Diploma in Aerothermodynamics of Combat Engines
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in aerothermodynamics of combat engines. 8 modules covering military turbofan thermodynamics, supersonic intakes, fan and compressor aerodynamics, combustors and afterburners, high-temperature turbines, nozzles and integrated performance, and engine testing and certification (JSSG-2007B, MIL-HDBK-1783B, EMAR 21), with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in Aerothermodynamics of Combat Engines — studying from the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom maintains a substantial defence industry, with prime contractors such as BAE Systems and Babcock, and a wide supply chain across the Midlands, the North West, Bristol and Scotland. Land systems, armoured vehicles, munitions and military engineering programmes provide long-term employment for engineers in design, integration, test and sustainment. The Ministry of Defence, Defence Equipment and Support and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory oversee procurement and research. Security clearance requirements shape recruitment, and professional standards are maintained through UK defence engineering frameworks.
Fees for the United Kingdom: £746 (Pound sterling), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in the United Kingdom
Typical roles
Questions from the United Kingdom
Which UK bodies and regulators are relevant to defence and military land systems engineering?
In the UK, the Ministry of Defence sets its own engineering standards and the Engineering Council regulates professional registration. Professional bodies such as the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) and the Royal Engineers' professional structures are relevant. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not accredited by these bodies, so recognition for security-cleared or MOD roles is decided by the employer and the relevant authority.
Will a private qualification help with UK defence industry careers?
UK defence employers, including primes and suppliers, often prioritise security clearance eligibility, relevant experience and formal qualifications recognised by the MOD or industry bodies. A private qualification may support your profile but is unlikely to replace these requirements. Ask prospective employers how they would assess it before enrolling.
Is it practical to study this online while working in the UK, and what about language and funding?
Online study means you can continue working in the UK, and no student visa is needed to study from home. Teaching is in English, so good technical English is essential. Fees can be paid in instalments, and some employers offer training sponsorship, though policies vary. Each programme has a fixed number of hours and an assigned technical tutor. Confirm the workload and costs 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 the thermodynamic cycle of low-bypass afterburning turbofans.
Design supersonic air intakes compatible with the engine.
Interpret compressor maps and stability margins.
Understand how combustors, afterburners and variable nozzles work.
Assess cooling solutions and materials for high-temperature turbines.
Simulate on- and off-design performance with professional tools.
Know the testing and certification requirements for military engines.
Who it's for
- Aircraft propulsion engineers working on combat engine programmes.
- Turbomachinery aerodynamics specialists designing fans, compressors and turbines.
- Engine performance engineers running cycle and off-design simulations.
- Engine test engineers in sea-level and altitude test facilities.
- Turbomachinery CFD analysts.
- Engine–aircraft integration engineers dealing with intakes, nozzles and installation effects.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter the aerospace industry.
What you'll work with
- JSSG-2007B (US joint service specification guide for aircraft turbine engines)
- MIL-HDBK-1783B (Engine Structural Integrity Program, ENSIP)
- EMAR 21 (European military airworthiness certification requirements)
- SAE ARP755 (gas turbine engine performance station identification and nomenclature)
- SAE ARP1420 (gas turbine engine inlet flow distortion guidelines)
- SAE AIR1419 (inlet total-pressure distortion considerations)
- SAE AS681 (gas turbine engine steady-state and transient performance presentation)
- GasTurb
- NPSS
- ANSYS CFX
- Simcenter STAR-CCM+
- MATLAB
8 modules
1.1Ideal and real Brayton cycle1.2Thermal, propulsive and overall efficiency1.3Low-bypass turbofan1.4Specific thrust and specific fuel consumption1.5Afterburning cycle1.6Pressure ratio and turbine entry temperature1.7SAE ARP755 station nomenclature1.8ISA atmosphere and altitude effects1.9Design-point analysis1.10Practical exercise: cycle calculation for a mixed-flow turbofan
2.1Normal and oblique shock waves2.2Pitot, ramp and cone intakes2.3Total pressure recovery2.4Flow distortion and DC60 indices2.5Intake–engine compatibility2.6S-ducts and fan shielding2.7Boundary layer and diverters2.8Wind tunnel testing of intakes2.9Distortion under SAE ARP14202.10Case study: preliminary design of a ramp intake
3.1Velocity triangles and the Euler equation3.2Transonic fan and blade shocks3.3Multistage axial compressor3.4Compressor maps and operating line3.5Rotating stall and surge3.6Stability margin3.7Variable stator vanes3.8Bleeds and power extraction3.9CFD of blade cascades3.10Lab: interpretation of a fan map
4.1Annular combustors and flame stabilisation4.2Fuel atomisation and injection4.3NOx and soot formation4.4Outlet temperature pattern factor4.5Afterburner flameholders and spray rings4.6Thermoacoustic instabilities4.7Variable convergent–divergent nozzles4.8Ignition and altitude relight4.9JP-8 and F-34 fuels4.10Workshop: energy balance of an afterburner
5.1High- and low-pressure turbines5.2Film cooling and internal convection5.3Thermal barrier coatings5.4Single-crystal superalloys5.5Profile and secondary losses5.6Tip clearance and active control5.7Unsteady rotor–stator interaction5.8Creep life and thermomechanical fatigue5.9Conjugate CFD of cooled blades5.10Practical exercise: estimating cooling effectiveness
6.1Axisymmetric and two-dimensional nozzles6.2Thrust vectoring6.3Jet–airframe interaction6.4Infrared signature of the jet and its attenuation6.5Off-design performance6.6Simulation with GasTurb and NPSS6.7Acceleration and deceleration transients6.8FADEC control and control laws6.9Component matching6.10Case study: performance across the flight envelope
7.1Sea-level test cells7.2Altitude test facility testing7.3Pressure and temperature instrumentation7.4Bird, ice and foreign object ingestion7.5JSSG-2007 guide requirements7.6Structural integrity under MIL-HDBK-17837.7Military type certification EMAR 217.8Accelerated durability testing7.9Uncertainty analysis in performance7.10Practical exercise: data reduction from a test cell run
8.1Mission specification and requirements8.2Selection of cycle parameters8.3Component sizing8.4Intake and nozzle study8.5Off-design performance analysis8.6Weight and fuel consumption estimate8.7Development test plan8.8Technical risk analysis8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
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 you can combine it with your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is GasTurb, NPSS, ANSYS CFX, Simcenter STAR-CCM+ and MATLAB, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures for sea-level engine test cell runs, intake distortion testing in wind tunnels and altitude test facility runs. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: JSSG-2007B, MIL-HDBK-1783B, EMAR 21, SAE ARP755, SAE ARP1420, SAE AIR1419, SAE AS681.
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
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
- An internet connection and a computer able to run 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 800 hours over 6–8 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with GasTurb, NPSS, ANSYS CFX, Simcenter STAR-CCM+ and MATLAB, 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 final project. 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 are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector (no university degree required), 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
Diploma in Underwater Sensor Integration
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in underwater sensor integration. 8 modules covering sensors in the underwater environment, transducers and arrays, integration platforms, mechanical and electrical…
Diploma in Ethics in Secure Communications
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in ethics in secure communications, structured in 8 modules covering communication technology ethics, cryptography and public policy, lawful interception, privacy…
Diploma in NATO/EU CBRN Standards (AEP/ATP)
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in NATO and EU CBRN standards. 8 modules covering AJP-3.8, ATP-45, AEP-66, protection and decontamination, the EU framework and civil-military…
More in Defense, Military Engineering & Land Systems
All Defense, Military Engineering & Land Systems programmes → · How to apply · Fees & financing · Scholarships