AR/VR course for UAM operation
Online course of 300 hours in AR/VR for UAM operations: 6 modules covering immersive technologies, VR pilot training, augmented reality in operations, maintenance and ground operations, and certification and human factors, with an assigned technical tutor.
AR/VR course for UAM operation — 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 virtual, augmented and mixed reality technologies.
Design pilot training scenarios using virtual reality.
Apply augmented reality to support operations.
Develop immersive solutions for maintenance and vertiports.
Assess cognitive workload and headset ergonomics.
Understand the qualification requirements for training devices.
Prototype an immersive application for UAM.
Who it's for
- Virtual reality developers moving into urban air mobility.
- Flight simulation engineers working on next-generation training devices.
- Flight instructors who want to bring VR and AR into pilot training.
- Immersive experience designers looking for aviation applications.
- Human factors engineers assessing cockpit and headset interfaces.
- Maintenance technical trainers adopting augmented reality work instructions.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter aviation simulation and training.
What you'll work with
- CS-FSTD(H) (EASA) (helicopter flight simulation training devices)
- CS-FSTD(A) (EASA) (aeroplane flight simulation training devices)
- Regulation (EU) 1178/2011 (aircrew licensing and training)
- ICAO Doc 9625 (criteria for qualification of flight simulation training devices)
- ARINC 610 (guidance for use of aircraft equipment in simulators)
- ISO 9241-210 (human-centred design of interactive systems)
- CS 25.1302 (EASA) (installed systems and equipment for use by the flight crew)
- Unity
- Unreal Engine
- X-Plane
- Varjo Base
- Microsoft Mesh
6 modules
1.1Virtual, augmented and mixed reality1.2Varjo, Meta Quest and HoloLens headsets1.3Head and hand tracking1.4Latency and simulator sickness1.5Field of view and resolution1.6Unity and Unreal game engines1.7Urban digital twins1.8State of the art in aviation1.9Graphics computing requirements1.10Practical exercise: comparison of headsets for training
2.1VR-based simulators2.2The first VR FSTD approved by EASA2.3Procedures training2.4Emergency training2.5Transfer of training2.6Performance assessment2.7Integration into CBTA programmes2.8Limitations of virtual reality2.9Photorealistic urban scenarios2.10Workshop: training scenario in Unity
3.1Synthetic vision in the cockpit3.2Overlay of routes and corridors3.3Traffic and obstacle information3.4Head-mounted displays for pilots3.5Support for vertiport operations3.6Remote fleet supervision3.7Cognitive workload with augmented reality3.8Symbology design3.9Integration with navigation systems3.10Lab: AR overlay prototype of a corridor
4.1Augmented reality work instructions4.2Remote expert assistance4.3Technician training4.4Guided battery inspection4.5Passenger handling at the vertiport4.6Vertiport planning in virtual reality4.7Digital twin of facilities4.8Return on investment4.9Vertiport staff training4.10Case study: AR guide for replacing a module
5.1FSTD qualification under CS-FSTD(H)5.2Visual and motion fidelity5.3Device validation5.4Headset ergonomics5.5Data security5.6User evaluation5.7Presence metrics5.8Acceptance by the authority5.9Accessibility of immersive applications5.10Practical exercise: validation protocol for a VR trainer
6.1Definition of the use case6.2User requirements6.3Hardware and engine selection6.4Experience design6.5Development of the functional prototype6.6Evaluation of the prototype with users6.7Deployment plan6.8Cost-benefit analysis6.9Report 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 each intake, so you can combine the programme with your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Unity, Unreal Engine, X-Plane, Varjo Base and Microsoft Mesh, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Exercises are based on real procedures for developing immersive training scenarios, prototyping augmented reality interfaces and assessing transfer of training. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final project.
Standards covered: CS-FSTD(H) (EASA), CS-FSTD(A) (EASA), Regulation (EU) 1178/2011, ICAO Doc 9625, ARINC 610, ISO 9241-210, CS 25.1302 (EASA).
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's 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 Unity, Unreal Engine, X-Plane, Varjo Base and Microsoft Mesh, 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 a computer able to run the programme's 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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