Master’s in PEM Fuel Cells for Transport Engineering — Stack, Humidification, Control and Balance of Plant
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in PEM fuel cell engineering for transport (stack, humidification, control and balance of plant): 12 modules covering PEM electrochemistry, stack materials and design, water management and humidification, balance of plant, fuel cell system control, cold start and transients, durability and degradation, hybridisation and energy management, testing and characterisation, and safety and type approval, with an assigned technical tutor.
Master’s in PEM Fuel Cells for Transport Engineering — Stack, Humidification, Control and Balance of Plant — studying from Ireland
Ireland's electromobility and energy storage sector is growing, supported by national climate and transport policy, public charging infrastructure programmes and renewable electricity generation. Research institutions and companies in Ireland work on battery systems, power electronics, hydrogen technologies and grid integration. Engineers in this area contribute to charging network design, battery management, energy storage projects and the decarbonisation of transport and industry. Policy and regulation are coordinated by government departments and the national energy regulator, alongside European rules on batteries and emissions.
Fees for Ireland: €6,920 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Ireland
Typical roles
Questions from Ireland
Which Irish bodies regulate or recognise electromobility, battery and hydrogen engineering?
Sustainable energy and related policy in Ireland involves the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland and the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. Engineers Ireland sets professional standards for engineers. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not accredited by any national body, so recognition depends on employers or the relevant body, and you should verify it before enrolling.
Do Irish employers in batteries and hydrogen value private online qualifications?
Ireland has growing interest in electrification, energy storage and hydrogen, with employers in energy, transport and manufacturing. They typically prioritise experience, technical competence and relevant degrees. A private online qualification may support an application, but how it is judged is for each employer. No career outcome can be guaranteed.
Can I combine this with a job, and does the workload suit part-time study?
The programme is fully online and taught in English, so you can study from anywhere in Ireland without travel or a student visa. Master's programmes total 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 and specialist courses 300. You will have an assigned technical tutor, fees can be paid in instalments, and employer sponsorship may be possible if your employer supports energy-transition 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
Explain the electrochemical principles of the PEM fuel cell.
Select stack materials and components.
Design humidification and water management systems.
Size the balance of plant of the fuel cell system.
Develop air, hydrogen and temperature control strategies.
Assess degradation mechanisms and their mitigation.
Carry out the complete design of a PEM system for transport.
Who it's for
- Fuel cell engineers developing stacks and systems for vehicles.
- Fuel cell system control engineers working on air, hydrogen and thermal loops.
- Electrochemical materials engineers working on membranes, catalysts and MEAs.
- Stack test engineers characterising performance and durability.
- FCEV systems integration engineers packaging fuel cells into vehicles.
- Hydrogen technology researchers in R&D centres.
- Engineering or science graduates aiming to join the automotive industry.
What you'll work with
- IEC 62282-2-100 (fuel cell modules, safety)
- ISO 14687 (hydrogen fuel quality)
- UN ECE R134 (safety of hydrogen-fuelled vehicles)
- UN ECE R100 (electric powertrain and REESS safety)
- SAE J2579 (fuel systems in fuel cell and hydrogen vehicles)
- SAE J2578 (general fuel cell vehicle safety)
- ISO 23828 (fuel cell road vehicles, energy consumption measurement)
- ISO 26262 (road vehicle functional safety)
- MATLAB/Simulink
- COMSOL Multiphysics
- ANSYS Fluent
- GT-SUITE
- AVL FIRE M
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1Thermodynamics of the hydrogen-oxygen reaction1.2Reversible potential and the Nernst equation1.3Electrode kinetics and the Butler-Volmer equation1.4Activation, ohmic and concentration losses1.5Polarisation curve and power density1.6Voltage and fuel efficiency1.7Proton transport in Nafion1.8Effect of temperature and pressure1.9Low- and high-temperature fuel cells1.10Lab: fitting a polarisation curve
2.1Perfluorosulfonic acid membranes2.2Platinum and alloy catalysts2.3Catalyst layers and ionomer2.4Gas diffusion layers2.5Metallic and graphite bipolar plates2.6Stack gaskets and sealing2.7MEA assembly and pressing2.8Reducing platinum loading2.9PGM-free materials2.10Practical: selection of MEA materials
3.1Number of cells and active area3.2Serpentine and parallel flow fields3.3Reactant distribution between cells3.4Compression and end plate design3.5Internal thermal management of the stack3.6Volumetric power density3.7Cell voltage monitoring3.8CFD modelling of channels3.9Scaling stacks for trucks3.10Workshop: flow field design
4.1Water transport in the membrane4.2Electro-osmotic drag and back-diffusion4.3Membrane flooding and drying4.4Membrane humidifiers4.5Anode recirculation and purging4.6Hydrogen ejectors and blowers4.7Self-humidified stack operation4.8Flooding detection by impedance4.9Water management at start-up4.10Lab: system water balance
5.1Air compressors and electric turbochargers5.2Intercoolers and air temperature control5.3Hydrogen supply and recirculation5.4Cooling circuit and radiators5.5Parasitic consumption of auxiliaries5.6Fuel cell DC-DC converter5.7System sensors and actuators5.8Integration into the vehicle5.9Net system efficiency5.10Practical: calculation of parasitic losses
6.1Air stoichiometric ratio control6.2Anode and cathode pressure control6.3Stack temperature control6.4Relative humidity control6.5Management of load transients6.6Predictive control of the air system6.7Internal state observers6.8FCCU software architecture6.9Coordination with the traction battery6.10Workshop: compressor control in Simulink
7.1Ice formation in the catalyst layer7.2Purge strategies at shutdown7.3Start-up from sub-zero temperatures7.4Frequent start-stop7.5Degradation from cell reversal7.6Fuel starvation during transients7.7Protection against high potentials7.8Idle and low-load operation7.9Recovery of reversible performance7.10Case study: start-up at −30 °C
8.1Chemical membrane degradation mechanisms8.2Platinum dissolution and agglomeration8.3Carbon support corrosion8.4CO and sulphide contamination8.5Accelerated load cycles8.6DOE and EU test protocols8.7Service life estimation8.8Diagnosis by impedance spectroscopy8.9Mitigation strategies in control8.10Lab: analysis of an accelerated test
9.1Fuel cell-battery architecture in FCEVs9.2Buffer battery sizing9.3Energy management to minimise degradation9.4Regenerative braking in FCEVs9.5Supercapacitors as a buffer9.6Strategies for buses and trucks9.7Optimisation with dynamic programming9.8Fuel cell ramp-rate constraints9.9Range and hydrogen consumption9.10Practical: EMS for a fuel cell bus
10.1Stack test benches10.2Single-cell testing10.3Cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical surface area10.4Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy10.5Hydrogen crossover measurement10.6Stack leak-tightness tests10.7Vibration and shock tests10.8System environmental tests10.9IEC 62282 procedures10.10Workshop: test plan for a stack
11.1UN ECE R134 requirements for fuel cell systems11.2Electrical safety under UN ECE R10011.3Hydrogen detection in the vehicle11.4Functional safety of the fuel cell system11.5Ventilation and leak management11.6Crash tests on FCEVs11.7Fuel quality requirements11.8Type-approval documentation11.9SAE J2579 and J2578 standards11.10Case study: HARA of the FCCU
12.1Vehicle and mission specification12.2Stack and balance of plant sizing12.3Complete system modelling12.4Control strategy design12.5Driving cycle simulation12.6System durability estimation12.7System cost analysis12.8Technical conclusions and future work12.9Master's Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable materials, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within the intake, so the programme can be combined with full-time work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is MATLAB/Simulink, COMSOL Multiphysics, ANSYS Fluent, GT-SUITE and AVL FIRE M, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures: stack characterisation on a test bench, accelerated durability tests, and cold start-up in a climatic chamber. Assessment is continuous for each module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: IEC 62282-2-100, ISO 14687, UN ECE R134, UN ECE R100, SAE J2579, SAE J2578, ISO 23828, ISO 26262.
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 MATLAB/Simulink, COMSOL Multiphysics, ANSYS Fluent, GT-SUITE and AVL FIRE M, 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.
Related programmes
Master’s in Battery Engineering: Design, Manufacturing and Operation
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in battery engineering: design, manufacturing and operation. 12 modules covering electrochemistry, chemistries and materials, cell formats, cell modelling, cell and…
Master’s in Hybrids & Energy Management Engineering
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in hybrid vehicle and energy management engineering: 12 modules covering hybrid vehicles and architectures, hybrid system components, modelling and simulation,…
Master’s in Field Battery Diagnostics and Data Analytics Engineering — Telemetry, Digital Twin, Predictive Maintenance
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in field battery diagnostics and data analytics engineering (telemetry, digital twin and predictive maintenance): 12 modules covering batteries in the…
More in Electromobility, Batteries & Hydrogen
All Electromobility, Batteries & Hydrogen programmes → · How to apply · Fees & financing · Scholarships