Apply now
Master'sElectromobility, Batteries & Hydrogen Applications open

Master’s in Battery Thermal Management and Safety Engineering

Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in battery thermal management and safety engineering: 12 modules covering cell thermal behaviour, cooling and heating systems, thermal simulation, thermal runaway, incident triggers, propagation and mitigation, abuse testing, stationary storage safety, fire response and fire and safety simulation, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration1900 h
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute diploma
Enrol now View syllabus Ask an advisor
Virtual lab · try it before you enrol

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.

SIM · LIVE ●
Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Analyse heat generation in cells and packs.

02

Design battery cooling and heating systems.

03

Understand the mechanisms of thermal runaway and propagation.

04

Design barriers, venting and detection for thermal incidents.

05

Carry out and interpret abuse and propagation tests.

06

Apply fire protection requirements in vehicles and energy storage.

07

Develop a thermal management and safety concept for a battery.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Battery thermal engineers designing cooling and heating for packs.
  • Battery safety engineers responsible for thermal runaway prevention and mitigation.
  • Fire protection engineers working with lithium-ion installations.
  • CFD engineers modelling thermal behaviour and gas dispersion.
  • Abuse test engineers in battery laboratories.
  • Energy storage risk consultants advising on BESS projects.
  • Engineering or science graduates aiming to join electric vehicle manufacturers.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • IEC 62619 (safety of industrial lithium batteries)
  • UL 9540A (thermal runaway fire propagation test method for BESS)
  • NFPA 855 (installation of stationary energy storage systems)
  • UN 38.3 (lithium battery transport testing)
  • GB 38031 (Chinese EV traction battery safety requirements)
  • UN ECE Regulation No. 100 (electric powertrain and REESS safety)
  • SAE J2464 (EV battery abuse testing)
  • ISO 6469-1 (EV safety, on-board rechargeable energy storage)
  • Simcenter STAR-CCM+
  • ANSYS Fluent
  • COMSOL Multiphysics
  • GT-SUITE
  • FDS (Fire Dynamics Simulator)
Syllabus

12 modules · 1900 h

  1. 1.1Irreversible and reversible heat
  2. 1.2Reaction entropy
  3. 1.3Anisotropic thermal conductivity
  4. 1.4Internal temperature gradients
  5. 1.5Temperature and performance
  6. 1.6Temperature and ageing
  7. 1.7Heat measurement by calorimetry
  8. 1.8Cell thermal models
  9. 1.9Cell thermal parameters
  10. 1.10Case study: thermal balance during fast charging
  1. 2.1Air cooling
  2. 2.2Indirect liquid cooling
  3. 2.3Immersion cooling
  4. 2.4Direct refrigerant cooling
  5. 2.5Phase change materials
  6. 2.6Heat pipes
  7. 2.7Cold plate design
  8. 2.8Integration with the vehicle circuit
  9. 2.9Comparison of solutions
  10. 2.10Practical: sizing a cooling circuit
  1. 3.1Low-temperature performance
  2. 3.2Lithium plating in cold conditions
  3. 3.3High-voltage PTC heaters
  4. 3.4Heat pumps
  5. 3.5Self-heating by current
  6. 3.6Preconditioning before charging
  7. 3.7Control strategies
  8. 3.8Energy consumption of heating
  9. 3.9Cold-climate validation
  10. 3.10Lab: preconditioning strategy
  1. 4.1CFD of cold plates
  2. 4.2Pack models
  3. 4.3Low-order reduced models
  4. 4.4Electrochemical-thermal co-simulation
  5. 4.5Simulation of driving cycles
  6. 4.6Simulation of fast charging
  7. 4.7Channel optimisation
  8. 4.8Validation against tests
  9. 4.9Model management
  10. 4.10Workshop: CFD of a cold plate
  1. 5.1Exothermic reactions in the cell
  2. 5.2SEI decomposition
  3. 5.3Electrolyte reaction
  4. 5.4Oxygen release from the cathode
  5. 5.5Critical reaction temperatures
  6. 5.6Accelerating rate calorimetry (ARC)
  7. 5.7Composition of emitted gases
  8. 5.8Influence of chemistry
  9. 5.9Influence of state of charge
  10. 5.10Practical: interpreting an ARC test
  1. 6.1Overcharge test
  2. 6.2Overdischarge test
  3. 6.3External short-circuit test
  4. 6.4Internal short circuit in cells
  5. 6.5Mechanical damage to the battery
  6. 6.6Manufacturing defects
  7. 6.7Heat exposure
  8. 6.8BMS failures
  9. 6.9Incident statistics
  10. 6.10Case study: investigation of a fire during charging
  1. 7.1Propagation mechanisms
  2. 7.2Thermal barriers between cells
  3. 7.3Cell spacing
  4. 7.4Directed gas venting
  5. 7.5Management of flammable gases
  6. 7.6Vent detection
  7. 7.7Gas sensors
  8. 7.8System response
  9. 7.9Anti-propagation pack design
  10. 7.10Lab: propagation test on a module
  1. 8.1Penetration tests
  2. 8.2Crush tests
  3. 8.3Overcharge tests
  4. 8.4System thermal tests
  5. 8.5Short-circuit tests
  6. 8.6SAE J2464 standard
  7. 8.7GB 38031 standard
  8. 8.8UN 38.3 transport tests
  9. 8.9Test instrumentation
  10. 8.10Practical: abuse test plan
  1. 9.1BESS storage systems
  2. 9.2IEC 62619 standard
  3. 9.3UL 9540A method
  4. 9.4NFPA 855 standard
  5. 9.5Gas explosions
  6. 9.6Ventilation and deflagration
  7. 9.7Extinguishing systems
  8. 9.8Safety distances
  9. 9.9Emergency plans
  10. 9.10Workshop: risk analysis of a BESS container
  1. 10.1Extinguishing battery fires
  2. 10.2Water and special agents
  3. 10.3Risk of re-ignition
  4. 10.4Fire brigade intervention
  5. 10.5Rescue sheets
  6. 10.6Vehicles in car parks
  7. 10.7Maritime transport of vehicles
  8. 10.8Handling of damaged batteries
  9. 10.9Training for emergency services
  10. 10.10Case study: intervention protocol in a car park
  1. 11.1Thermal runaway modelling
  2. 11.2Propagation modelling
  3. 11.3Gas dispersion
  4. 11.4Fire simulation with FDS
  5. 11.5Risk assessment
  6. 11.6Quantitative risk analysis
  7. 11.7Uncertainty management
  8. 11.8Validation of results
  9. 11.9Use in design
  10. 11.10Practical: gas dispersion simulation
  1. 12.1System definition
  2. 12.2System thermal analysis
  3. 12.3Cooling design
  4. 12.4Heating strategy
  5. 12.5Thermal runaway analysis
  6. 12.6Thermal runaway anti-propagation measures
  7. 12.7Test plan
  8. 12.8Response plan
  9. 12.9Master's Thesis report
  10. 12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
Methodology, software & labs

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 Simcenter STAR-CCM+, ANSYS Fluent, COMSOL Multiphysics, GT-SUITE and FDS (Fire Dynamics Simulator), in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures: CFD simulation of a cold plate during fast charging, a thermal runaway heating test with gas measurement, and propagation analysis in an energy storage system according to UL 9540A. Assessment is continuous for each module, plus the final Master's Thesis.

Standards covered: IEC 62619, UL 9540A, NFPA 855, UN 38.3, GB 38031, UN ECE Regulation No. 100, SAE J2464, ISO 6469-1.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of IEC 62619, UL 9540A and NFPA 855 applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:Simcenter STAR-CCM+, ANSYS Fluent, COMSOL Multiphysics, GT-SUITE and FDS (Fire Dynamics Simulator), in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Master's Thesis with defence:a thermal management and safety concept for a battery system, defended before a panel.
Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Analyse system thermal behaviour
Define the battery system and analyse its heat generation and thermal balance.
Design cooling and heating
Size the cooling circuit and define the heating and preconditioning strategy.
Assess thermal runaway
Analyse thermal runaway and specify anti-propagation measures for the pack.
Plan tests and response
Draw up the abuse test plan and the emergency response plan.
Master's Thesis
A thermal management and safety concept for a battery system, defended before a panel.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Battery thermal engineerBattery safety engineerFire protection engineerCFD engineerAbuse test engineerEnergy storage risk consultant
Admissions & scholarships

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.

Apply now Scholarships
FAQ

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+, ANSYS Fluent, COMSOL Multiphysics, GT-SUITE and FDS (Fire Dynamics Simulator), 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.

Keep exploring

Related programmes

See all in Electromobility, Batteries & Hydrogen
Master's7,730 $

Master’s in High-Voltage Safety Engineering — Procedures, Protections and Training

Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in high-voltage safety engineering: procedures, protection and training. 12 modules covering high-voltage risks, vehicle safety architecture, electrical protection, regulation, safe…

1900 hOnlineElectromobility, Batteries & Hydrogen
Master's6,610 $

Master’s in Advanced BMS and Diagnostics/Prognostics (SoX)

Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in advanced BMS and diagnostics/prognostics (SoX) — SoC/SoH/SoF estimation, algorithms and data. 12 modules covering BMS architecture, cell modelling, SoC,…

12–14 monthsOnlineElectromobility, Batteries & Hydrogen
Master's8,850 $

Master’s in Hydrogen for Mobility Engineering

Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in hydrogen engineering for mobility: 12 modules covering hydrogen as an energy carrier, vehicle fuel cells, hydrogen combustion engines, on-board…

1900 hOnlineElectromobility, Batteries & Hydrogen
Master’s in Battery Thermal Management and Safety EngineeringEnrol
Related programmes

More in Electromobility, Batteries & Hydrogen

Master’s in Hybrid Architectures Engineering — Energy Control and CalibrationView programme →Master’s in Battery Thermal Management and SafetyView programme →Master’s in Rail e-Mobility & Hybrids Engineering — BEMUs, Last Mile, Current Collection and StorageView programme →Master’s in Infrastructure, Grid and Operations EngineeringView programme →Master’s in E-Mobility Hubs with Renewables and Storage Engineering — PV+BESS+EV, Design and OperationView programme →Master’s in H₂ Refuelling Infrastructure Engineering — Compression, Cooling, Dispensing and ComplianceView programme →

All Electromobility, Batteries & Hydrogen programmes → · How to apply · Fees & financing · Scholarships

Scroll to Top
SEIUM – Institute of Advanced Engineering
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.