Postgraduate Diploma in 25 kV/3 kV Substations and Return Circuits
Online 800-hour Postgraduate Diploma in 25 kV/3 kV Substations and Return Circuits. 8 modules covering EN 50163 (supply voltages for traction systems), EN 50122-1 (electrical safety and earthing) and OpenPowerNet. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Postgraduate Diploma in 25 kV/3 kV Substations and Return Circuits — studying from Malta
Malta's civil engineering sector is active, driven by ongoing construction, infrastructure upgrades, coastal works and urban regeneration projects across the islands. Demand for civil engineers is closely linked to public works, land development and the modernisation of transport networks. Smart city initiatives, including digital mapping, traffic management and sustainable urban planning, are increasingly relevant. Engineers typically find employment with contractors, consultancies, government departments and utility providers managing infrastructure in a densely populated environment.
Fees for Malta: €895 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Malta
Typical roles
Questions from Malta
Which Maltese bodies regulate civil engineering and related professional practice?
The Chamber of Engineers (KSU) regulates the use of the title 'engineer' in Malta under the Engineering Profession Act. Planning and development matters fall under the Planning Authority, and public works and transport infrastructure involve government agencies including Transport Malta. A SEIUM qualification does not itself grant a regulated title; recognition is decided by employers or the relevant body.
What employers in Malta would value civil, rail or smart city engineering skills?
Malta's construction, infrastructure, consultancy and public sector firms are the main employers, along with transport and utilities bodies. Smart city and digital infrastructure work is growing in some areas. Employers typically look for chartered-level experience and licensing, so a private qualification should be seen as supporting your professional development rather than a substitute for those requirements.
How can I study this while working on site, and what support is there?
The programme is delivered entirely online in English, so you can study from anywhere in Malta without a student visa. Each student has an assigned technical tutor, and the course ends with a final project. Time commitment depends on the programme length, from 300 to 1,900 hours. Ask about instalment payments and employer sponsorship to help manage costs.
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
Compare railway power supply systems in alternating and direct current.
Size 25 kV substations in alternating current.
Size 3 kV substations in direct current.
Simulate the electrical behaviour of electrified lines.
Design the return circuit and earthing system.
Control stray currents and their corrosion effects.
Define the protection scheme and substation operation.
Who it's for
- Railway electrification engineer who wants to specialise in 25 kV/3 kV Substations and Return Circuits.
- Traction substation designer who wants to specialise in 25 kV/3 kV Substations and Return Circuits.
- Stray current specialist who wants to specialise in 25 kV/3 kV Substations and Return Circuits.
- Electrical protection engineer who wants to specialise in 25 kV/3 kV Substations and Return Circuits.
- Substation maintenance technician who wants to specialise in 25 kV/3 kV Substations and Return Circuits.
- Railway power systems consultant who wants to specialise in 25 kV/3 kV Substations and Return Circuits.
- Graduates in engineering or sciences looking to enter the railway infrastructure sector.
What you'll work with
- EN 50163 (supply voltages for traction systems)
- EN 50122-1 (electrical safety and earthing)
- EN 50122-2 (stray currents in direct current systems)
- EN 50388 (technical coordination between power supply and rolling stock)
- EN 50329 (traction transformers)
- EN 50123 (direct current switchgear)
- IEC 61850 (substation automation)
8 modules · 800 h
1.1Electrification at 3 kV direct current1.2Electrification at 25 kV alternating current1.32x25 kV system with autotransformers1.4Connection to the transmission grid1.5Phase separation1.6Quality of supply1.7Imbalances at 25 kV1.8Comparison of systems1.9Energy TSI and EN 501631.10Case study: choosing the system for a new line
2.1Traction transformers2.2Grid connection schemes2.3High-voltage switchgear2.4Autotransformer stations2.5Sectioning posts2.6Neutral sections2.7Substation auxiliary services2.8Plant design2.9Compensation equipment2.10Practical exercise: single-line diagram of a 25 kV substation
3.1Transformer-rectifier units3.212-pulse and 24-pulse rectifiers3.3Ultra-fast circuit breakers3.4Feeders and feeder cables3.5Reversible substations3.6Braking energy recovery3.7Energy storage at substations3.8Direct current harmonics3.9Rectifier maintenance3.10Workshop: sizing a rectifier unit
4.1Train load models4.2Power flow simulation4.3Voltage drop and useful voltage4.4Distance between substations4.5Supply capacity4.6Short-circuit analysis4.7Degraded scenarios4.8Railway simulation software4.9Validation with measurements4.10Practical exercise: simulating a line under peak traffic
5.1Rails as the return conductor5.2Return cables and connections5.3Earth conductor and protection circuits5.4Standard EN 50122-15.5Accessible touch voltages5.6Return connections with track circuits5.7Booster transformers5.8Return currents in 2x25 kV systems5.9Return arrangements in station areas5.10Laboratory: measuring rail-to-earth voltages
6.1Mechanism of stray currents6.2Standard EN 50122-26.3Corrosion of buried structures6.4Rail insulation6.5Collection meshes6.6Current drainage6.7Stray current monitoring6.8Interference with third-party services6.9Managing affected third parties6.10Case study: corrosion diagnosis on a metro system
7.1Distance protection7.2Overcurrent protection7.3Protection coordination7.4Power telecontrol7.5Substation maintenance7.6Commissioning tests7.7Electrical safety in substations7.8Isolation and lock-out procedures7.9Fault management7.10Workshop: protection coordination study
8.1Definition of traffic and route8.2Selection of the power supply system8.3Electrical simulation8.4Location and sizing of substations8.5Return circuit design8.6Stray current control8.7Protection and telecontrol8.8Budget and works plan8.9Report and presentation8.10Final 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. No fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it possible to combine the programme with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is OpenPowerNet, DIgSILENT PowerFactory, ETAP, MATLAB/Simulink, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied through real electrical simulation procedures for electrified lines, rail-to-earth potential measurement and protection studies. Assessment is continuous, module by module, plus the final integrating project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Compare railway power supply systems in alternating and direct current.
Size 25 kV substations in alternating current.
Size 3 kV substations in direct current.
Simulate the electrical behaviour of electrified lines.
Design the return circuit and earthing system.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. A university degree is not required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient Spanish to follow technical standards documentation.
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 comprises 800 hours in total, spread over 6 to 8 months. That is between 10 and 15 hours per week on average, compatible with full-time work.
You will work with OpenPowerNet, DIgSILENT PowerFactory, ETAP, MATLAB/Simulink. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
An SEIUM own diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrating project. It is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area can be credited towards the advanced programme. Check the credit transfer policy when you enrol.
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