Master’s in Aircraft Fuel Systems and Thermal Management Engineering
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in aircraft fuel systems and thermal management engineering, structured in 12 modules covering aviation fuels, fuel system architecture, quantity indication, tank inerting, thermal management, heat exchangers, centre of gravity management, ignition prevention, simulation, testing and new-energy systems, with an assigned technical tutor.
Master’s in Aircraft Fuel Systems and Thermal Management Engineering — 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$10,800 (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
Understand the properties of aviation fuels.
Design fuel system architectures.
Size fuel quantity indication systems.
Apply tank inerting regulations.
Design aircraft thermal management systems.
Simulate fuel and thermal systems.
Plan testing and certification.
Who it's for
- Fuel systems engineers at aircraft manufacturers and system suppliers.
- Thermal management engineers integrating heat loads and heat sinks.
- System safety engineers dealing with ignition prevention and flammability.
- Systems test engineers running rigs, ground and flight tests.
- Systems simulation engineers building 1D and coupled thermal models.
- Certification engineers working with CS-25 fuel system requirements.
- Engineering or science graduates aiming to join aeronautical manufacturers.
What you'll work with
- CS-25.981 (EASA fuel tank ignition prevention)
- 14 CFR §25.981 (FAA fuel tank ignition prevention)
- 14 CFR Part 26 Subpart D (fuel tank flammability)
- SFAR 88 (fuel tank system fault tolerance evaluation)
- ASTM D1655 (aviation turbine fuels specification)
- Def Stan 91-091 (UK turbine fuel, kerosene type, Jet A-1)
- CS-25.951 to 25.1001 (EASA fuel system requirements)
- SAE AIR1408 (aerospace fuel system specifications and standards)
- Simcenter Amesim
- MATLAB/Simulink
- ANSYS Fluent
- Flowmaster
- Dymola
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1Composition and specification of Jet A-11.2ASTM D1655 and Def Stan 91-091 requirements1.3Density, calorific value and viscosity1.4Freezing point and cold-weather operation1.5JFTOT thermal stability1.6Free and dissolved water contamination1.7Microbial contamination in tanks1.8Anti-icing and antistatic additives1.9Compatibility with sustainable fuels1.10Case study: investigation of microbial contamination across a fleet
2.1Integral wing and centre tanks2.2Boost pumps and jet pumps2.3Crossfeed valves2.4Vent system and overpressure protection2.5Pressure refuelling and level control2.6In-flight fuel jettison2.7Engine feed and cavitation prevention2.8Redundancy and leak isolation2.9Configurations in single-aisle jets2.10Workshop: fuel system schematic for a 200-seat twin-engine aircraft
3.1Capacitive level probes3.2Density and permittivity compensation3.3Ultrasonic level sensors3.4Mass calculation with aircraft attitude3.5Required accuracy and typical errors3.6Tank calibration with tables3.7Cockpit indication and low-level alerts3.8Digital fuel quantity indication system3.9Lessons from fuel exhaustion incidents3.10Lab: calibration table for a wing tank
4.1Flammability limits of fuel vapour4.2Lessons from the TWA 800 accident4.3Flammability exposure and Monte Carlo4.4Nitrogen-enriched air generation4.5Hollow-fibre membrane separation modules4.614 CFR Part 26 and CS-25.981 requirements4.7Inert gas distribution in tanks4.8FTIS maintenance and reliability4.9Dispatch with the system inoperative4.10Practical exercise: flammability exposure calculation
5.1Onboard heat sources5.2Fuel as a heat sink5.3Fuel temperature limits5.4Oil-to-fuel heat exchangers5.5Fuel recirculation to tanks5.6Cooling of avionics and power electronics5.7Impact of the more-electric aircraft5.8Thermal management in high-power military aircraft5.9Integrated thermal management architectures5.10Case study: thermal balance during low-altitude holding
6.1Plate-fin heat exchangers6.2Compact shell-and-tube heat exchangers6.3NTU-effectiveness method6.4Pressure drop and pumping power6.5Additively manufactured heat exchangers6.6Fouling and deposit formation6.7Aluminium and titanium materials6.8Mass and volume optimisation6.9Thermal performance testing6.10Lab: NTU sizing of an oil-fuel heat exchanger
7.1Influence of CG position on drag7.2Trim tanks in the horizontal stabiliser7.3Automatic transfer logic7.4In-flight centre of gravity calculation7.5CG limits and their protection7.6Transfer failures and procedures7.7Fuel savings from an aft CG7.8Interface with the flight control system7.9Certification of the transfer function7.10Practical exercise: transfer algorithm for a long-haul aircraft
8.1Ignition sources in tanks8.2SFAR 88 requirements8.3Lightning protection of composite tanks8.4Electrostatic discharge during refuelling8.5Pumps with overheat protection8.6Ignition failure mode analysis8.7Impact resistance and crashworthiness8.8Leak containment and drainage zones8.9Critical design configuration control limitations (CDCCL)8.10Case study: ignition analysis of a submerged pump
9.11D modelling of hydraulic networks9.2Simulation of pressure transients9.3Coupled thermal modelling9.4Simulation of attitude and fuel movement9.5Tank sloshing models9.6Co-simulation with engine systems9.7Validation with test data9.8Architecture optimisation9.9Digital twins for maintenance9.10Lab: 1D fuel system model in Amesim
10.1Fuel system test rigs10.2Attitude testing on a tilting platform10.3Aircraft ground testing10.4Flight testing of feed and transfer10.5In-flight inerting tests10.6Instrumentation and data acquisition10.7Correlation of models with tests10.8CS-25 compliance matrix10.9Certification documentation10.10Practical exercise: test plan for an inerting system
11.1Cryogenic liquid hydrogen storage11.2Integral and non-integral hydrogen tanks11.3Boil-off and its management11.4Hydrogen distribution and conditioning11.5Thermal management of propulsion batteries11.6Fuel cell cooling11.7Safety of hydrogen systems11.8Sustainable fuels and their effect on seals11.9Certification challenges for new energies11.10Case study: sizing a cryogenic tank for a regional aircraft
12.1Definition of the aircraft and mission12.2Fuel system requirements12.3Architecture and redundancies12.4Sizing of pumps and lines12.5Thermal management strategy12.6Flammability and safety analysis12.7System simulation12.8Verification and certification plan12.9Master's Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within the intake, so it fits alongside your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Simcenter Amesim, MATLAB/Simulink, ANSYS Fluent, Flowmaster and Dymola, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practice is based on real procedures for fuel system simulation, tank flammability analysis and thermal testing of heat exchangers. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: CS-25.981 Fuel tank ignition prevention (EASA), 14 CFR §25.981 (FAA), 14 CFR Part 26 Subpart D, SFAR 88, ASTM D1655, Def Stan 91-091, CS-25.951 to 25.1001, SAE AIR1408.
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 Amesim, MATLAB/Simulink, ANSYS Fluent, Flowmaster and Dymola, 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 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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