Master’s in Thermal Management in Desert, Altitude and Extreme Cold Engineering
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in thermal management engineering for desert, altitude and extreme cold. 12 modules covering extreme climates, applied heat transfer, cooling systems, desert, altitude and arctic operation, electrified machines, cab climate control, thermal simulation, climatic testing and ISO 14269-2, with an assigned technical tutor.
Master’s in Thermal Management in Desert, Altitude and Extreme Cold Engineering — studying from Canada
Canada's off-road and heavy machinery sector serves mining, forestry, agriculture and construction, all major contributors to the national economy. Manufacturers and dealers in Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia supply equipment for resource extraction and infrastructure. Mining activity in Northern Ontario, Quebec and the territories drives demand for rugged vehicle engineering and maintenance expertise. Engineers work on hydraulics, drivetrains, machine safety and special vehicle design.
Fees for Canada: C$12,400 (Canadian dollar), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Canada
Typical roles
Questions from Canada
Is this programme recognised by professional bodies in Canada for off-road and special vehicle engineering?
SEIUM's qualifications are private, not official state degrees, and are not accredited nationally in Canada. Professional engineering titles are regulated provincially, and vehicle and equipment safety is governed by standards such as those from the CSA and rules from Transport Canada where applicable. Recognition of a private qualification is decided by employers or the relevant body.
What employers in Canada might value this qualification for special vehicles and machinery?
Employers could include mining, forestry, agricultural, construction and specialist vehicle manufacturers across Canada. Each employer decides how much weight to place on a private qualification, and practical experience is often central in these sectors. The final project can demonstrate applied capability, but it does not guarantee any role.
How can I study this while working in Canada, and how is it funded?
The programme is online and in English, so you can study from anywhere in Canada without a student visa. Choose from 300-hour specialist courses, 800-hour postgraduate diplomas or 1,900-hour master's programmes. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible, which some Canadian employers offer for job-relevant training.
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
Define climatic operating profiles.
Apply heat transfer to system design.
Design cooling packages for extreme climates.
Adapt machines to desert, altitude and extreme cold.
Manage the thermal behaviour of electrified machines.
Simulate and test thermal behaviour.
Develop thermal control strategies.
Who it's for
- Thermal management engineers.
- Engine cooling engineers.
- Cab climate control engineers.
- CFD simulation engineers.
- Climatic test engineers.
- Mining applications engineers.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter the construction machinery sector.
What you'll work with
- ISO 14269-2 (operator enclosure environment)
- IEC 60068-2-1 (cold tests)
- IEC 60068-2-2 (dry heat tests)
- SAE J1349 (engine power correction)
- UNE-EN 590 (diesel fuel)
- Regulation (EU) 2024/573 (fluorinated gases)
- MIL-STD-810H (environmental test considerations)
- Simcenter STAR-CCM+
- GT-SUITE
- Ansys Fluent
- MATLAB/Simulink
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1Climatic classification of operation1.2Extreme design temperatures1.3Solar radiation and thermal load1.4Humidity and condensation1.5Altitude and atmospheric pressure1.6Airborne dust1.7Climatic mission profile1.8Environmental condition standards1.9Customer requirements1.10Case study: climatic profile of a high-altitude mine
2.1Conduction in components2.2Forced convection in radiators2.3Thermal radiation between components2.4Heat exchangers2.5Effectiveness-NTU method2.6Finned surfaces and their efficiency2.7Air-side pressure losses2.8Fan curves2.9Empirical convection correlations2.10Laboratory: heat exchanger calculation
3.1Coolant radiators3.2Oil coolers3.3Charge air intercoolers3.4Fuel coolers3.5Stacked cooling packages3.6Variable-speed fans3.7System control3.8Package design3.9System testing3.10Practical exercise: design of a cooling package
4.1Ambient temperatures above 50 °C4.2Radiator clogging by dust4.3Reversible cleaning fans4.4Solar radiation on the machine4.5Cab thermal load4.6Tyres and heat4.7Fuel and vapour4.8Desert testing4.9Field experience4.10Case study: radiator clogging
5.1Air density and altitude5.2Engine power loss5.3Turbocharger response5.4Reduced cooling capacity5.5Combustion at altitude5.6Effects on operators5.7Brakes and long descents5.8Altitude testing5.9Experience in Andean mining5.10Practical exercise: altitude performance correction
6.1Engine cold start6.2Batteries at low temperatures6.3Winter and arctic diesel fuels6.4Low-viscosity oils6.5Hydraulics in the cold6.6Elastomers at low temperature6.7Preheating systems6.8Cab heating6.9Arctic operating experience6.10Laboratory: cold start in a chamber at -30 °C
7.1Batteries and temperature7.2Optimum operating range7.3Battery heating7.4Battery cooling7.5Cab heat pump7.6Power electronics cooling7.7Electric motor cooling7.8Circuit integration7.9Thermal control of electric circuits7.10Case study: battery in arctic cold
8.1Calculation of the cab thermal load8.2Climate control systems8.3Low-GWP refrigerants8.4Operator thermal comfort8.5Cab environment to ISO 142698.6Pressurisation and air exchange8.7Ventilation and fresh air renewal8.8Climate control testing8.9System design8.10Practical exercise: cab thermal load
9.1CFD of the engine bay9.21D circuit simulation9.3Hot air recirculation9.4Validation with measurements9.51D and 3D thermal co-simulation9.6Simulation tools9.7Meshing and models9.8Interpretation of results9.9Design optimisation9.10Laboratory: engine bay CFD
10.1Climatic chambers for machines10.2Thermal wind tunnels10.3Field testing10.4Thermal instrumentation with thermocouples10.5Test protocols10.6Safety in testing10.7Data management10.8Correlation with simulation10.9Test reports10.10Practical exercise: climatic test plan
11.1Fan control11.2Protective power derating11.3Overall thermal management11.4Control algorithms11.5Component protection11.6On-board thermal diagnostics11.7Fleet temperature telematics11.8Calibration of thermal strategies11.9Strategy validation11.10Case study: power derating strategy
12.1Selection of machine and climate12.2Mission profile12.3Thermal balance of the machine12.4Cooling system design12.5Control strategy12.6Simulation of the thermal system12.7Test plan12.8Cost analysis12.9Master'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 each intake, so the programme fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Simcenter STAR-CCM+, GT-SUITE, Ansys Fluent and MATLAB/Simulink, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: climatic chamber tests, desert field tests and extreme cold starting. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: ISO 14269-2, IEC 60068-2-1, IEC 60068-2-2, SAE J1349, UNE-EN 590, Regulation (EU) 2024/573, MIL-STD-810H.
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+, GT-SUITE, Ansys Fluent 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 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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