Course on international space law
Online course of 300 hours in international space law. 6 modules covering the UN space treaties, ITU spectrum and orbit coordination, national space legislation, sustainability and emerging activities, with an assigned technical tutor.
Course on international space law — 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: €797 (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
Interpret the international treaties that regulate outer space.
Analyse the liability regime for damage caused by space objects.
Understand spectrum and orbit coordination at the ITU.
Compare national space legislation and its licensing regimes.
Apply sustainability and space debris mitigation guidelines.
Assess the legal framework for emerging activities such as space mining.
Produce a complete legal analysis of a space mission.
Who it's for
- Space legal advisers looking to deepen their command of international space law.
- Space policy analysts working on treaties, regulation and governance.
- Licensing and regulatory managers at operators and agencies.
- Spectrum coordination specialists dealing with ITU filings.
- Space compliance consultants advising industry clients.
- Institutional affairs managers in the space sector.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter the space industry.
What you'll work with
- Outer Space Treaty (1967) (principles governing the activities of States in outer space)
- Liability Convention (1972) (international liability for damage caused by space objects)
- Registration Convention (1975) (registration of objects launched into outer space)
- Rescue Agreement (1968) (rescue of astronauts and return of space objects)
- Moon Agreement (1979) (activities on the Moon and other celestial bodies)
- ITU Radio Regulations (international use of radio spectrum and satellite orbits)
- IADC Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines (limiting the generation of orbital debris)
- ISO 24113:2023 (space debris mitigation requirements)
- Space-Track
- ESA DISCOS
- ITU SpaceExplorer
- ESA DRAMA
6 modules
1.1Origins of space law and COPUOS1.2The 1967 Outer Space Treaty1.3The 1968 Rescue Agreement1.4The 1972 Liability Convention1.5The 1975 Registration Convention1.6The 1979 Moon Agreement1.7UN General Assembly principles1.8Customary international law1.9Launching States and jurisdiction1.10Case study: liability in an orbital collision
2.1International Telecommunication Union2.2Radio Regulations2.3Frequency coordination and notification2.4The geostationary orbit as a limited resource2.5Satellite filings and mega-constellations2.6Resolution of harmful interference2.7ITU procedures for non-geostationary systems2.8The role of national administrations2.9Spectrum disputes2.10Workshop: coordination route for a constellation
3.1Obligation of authorisation and supervision3.2Spanish framework: Royal Decree 278/1995 on registration3.3Spanish Space Agency3.4Space laws of France and Luxembourg3.5US Commercial Space Launch Act3.6Launch insurance and guarantees3.7National registry of space objects3.8Remote sensing licences3.9Proposed EU Space Law3.10Practical exercise: comparative analysis of launch licences
4.1IADC space debris mitigation guidelines4.2Long-term sustainability guidelines4.3End-of-life disposal4.4Space traffic management4.5In-orbit servicing and active removal4.6Anti-satellite tests and the debate around them4.7Transparency and confidence-building measures4.8Peaceful and military uses of space4.9Ethics of access to space4.10Case study: disposal plan for a satellite
5.1Space mining and resource ownership5.2The Artemis Accords and their scope5.3US and Luxembourg space resources laws5.4Space tourism and crewed flights5.5Commercial space stations5.6Launch and service contracts5.7Space dispute resolution5.8Permanent Court of Arbitration arbitration5.9Future governance of space5.10Laboratory: analysis of a launch contract
6.1Selection of the space activity6.2Applicable international framework6.3National legislation and licensing6.4Spectrum coordination6.5Liability risks and insurance6.6Final legal recommendations6.7Sustainability and disposal plan6.8Analysis of potential disputes6.9Report and presentation6.10Final project: final review with your 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 each intake, making it compatible with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original legal texts and applied exercises. The working software is Space-Track, ESA DISCOS, ITU SpaceExplorer and ESA DRAMA, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures: analysis of space liability cases, comparative studies of national legislation and review of space service contracts. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final capstone project.
Standards covered: Outer Space Treaty (1967), Liability Convention (1972), Registration Convention (1975), Rescue Agreement (1968), Moon Agreement (1979), ITU Radio Regulations, IADC Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines, ISO 24113:2023.
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 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 Space-Track, ESA DISCOS, ITU SpaceExplorer and ESA DRAMA, 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 suitable computer 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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