Diploma in SATCOM and NATO Standards
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in SATCOM and NATO standards. 8 modules covering satellite link fundamentals, space segment and payload, ground terminals, waveforms and medium access, networks and management, allied interoperability and service protection and resilience, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in SATCOM and NATO Standards — studying from Canada
Canada's defence sector is centred on procurement and sustainment through the Department of National Defence and Defence Research and Development Canada. Industrial activity spans land vehicles, naval systems, avionics and electronics, with firms in Ontario, Québec, Nova Scotia and British Columbia. Companies such as General Dynamics Land Systems Canada and Lockheed Martin Canada are notable employers, alongside a broad base of small and medium suppliers. Engineers work on systems integration, vehicle protection, logistics and sustainment, operating within strict security and export control frameworks.
Fees for Canada: C$1,700 (Canadian dollar), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Canada
Typical roles
Questions from Canada
Which Canadian bodies or processes govern defence engineering recognition?
Defence engineering in Canada often involves government procurement and security clearances, and engineers typically hold provincial Professional Engineer licences where a title is required. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not official state degrees or accredited by a national body, so they do not confer licensing or clearance. Recognition is for employers or the relevant body to decide, so verify this first.
Would Canadian defence or land systems employers accept this training?
Canadian defence employers and contractors generally rely on security clearance, licensing and demonstrated experience. A private qualification may support your application, but it is unlikely to replace those requirements, and its acceptance is up to each employer. A SEIUM final project can help show applied skill, so discuss expectations with prospective employers early.
Can I study remotely while working, and what are the costs and language demands?
Yes, the programmes are fully online, so you can study from Canada or elsewhere without a student visa, and fit sessions around work. Specialist courses are 300 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 and master's 1,900. Teaching is in English, supported by an assigned technical tutor. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship may be available.
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
Calculate satellite link budgets.
Analyse payloads and coverage.
Size fixed and mobile ground terminals.
Select waveforms and access schemes.
Design multi-orbit satellite networks.
Ensure interoperability with allied standards.
Apply service protection and resilience measures.
Who it's for
- SATCOM systems engineers.
- Radio frequency engineers.
- Teleport operators.
- Satellite network designers.
- Terminal specialists.
- Interoperability engineers.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter the defence sector.
What you'll work with
- ITU-R P.618-14 (propagation data for Earth-space telecommunication systems)
- ETSI EN 302 307-2 (DVB-S2X extensions)
- MIL-STD-188-164C (interoperability of SHF satellite communications terminals)
- STANAG 4484 (NATO SHF military SATCOM interoperability)
- MIL-STD-188-165B (interoperability of SHF SATCOM modems)
- ITU-R S.580-6 (radiation diagrams for earth station antennas)
- ECSS-E-ST-50C (space engineering: communications)
- Ansys STK
- MATLAB Satellite Communications Toolbox
- SatMaster Pro
- Wireshark
8 modules
1.1Kepler's laws and orbits1.2Visibility geometry1.3Coverage and footprint1.4Free-space losses1.5G/T figure of merit1.6Terminal and satellite EIRP1.7C/N0 ratio1.8Rain attenuation according to ITU-R P.6181.9Doppler effect in LEO1.10Practical exercise: X-band link budget
2.1Transparent transponders2.2Regenerative payloads2.3Spot beams2.4Shaped-beam antennas2.5High-throughput satellites2.6Digital payloads2.7Power budget2.8Intermodulation2.9Payload management2.10Laboratory: coverage analysis with STK
3.1Fixed stations3.2Transportable terminals3.3Terminals on the move3.4Electronic flat-panel antennas3.5LNB and BUC3.6Tracking systems3.7Terminal certification3.8Naval terminals3.9Aeronautical terminals3.10Workshop: sizing a terminal on the move
4.1DVB-S2X standard4.2TDMA and MF-TDMA4.3SCPC4.4Satellite modems4.5Adaptive coding and modulation4.6IP protocols over satellite4.7TCP acceleration4.8Spectral efficiency4.9Latency4.10Practical exercise: DVB-S2X simulation in MATLAB
5.1Star and mesh topologies5.2Teleports5.3Network management systems5.4Integration with terrestrial networks5.5Quality of service5.6Multi-orbit networks5.7LEO constellations5.8Dynamic bandwidth allocation5.9Carrier monitoring5.10Case study: multi-orbit network for a deployment
6.1NATO interoperability requirements6.2STANAG 44846.3MIL-STD-188-164C and 165B standards6.4Interoperability testing6.5NATO SATCOM services6.6Network federation6.7Shared resource management6.8Lessons learned6.9Technological developments6.10Case study: interoperability between two nations
7.1Interference detection and geolocation7.2COMSEC and TRANSEC protection7.3Interference mitigation7.4Space weather7.5Ground segment cybersecurity7.6Redundancy7.7Site diversity7.8Service recovery7.9Spectrum monitoring7.10Case study: analysis of an interference incident
8.1Mission requirements8.2Orbit and band selection8.3Link budget8.4Terminal selection8.5Network architecture8.6Interoperability8.7Resilience measures8.8Budget and schedule8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training 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 your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Ansys STK, MATLAB Satellite Communications Toolbox, SatMaster Pro and Wireshark, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied on real procedures for link budget calculation, testing of terminals on the move and carrier monitoring. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final integrated project.
Standards covered: ITU-R P.618-14, ETSI EN 302 307-2, MIL-STD-188-164C, STANAG 4484, MIL-STD-188-165B, ITU-R S.580-6 and ECSS-E-ST-50C.
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 Ansys STK, MATLAB Satellite Communications Toolbox, SatMaster Pro and Wireshark, 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 capable of running 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.
Related programmes
Diploma in PHM Applied to Land Systems
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in PHM applied to land systems: 8 modules covering PHM fundamentals under IEEE 1856-2017 and ISO 13374, on-board sensing and…
Diploma in Transient Operation and Postulated Accidents
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in transient operation and postulated accidents: 8 modules covering the design basis, deterministic safety analysis to IAEA SSG-2 Rev.1, transient…
Diploma in Fuel Cycle Economics
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in nuclear fuel cycle economics. 8 modules covering the economic stages of the cycle, uranium and services markets, fuel cost…
More in Defense, Military Engineering & Land Systems
All Defense, Military Engineering & Land Systems programmes → · How to apply · Fees & financing · Scholarships