Master’s in Advanced GNSS and Resilient PNT Engineering
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in advanced GNSS and resilient PNT engineering: 12 modules covering GNSS systems and receivers, precise positioning, augmentation and integrity, GNSS vulnerabilities, resilience techniques, inertial navigation, sensor fusion, alternative PNT sources and timing, with an assigned technical tutor.
Master’s in Advanced GNSS and Resilient PNT Engineering — studying from Malta
Malta has a well-developed telecommunications sector, with a history of hosting submarine cable landing points and a substantial base of network and communications providers. The island's regulatory environment supports digital infrastructure, and this has encouraged companies in embedded systems, network engineering and electronics design. Employers include telecommunications operators, software and hardware developers, and multinational technology firms with Maltese engineering teams. Engineers with knowledge of wireless systems, network security and embedded programming find steady demand.
Fees for Malta: €9,930 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Malta
Typical roles
Questions from Malta
How are electronics and telecom engineers recognised professionally in Malta?
Engineering titles in Malta are regulated by the Chamber of Engineers (KSU) under the Engineering Profession Act. Telecommunications is overseen by the Malta Communications Authority, which regulates licensing and spectrum. A SEIUM qualification is a private one, not a state degree and not accredited by a national body, so recognition depends on employers and the relevant authority.
Which Maltese employers hire embedded systems and telecom engineers?
Malta has telecoms operators, electronics manufacturers and component suppliers, iGaming and technology firms that use embedded hardware, and defence and maritime electronics companies. Employers typically assess hands-on design experience and certifications. A private qualification can help your profile, especially alongside practical projects.
Can I fit this programme around work, and what are the practical requirements?
The programme is 100% online and taught in English, with an assigned technical tutor. You can study from Malta without a student visa. Choose a course length that matches your available time, from 300 hours up to 1,900. Ask about fee instalments and employer sponsorship 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
Analyse how GNSS constellations and receivers work.
Apply RTK and PPP precise positioning techniques.
Assess the integrity and vulnerabilities of PNT services.
Design signal resilience and authentication strategies.
Integrate GNSS with inertial navigation and other sensors.
Implement robust timing and synchronisation solutions.
Develop a resilient PNT architecture for a real use case.
Who it's for
- GNSS navigation engineers.
- Sensor fusion engineers.
- Timing and synchronisation engineers.
- PNT systems engineers.
- Navigation integrity engineers.
- Positioning engineers for autonomous vehicles.
- Engineering or science graduates aiming to enter the aeronautics sector.
What you'll work with
- RTCA DO-229 (minimum operational performance standards for GPS/SBAS airborne equipment)
- Galileo OS SIS ICD (Galileo Open Service signal-in-space interface control document)
- IS-GPS-200 (GPS space segment and navigation user interfaces)
- RTCM 10403.3 (differential GNSS services, version 3)
- IEEE 1588 (Precision Time Protocol (PTP))
- ITU-T G.8275.1 (PTP telecom profile for phase/time synchronisation)
- EUROCAE ED-259 (MOPS for dual-frequency multi-constellation airborne receivers)
- Regulation (EU) 2021/696 (EU Space Programme)
- RTKLIB
- GNSS-SDR
- MATLAB Navigation Toolbox
- Spirent SimGEN
- NovAtel Inertial Explorer
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1Architecture of GPS, Galileo, GLONASS and BeiDou1.2Signals and frequencies1.3Reference and time systems1.4Ephemeris and almanac1.5Pseudorange equation1.6Geometry and DOP1.7Error sources1.8QZSS and NavIC regional systems1.9Signal modernisation1.10Practical exercise: least-squares position calculation
2.1Front-end architecture2.2Signal acquisition2.3Tracking with DLL and PLL2.4Navigation message demodulation2.5Multi-frequency and multi-constellation receivers2.6Software-defined receivers2.7GNSS antennas and phase centre2.8Multipath mitigation2.9Sensitivity and cold start2.10Lab: software GNSS receiver
3.1Carrier phase measurements3.2Differential positioning (DGNSS)3.3RTK and ambiguity resolution3.4PPP and PPP-RTK3.5State space representation (SSR) corrections3.6Galileo High Accuracy Service3.7Reference station networks3.8Integrity of precise positioning3.9RTCM message formats3.10Practical exercise: RTK positioning with low-cost receivers
4.1SBAS systems and EGNOS4.2RAIM and ARAIM autonomous monitoring4.3Protection levels4.4Integrity risk and continuity4.5GBAS for approach4.6Integrity in automotive applications4.7Aeronautical certification of receivers4.8Authentication signals4.9Integrity alerts4.10Case study: ARAIM protection level calculation
5.1Unintentional interference5.2Intentional interference: conceptual framework5.3Signal spoofing: principles5.4Ionospheric effects and scintillation5.5Space weather effects5.6Dependence of critical infrastructure5.7Documented incident cases5.8Legal framework for spectrum use5.9PNT risk assessment5.10Workshop: analysis of an interference incident report
6.1Controlled reception pattern antennas6.2Adaptive interference filtering6.3Consistency-based spoofing detection6.4Galileo OSNMA authentication6.5Signal quality monitoring6.6Receivers with resilience levels6.7Constellation and frequency diversity6.8PNT resilience profiles6.9Simulator testing6.10Lab: OSNMA verification on a receiver
7.1MEMS accelerometers and gyroscopes7.2Inertial sensor errors7.3Navigation equations7.4Initial platform alignment7.5Tactical and navigation-grade IMUs7.6Strapdown mechanisation7.7Drift and error propagation7.8IMU calibration7.9Odometry and vehicle constraints7.10Practical exercise: inertial mechanisation with real data
8.1Kalman and extended Kalman filters8.2Loosely coupled integration8.3Tightly coupled integration8.4Ultra-tightly coupled integration in the receiver8.5Particle filters8.6Fusion with visual odometry8.7Fusion with LiDAR8.8Fault detection in fusion8.9Covariance tuning8.10Lab: GNSS/INS integration in Python
9.1eLoran and terrestrial navigation9.2Signals of opportunity9.3Positioning with 5G9.4Navigation with LEO satellite signals9.5Map and terrain-based navigation9.6Automated celestial navigation9.7Ultra-wideband and indoor positioning9.8Atomic clocks and holdover9.9Optical fibre for time distribution9.10Case study: multi-sensor PNT architecture
10.1UTC and GNSS time scales10.2Timing receivers10.3PTP protocol and telecom profiles10.4NTP and security10.5Holdover with oscillators10.6Synchronisation in power grids10.7Synchronisation in finance10.8Time monitoring10.9Resilience in time servers10.10Practical exercise: deploying a PTP grandmaster
11.1Aviation and performance-based navigation11.2Positioning for autonomous driving11.3Maritime and e-Navigation11.4Railway and train control11.5Precision agriculture11.6Drones and U-space11.7Surveying and geodesy11.8Protection of critical infrastructure11.9Galileo Public Regulated Service11.10Case study: PNT requirements of an autonomous vehicle
12.1Definition of the PNT use case12.2Requirements and threat analysis12.3Navigation architecture design12.4Algorithm development12.5Testing with real or simulated data12.6Performance and integrity assessment12.7Resilience analysis12.8Conclusions and resilience recommendations12.9Master's Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within the intake, making it compatible with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is RTKLIB, GNSS-SDR, MATLAB Navigation Toolbox, Spirent SimGEN and NovAtel Inertial Explorer, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: RTK and PPP positioning with field data, GNSS/INS integration with vehicle logs, and receiver evaluation on constellation simulators. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: RTCA DO-229, Galileo OS SIS ICD, IS-GPS-200, RTCM 10403.3, IEEE 1588, ITU-T G.8275.1, EUROCAE ED-259, Regulation (EU) 2021/696.
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
- A university degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
- An 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 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with RTKLIB, GNSS-SDR, MATLAB Navigation Toolbox, Spirent SimGEN and NovAtel Inertial Explorer, 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 Master's Thesis. 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 in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
A university degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), 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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