Master’s in Submarine Propulsion (Diesel-Electric/AIP) and On-Board Energy Engineering
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in submarine propulsion (diesel-electric/AIP) and on-board energy engineering, structured in 12 modules covering diesel generation, submarine batteries, AIP fuel cells and other AIP technologies, electric propulsion, DC distribution, energy management, safety and qualification, with an assigned technical tutor.
Master’s in Submarine Propulsion (Diesel-Electric/AIP) and On-Board Energy Engineering — studying from Ireland
Ireland maintains a small defence force, the Defence Forces, which operates its own engineering corps and equipment maintenance capabilities. Defence procurement and development are handled through the Department of Defence, while much of the wider defence-related industrial activity involves dual-use technologies, electronics and communications systems supplied by domestic and international firms. Engineers in this area typically work on land vehicle maintenance, military communications, protective equipment and systems integration. Policy and procurement are governed by national and European frameworks, including EU defence initiatives.
Fees for Ireland: €9,930 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Ireland
Typical roles
Questions from Ireland
Which Irish bodies oversee defence engineering and does a private qualification count?
Defence in Ireland is overseen by the Department of Defence, and the Defence Forces run their own training and technical structures. Engineers Ireland sets general professional engineering standards. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not state-awarded, and they are not accredited by any national body, so recognition for any defence-related role is decided by the relevant authority or employer.
Do Irish defence and land-systems employers hire people with private online qualifications?
Irish defence-related hiring is limited and often subject to security vetting and specific qualification requirements, so employers set their own criteria. A private online qualification may be taken into account alongside experience, but we cannot say how any employer will view it or guarantee any result. Check requirements for particular roles directly.
Can I study this from Ireland while working, and what is the workload?
Yes, the programme is 100% online and taught in English, so you can study from home without travel or a student visa. Master's programmes total 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 and specialist courses 300. Each student has an assigned technical tutor, fees can be paid in instalments, and employer sponsorship may be possible. Plan your weekly hours realistically around your job.
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
Analyse the energy requirements of conventional submarines.
Size diesel-electric systems and batteries.
Evaluate AIP technologies and fuel cells.
Design electric propulsion and on-board electrical distribution.
Develop energy management strategies.
Analyse hydrogen, oxygen and battery hazards.
Plan testing and manage the energy system life cycle.
Who it's for
- Marine propulsion engineers working on submarine or naval platforms.
- On-board energy systems engineers designing generation and storage.
- Fuel cell engineers interested in AIP applications.
- Battery engineers working on large lithium-ion or lead-acid systems.
- Process safety engineers dealing with hydrogen, oxygen and explosive atmospheres.
- Naval power electronics engineers working on converters and DC networks.
- Engineering or science graduates aiming to enter the shipbuilding industry.
What you'll work with
- IEC 62282 (fuel cell technologies)
- ISO/TR 15916 (basic considerations for the safety of hydrogen systems)
- IEC 60092 (electrical installations in ships)
- Directive 2014/34/EU (ATEX) (equipment for potentially explosive atmospheres)
- ANEP-77 (NATO Naval Ship Code)
- MIL-DTL-901E (shock tests for shipboard equipment)
- IEC 61508 (functional safety of electrical, electronic and programmable systems)
- MATLAB/Simulink
- PLECS
- Aspen HYSYS
- DIgSILENT PowerFactory
- Ansys Fluent
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1Energy requirements of the submarine1.2Classic diesel-electric propulsion1.3Charge and discharge cycle1.4Submerged endurance limitations1.5Air-independent propulsion (AIP) systems1.6Comparison of technologies1.7Programmes in open sources1.8Legal and ethical framework1.9On-board energy safety1.10Case study: energy balance of a typical patrol
2.1Submarine diesel engines2.2Snorkel operation2.3Exhaust back-pressure2.4Synchronous generators2.5Rectification and control2.6Acoustic isolation of generators2.7Engine maintenance2.8Fuels2.9Emissions2.10Lab: load curve of a diesel-generator set
3.1Lead-acid batteries3.2Lithium-ion batteries for submarines3.3Battery management3.4Ventilation and hydrogen management3.5Thermal safety3.6Capacity and discharge rate3.7Service life and maintenance3.8Safety testing3.9Applicable regulations3.10Practical exercise: battery sizing for a mission profile
4.1Proton exchange membrane fuel cells4.2Hydrogen storage in metal hydrides4.3Methanol or diesel reforming4.4Liquid oxygen storage4.5Water and CO2 management4.6Efficiency and power4.7Integration into an AIP section4.8On-board hydrogen safety4.9Published operational experience4.10Case study: sizing of a fuel cell AIP section
5.1Stirling engines5.2Closed-cycle turbines5.3Closed Rankine cycle (MESMA)5.4Performance comparison5.5Acoustic signature of each technology5.6Reactant logistics5.7Technology readiness5.8Future trends5.9Multi-criteria evaluation5.10Lab: multi-criteria comparison of AIP technologies
6.1Electric propulsion motors6.2Permanent magnet motors6.3Power converters6.4Speed control6.5Low-speed efficiency6.6Electromagnetic and mechanical noise6.7Cooling6.8Reliability and redundancy6.9Motor testing6.10Practical exercise: simulation of propulsion motor control
7.1Electrical network architecture7.2DC busbars7.3Protection and selectivity7.4Critical loads7.5Power quality7.6Redundancy and reconfiguration7.7Electromagnetic compatibility7.8Cabling and penetrations7.9Electrical safety7.10Case study: short-circuit study of a DC network
8.1Energy management systems8.2Battery and AIP usage strategies8.3Endurance optimisation8.4Platform automation8.5Control interfaces8.6Health monitoring8.7Control software and its safety8.8Platform cybersecurity8.9Energy mission simulation8.10Lab: endurance optimisation with dynamic programming
9.1Hydrogen and oxygen hazards9.2Explosive atmospheres9.3Battery fire prevention9.4HAZOP analysis of energy systems9.5Functional safety9.6CO2 and atmosphere management9.7Emergency procedures9.8Safety during maintenance9.9Lessons from incidents9.10Workshop: HAZOP of a liquid oxygen system
10.1Land-based testing of AIP sections10.2Battery test benches10.3Motor and converter testing10.4Integration tests10.5Sea trials10.6Machinery noise measurement10.7Shock testing10.8Equipment qualification10.9Safety documentation10.10Practical exercise: test plan for an AIP section
11.1Maintenance of energy systems11.2Battery replacement11.3Hydrogen and oxygen logistics11.4Life-cycle cost11.5Sustainability and emissions11.6Technology transfer to the civil sector11.7Export controls11.8International law11.9Professional ethics11.10Case study: life cycle assessment of lithium batteries
12.1Energy mission profile12.2Technology selection12.3Battery and AIP sizing12.4Electrical architecture12.5Energy management strategy12.6Safety analysis12.7Test plan12.8Conclusions12.9Master's Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
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 can be combined with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is MATLAB/Simulink, PLECS, Aspen HYSYS, DIgSILENT PowerFactory and Ansys Fluent, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures for sizing batteries and AIP sections, simulating DC electrical networks and HAZOP analysis of energy systems. Assessment is continuous per module plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: IEC 62282, ISO/TR 15916, IEC 60092, Directive 2014/34/EU (ATEX), ANEP-77, MIL-DTL-901E, IEC 61508.
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, PLECS, Aspen HYSYS, DIgSILENT PowerFactory and Ansys Fluent, 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 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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