
8.9Lessons from pilot projects
8.10Workshop: comparison between transport sectors

9.1Hydrogen hazards in vehicles
9.2On-board leak detection
9.3Compartment ventilation
9.4High-voltage electrical safety
9.5ISO 23273 and ISO 14687 standards
9.6Safety requirements for on-board systems
9.7Functional safety to ISO 26262
9.8Emergency response
9.9Rescue sheets
9.10Lab: risk analysis of an on-board system

10.1Stack test benches
10.2System test benches
10.3Impedance spectroscopy
10.4Cyclic voltammetry tests
10.5Environmental testing of the system
10.6In-vehicle testing
10.7Calibration of strategies
10.8Durability validation
10.9Test data management
10.10Practical exercise: EIS test of a single cell

11.1Fuel cell value chain
11.2Stack and system manufacturers
11.3Costs per kilowatt
11.4Learning curves
11.5Dependence on platinum
11.6European industrial policy
11.7Funding and IPCEI projects
11.8Market forecasts
11.9Technological risks in the sector
11.10Case study: cost analysis of a system

12.1Definition of the application
12.2Power and range requirements
12.3Stack sizing
12.4Balance-of-plant design
12.5Hydrogen storage
12.6Energy management strategy
12.7Durability and cost assessment
12.8Technical conclusions and recommendations
12.9Master's Thesis report
12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel

Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so it can be combined with work.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is MATLAB/Simulink, COMSOL Multiphysics, GT-SUITE and AVL Cruise M, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: electrochemical characterisation of single cells, sizing of fuel cell–battery systems and analysis of accelerated durability tests. Assessment is continuous by module plus the Master's Thesis.

Standards covered: UNECE R134, GTR 13, ISO 14687, ISO 23273, IEC 62282-2-100, SAE J2579, ISO 26262, ISO 6469-3.

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

Standards-based learning:guided reading of UNECE R134, GTR 13 and ISO 14687 applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.

Industry software:MATLAB/Simulink, COMSOL Multiphysics, GT-SUITE and AVL Cruise M, in free, academic or evaluation versions.

Master's Thesis with defence:Design of a PEM fuel cell powertrain for a transport application, from stack sizing to durability and cost assessment, 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.

Application requirements

Define the application and its power and range requirements.

Stack and balance of plant

Size the stack and design the balance of plant.

Hydrogen storage

Integrate on-board hydrogen storage into the vehicle.

Energy management

Develop and simulate the energy management strategy.

Master's Thesis

Fuel cell powertrain design with durability and cost assessment, defended before a panel.

Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Fuel cell engineerHydrogen systems engineerEnergy management engineerStack durability specialistTest engineerVehicle integration engineer

Admissions & scholarships

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.

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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 MATLAB/Simulink, COMSOL Multiphysics, GT-SUITE and AVL Cruise M, 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 demonstrable professional experience.

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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