Course on IEEE Standards in SDR (Software Defined Radio)
300-hour online course on IEEE standards in SDR (software defined radio). 6 modules covering IEEE 1900.1 (software defined radio terminology and spectrum management), IEEE 802.22 (regional networks in white spaces) and GNU Radio. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Course on IEEE Standards in SDR (Software Defined Radio) — studying from Malta
Malta's defence sector is comparatively small, reflecting the country's neutrality and modest armed forces. Activity centres on the Armed Forces of Malta, maritime surveillance, border security and the associated technical support. Engineering roles are mostly found in equipment maintenance, communications, infrastructure and government procurement rather than large-scale defence manufacturing. Professionals may find opportunities through public service and contractors supplying the armed forces and related agencies, where reliability and compliance with national procurement rules are important.
Fees for Malta: €448 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Malta
Typical roles
Questions from Malta
Which bodies regulate defence and military engineering work in Malta?
Malta's Armed Forces and the Ministry responsible for defence oversee military engineering and procurement. General engineering practice is regulated by the Chamber of Engineers (KSU) under the Engineering Profession Act. Export and dual-use controls follow EU and national rules. A SEIUM qualification is private and not accredited, so any recognition depends on employers or the relevant authority.
What career paths exist in Malta for land systems and defence engineering?
Opportunities in Malta are limited and mostly within government, the Armed Forces and their suppliers, with more substantial defence industry work typically found abroad. Many roles require security clearance and specific experience. A private qualification can support your profile, but you should expect employers to focus on experience and clearance eligibility.
How do I study this from Malta, and what should I consider about workload and funding?
The programme is delivered fully online in English, with an assigned technical tutor and a final project. You do not need a visa to study from home in Malta. Durations range from 300 to 1,900 hours, so plan time alongside any work commitments. Ask about instalment payments and whether employer sponsorship is available.
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
Explain the architecture of a software defined radio.
Apply digital signal processing techniques to modulation and demodulation.
Interpret IEEE standards on cognitive radio and spectrum management.
Implement a simple waveform on an SDR platform.
Analyse the regulatory requirements for spectrum use.
Plan integration and coexistence tests.
Develop a software defined radio project.
Who it's for
- Radio frequency engineer who wants to specialise in IEEE Standards in SDR (software defined radio).
- Digital signal processing engineer who wants to specialise in IEEE Standards in SDR (software defined radio).
- Waveform developer who wants to specialise in IEEE Standards in SDR (software defined radio).
- Spectrum management engineer who wants to specialise in IEEE Standards in SDR (software defined radio).
- Communications test engineer who wants to specialise in IEEE Standards in SDR (software defined radio).
- Telecommunications systems engineer who wants to specialise in IEEE Standards in SDR (software defined radio).
- Graduates in engineering or sciences seeking to enter telecommunications.
What you'll work with
- IEEE 1900.1 (software defined radio terminology and spectrum management)
- IEEE 802.22 (regional networks in white spaces)
- IEEE 1900.5 (policy interface for cognitive radio)
- ITU Radio Regulations
- Directive 2014/53/EU (radio equipment)
- ETSI EN 300 328 (equipment in the 2.4 GHz band)
- SCA 4.1 (Software Communications Architecture)
6 modules · 300 h
1.1What SDR is and what stops being solved in hardware1.2Reception chain: antenna, radio frequency, conversion and baseband1.3Sampling, the Nyquist theorem and undersampling1.4Analogue-to-digital conversion: resolution, dynamic range and jitter1.5Architectures: superheterodyne, direct conversion and direct sampling1.6Processing on FPGA, DSP and general-purpose processor1.7Latency and determinism along the signal chain1.8Common platforms and their real limits1.9Metrics that matter: noise figure, intercept point and selectivity1.10Exercise: sizing the reception chain for a given requirement
2.1Digital filtering: FIR, IIR and design with judgement2.2Decimation, interpolation and sample-rate conversion2.3Digital modulations and their reading on the constellation diagram2.4Carrier and symbol synchronisation2.5Equalisation and multipath channels2.6Channel coding and error correction2.7OFDM and multicarrier systems2.8Spectral estimation and signal detection2.9Quality measurement: EVM, bit error rate and signal-to-noise ratio2.10Practice: implement a complete digital receiver
3.1The role of IEEE in radio standardisation3.2IEEE 802.11 and its physical layers3.3IEEE 802.15.4 and low-power networks3.4IEEE 802.22 and cognitive radio3.5The IEEE 1900 family and dynamic spectrum management3.6Interfaces and component models in software radio3.7Waveform portability across platforms3.8Open environments and development tools3.9Documentation and traceability of a waveform3.10Practice: port a waveform to another platform
4.1Spectrum allocation and regulatory bodies4.2Licensed, licence-exempt and shared bands4.3Dynamic spectrum access and availability databases4.4Cognitive radio: environment sensing and decision-making4.5Interference, coexistence and mitigation4.6Emission limits and spectrum masks4.7Equipment certification and required testing4.8Electromagnetic compatibility in SDR equipment4.9Operator responsibility and lawful use of spectrum4.10Practice: coexistence study in a shared band
5.1Test bench design and required measurement equipment5.2Closed-loop testing and channel simulation5.3Validation of the waveform against the standard5.4Field testing and repeatability of results5.5Configuration management and waveform versions5.6Remote updating and firmware security5.7Power consumption, dissipation and platform constraints5.8Test documentation and acceptance criteria5.9Hardware maintenance and obsolescence5.10Practice: validation plan for a complete link
6.1Definition of the link and its requirements6.2Choice of architecture and platform6.3Waveform design6.4Link budget and available margin6.5Implementation and simulation6.6Test plan and analysis of results6.7Regulatory and spectrum compliance6.8Cost and feasibility analysis6.9Technical report6.10Project defence
How you'll learn
Training 100 % online on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it possible to combine the course with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is GNU Radio, MATLAB (Communications Toolbox), USRP Hardware Driver (UHD), Python (NumPy), in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied using real laboratory procedures with USRP platforms, measurements with a spectrum analyser, and coexistence tests in a shared band. Assessment is continuous per module plus the final integrative project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Explain the architecture of a software defined radio.
Apply digital signal processing techniques to modulation and demodulation.
Interpret IEEE standards on cognitive radio and spectrum management.
Implement a simple waveform on an SDR platform.
Analyse the regulatory requirements for spectrum use.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior degree is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient Spanish to follow technical standards reading.
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 is 300 hours in total, spread over 3 to 5 months. That is between 10 and 15 hours a week on average, compatible with full-time work.
The course uses GNU Radio, MATLAB (Communications Toolbox), USRP Hardware Driver (UHD), Python (NumPy). Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM own diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrative project. It is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the advanced programme. Check the recognition policy when enrolling.
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