Master’s in RF & Optical Space Communications Engineering
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in RF and optical space communications engineering: 12 modules covering link architecture, RF propagation and link budgets, modulation and coding, on-board antennas and RF electronics, ground segment and TT&C, space protocols, free-space optical communications, PAT terminals, hybrid constellations and testing, with an assigned technical tutor.
Master’s in RF & Optical Space Communications Engineering — 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: €6,920 (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
Size RF and optical space links using rigorous link budgets.
Select modulation and coding schemes in line with CCSDS recommendations.
Design on-board antenna and amplification subsystems.
Specify optical terminals with acquisition, pointing and tracking systems.
Assess the impact of the atmosphere on link availability.
Integrate space protocols and delay-tolerant networks into mission architectures.
Plan the verification and testing of the communications subsystem.
Who it's for
- Space communications engineers who want to master both RF and optical links.
- Payload RF engineers working on transponders, antennas and amplifiers.
- Optical terminal engineers developing laser communication systems.
- Ground segment engineers responsible for stations and TT&C.
- Spectrum and frequency coordination analysts.
- Mission systems engineers defining end-to-end communication architectures.
- Engineering or science graduates aiming to enter the space industry.
What you'll work with
- CCSDS 131.0-B (TM synchronisation and channel coding)
- CCSDS 401.0-B (radio frequency and modulation systems)
- ITU Radio Regulations (international spectrum rules)
- ECSS-E-ST-50C (communications)
- CCSDS 141.0-B (optical communications physical layer)
- CCSDS 142.0-B (optical communications coding and synchronisation)
- Recommendation ITU-R P.618 (propagation data for Earth-space links)
- ECSS-E-ST-50-05C (radio frequency and modulation)
- MATLAB/Simulink
- STK (Systems Tool Kit)
- GNU Radio
- CST Studio Suite
- Zemax OpticStudio
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1Space, ground and user segments1.2S, X, Ka and optical frequency bands1.3LEO, MEO, GEO and deep-space orbits1.4Link geometry and visibility windows1.5Mission requirements and data volume1.6TT&C services versus payload1.7ESTRACK and DSN station networks1.8EDRS and TDRSS data relay satellites1.9Spectrum allocation and ITU coordination1.10Workshop: preliminary sizing of a LEO link
2.1Friis equation and free-space losses2.2Rain attenuation according to ITU-R P.6182.3Gaseous absorption and tropospheric scintillation2.4Ionospheric effects and Faraday rotation2.5Receiver system noise temperature2.6G/T figure of merit and EIRP2.7Link margins and annual availability2.8Doppler effect and its compensation2.9Interference and the C/(N+I) ratio2.10Practical exercise: Ka-band link budget
3.1PSK, APSK and GMSK modulations3.2Spectral efficiency versus power efficiency3.3Convolutional codes and Viterbi decoding3.4Reed-Solomon concatenated with convolutional coding3.5Standardised turbo codes and LDPC3.6DVB-S2 and adaptive coding and modulation (ACM)3.7Interleaving in fading channels3.8Frame, symbol and carrier synchronisation3.9Error rate versus Eb/N03.10Lab: coding chain in GNU Radio
4.1Horn, patch and helical antennas4.2Parabolic and deployable reflectors4.3Electronically steered antennas4.4TWTA and SSPA amplifiers4.5Transparent and regenerative transponders4.6Oscillators, synthesisers and phase noise4.7Microwave filters and multiplexers4.8Multipactor and discharges in vacuum4.9Linearity, intermodulation and predistortion4.10Case study: design of an X-band antenna
5.1Architecture of a ground station5.2Antenna tracking and pointing5.3Telemetry receivers and demodulators5.4Telecommand and command authentication5.5Range and range-rate measurements5.6Control centre and mission operations5.7Ground station as a service models5.8Pass automation and planning5.9Ground segment cybersecurity5.10Workshop: pass planning with STK
6.1CCSDS protocol architecture6.2TM, TC and AOS link protocols6.3Space Packet Protocol and PUS services6.4File transfer with CFDP6.5Delay-tolerant networking (DTN)6.6Bundle Protocol and Licklider Transmission Protocol6.7Integration with terrestrial IP networks6.8Link security with SDLS6.9Quality of service and traffic prioritisation6.10Lab: simulation of a DTN network
7.1Gaussian optics and beam divergence7.2Laser sources at 1064 and 1550 nm7.3Erbium-doped fibre amplifiers7.4Direct detection with intensity modulation7.5Homodyne and heterodyne coherent detection7.6PPM modulation for deep space7.7APD and SNSPD photodetectors7.8Quantum limits of sensitivity7.9End-to-end optical link budget7.10Practical exercise: GEO-to-ground optical link budget
8.1Atmospheric turbulence and the Cn² parameter8.2Scintillation and power fading8.3Beam wander8.4Absorption and scattering by aerosols8.5Cloud cover and statistical availability8.6Optical ground station diversity8.7Adaptive optics at reception8.8Channel models and time series8.9Selection of optical sites8.10Case study: availability of an optical ground network
9.1Architecture of a laser terminal9.2Acquisition, pointing and tracking9.3Fine steering mirrors9.4Quadrant sensors and tracking cameras9.5Microvibrations and mechanical isolation9.6Point-ahead pointing correction9.7Optical inter-satellite links9.8Laser terminals for CubeSats9.9Design of optical ground stations9.10Lab: simulation of a tracking loop
10.1Mega-constellation architectures10.2Routing over inter-satellite links10.3Integration of RF and optical links10.4Non-terrestrial networks in 5G NTN10.5Dynamic radio resource management10.6Handover between satellites and stations10.7Satellite quantum key distribution10.8NGSO-GSO interference coordination10.9Satellite connectivity business models10.10Case study: design of a hybrid LEO network
11.1Subsystem verification plan11.2Antenna measurements in an anechoic chamber11.3Electromagnetic compatibility testing11.4End-to-end tests with a ground station11.5Thermal vacuum testing of terminals11.6Characterisation of optical terminals11.7Commissioning and in-orbit validation11.8Anomaly management in operation11.9Test documentation according to ECSS11.10Workshop: test plan for a transponder
12.1Selection of the mission case12.2Definition of link requirements12.3Design of the on-board communications segment12.4Design of the associated ground segment12.5Simulation and performance analysis12.6Risk analysis and technology alternatives12.7Cost estimate and scheduling12.8Conclusions and future work12.9Master's Thesis: written 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. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so it fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is MATLAB/Simulink, STK (Systems Tool Kit), GNU Radio, CST Studio Suite and Zemax OpticStudio, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures for RF and optical link budget simulation, ground station pass planning and atmospheric availability analysis of optical links. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: CCSDS 131.0-B, CCSDS 401.0-B, ITU Radio Regulations, ECSS-E-ST-50C, CCSDS 141.0-B, CCSDS 142.0-B, Recommendation ITU-R P.618, ECSS-E-ST-50-05C.
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 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, STK (Systems Tool Kit), GNU Radio, CST Studio Suite and Zemax OpticStudio, 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 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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