Pseudo-satellite platforms course
Online course of 300 hours in pseudo-satellite platforms: 6 modules covering the pseudo-satellite concept, telecommunications payloads, observation payloads, ground segment and operations, and regulation and market, with an assigned technical tutor.
Pseudo-satellite platforms course — studying from Australia
Australia's aerospace sector spans defence and commercial aviation, maintenance, repair and overhaul, and a growing space industry. Key clusters sit around Adelaide's Edinburgh Parks and the Melbourne and Sydney defence precincts, with major employers including Airbus Australia Pacific, BAE Systems Australia, Boeing Defence Australia and Lockheed Martin Australia. Recreational and commercial drone operations are increasingly regulated, and advanced air mobility is emerging as a research and policy priority. Engineers working in this area typically support airworthiness, systems integration, structures and avionics across both crewed and uncrewed platforms.
Fees for Australia: A$1,180 (AUD), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Australia
Typical roles
Questions from Australia
Does a SEIUM qualification help me get recognised by a professional body in Australia?
SEIUM qualifications are private qualifications, not official state degrees, and they are not accredited by any Australian body. Engineers Australia accredits university engineering degrees, and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) regulates drone and aviation operations. Recognition of a private qualification is decided by the employer or the relevant body, so check with them before enrolling.
Will this course help me find work in Australian aerospace, drones or space?
Australia has aerospace and defence employers, drone operators and space-sector companies, and skills in these areas are valued. Whether a SEIUM qualification counts for a given role depends on the employer, who will usually weigh your experience and portfolio alongside any private credential. Ask prospective employers how they view it.
Can I study this part-time while working, and does the time zone suit Australia?
The programmes are fully online and taught in English, so you can study from anywhere in Australia, with no student visa needed for home study. Master's programmes total 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours, so plan your weekly load realistically. 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 concept and performance of pseudo-satellites.
Compare HAPS with satellite and terrestrial solutions.
Size communications and observation payloads.
Design the ground segment and service operations.
Analyse the ITU spectrum and allocation framework.
Assess business models for services delivered from the stratosphere.
Plan the deployment of a pseudo-satellite service.
Who it's for
- Aerial telecommunications systems engineers.
- Non-terrestrial network analysts.
- Observation payload engineers.
- Spectrum planners.
- Connectivity service managers.
- Aerospace market consultants.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter telecommunications.
What you'll work with
- ITU Radio Regulations (international radio spectrum rules)
- Resolution 247 (WRC-19) (use of HAPS as IMT base stations)
- 3GPP TS 38.821 (solutions for NR to support non-terrestrial networks)
- Recommendation ITU-R F.1500 (characteristics of systems using HAPS)
- Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 (EU common rules in civil aviation and EASA)
- Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR) (EU data protection)
- Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 (rules and procedures for UAS operations)
- STK (Systems Tool Kit)
- MATLAB Satellite Communications Toolbox
- QGIS
- Python
- Atoll
6 modules
1.1Definition of HAPS and HIBS1.2Comparison with LEO and GEO satellites1.3Coverage and service area1.4Latency and capacity compared with satellites1.5Advantages of persistence and reconfiguration1.6Business models and operators1.7Zephyr, Sceye and Stratospheric Platforms programmes1.8Integration into non-terrestrial networks1.9Cost per service area1.10Case study: economic comparison between HAPS and a LEO constellation
2.1High-altitude base stations (HIBS)2.2Multi-beam antennas and beamforming2.3Feeder links to the ground2.4Integration into 5G NTN networks2.5Bands allocated by the ITU to HAPS2.6Interference with terrestrial services2.7Handovers between aerial cells2.8Mass and power limitations2.9Thermal management of payloads2.10Practical exercise: sizing cellular coverage from 20 km
3.1High-resolution optics3.2Synthetic aperture radar3.3Hyperspectral sensors3.4Civil maritime and border surveillance3.5Wildfire monitoring3.6Atmospheric and climate measurements3.7Resolution compared with satellites3.8Continuous revisit3.9Data transmission and processing3.10Lab: calculating GSD and coverage area
4.1Mission control centres4.2Gateway stations4.3Service planning4.4Management of HAPS constellations4.5Platform relief4.6Integration with satellite networks4.7Service availability and continuity4.8Ground segment cybersecurity4.9Service level indicators4.10Workshop: relief plan for continuous coverage
5.1World Radiocommunication Conference allocations5.2Frequency coordination5.3Service licences5.4Airspace and authorisations5.5Protection of observation data5.6Market analysis5.7Technological and commercial risks5.8Programme financing5.9Adoption scenarios5.10Case study: business plan for rural connectivity with HAPS
6.1Service definition6.2Coverage area analysis6.3Payload selection6.4Ground segment design6.5Spectrum analysis6.6Operating model6.7Economic model6.8Deployment plan6.9Report and presentation6.10Final project: final review with your tutor
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 the intake, making it compatible with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original regulations and applied exercises. The working software is STK (Systems Tool Kit), MATLAB Satellite Communications Toolbox, QGIS, Python and Atoll, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Exercises are based on real procedures for simulating cellular coverage from the stratosphere, spectrum compatibility analysis and service feasibility studies. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final capstone project.
Standards covered: ITU Radio Regulations, Resolution 247 (WRC-19), 3GPP TS 38.821, Recommendation ITU-R F.1500, Regulation (EU) 2018/1139, Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR), Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947.
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
- No prior qualification is required.
- 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 300 hours over 3 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with STK (Systems Tool Kit), MATLAB Satellite Communications Toolbox, QGIS, Python and Atoll, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute certificate, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. 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 are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
No prior qualification is required; you need an internet connection, 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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