Diploma in UAS Risk Assessment and C-UAS Measures
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in UAS risk assessment and C-UAS measures: 8 modules covering UAS risk and safety, the SORA methodology, quantitative risk analysis, the drone threat to infrastructure, C-UAS detection technologies, the legal and ethical framework and integrated risk management, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in UAS Risk Assessment and C-UAS Measures — 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: €1,790 (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
Apply risk management methodologies to UAS operations.
Carry out complete, well-justified SORA assessments.
Quantify ground and air risk using recognised models.
Analyse the threat posed by drone misuse to infrastructure.
Compare C-UAS detection technologies and their limitations.
Interpret the legal and ethical framework for C-UAS measures.
Design integrated UAS risk management plans.
Who it's for
- UAS risk analysts preparing SORA assessments and operational safety cases.
- Infrastructure security managers facing the drone threat.
- Drone regulation consultants.
- Operational safety managers in aviation organisations.
- C-UAS systems technicians.
- UAS operations auditors.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to work at airports or in air navigation.
What you'll work with
- Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 (rules and procedures for operating unmanned aircraft)
- JARUS SORA (Specific Operations Risk Assessment) (risk assessment methodology for specific-category operations)
- Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 (EU common rules in civil aviation and EASA)
- Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945 (UAS design requirements and class marking)
- Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/664 (U-space regulatory framework)
- Regulation (EU) 376/2014 (reporting, analysis and follow-up of occurrences in civil aviation)
- Law 8/2011 (Spanish critical infrastructure protection)
- ISO 31000 (risk management guidelines)
- BowTieXP
- QGIS
- MATLAB
- ENAIRE Drones
8 modules
1.1Hazard, risk and severity1.2Risk management according to ISO 310001.3Drone accidents and incidents1.4UAS failure modes and their effects1.5Kinetic energy and harm to third parties1.6Ground risk and air risk1.7Human factors in remote operations1.8Just culture and occurrence reporting1.9Regulation (EU) 376/20141.10Case study: analysis of a drone incident
2.1Structure of the JARUS methodology2.2Describing the ConOps2.3Intrinsic GRC and population density2.4Strategic and technical mitigations2.5Initial and residual ARC2.6SAIL and OSO objectives2.7Containment requirements2.8Robustness: integrity and assurance2.9PDRA and standard scenarios2.10Workshop: complete SORA for an urban inspection
3.1Critical impact area models3.2Failure probability and reliability3.3Fault trees and event trees3.4Bow-tie diagrams3.5Mid-air collision models3.6Monte Carlo simulation of fall trajectories3.7Population density maps3.8Validation of risk models3.9Uncertainty and sensitivity analysis3.10Practical: bow-tie for C2 link loss
4.1Types of drone misuse4.2Airport incidents and lessons learned4.3Critical infrastructure and Law 8/20114.4Site vulnerability analysis4.5Geographical zones and flight restrictions4.6Geo-awareness and geofencing4.7Direct remote identification4.8Network identification in U-space4.9Cooperation with the authorities4.10Case study: threat assessment at a regional airport
5.1Architecture of a C-UAS system5.2Radar for low radar cross-section targets5.3Passive radio-frequency detection5.4Electro-optical and infrared sensors5.5Acoustic detection5.6Sensor fusion and tracking5.7Classification and false alarms5.8Sensor coverage and siting5.9Detection performance metrics5.10Lab: analysis of RF detection data
6.1Powers of the authorities in Spain6.2Legal limits on neutralisation6.3Spectrum and General Telecommunications Law 11/20226.4Data protection and identification6.5Proportionality and ethical principles6.6Liability for collateral damage6.7Coordination with the aviation authority6.8European standardisation in C-UAS6.9Supplier evaluation and certification6.10Case study: intrusion response protocol
7.1Safety management systems (SMS)7.2Safety performance indicators7.3Emergency response plans7.4Training and drills7.5Auditing UAS operations7.6Integrating safety and security7.7Risks at mass gatherings7.8Risk communication7.9Lessons from European programmes7.10Workshop: security plan for an event
8.1Selecting the case study8.2ConOps and context8.3SORA assessment8.4Threat and vulnerability analysis8.5Proposed detection measures8.6Legal and ethical fit8.7Risk management plan8.8Conclusions and recommendations8.9Report and presentation8.10Final 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 the programme fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original regulations and applied exercises. The working software is BowTieXP, QGIS, MATLAB and ENAIRE Drones, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Real procedures are studied: SORA assessments of real operations, analysis of drone detection data and tabletop exercises on responding to intrusions. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947, JARUS SORA (Specific Operations Risk Assessment), Regulation (EU) 2018/1139, Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945, Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/664, Regulation (EU) 376/2014, Law 8/2011, ISO 31000.
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
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree 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 800 hours over 6–8 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with BowTieXP, QGIS, MATLAB and ENAIRE Drones, 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 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.
Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector (no university degree required), a computer able to run the 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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