Diploma in Hall/Ion Thrusters and PPU
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in Hall/ion thrusters and PPUs: 8 modules covering electric propulsion fundamentals, applied plasma physics, Hall-effect and gridded ion thrusters, power processing units, platform integration and qualification testing, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in Hall/Ion Thrusters and PPU — 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$2,010 (Canadian dollar), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Canada
Typical roles
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.
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
Compare electric propulsion systems by specific impulse and power.
Explain the plasma physics applied to thrusters.
Analyse the operation of Hall-effect thrusters.
Analyse gridded ion thrusters and alternative technologies.
Design power processing units.
Integrate electric propulsion into the satellite platform.
Plan qualification and lifetime tests.
Who it's for
- Electric propulsion engineers
- Space power electronics engineers
- Propulsion test engineers
- Plasma physics researchers
- Satellite systems engineers
- Propulsion integration engineers
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter the space sector
What you'll work with
- ECSS-E-ST-35C (space propulsion general requirements)
- ECSS-E-ST-35-01C (liquid and electric propulsion for spacecraft)
- ECSS-E-ST-20C (electrical and electronic engineering)
- ECSS-E-ST-20-06C (spacecraft charging)
- ISO 24113 (space debris mitigation requirements)
- ECSS-E-ST-10-03C (space engineering testing)
- SPIS
- COMSOL Multiphysics
- PLECS
- LTspice
- MATLAB/Simulink
8 modules
1.1Specific impulse and thrust1.2Power-to-thrust ratio1.3Electrothermal, electrostatic and electromagnetic classification1.4Propellants: xenon, krypton and iodine1.5Reference missions1.6Comparison with chemical propulsion1.7Specific impulse optimisation1.8System mass1.9Market trends1.10Practical exercise: comparing systems for a transfer to GEO
2.1Ionisation and collisions2.2Electron temperature and density2.3Debye length and sheaths2.4Motion in magnetic fields2.5Anomalous diffusion2.6Langmuir probes2.7Fluid models2.8Particle-in-cell (PIC) models2.9Emission spectroscopy2.10Laboratory: analysis of Langmuir probe curves
3.1Operating principle3.2Magnetic topology3.3Hollow cathodes3.4Channel and erosion3.5Magnetic shielding3.6Performance and scaling3.7Plasma oscillations3.8Lifetime3.9Commercial models3.10Practical exercise: estimating the performance of a Hall thruster
4.1Gridded ion thrusters4.2Plasma generation by RF or discharge4.3Ion optics and grid erosion4.4Neutralisation4.5HEMPT thrusters4.6FEEP thrusters4.7Helicon plasma thrusters4.8Electric propulsion for CubeSats4.9Technology comparison4.10Case study: thruster selection for a microsatellite
5.1PPU architecture5.2High-voltage converters5.3Anode and discharge supply5.4Cathode and coil supply5.5Control and telemetry5.6Efficiency and thermal management5.7Arc protection5.8Components and radiation5.9PPU testing5.10Laboratory: simulation of a discharge converter
6.1Xenon feed system6.2Flow regulators6.3High-pressure tanks6.4Thruster pointing mechanisms6.5Plume interaction6.6Spacecraft charging6.7Electromagnetic compatibility6.8Power budget6.9Electric propulsion operations6.10Case study: integration in a telecommunications satellite
7.1Vacuum chambers and pumping7.2Background pressure effects7.3Thrust measurement7.4Plume diagnostics7.5Lifetime testing7.6Erosion models7.7Environmental testing7.8Qualification according to ECSS7.9Lessons from programmes7.10Workshop: lifetime test plan for a thruster
8.1Mission requirements8.2Thruster selection8.3System sizing8.4PPU design8.5Platform integration8.6Test plan8.7Technical risks8.8Conclusions8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
A 100% online programme 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 it fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. You work with SPIS, COMSOL Multiphysics, PLECS, LTspice and MATLAB/Simulink in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures: sizing electric propulsion systems, simulating power processing unit stages and analysing plume interaction with the satellite. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: ECSS-E-ST-35C, ECSS-E-ST-35-01C, ECSS-E-ST-20C, ECSS-E-ST-20-06C, ISO 24113, ECSS-E-ST-10-03C.
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
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree 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 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 SPIS, COMSOL Multiphysics, PLECS, LTspice and MATLAB/Simulink, 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.
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