Master'sInsurance, Risk & Actuarial Data Applications open

Master’s in Satellite and Space Insurance Engineering (Launch/In-Orbit)

Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in Satellite and Space Insurance Engineering (Launch/In-Orbit). 12 modules covering space systems engineering, launch vehicles, space law, launch and in-orbit insurance, space liability, debris and sustainability, technical risk assessment, market modelling, claims and the new space economy, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration1900 h

ModeOnline

LanguageEnglish

Start datesSet by the faculty

AwardSEIUM Institute diploma

Enrol now View syllabus Ask an advisor

Master’s in Satellite and Space Insurance Engineering (Launch/In-Orbit) — studying from Australia

Australia has a mature insurance and superannuation sector, with major insurers, reinsurers and financial institutions relying heavily on actuarial analysis and risk modelling. Engineers and data specialists contribute to catastrophe modelling, telematics-based pricing and claims analytics, particularly given the country's exposure to bushfire, flood and cyclone risk. The regulatory environment is shaped by prudential oversight and consumer protection frameworks. Employers include general and life insurers, consultancies, reinsurance firms and government risk agencies.

Fees for Australia: A$12,600 (AUD), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.

Relevant bodies in Australia

Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA)
Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)
Institute of Actuaries of Australia (IAA)
Insurance Council of Australia (ICA)

Typical roles

Actuarial Analyst
Risk Data Scientist
Catastrophe Modeller
Insurance Analytics Engineer

Questions from Australia

Does this programme lead to recognition by the Actuaries Institute or another Australian professional body?

SEIUM qualifications are private and are not accredited by the Actuaries Institute, Engineers Australia or any national body. The Actuaries Institute sets its own examination and membership requirements, which a private qualification does not replace. Recognition for any role is decided by the employer or the relevant body, so confirm their requirements before enrolling.

Which Australian insurers and risk employers might consider this training?

Insurers, reinsurers, banks, consultancies and risk management teams in Australia employ people with data and risk skills. Whether they consider a private engineering qualification relevant depends on the role and their own hiring policy. Your demonstrated skills, portfolio and final project are often what matter most to them.

Is the course manageable while working, and can my employer fund it?

Yes, the programmes are delivered entirely online in English, with an assigned technical tutor, so you can fit study around work from Australia. Fees can be paid in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible. Check the total hours for your chosen programme and agree a realistic weekly schedule before you start.

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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

Analyse the architecture and risks of satellites and launch vehicles.

Interpret space law and its insurance requirements.

Design launch, in-orbit and liability covers.

Technically assess space missions for underwriting.

Model the frequency and severity of space losses.

Manage claims and in-orbit anomalies.

Evaluate the risks of the new space economy and orbital debris.

Profile

Who it's for

Space insurance underwriters covering launch, in-orbit and liability risks.
Space risk engineers carrying out technical due diligence on missions.
Satellite reliability analysts working with failure and anomaly data.
Space claims managers handling launch failures and in-orbit losses.
Specialist space brokers placing programmes for operators and manufacturers.
Space regulation consultants advising on licensing and liability.
Engineering or science graduates aiming to enter space insurance.

Standards & tools

What you'll work with

Outer Space Treaty 1967 (principles governing activities in outer space)
Liability Convention 1972 (international liability for damage caused by space objects)
Registration Convention 1975 (registration of objects launched into outer space)
ISO 24113 (space systems: debris mitigation requirements)
IADC Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines
French Law No. 2008-518 (French Space Operations Act)
ITU Radio Regulations (international use of radio spectrum and orbits)
ECSS-Q-ST-30C (space product assurance: dependability)
STK (Ansys Systems Tool Kit)
GMAT (NASA)
DRAMA (ESA)
Python
ReliaSoft Weibull++

Syllabus

12 modules · 1900 h

1.1Satellite architecture
1.2Platform and payload
1.3Power and thermal subsystems
1.4Attitude and orbit control
1.5Communications and ground stations
1.6LEO, MEO and GEO orbits
1.7Small satellite constellations
1.8Service life and degradation
1.9Reliability of space components
1.10Case study: analysis of the architecture of a GEO satellite

2.1Types of launch vehicles
2.2Launch sequence
2.3Stage separation and orbital insertion
2.4Launch vehicle failure history
2.5Statistical reliability of launch vehicles
2.6Reusable launch vehicles
2.7Satellite integration on the launch vehicle
2.8Launch campaigns
2.9Launch services contracts
2.10Practical exercise: Bayesian estimate of launch vehicle reliability

3.1The 1967 Outer Space Treaty
3.2The 1972 Liability Convention
3.3The 1975 Registration Convention
3.4National space activities legislation
3.5Operating licences
3.6Radio spectrum and the ITU
3.7Liability of the launching state
3.8Compulsory third-party insurance
3.9Forthcoming EU space legislation
3.10Workshop: insurance requirements of a space licence

4.1Pre-launch cover
4.2Launch and orbit-raising insurance
4.3In-orbit testing period
4.4Total and partial loss
4.5Re-launch as indemnity
4.6Common exclusions
4.7Insured value of the satellite
4.8Market premiums and rates
4.9Cross-waiver of liability clauses
4.10Case study: claim for orbital insertion failure

5.1In-orbit life cover
5.2Capacity degradation and partial loss
5.3Indemnity formulas
5.4Solar array and battery failures
5.5Propulsion failures
5.6Software anomalies
5.7Space weather and solar storms
5.8In-orbit policy renewals
5.9Satellites at end of life
5.10Practical exercise: calculating a partial loss from power degradation

6.1Third-party damage on the ground
6.2Damage in space and collisions
6.3Liability towards other operators
6.4Space debris and re-entries
6.5Third-party liability insurance
6.6State guarantees
6.7Liability transfer agreements
6.8In-orbit servicing and liability
6.9Space tourism and passengers
6.10Case study: satellite collision scenario

7.1Debris population in orbit
7.2IADC guidelines
7.3ISO 24113 on debris mitigation
7.4Collision avoidance manoeuvres
7.5End-of-life deorbiting
7.6Active debris removal
7.7Space situational awareness
7.8Mega-constellations and congestion
7.9Impact on insured risk
7.10Lab: orbital conjunction analysis

8.1Technical due diligence of satellites
8.2Design review and flight heritage
8.3Analysis of in-orbit anomalies
8.4Space failure databases
8.5Weibull reliability models
8.6Common-mode failure analysis
8.7Environmental qualification testing
8.8Thermal vacuum and vibration tests
8.9Reports for underwriters
8.10Practical exercise: technical due diligence of a satellite

9.1Structure of the space insurance market
9.2Capacity and main insurers
9.3Premium and loss cycle
9.4Risk concentration
9.5Loss frequency modelling
9.6Aggregate loss scenarios
9.7Space reinsurance
9.8Small satellites and insurability
9.9Insurance for new space services
9.10Case study: loss model for a space portfolio

10.1Notification of anomalies
10.2Failure investigation
10.3Failure review boards
10.4Telemetry data as evidence
10.5Loss determination
10.6Negotiation of indemnities
10.7Salvage and residual value
10.8Disputes and arbitration
10.9Lessons learned
10.10Practical exercise: anomaly investigation report

11.1Internet constellations
11.2Commercial Earth observation
11.3In-orbit servicing and life extension
11.4Commercial space stations
11.5In-orbit manufacturing
11.6Lunar exploration
11.7Financing of the space sector
11.8European institutional programmes
11.9Emerging risks
11.10Workshop: risk profile of a LEO constellation

12.1Selection of the space mission
12.2Technical analysis of the mission
12.3Applicable legal framework
12.4Risk assessment by phase
12.5Design of the insurance programme
12.6Loss modelling
12.7Market strategy
12.8Conclusions
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 materials, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so the programme is compatible with work.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is STK (Ansys Systems Tool Kit), GMAT (NASA), DRAMA (ESA), Python and ReliaSoft Weibull++, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Exercises are based on real procedures: technical due diligence of satellites and launch vehicles, analysis of partial losses in orbit, and modelling of space insurance portfolios. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.

Standards covered: 1967 Outer Space Treaty, 1972 Liability Convention, 1975 Registration Convention, ISO 24113, IADC Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines, French Law No. 2008-518 on space operations, ITU Radio Regulations and ECSS-Q-ST-30C.

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

Standards-based learning:guided reading of the UN space treaties, ISO 24113, the IADC guidelines and ECSS-Q-ST-30C applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.

Industry software:STK (Ansys Systems Tool Kit), GMAT (NASA), DRAMA (ESA), Python and ReliaSoft Weibull++, in free, academic or evaluation versions.

Master's Thesis with defence:a complete insurance programme for a real space mission, with phase-by-phase risk assessment, loss modelling and market strategy, 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.

Mission technical analysis

Analyse the architecture and technical risks of a real satellite mission.

Launch reliability estimate

Estimate launch vehicle reliability with Bayesian and Weibull models.

Cover design

Design launch, in-orbit and third-party liability covers under the applicable licence.

Portfolio loss model

Model losses for a space portfolio, including debris and conjunction risk.

Master's Thesis

Develop a full insurance programme for a space mission, defended before a panel.

Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Space insurance underwriterSpace risk engineerSatellite reliability analystSpace claims managerSpecialist space brokerSpace regulation consultant

Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

University degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
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 STK (Ansys Systems Tool Kit), GMAT (NASA), DRAMA (ESA), Python and ReliaSoft Weibull++, 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, plus a suitable computer 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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