Postgraduate DiplomaAerospace, UAM, Drones & Space Applications open

Diploma in Aeronautical Electromagnetic Compatibility and HIRF

Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in aeronautical electromagnetic compatibility and HIRF. 8 modules covering EMC in aircraft, applied electromagnetic theory, the HIRF environment, DO-160 EMC testing, design for compatibility, aircraft-level verification, simulation and certification, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration6–8 months
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute diploma

Diploma in Aeronautical Electromagnetic Compatibility and HIRF — studying from Canada

Canada has a substantial aerospace sector, anchored in Montréal and Québec City, with major manufacturers and suppliers such as Bombardier, Pratt & Whitney Canada and CAE. Ontario's Greater Toronto and Ottawa regions host avionics, satellite and space technology firms, while the Canadian Space Agency coordinates national space programmes, including robotics for the International Space Station. Urban air mobility and drone operations are emerging under Transport Canada's regulatory framework. Engineers in this area typically work on airframe design, systems integration, certification and space mission support.

Fees for Canada: C$2,330 (Canadian dollar), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.

Relevant bodies in Canada

  • Transport Canada
  • Canadian Space Agency
  • Canadian Aviation Regulations (Transport Canada)
  • Aerospace Industries Association of Canada

Typical roles

  • Aerospace Engineer
  • Avionics Engineer
  • Certification Engineer
  • Drone Systems Engineer

Questions from Canada

Does a SEIUM qualification give me recognition with Canadian professional bodies for aerospace work?

Not automatically. In Canada, engineering is regulated by provincial and territorial associations such as Professional Engineers Ontario, which licence Professional Engineers (P.Eng.). SEIUM qualifications are private and are not official state degrees, so they do not confer P.Eng. status or accreditation. Recognition by employers or other bodies is decided case by case, so check directly with them before enrolling.

Will Canadian aerospace, drone or space employers value this training?

Employer valuation depends on the specific employer and role. Canada has a sizeable aerospace sector, including companies in Quebec, Ontario and Western Canada, and employers generally judge candidates on demonstrated skills, projects and experience. SEIUM's final project can serve as evidence of capability, but whether a private qualification carries weight is for each employer to decide. Discuss your goals with prospective employers.

Can I study this alongside a full-time job in Canada, and what about language?

Yes, the programmes are 100% online, so you can study from home at your own pace around work. Master's programmes are 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours, so plan your weekly time accordingly. Teaching is in English, and each student has an assigned technical tutor. Employer sponsorship and fees payable in instalments may help, depending on your circumstances.

Virtual lab · try it before you enrol

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.

SIM · LIVE ●
Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Identify sources, victims and coupling mechanisms in aircraft.

02

Apply transmission line and shielding theory to wiring.

03

Characterise the HIRF environment and its effect on critical functions.

04

Plan equipment EMC testing in accordance with DO-160.

05

Design bonding, filtering and shielding measures.

06

Verify HIRF protection at aircraft level.

07

Develop a HIRF certification strategy using AMC 20-158.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Electromagnetic compatibility engineers
  • HIRF specialists
  • EMC test engineers
  • Avionics design engineers
  • Electrical systems certification engineers
  • Electromagnetic simulation analysts
  • Engineering or science graduates looking to join aircraft manufacturers
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • RTCA DO-160G (environmental conditions and test procedures for airborne equipment)
  • AMC 20-158 (EASA) (aircraft electrical and electronic system HIRF protection)
  • FAA AC 20-158A (HIRF certification of aircraft systems)
  • SAE ARP5583A (guide to certification of aircraft in a HIRF environment)
  • MIL-STD-461G (EMI control requirements for subsystems and equipment)
  • MIL-STD-464C (electromagnetic environmental effects for systems)
  • SAE ARP4754A (development of civil aircraft and systems)
  • EUROCAE ED-107A (HIRF certification guide)
  • CST Studio Suite
  • Ansys HFSS
  • EMA3D
  • Keysight PathWave
  • FEKO
Syllabus

8 modules

  1. 1.1Radiated and conducted emission and susceptibility
  2. 1.2Onboard sources of interference
  3. 1.3Field, cable and common-mode coupling
  4. 1.4External electromagnetic environment
  5. 1.5Passenger portable electronic devices
  6. 1.6Effect of composite materials on shielding
  7. 1.7Historical incidents attributed to interference
  8. 1.8Organisation of EMC control in a programme
  9. 1.9EMC control plan
  10. 1.10Case study: inter-system compatibility matrix
  1. 2.1Transmission lines and cables
  2. 2.2Field-to-cable coupling
  3. 2.3Shielding and shielding effectiveness
  4. 2.4Cavity resonances in the fuselage
  5. 2.5Transfer impedances
  6. 2.6Antenna modelling and patterns
  7. 2.7Crosstalk between harnesses
  8. 2.8Units and quantities in dB
  9. 2.9Switching noise in power electronics
  10. 2.10Lab: shielding effectiveness of a cable
  1. 3.1Origin: radars, broadcast stations and transmitters
  2. 3.2Certification and normal HIRF environments
  3. 3.3Levels according to certification regulations
  4. 3.4Critical functions and test level
  5. 3.5Aircraft attenuation
  6. 3.6Transfer of the external field to wiring
  7. 3.7Whole-aircraft assessment methods
  8. 3.8Requirements for rotorcraft
  9. 3.9Equipment categories in DO-160 Section 20
  10. 3.10Practical exercise: classifying functions by HIRF criticality
  1. 4.1Section 15: magnetic effect
  2. 4.2Section 16: power input
  3. 4.3Section 17: voltage spikes
  4. 4.4Section 18: audio frequency conducted susceptibility
  5. 4.5Section 19: induced signal susceptibility
  6. 4.6Section 20: radio frequency susceptibility (radiated and conducted)
  7. 4.7Section 21: emission of radio frequency energy
  8. 4.8Test set-up, LISN and chambers
  9. 4.9Interpretation of results and deviations
  10. 4.10Workshop: DO-160 test plan for an avionics unit
  1. 5.1Grounding and bonding
  2. 5.2Shielding topologies and terminations
  3. 5.3Input filters and suppressors
  4. 5.4PCB design for EMC
  5. 5.5Cable separation and categories
  6. 5.6Conductive gaskets and apertures
  7. 5.7Protection in composite structures
  8. 5.8Transient suppression
  9. 5.9EMC design reviews
  10. 5.10Practical exercise: filter selection for a 28 V DC line
  1. 6.1Bulk current injection (BCI) testing
  2. 6.2Low-level swept illumination
  3. 6.3Reverberation chamber testing
  4. 6.4Inter-system compatibility measurements
  5. 6.5Testing with passenger portable devices
  6. 6.6Antenna interference testing
  7. 6.7Correlation with numerical models
  8. 6.8Analysis by similarity
  9. 6.9Deviation management
  10. 6.10Lab: analysis of BCI test data
  1. 7.1FDTD, MoM and TLM methods
  2. 7.2Modelling complex wiring
  3. 7.3Whole-aircraft simulation
  4. 7.4Model validation with measurements
  5. 7.5HIRF acceptable means of compliance
  6. 7.6AMC 20-158 and AC 20-158A
  7. 7.7Compliance documentation
  8. 7.8Maintenance of protection
  9. 7.9Modifications and STCs
  10. 7.10Case study: HIRF compliance strategy for a helicopter
  1. 8.1Selection of the system to assess
  2. 8.2Identification of sources and victims
  3. 8.3Criticality classification
  4. 8.4Protection and bonding design
  5. 8.5Equipment test plan
  6. 8.6Aircraft verification plan
  7. 8.7Certification strategy
  8. 8.8Technical report
  9. 8.9Report and presentation
  10. 8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
Methodology, software & labs

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, so you can combine the programme with work.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is CST Studio Suite, Ansys HFSS, EMA3D, Keysight PathWave and FEKO, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: planning susceptibility tests according to DO-160, assessing HIRF coupling into aircraft wiring, and designing the bonding and shielding of an avionics unit. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.

Standards covered: RTCA DO-160G, AMC 20-158 (EASA), FAA AC 20-158A, SAE ARP5583A, MIL-STD-461G, MIL-STD-464C, SAE ARP4754A, EUROCAE ED-107A.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of RTCA DO-160G, AMC 20-158 and FAA AC 20-158A applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:CST Studio Suite, Ansys HFSS, EMA3D, Keysight PathWave and FEKO, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Final project:a complete EMC and HIRF protection and certification strategy for an aircraft system, reviewed by your tutor.
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.

Sources, victims and criticality
Select the system, identify sources and victims and classify functions by criticality.
Protection and bonding design
Design the shielding, filtering and bonding measures.
Equipment test plan
Prepare the DO-160 EMC test plan for the equipment.
Aircraft verification and certification
Plan aircraft-level verification and the HIRF certification strategy.
Final project
A technical EMC and HIRF report, reviewed by your tutor.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Electromagnetic compatibility engineerHIRF specialistEMC test engineerAvionics design engineerElectrical systems certification engineerElectromagnetic simulation analyst
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. A university degree is not 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.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The programme totals 800 hours over 6–8 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.

You work with CST Studio Suite, Ansys HFSS, EMA3D, Keysight PathWave and FEKO, 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 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.

Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector (no university degree required), a computer able to run the 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.

Diploma in Aeronautical Electromagnetic Compatibility and HIRFEnrol
Scroll to Top
SEIUM – Institute of Advanced Engineering
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.