Hypersonic aerothermodynamics course
Online course of 300 hours in hypersonic aerothermodynamics. 6 modules covering hypersonic flow characteristics, approximate load methods, high-temperature gases, heating and thermal protection and hypersonic simulation and testing with an assigned technical tutor.
Hypersonic aerothermodynamics 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: €644 (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 physical characteristics of hypersonic flow.
Apply approximate methods to estimate aerodynamic loads.
Model high-temperature effects in the gas.
Estimate heating and size thermal protection systems.
Know the numerical and experimental techniques of the hypersonic regime.
Assess the uncertainty of aerothermodynamic predictions.
Develop an aerothermodynamic analysis of a re-entry vehicle.
Who it's for
- Aerothermodynamics engineers.
- Thermal protection engineers.
- CFD engineers moving into high-speed reacting flows.
- Re-entry vehicle researchers.
- Space systems engineers.
- High-enthalpy test engineers.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to join the space sector.
What you'll work with
- ECSS-E-ST-31C (space thermal control)
- ECSS-E-ST-10-03C (space engineering testing)
- NASA-STD-7009A (credibility of models and simulations)
- AIAA G-077-1998 (verification and validation of CFD simulations)
- ASME V&V 20-2009 (verification and validation in CFD and heat transfer)
- ECSS-E-ST-32-08C (materials for space structures)
- NASA CBAERO
- SU2-NEMO
- Ansys Fluent
- NASA CEA
- Mutation++
6 modules
1.1Definition of the hypersonic regime1.2Thin shock layer1.3Entropy layer1.4Viscous interaction with the shock1.5High-temperature effects1.6Low-density flows1.7Mach number independence principle1.8Re-entry missions and space transport vehicles1.9History: X-15, Space Shuttle and capsules1.10Case study: re-entry profile of a capsule
2.1Newtonian and modified Newtonian theory2.2Tangent-wedge and tangent-cone methods2.3Shock-expansion theory2.4Pressure coefficients on blunt bodies2.5Estimation of lift and drag2.6Stability of re-entry vehicles2.7Hypersonic similarity laws2.8Rapid engineering tools2.9Comparison with flight data2.10Workshop: Newtonian coefficients of a capsule
3.1Vibrational excitation and dissociation3.2Ionisation and communications blackout3.3Equilibrium and non-equilibrium gas3.4Chemical kinetics of air3.5Two-temperature models3.6Post-shock relaxation3.7Catalytic and non-catalytic walls3.8Gas radiation in the shock layer3.9Transport properties at high temperature3.10Lab: chemical equilibrium of air behind a normal shock
4.1Stagnation-point heat flux4.2Fay-Riddell correlation4.3Heating on control surfaces4.4Ablative thermal protection systems4.5Ceramic tiles and C/C composites4.6Active and transpiration cooling4.7Thermal design according to ECSS4.8Arc-jet plasma testing4.9Material degradation and response4.10Practical exercise: sizing an ablative heat shield
5.1CFD for chemically reacting flows5.2DSMC method for rarefied flows5.3Meshing and capture of strong shocks5.4Shock tunnels and impulse facilities5.5High-frequency instrumentation5.6Flight experiments and databases5.7Code verification and validation5.8Uncertainty in thermal predictions5.9Air-breathing and academic scramjet concepts5.10Case study: validation with data from a re-entry probe
6.1Vehicle and trajectory under study6.2Estimation of aerodynamic loads6.3Stagnation heat flux analysis6.4Gas model and chemical effects6.5Numerical simulation of the flow field6.6Preliminary sizing of thermal protection6.7Uncertainty analysis6.8Conclusions and recommendations6.9Report and presentation6.10Final project: final review with the 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 the intake, so the programme fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is NASA CBAERO, SU2-NEMO, Ansys Fluent, NASA CEA and Mutation++, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Exercises are based on real procedures: estimating stagnation-point heat flux, sizing ablative heat shields and simulating flows with non-equilibrium chemistry. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final capstone project.
Standards covered: ECSS-E-ST-31C, ECSS-E-ST-10-03C, NASA-STD-7009A, AIAA G-077-1998, ASME V&V 20-2009, ECSS-E-ST-32-08C.
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 NASA CBAERO, SU2-NEMO, Ansys Fluent, NASA CEA, Mutation++, 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 enough English 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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