Master’s in Advanced Aerodynamic Development Engineering
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in advanced aerodynamic development engineering: 12 modules covering the aerodynamic development process, advanced flow physics, high-fidelity simulation, adjoint optimisation, aerodynamic maps, aerodynamics in traffic, machine learning, tool correlation, aeroelasticity and regulations, with an assigned technical tutor.
Master’s in Advanced Aerodynamic Development Engineering — studying from Canada
Canada's automotive industry is concentrated in Ontario, particularly around Windsor, Oshawa, Brampton and St. Catharines, with assembly plants and a dense supplier network. Companies such as General Motors Canada, Stellantis Canada and Toyota Canada operate production facilities, supported by a strong parts sector. Motorsport activity is present through national series and circuits such as Canadian Tire Motorsport Park and Mosport. Engineers work on vehicle design, powertrain development, manufacturing engineering and supplier quality.
Fees for Canada: C$10,800 (Canadian dollar), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Canada
Typical roles
Questions from Canada
Which Canadian bodies recognise automotive engineering qualifications?
Automotive engineers in Canada often hold Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) licences from provincial associations such as Professional Engineers Ontario, which regulate the title 'engineer'. SEIUM is a private institute, and its qualifications are not official state degrees and are not accredited by any national body, so they do not confer P.Eng. status. Whether an employer or other body recognises the training is their decision, so confirm this before you enrol.
Where in Canada would automotive or motorsport training be useful to employers?
Canada has automotive manufacturing centred in Ontario, with suppliers across the country, and a range of motorsport and performance engineering businesses. Employers in these areas typically assess candidates on skills, portfolios and practical experience. A SEIUM final project can document your work, but how much weight a private qualification carries is up to each employer, so ask them directly.
How does the workload and funding work for someone employed in Canada?
Programmes are fully online, so you can study from anywhere, including outside Canadian time zones if needed, but schedules should be planned around your work. Hours range from 300 for specialist courses to 1,900 for master's programmes. Fees can be paid in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible. Teaching is in English, and an assigned technical tutor supports you throughout.
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
Manage the aerodynamic development process under constraints.
Analyse complex flow structures.
Apply high-fidelity simulations.
Optimise shapes using adjoint methods.
Generate aerodynamic maps and surrogate models.
Apply machine learning to aerodynamics.
Correlate tools and manage aeroelastic deformations.
Who it's for
- Development aerodynamicists in motorsport or high-performance automotive.
- High-fidelity CFD engineers working with DES, LES or lattice Boltzmann methods.
- Optimisation engineers applying adjoint and surrogate methods.
- Aerodynamic correlation engineers comparing CFD, tunnel and track.
- Data scientists working with aerodynamic simulation data.
- Aerodynamic project leads planning development programmes.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to break into motorsport.
What you'll work with
- FIA Formula 1 Technical Regulations (technical rules for F1 cars)
- Formula 1 Financial Regulations (ATR, aerodynamic testing restrictions)
- WEC Hypercar Technical Regulations (technical rules for endurance prototypes)
- SAE J1594 (vehicle aerodynamics terminology)
- Appendix J to the FIA International Sporting Code (technical rules for competition vehicles)
- ISO 8855 (vehicle dynamics and road-holding vocabulary)
- Formula E Technical Regulations (technical rules for electric single-seaters)
- Simcenter Star-CCM+
- OpenFOAM
- ANSYS Fluent
- PowerFLOW
- Python
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1Development cycle in a racing team1.2Performance and lap time targets1.3Aerodynamic sensitivities1.4Managing CFD and wind tunnel resources1.5ATR restrictions and the cost cap1.6Organisation of the aerodynamics department1.7Design-to-manufacturing workflow1.8Configuration management1.9Introducing upgrades on track1.10Case study: development plan for a season
2.1Complex vortex structures2.2Vortex interaction2.3Three-dimensional flow in diffusers2.4Boundary layer transition2.5Separation and reattachment2.6Unsteady flows2.7Wakes and their management2.8Local compressibility effects2.9Topological flow analysis2.10Lab: vortex identification with the Q-criterion
3.1DES and DDES simulations3.2LES and mesh requirements3.3Lattice Boltzmann methods3.4Simulation of rotating wheels3.5Moving and deforming meshes3.6Simulation of the vehicle in cornering3.7Simulation in the wake of another car3.8Computational cost3.9Validation3.10Practical: DDES simulation of a wheel
4.1Continuous and discrete adjoint methods4.2Surface sensitivities4.3Morphing with free-form parameterisation4.4Automated shape optimisation4.5Flow topology optimisation4.6Multi-point optimisation4.7Regulatory geometric constraints4.8Design robustness4.9Integration with CAD4.10Lab: adjoint optimisation with OpenFOAM
5.1Front and rear ride-height maps5.2Sensitivity to pitch and roll5.3Sensitivity to yaw5.4Cornering maps5.5Balance stability5.6Use of maps in lap simulation5.7Efficient map generation5.8Design of experiments5.9Surrogate models5.10Practical: surrogate model of an aerodynamic map
6.1Downforce loss in the wake6.2Regulations to facilitate overtaking6.3Two-car simulation6.4Aerodynamics in cornering and yaw6.5Effect of crosswind6.6Aerodynamics of steered wheels6.7Cornering tests in the wind tunnel6.8Following metrics6.9Impact on strategy6.10Case study: assessment of downforce loss in the wake
7.1Reduced-order models7.2Neural networks for coefficient prediction7.3Graph neural networks for flow fields7.4Physics-informed models7.5Bayesian optimisation7.6POD dimensionality reduction7.7Simulation data management7.8Model validation7.9Integration into the workflow7.10Lab: coefficient prediction with neural networks
8.1CFD–wind tunnel–track differences8.2Scale effect8.3Effect of wheels and moving ground8.4On-track deformations8.5Data correction8.6Correlation metrics8.7Managing discrepancies8.8Map correlation8.9Lessons from teams8.10Practical: correlation analysis of a component
9.1Deformation of components under load9.2Regulatory deflection tests9.3Fluid–structure simulation9.4Designing for controlled flexibility9.5Laminates and fibre orientation9.6Aeroelastic vibrations9.7Measuring deformations on track9.8Regulatory risks9.9Reliability9.10Case study: deformation of a rear wing
10.1Cooling losses10.2Optimisation of inlets and outlets10.3Trade-offs with vehicle dynamics10.4Aerodynamic platform and suspension10.5Porpoising and its control10.6Balance through the different phases of a corner10.7Integration into the simulator10.8Driver feedback10.9Decision-making10.10Workshop: cooling–downforce trade-off at a hot circuit
11.1The 2022 technical regulations11.2The 2026 regulations and active aerodynamics11.3Hypercar and LMDh prototypes11.4Balance of Performance11.5Formula E Gen3 aerodynamics11.6Interpreting regulations11.7Technical queries to the FIA11.8Development strategy across regulation changes11.9Trends11.10Practical: analysis of a regulation change
12.1Definition of the development objective12.2Baseline flow analysis12.3Design proposal12.4High-fidelity simulation12.5Optimisation12.6Sensitivity assessment12.7Validation plan12.8Conclusions12.9Master's Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
How you'll learn
The programme 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 it can be combined with your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Simcenter Star-CCM+, OpenFOAM, ANSYS Fluent, PowerFLOW and Python, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures for high-fidelity DES and LES simulations, adjoint optimisation of components and generation of aerodynamic maps. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: FIA Formula 1 Technical Regulations, Formula 1 Financial Regulations (ATR), WEC Hypercar Technical Regulations, SAE J1594, Appendix J to the FIA International Sporting Code, ISO 8855, Formula E Technical 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
- A university degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
- 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 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 Simcenter Star-CCM+, OpenFOAM, ANSYS Fluent, PowerFLOW and Python, 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 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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