Diploma in Payloads and Energy for HAPS
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in payloads and power for HAPS: 8 modules covering payload requirements, communications and observation payloads, solar photovoltaic generation, energy storage, electrical power architecture, and integration and testing, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in Payloads and Energy for HAPS — studying from Ireland
Ireland's aerospace sector is concentrated in Shannon, Limerick and the Dublin region, with a strong base of maintenance, repair and overhaul, avionics, aerostructures and engine component manufacturing. Multinational suppliers and specialist SMEs serve global airframe and engine programmes, while the Irish Aviation Authority and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency shape certification and airworthiness requirements. Growing interest in drones, urban air mobility and space-related research is supported by university spin-outs and national research centres. Engineers here work on design assurance, systems integration, maintenance planning and compliance across the aviation value chain.
Fees for Ireland: €1,790 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Ireland
Typical roles
Questions from Ireland
Will a SEIUM qualification be recognised by professional bodies in Ireland for aerospace work?
SEIUM's qualifications are private, not state-awarded, and are not accredited by any national body. Engineers Ireland is the main professional body for engineers in Ireland and sets its own membership criteria, so recognition is decided by them, not by SEIUM. Aviation safety oversight sits with the Irish Aviation Authority. Check directly with these bodies before relying on any credential for licensing or chartership.
Do Irish aerospace and drone employers value private online engineering qualifications?
Hiring in Ireland's aerospace and drone sector is generally driven by demonstrable skills, relevant experience and, for many roles, recognised degrees. A private qualification may support a CV, particularly alongside practical experience, but its weight is decided by each employer. We cannot promise any outcome. Speaking to prospective employers about how they view SEIUM's programmes is the most reliable way to judge.
Can I study this programme alongside a full-time job in Ireland?
The programme is 100% online and taught in English, so there is no travel and no student visa is needed to study from home. Master's programmes total 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours, so plan your weekly time accordingly. You will have an assigned technical tutor, and fees can be paid in instalments. Some employers offer funding, which you should ask about directly.
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 requirements and interfaces for HAPS payloads.
Design communications payloads and their link budget.
Select observation sensors for stratospheric operation.
Model photovoltaic generation in high-altitude conditions.
Size storage systems for the night-time cycle.
Design the platform's electrical power architecture.
Plan payload integration and verification.
Who it's for
- Payload engineers working on high-altitude platforms.
- Power systems engineers.
- Integration and test engineers.
- Radio-frequency engineers.
- Mission energy analysts.
- Battery engineers.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter the aerospace sector.
What you'll work with
- ECSS-E-ST-20C (space engineering: electrical and electronic)
- RTCA DO-160G (environmental conditions and test procedures for airborne equipment)
- UN Manual of Tests and Criteria, section 38.3 (transport testing of lithium batteries)
- IEC 62133-2 (safety of portable lithium cells and batteries)
- IEC 61215 (design qualification of photovoltaic modules)
- RTCA DO-311A (minimum performance standards for rechargeable lithium batteries)
- ITU Radio Regulations (international use of the radio spectrum)
- ECSS-E-ST-10-03C (space engineering: testing)
- MATLAB/Simulink
- LTspice
- STK
- PVsyst
- Python
8 modules
1.1Mass, power and volume budgets1.2Thermal and pressure environment1.3Mechanical and electrical interfaces1.4Duty cycle and consumption profiles1.5Mission quality of service1.6Pointing and stability requirements1.7Electromagnetic compatibility1.8Reliability and redundancy1.9Interface control document1.10Workshop: specifying a payload
2.1HAPS as an HIBS base station2.2Multibeam antennas and phased arrays2.3Frequency bands identified for HAPS2.4Optical and RF backhaul links2.5Coverage and cell footprint2.6Interference and coordination2.7Integration into 5G NTN networks2.8Link budget2.9Thermal management of amplifiers2.10Practical: link budget for a HAPS
3.1High-resolution electro-optical cameras3.2Thermal infrared sensors3.3Lightweight synthetic aperture radar3.4Atmospheric and gas sensors3.5Stabilisation and gimbals3.6On-board processing and compression3.7Achievable resolution from 20 km3.8In-flight calibration3.9Data management and downlink3.10Case study: environmental monitoring payload
4.1Irradiance in the stratosphere4.2Silicon, III-V and thin-film cells4.3Efficiency as a function of temperature and the AM0 spectrum4.4Integrating cells on curved wings4.5Maximum power point tracking4.6Degradation and shading4.7Module testing4.8Seasonal energy balance4.9Specific power in W/kg4.10Lab: modelling a solar generator
5.1High specific energy lithium-ion batteries5.2Lithium-sulphur and solid-state5.3Regenerative fuel cells5.4Battery thermal management at low temperature5.5Battery management systems (BMS)5.6Thermal propagation and safety5.7UN 38.3 transport tests5.8Ageing and cycle life5.9Sizing for the night5.10Practical: battery sizing for a daily cycle
6.1High- and low-voltage buses6.2DC/DC converters6.3Distribution and protection6.4Corona effect and Paschen's law6.5Lightweight harnesses and wiring6.6Load prioritisation and shedding6.7Redundancy and fault tolerance6.8Power telemetry6.9Electrical system simulation6.10Lab: simulation of a power bus
7.1Physical integration of payloads7.2Thermal vacuum chamber tests7.3Low-pressure tests7.4EMC according to DO-1607.5Vibration and shock7.6Functional verification7.7Test flight campaigns7.8Configuration management7.9Lessons from HAPS programmes7.10Case study: test plan for a payload
8.1Mission definition8.2Payload selection8.3Energy balance8.4Electrical architecture8.5Preliminary thermal analysis8.6Verification plan8.7Technical risks8.8Conclusions8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
Training 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 the programme fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standards and applied exercises. The working software is MATLAB/Simulink, LTspice, STK, PVsyst and Python, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Real procedures are studied: modelling photovoltaic generators in stratospheric conditions, sizing batteries for day-night cycles and planning environmental tests for payloads. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: ECSS-E-ST-20C, RTCA DO-160G, UN Manual of Tests and Criteria, section 38.3, IEC 62133-2, IEC 61215, RTCA DO-311A, ITU Radio Regulations, 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 MATLAB/Simulink, LTspice, STK, PVsyst 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 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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