AIT satellite course
Online course of 300 hours in satellite AIT (assembly, integration and testing). 6 modules covering the AIT cycle in space programmes, facilities and controlled environments, mechanical and electrical integration, functional and environmental test campaigns, and the launch campaign under ECSS-E-ST-10-03C, ECSS-E-ST-10-02C and ECSS-Q-ST-70-01C, with an assigned technical tutor.
AIT satellite course — studying from Malta
Malta's aerospace activity is concentrated around Malta International Airport at Luqa, where aircraft maintenance, cabin interiors and aviation services form a significant part of the local economy. The island's aviation sector is supported by a long-established regulatory framework and a growing interest in drone operations and advanced air mobility. Engineers here commonly find work with aircraft maintenance organisations, aviation services providers and companies engaged in unmanned systems testing. Expertise in airworthiness, systems integration and regulatory compliance is particularly valued by employers operating within this niche but internationally connected market.
Fees for Malta: €546 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Malta
Typical roles
Questions from Malta
Which professional bodies in Malta recognise engineers working in aerospace, UAM, drones and space, and how does that affect my title?
Malta's Chamber of Engineers (KSU) regulates the use of the title 'engineer' under the Engineering Profession Act. Aviation safety is overseen by the Malta Competition and Consumers Affairs Authority's aviation counterpart, Transport Malta's Civil Aviation Directorate, which licenses operators and certain technical staff. A private SEIUM qualification does not itself grant a regulated title; recognition depends on the employer or the relevant body.
Which employers in Malta might hire someone with an aerospace or drone engineering background?
Malta has an aviation sector centred on Malta International Airport, aircraft maintenance and MRO activity, and a growing drone and space-related presence at the University of Malta and in private firms. Employers vary in their hiring criteria. A private qualification can support a application, but employers will weigh it against experience and any formal credentials they require.
Can I realistically study this 1,900-hour programme while working full time in Malta, and do I need a visa?
Programmes are fully online and taught in English, so you can study from home in Malta or elsewhere without a student visa. Each student gets an assigned technical tutor. Workload should be planned around your job; 1,900 hours is substantial, so most working professionals spread it over a long period. Ask about employer sponsorship and instalment fee options before enrolling.
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
Understand the AIT cycle within the space project.
Define model philosophies and verification strategies.
Plan facilities and contamination control.
Prepare mechanical and electrical integration procedures.
Organise environmental and functional test campaigns.
Prepare the satellite launch campaign.
Design a complete AIT plan for a mission.
Who it's for
- AIT engineers working on satellite platforms and payloads.
- Space verification engineers building verification matrices and test plans.
- Satellite integration technicians handling mechanical and electrical integration.
- Cleanroom managers responsible for contamination and ESD control.
- Test engineers running vibration, thermal vacuum and EMC campaigns.
- Launch campaign leads coordinating with spaceports and operators.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter the space industry.
What you'll work with
- ECSS-E-ST-10-03C (space engineering, testing)
- ECSS-E-ST-10-02C (space engineering, verification)
- ECSS-Q-ST-70-01C (cleanliness and contamination control)
- ECSS-M-ST-10C (project planning and implementation)
- ISO 14644-1:2015 (cleanrooms, classification of air cleanliness by particle concentration)
- NASA-STD-7002 (payload test requirements)
- GSFC-STD-7000 (General Environmental Verification Standard (GEVS))
- ECSS-E-ST-20-07C (electromagnetic compatibility)
- IBM DOORS
- Siemens Simcenter
- Ansys Mechanical
- MATLAB
6 modules
1.1Space project phases according to ECSS-M-ST-101.2Model philosophy: STM, EM, QM and FM1.3Verification by test, analysis and inspection1.4AIT plan and verification matrix1.5TRR, PTR and QR reviews1.6Organisation of the AIT team1.7Schedule and critical path1.8Flight configuration control1.9Typical AIT risks1.10Case study: model philosophy for a microsatellite
2.1ISO 14644 cleanrooms2.2Control of molecular and particulate contamination2.3Protection against electrostatic discharge2.4MGSE supports and handling fixtures2.5EGSE equipment and simulators2.6Safety in lifting operations2.7Humidity and temperature control2.8Planning of the integration hall2.9Cleanroom records and procedures2.10Workshop: contamination control plan
3.1Platform integration sequence3.2Assembly of panels and structure3.3Installation of electrical harnesses3.4Tightening torques and fasteners3.5Optical alignment measurements3.6Mass properties and balancing3.7Continuity and insulation tests3.8Integration of propulsion and pyrotechnics3.9Non-conformities during integration3.10Practical exercise: integration procedure for a panel
4.1Functional and performance tests4.2Sine and random vibration tests4.3Shock tests4.4Acoustic tests in a reverberant chamber4.5Thermal vacuum and thermal cycling4.6Electromagnetic compatibility tests4.7Mechanism deployment tests4.8End-to-end tests with the ground station4.9Analysis of results and anomalies4.10Case study: test sequence for a satellite
5.1Transport of the satellite to the spaceport5.2Operations at the launch centre5.3Propellant loading and safety5.4Integration with the launch vehicle5.5Launch vehicle user manual requirements5.6Flight readiness reviews5.7Delivery documentation5.8Lessons learned from campaigns5.9Coordination with the operator5.10Lab: launch campaign checklist
6.1Definition of the mission and the satellite6.2Model and verification philosophy6.3Detailed integration plan6.4Environmental test plan6.5Facility requirements6.6AIT schedule and risks6.7Contamination control plan6.8Launch campaign plan6.9Report and presentation6.10Final 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 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 IBM DOORS, Siemens Simcenter, Ansys Mechanical and MATLAB, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures: planning test campaigns, drafting integration procedures and analysing environmental test results. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final project.
Standards covered: ECSS-E-ST-10-03C, ECSS-E-ST-10-02C, ECSS-Q-ST-70-01C, ECSS-M-ST-10C, ISO 14644-1:2015, NASA-STD-7002, GSFC-STD-7000, 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.
- An internet connection and a computer able to run 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 IBM DOORS, Siemens Simcenter, Ansys Mechanical and MATLAB, 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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