RF Space Communications Course
Online course of 300 hours in RF space communications, structured in 6 modules covering space radio-frequency links, satellite antennas, communications payloads, modulation and access, interference and regulation, and a final project, with an assigned technical tutor.
RF Space Communications Course — 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: €546 (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
Calculate link budgets taking propagation effects into account.
Design antennas for satellites and ground stations.
Analyse the architecture of communications payloads.
Select modulation and multiple access schemes.
Assess interference and coordination requirements.
Apply spectrum regulation to satellite systems.
Design an RF communications system for a mission.
Who it's for
- RF engineers moving into space systems.
- Satellite communications engineers.
- Antenna engineers.
- Payload engineers working on telecom satellites.
- Spectrum management specialists.
- Telecommunication systems engineers.
- Engineering or science graduates aiming to enter telecommunications.
What you'll work with
- ITU Radio Regulations (international regulation of radio spectrum use)
- Recommendation ITU-R P.618 (propagation data and prediction methods for Earth-space links)
- Recommendation ITU-R P.676 (attenuation by atmospheric gases)
- ETSI EN 302 307 (DVB-S2) (second-generation digital video broadcasting via satellite)
- CCSDS 401.0-B (radio frequency and modulation systems for space links)
- ECSS-E-ST-50-05C (radio frequency and modulation)
- ECSS-E-ST-20-07C (electromagnetic compatibility)
- MATLAB Satellite Communications Toolbox
- Keysight ADS
- Ansys HFSS
- GNU Radio
- Ansys STK
6 modules
1.1Frequency bands and allocations1.2Free-space propagation1.3Atmospheric and rain attenuation1.4Ionospheric effects1.5Polarisation1.6Thermal noise and antenna temperature1.7Link budget equation1.8EIRP and G/T1.9Link availability calculation1.10Workshop: Ka-band link budget
2.1Horn and reflector antennas2.2Planar and phased arrays2.3Multibeam antennas2.4Radiation patterns2.5Deployable antennas2.6Ground station antennas2.7Tracking and pointing2.8Antenna measurement2.9Flat-panel antennas for mobile terminals2.10Practical exercise: design of a parabolic reflector
3.1Transparent transponders3.2Regenerative payloads3.3TWTA and SSPA amplifiers3.4Multiplexers and filters3.5High-throughput (HTS) payloads3.6Software-defined payloads3.7Linearity and intermodulation3.8Amplifier redundancy3.9Power management and phase noise3.10Lab: intermodulation analysis of an amplifier
4.1QPSK, 8PSK and APSK modulation4.2DVB-S2 and DVB-S2X4.3Adaptive coding and modulation4.4FDMA, TDMA and CDMA multiple access4.5Narrowband IoT communications4.6Inter-satellite links4.75G non-terrestrial network integration4.8Link security4.9Radio resource management4.10Case study: spectral efficiency comparison with DVB-S2
5.1Frequency coordination5.2Interference between GEO and NGSO systems5.3Power flux density limits5.4Licensing5.5Interference mitigation5.6Spectrum monitoring measurements5.7Compatibility tests5.8Spectrum management5.9Coordination of non-geostationary orbits5.10Case study: interference analysis between two systems
6.1Service requirements6.2Band selection6.3Antenna design6.4Payload design6.5Link budget6.6Modulation scheme6.7Interference analysis6.8Verification plan6.9Report and presentation6.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training 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 the 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 Satellite Communications Toolbox, Keysight ADS, Ansys HFSS, GNU Radio and Ansys STK, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: Ka-band link budget with rain attenuation, design of a reflector for a GEO satellite and interference analysis between satellite systems. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final integrating project.
Standards covered: ITU Radio Regulations, Recommendation ITU-R P.618, Recommendation ITU-R P.676, ETSI EN 302 307 (DVB-S2), CCSDS 401.0-B, ECSS-E-ST-50-05C, ECSS-E-ST-20-07C.
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
- No prior qualification is required.
- 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 300 hours over 3 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with MATLAB Satellite Communications Toolbox, Keysight ADS, Ansys HFSS, GNU Radio, Ansys STK, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute certificate, 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.
No prior qualification is required; you need an internet connection, 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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