Master’s in User Satcom
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in user satcom — terminals, modems, pointing and Ka/Ku-band links. 12 modules covering satellite communication systems, propagation and link budgets, user terminals, satcom antennas, waveforms and protocols, mobile satellite communications, installation and commissioning, satellite networks, interference and spectrum, cybersecurity and resilience, and market and business models, with ETSI EN 302 307 (DVB-S2), ETSI EN 301 545 (DVB-RCS2) and ITU-R P.618 and an assigned technical tutor.
Master’s in User Satcom — studying from Australia
Electronics and embedded systems underpin a wide range of Australian industries, including defence, mining automation, medical devices and consumer technology. The telecommunications sector is significant, with ongoing investment in fibre, mobile networks and satellite communications for remote regions. Research organisations such as CSIRO and university groups contribute to advances in sensing, communications and signal processing. Engineers typically work on hardware design, firmware development, testing and certification. Employers include telecommunications carriers, defence contractors, instrumentation companies and product manufacturers.
Fees for Australia: A$12,600 (AUD), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Australia
Typical roles
Questions from Australia
Is this qualification recognised for electronics engineering in Australia?
SEIUM's qualifications are private and not official state degrees, and they are not accredited by Engineers Australia or the Australian Communications and Media Authority. Recognition for electronics and telecom roles generally depends on accredited degrees, licences and experience. Employers or the relevant body make the final decision.
Which Australian employers hire embedded and telecom engineers?
Australia has telecommunications carriers, defence electronics firms, medical device makers, mining technology companies and IoT developers. Employers mostly assess your hands-on skills, project record and certifications. Ask prospective employers whether they would consider a private online qualification.
Can I study this part-time while working, and how is it supported?
The courses are 100% online and taught in English, so you can study from anywhere in Australia without needing a student visa. Specialist courses take 300 hours, diplomas 800 and master's 1,900. Each student has an assigned technical tutor, 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 architecture of GEO and LEO satellite systems.
Calculate link budgets taking propagation into account.
Select user terminals and antennas.
Apply DVB-S2X and 5G NTN waveforms.
Install and commission satellite terminals.
Manage interference and spectrum.
Design secure and resilient satellite networks.
Who it's for
- Satellite communications engineers.
- Satellite terminal installers looking to move into engineering roles.
- Satellite network engineers.
- Antenna engineers.
- Network operations engineers.
- Connectivity consultants.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to join satellite operators.
What you'll work with
- ETSI EN 302 307 (DVB-S2 second-generation satellite transmission)
- ETSI EN 301 545 (DVB-RCS2 interactive satellite return channel)
- ITU-R P.618 (propagation data for Earth-space links)
- ITU-R S.580 (radiation diagrams for earth station antennas)
- ETSI EN 301 428 (VSAT terminals in the Ku band)
- 3GPP TR 38.821 (5G NR for non-terrestrial networks)
- ITU Radio Regulations (international spectrum allocation)
- STK
- MATLAB Satellite Communications Toolbox
- SatMaster Pro
- Keysight PathWave
- GNU Radio
12 modules
1.1GEO, MEO and LEO orbits1.2Architecture of a satcom system1.3Space and ground segments1.4L, S, C, Ku, Ka and Q/V bands1.5Fixed and mobile services1.6Broadband LEO constellations1.7High-throughput satellites (HTS)1.8The user satcom market1.9Integration with terrestrial networks1.10Case study: GEO versus LEO comparison
2.1Free-space losses2.2Rain attenuation2.3ITU-R P.618 models2.4Scintillation and depolarisation2.5EIRP and G/T2.6Uplink and downlink budget2.7Interference and C/I2.8Link availability2.9Calculation tools2.10Lab: Ka-band link budget
3.1Architecture of a terminal3.2VSAT and fixed terminals3.3Mobile and portable terminals3.4Terminals for LEO3.5BUCs, LNBs and transceivers3.6Satellite modems and their configuration3.7User interfaces3.8Power supply and environment3.9Terminal certification3.10Practical exercise: installing and pointing a VSAT
4.1Offset-fed parabolic antennas4.2Flat and panel antennas4.3Electronically steered aperture antennas4.4Low-cost phased arrays4.5Metamaterial-based antennas4.6Mechanical and electronic tracking4.7Radiation patterns and lobes4.8Sidelobe requirements4.9Antenna measurement4.10Lab: antenna pattern measurement
5.1DVB-S2 and DVB-S2X5.2Satellite return link with DVB-RCS25.3Adaptive coding and modulation5.4TDMA and MF-TDMA multiple access5.5IP protocols over satellite5.6TCP acceleration over satellite5.75G non-terrestrial networks (NTN)5.8Integration between 3GPP and satellite5.9Direct-to-device5.10Practical exercise: DVB-S2 carrier analysis
6.1Maritime satellite services6.2Aeronautical satellite services6.3Communications on the move6.4Land mobile services6.5IoT via satellite6.6Emergency communications6.7Handheld terminals6.8Roaming and coverage6.9Quality of service6.10Case study: in-flight connectivity on an aircraft
7.1Site survey7.2Antenna mounting7.3Cabling and connectors7.4Pointing and polarisation7.5Cross-polarisation tests7.6Commissioning with the operator7.7Earthing and protection7.8Installation documentation7.9Occupational safety7.10Lab: commissioning a terminal
8.1Star and mesh topologies8.2Hubs and gateways8.3Network management8.4Quality of service8.5Hybrid satellite-terrestrial networks8.6SD-WAN with satellite8.7Integration with 5G8.8Security in satellite networks8.9Capacity dimensioning8.10Practical exercise: design of a corporate VSAT network
9.1Frequency coordination9.2ITU regulation9.3Types of interference9.4Interference geolocation9.5Adjacent satellite interference9.6Spectrum management9.7Station licensing9.8CEPT and national regulations9.9Good operating practice9.10Workshop: locating an interference source
10.1Threats to satcom systems10.2Intentional jamming of links10.3Terminal security10.4Link encryption10.5Secure network management10.6Communications resilience10.7Secure government communications10.8The European IRIS² programme10.9Security regulations10.10Practical exercise: vulnerability analysis of a terminal
11.1Operators and providers11.2Service models11.3Pricing and capacity11.4System integrators11.5Market segments11.6Technology trends in the sector11.7Market regulation11.8Business cases11.9Sustainability and space debris11.10Case study: rural connectivity offering
12.1Service definition12.2Requirements analysis12.3Satellite system selection12.4Link budget12.5Terminal and network design12.6Installation plan12.7Performance evaluation12.8Economic analysis of the service12.9Master's Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
How you'll learn
Training is 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 the programme with your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is STK, MATLAB Satellite Communications Toolbox, SatMaster Pro, Keysight PathWave and GNU Radio, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures for terminal pointing and commissioning, link performance measurement and interference geolocation. Assessment is continuous for each module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: ETSI EN 302 307 (DVB-S2), ETSI EN 301 545 (DVB-RCS2), ITU-R P.618, ITU-R S.580, ETSI EN 301 428, 3GPP TR 38.821 and the ITU Radio Regulations.
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
- 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.
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, MATLAB Satellite Communications Toolbox, SatMaster Pro, Keysight PathWave and GNU Radio, 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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