Master’s in Motor Control and Drives
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in motor control and drives (FOC/DTC, estimation, functional safety). 12 modules covering electrical machines, power electronics, modulation techniques, dynamic modelling, field-oriented control, direct torque and predictive control, sensorless control, digital implementation, traction applications, EMC and standards, and testing and commissioning, with an assigned technical tutor.
Master’s in Motor Control and Drives — 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
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
Model electrical machines using the Clarke and Park transformations.
Design inverters and power stages for drives.
Implement vector control and direct torque control.
Develop estimators for sensorless motor control.
Programme the control on microcontrollers and validate it in HIL.
Apply the safety and compatibility requirements of IEC 61800.
Test drives on the bench and produce efficiency maps.
Who it's for
- Motor control engineers looking to master advanced FOC, DTC and predictive strategies.
- Power electronics engineers working on inverters for drives.
- Drive firmware developers programming C2000 or STM32 platforms.
- Electric traction engineers in automotive or railway.
- Test engineers for electrical machines.
- Variable speed drive application engineers.
- Engineering or science graduates aiming to enter the electric vehicle sector.
What you'll work with
- IEC 61800-5-1 (electrical, thermal and energy safety of adjustable speed drives)
- IEC 61800-3 (EMC requirements for power drive systems)
- IEC 61800-5-2 (functional safety of power drive systems)
- IEC 60034-30-1 (efficiency classes of AC motors)
- IEC 61800-9-2 (energy efficiency indicators for power drive systems)
- Regulation (EU) 2019/1781 (ecodesign requirements for motors and drives)
- IEC 60034-1 (rating and performance of rotating electrical machines)
- ISO 26262 (functional safety of road vehicles)
- MATLAB/Simulink
- PLECS
- TI Code Composer Studio
- Ansys Motor-CAD
- Typhoon HIL Control Center
12 modules
1.1Electromagnetic principles and energy conversion1.2The DC motor and its model1.3Induction machine: equivalent circuit1.4Permanent magnet synchronous motor1.5Synchronous reluctance motor1.6Stepper and hybrid motors1.7Switched reluctance motor1.8Losses and IE efficiency classes1.9Motor selection according to the load1.10Lab: no-load and locked-rotor tests
2.1MOSFET, IGBT, SiC and GaN semiconductors2.2Three-phase bridge inverter2.3Two-level and three-level converters2.4Gate drive and isolation circuits2.5Short-circuit and desaturation protection2.6Dead times and their compensation2.7Switching and conduction losses2.8Thermal design of the power module2.9DC bus and capacitors2.10Practical exercise: sizing a 15 kW inverter
3.1Sinusoidal PWM3.2Space vector modulation (SVPWM)3.3Third-harmonic injection3.4Overmodulation and six-step operation3.5Discontinuous modulation and losses3.6PWM for multilevel converters3.7Harmonic content and acoustic noise3.8Implementation on microcontrollers3.9Effect on common-mode voltage3.10Lab: SVPWM on a DSP
4.1Clarke transformation4.2Park transformation4.3dq model of the induction machine4.4dq model of the synchronous motor4.5Magnetic saturation and parameter variation4.6Mechanical modelling of the load4.7Simulation in Simulink and PLECS4.8Motor parameter identification4.9Model validation with tests4.10Practical exercise: dq model of a PMSM in Simulink
5.1Principle of field-oriented control5.2Current loops with PI controllers5.3d- and q-axis decoupling5.4Cascaded speed and position control5.5Field weakening5.6Maximum torque per ampere strategy5.7Indirect slip control5.8Controller tuning by bandwidth5.9Anti-windup and setpoint limiting5.10Lab: FOC of a PMSM with a speed loop
6.1Classic direct torque control (DTC)6.2DTC with space vector modulation6.3Finite control set predictive control6.4Continuous modulation predictive control6.5Sliding mode control6.6Scalar V/f control and its limits6.7Comparison of dynamic performance6.8Computational requirements of each strategy6.9Robustness to parameter variation6.10Practical exercise: predictive current control in simulation
7.1Incremental and absolute encoders7.2Resolvers and R/D conversion7.3Hall-effect sensors7.4Current measurement with shunts and transducers7.5Flux and back-EMF observers7.6High-frequency injection at low speed7.7Extended Kalman filter for estimation7.8Sensorless start-up under load7.9Initial rotor position detection7.10Lab: observer-based sensorless estimator
8.1C2000 and STM32 microcontrollers8.2ePWM, ADC and QEP peripherals8.3Synchronisation of sampling and PWM8.4Fixed-point and floating-point arithmetic8.5Automatic code generation8.6Control firmware architecture8.7In-the-loop testing: MIL, SIL, PIL and HIL8.8Real-time debugging8.9Functional safety of the firmware8.10Practical exercise: code generation from Simulink to C2000
9.1Variable speed drives for pumps and fans9.2Servo systems for robotics and machine tools9.3Electric vehicle traction9.4Railway traction drives9.5Electric marine propulsion9.6Lifts and hoisting9.7Variable-speed wind generators9.8Regenerative braking and energy recovery9.9Energy savings and mission profiles9.10Case study: traction drive for an EV
10.1EMC requirements of IEC 61800-310.2Electrical safety to IEC 61800-5-110.3STO and SS1 safety functions of IEC 61800-5-210.4Bearing currents and shaft voltages10.5dv/dt and sine-wave filters10.6Grid harmonics and active front ends10.7System efficiency to IEC 61800-910.8Ecodesign Regulation for motors10.9CE marking of variable speed drives10.10Workshop: EMC analysis of a drive
11.1Test benches with dynamometer brakes11.2Measurement of torque, speed and efficiency11.3Drive efficiency maps11.4Continuous-duty thermal testing11.5Fault diagnosis in machine and inverter11.6Motor current signature analysis11.7Parameterisation of commercial drives11.8On-site commissioning11.9Predictive maintenance of the drive11.10Lab: efficiency map on a motor test bench
12.1Definition of the drive application12.2Motor and converter selection12.3Modelling of the complete system12.4Design of the control strategy12.5Implementation on a digital platform12.6Simulation and HIL testing12.7Experimental validation on the test bench12.8Performance and efficiency analysis12.9Master's Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
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 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 MATLAB/Simulink, PLECS, TI Code Composer Studio, Ansys Motor-CAD and Typhoon HIL Control Center, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Real procedures are studied: dynamometer bench testing, real-time control validation with HIL and drive efficiency characterisation. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: IEC 61800-5-1, IEC 61800-3, IEC 61800-5-2, IEC 60034-30-1, IEC 61800-9-2, Regulation (EU) 2019/1781, IEC 60034-1, ISO 26262.
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
- University degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
- Internet connection and a computer able to run 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 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 MATLAB/Simulink, PLECS, TI Code Composer Studio, Ansys Motor-CAD and Typhoon HIL Control Center, 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 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.
Related programmes
Master’s in 5G/6G Millimetre Waves
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in 5G/6G millimetre waves (phased arrays, channel and OTA). 12 modules covering millimetre-wave propagation, microwave components, antennas, beamforming and massive…
Master’s in Embedded Observability and Telemetry
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in embedded observability and telemetry (logging, tracing, metrics and health monitoring). 12 modules covering on-chip debugging and tracing, efficient logging,…
Master’s in User Satcom
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in user satcom — terminals, modems, pointing and Ka/Ku-band links. 12 modules covering satellite communication systems, propagation and link budgets,…
More in Electronics, Embedded Systems & Telecom
All Electronics, Embedded Systems & Telecom programmes → · How to apply · Fees & financing · Scholarships