Master'sElectronics, Embedded Systems & Telecom Applications open

Master’s in Advanced GNSS and Resilient PNT

Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in advanced GNSS and resilient PNT, covering RTK/PPP and anti-jamming and anti-spoofing. 12 modules covering GNSS systems, signal processing, positioning errors, high-precision positioning, integrity, threats, receiver robustness, GNSS/INS integration, timing and alternative PNT, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration1,900 hours · 12–14 months

ModeOnline

LanguageEnglish

Start datesSet by the faculty

AwardSEIUM Institute diploma

Enrol now View syllabus Ask an advisor

Master’s in Advanced GNSS and Resilient PNT — 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: €5,920 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.

Relevant bodies in Malta

Malta Communications Authority (MCA)
Malta Digital Innovation Authority (MDIA)
Malta Standards Authority (MSA)
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Malta Section

Typical roles

Embedded Systems Engineer
Telecommunications Engineer
Network Engineer
Electronics Design Engineer

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.

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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

Understand GNSS constellations and signals.

Process GNSS signals with software receivers.

Apply high-precision RTK and PPP techniques.

Assess positioning integrity.

Detect and mitigate interference and spoofing.

Integrate GNSS with inertial navigation.

Design resilient PNT architectures.

Profile

Who it's for

GNSS systems engineers.
Navigation engineers.
PNT resilience specialists.
Timing and synchronisation engineers.
GNSS/INS integration engineers.
Navigation test engineers.
Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter the aeronautical sector.

Standards & tools

What you'll work with

RTCM 10403.3 (differential GNSS services standard)
RTCA DO-229F (minimum performance standards for GPS/SBAS airborne equipment)
EUROCAE ED-259 (MOPS for dual-frequency multi-constellation SBAS receivers)
ETSI EN 303 413 (harmonised standard for GNSS receivers)
IEEE 1588 (precision time protocol)
Galileo OS SIS ICD (Galileo open service signal-in-space interface)
Regulation (EU) 2021/696 (EU Space Programme)
ITU-T G.8272 (timing characteristics of primary reference time clocks)
RTKLIB
GNSS-SDR
Spirent SimGEN
MATLAB Navigation Toolbox
gLAB

Syllabus

12 modules

1.1GPS, Galileo, GLONASS and BeiDou constellations
1.2QZSS and NavIC regional systems
1.3Space, control and user segments
1.4Signals and frequencies
1.5GNSS time scales
1.6Geodetic reference systems
1.7Ephemeris and almanac
1.8Galileo services: OS, HAS and PRS
1.9Modernisation of the constellations
1.10Case study: comparison of constellations in Spain

2.1Signal structure
2.2Spreading codes
2.3Signal acquisition
2.4DLL and PLL tracking loops
2.5Navigation message decoding
2.6Software-defined receivers (SDR)
2.7Multi-frequency and multi-constellation
2.8GNSS front-end design
2.9Carrier-to-noise ratio
2.10Lab: acquisition with GNSS-SDR

3.1Pseudorange equations
3.2Least-squares solution
3.3Geometry and DOP
3.4Clock and orbit errors
3.5Ionospheric delay correction
3.6Tropospheric delay models
3.7Multipath and its mitigation
3.8Error budget
3.9Navigation Kalman filter
3.10Practical exercise: position computation with RTKLIB

4.1Differential GNSS (DGNSS)
4.2Real-time kinematic (RTK)
4.3Ambiguity resolution
4.4Precise point positioning (PPP)
4.5PPP-RTK techniques with state-space corrections
4.6Reference station networks
4.7RTCM and NTRIP formats
4.8Galileo HAS service
4.9Surveying and geodetic applications
4.10Lab: RTK with low-cost receivers

5.1SBAS systems: EGNOS and WAAS
5.2Ground-based augmentation systems (GBAS)
5.3Integrity and protection levels
5.4RAIM and ARAIM
5.5Aeronautical performance requirements
5.6Integrity in automotive applications
5.7Receiver certification
5.8Performance monitoring
5.9Multi-constellation integrity
5.10Practical exercise: integrity analysis with EGNOS data

6.1Signal vulnerabilities
6.2Unintentional interference
6.3Intentional interference or jamming
6.4Signal spoofing
6.5Signal rebroadcasting or meaconing
6.6Threat detection
6.7Impact on critical infrastructure
6.8Documented interference cases
6.9Legal framework for interference
6.10Case study: analysis of incidents in aviation

7.1Controlled reception pattern antennas (CRPA)
7.2Adaptive interference filtering
7.3Signature-based spoofing detection
7.4Galileo OSNMA authentication
7.5C/N0 monitoring
7.6Consistency checks
7.7Safety-grade receivers
7.8Robustness testing
7.9Receiver selection
7.10Lab: OSNMA verification

8.1MEMS and FOG inertial sensors
8.2Inertial mechanisation equations
8.3Inertial sensor errors
8.4Loosely and tightly coupled GNSS/INS integration
8.5Ultra-tight signal-level integration
8.6Odometry and vehicle sensors
8.7Visual navigation and visual odometry
8.8Maps and terrain correlation
8.9Drift assessment
8.10Practical exercise: GNSS/INS fusion with a Kalman filter

9.1GNSS as a time source
9.2Atomic clocks and oscillators
9.3PTP time distribution
9.4Synchronisation in telecommunications
9.5Synchronisation in power grids
9.6Holdover and backup
9.7Alternative time sources
9.8Requirements of critical sectors
9.9Stability measurement
9.10Lab: holdover assessment of an oscillator

10.1eLoran and its evolution
10.2LEO satellite navigation
10.3Signals of opportunity
10.4Terrestrial positioning systems
10.5Positioning with 5G networks
10.6Quantum sensors for navigation
10.7Resilient PNT architectures
10.8PNT resilience frameworks
10.9Cost-benefit analysis of PNT backup
10.10Workshop: PNT architecture for a port

11.1Constellation simulators
11.2Signal recording and playback
11.3Laboratory interference testing
11.4Field testing
11.5Performance metrics
11.6Regulations for GNSS equipment
11.7European space strategy
11.8Spectrum management
11.9Validation reports
11.10Practical exercise: spoofing test with a simulator

12.1Definition of the PNT use case
12.2Accuracy and integrity requirements
12.3Threat analysis
12.4Architecture design
12.5Positioning algorithms
12.6Validation with real data
12.7Robustness assessment
12.8Conclusions and recommendations
12.9Master's Thesis report
12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel

Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

The programme is delivered 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 it can be combined with full-time work.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standards and applied exercises. The working software is RTKLIB, GNSS-SDR, Spirent SimGEN, MATLAB Navigation Toolbox and gLAB, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures for constellation simulator testing, field measurement campaigns and interference and spoofing resilience tests. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.

Standards covered: RTCM 10403.3, RTCA DO-229F, EUROCAE ED-259, ETSI EN 303 413, IEEE 1588, Galileo OS SIS ICD, Regulation (EU) 2021/696, ITU-T G.8272.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.

Standards-based learning:guided reading of RTCM 10403.3, RTCA DO-229F and EUROCAE ED-259 applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.

Industry software:RTKLIB, GNSS-SDR, Spirent SimGEN, MATLAB Navigation Toolbox and gLAB, in free, academic or evaluation versions.

Master's Thesis with defence:The design and validation of a resilient PNT architecture for a real use case, including threat analysis and robustness assessment, defended before a panel.

Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.

Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Use case and requirements

Define the PNT use case and its accuracy and integrity requirements.

Threat analysis

Analyse the interference, jamming and spoofing threats affecting the use case.

Architecture and algorithms

Design the PNT architecture and the positioning algorithms.

Validation and robustness

Validate the solution with real data and assess its robustness.

Master's Thesis

Present the conclusions and recommendations in a written thesis, defended before a panel.

Career opportunities

Where this takes you

GNSS systems engineerNavigation engineerPNT resilience specialistTiming and synchronisation engineerGNSS/INS integration engineerNavigation test engineer

Admissions & scholarships

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 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.

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FAQ

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, Spirent SimGEN, MATLAB Navigation Toolbox and gLAB, 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 degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), 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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