Hydrogen course for urban aircraft
Online course of 300 hours in hydrogen in urban aircraft: 6 modules covering hydrogen as an energy carrier, fuel cells, on-board storage, aircraft integration, and safety and infrastructure, with an assigned technical tutor.
Hydrogen course for urban aircraft — studying from the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom has one of the world's most established aerospace sectors, anchored by clusters in Bristol, Filton, Derby, Hampshire and Scotland's Glasgow corridor. Major manufacturers and suppliers such as Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems, Airbus UK and GKN Aerospace drive demand for engineers in design, propulsion, structures and systems integration. Urban air mobility, electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, and commercial drones are emerging alongside, supported by government programmes and test corridors. Space engineering is growing through launch and satellite activity around the UK spaceports and Harwell. Graduates with aerospace expertise find roles across manufacturing, certification and research.
Fees for the United Kingdom: £537 (Pound sterling), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in the United Kingdom
Typical roles
Questions from the United Kingdom
Which professional bodies in the UK recognise aerospace engineering qualifications, and does SEIUM's qualification give me chartered status?
In the UK, the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) is the main professional body for aerospace engineers and can award Chartered Engineer status through the Engineering Council. SEIUM's qualifications are private and are not accredited by the Engineering Council or RAeS, so they do not confer chartered status on their own. Recognition is decided by employers and the relevant body, so check directly with RAeS whether your study and experience will count towards registration.
Will a private online aerospace qualification help me find work with UK aerospace or drone employers?
UK aerospace, drone and space employers, including many working on civil aviation, defence and space projects, generally judge candidates on demonstrated skills, portfolio work and experience. A private qualification may support your application, but its value depends on each employer's own assessment. It is worth asking prospective employers how they view such qualifications before you enrol.
Can I study this programme alongside a full-time job in the UK, and what language level is needed?
Yes, programmes are delivered fully online, so you can study from home without a student visa, wherever you are based. Workload varies by programme length, and you will have an assigned technical tutor for support. Teaching is in English, so you should be comfortable reading and writing technical English. Check the programme schedule and time commitment against your working hours 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
Understand the role of hydrogen as an energy carrier.
Analyse how fuel cells work.
Size on-board hydrogen storage systems.
Integrate hybrid fuel cell-battery systems into aircraft.
Assess the safety risks associated with hydrogen.
Know the regulations for refuelling infrastructure.
Design the architecture of a hydrogen urban aircraft.
Who it's for
- Hydrogen systems engineers
- Fuel cell engineers
- Hybrid propulsion engineers
- Industrial safety technicians
- Energy infrastructure engineers
- Alternative energy researchers
- Engineering or science graduates looking to move into urban air mobility
What you'll work with
- ISO 14687 (hydrogen fuel quality)
- ISO 19880-1 (gaseous hydrogen fuelling stations)
- EN 17124 (hydrogen fuel quality for PEM fuel cell vehicles)
- ISO 22734 (hydrogen generators using water electrolysis)
- Directive 2014/34/EU (ATEX) (equipment for potentially explosive atmospheres)
- Regulation (EU) 2023/1804 (AFIR) (alternative fuels infrastructure)
- EASA SC E-19 (special condition for electric/hybrid propulsion)
- SAE J2601 (fuelling protocols for gaseous hydrogen)
- MATLAB/Simulink
- Aspen HYSYS
- DNV Phast
- COMSOL Multiphysics
- FLACS
6 modules
1.1Physical properties of hydrogen1.2Green, grey and blue production1.3Alkaline and PEM electrolysis1.4Gravimetric and volumetric energy density1.5Supply chain1.6Comparison with batteries1.7Life cycle analysis1.8European hydrogen strategies1.9Hydrogen costs and forecasts1.10Practical exercise: energy comparison of hydrogen versus battery
2.1How the PEM fuel cell works2.2High-temperature fuel cells2.3Polarisation curves2.4Balance of plant components2.5Water and humidity management2.6Fuel cell thermal management2.7Degradation and service life2.8Hybrid fuel cell-battery systems2.9Solid oxide fuel cells2.10Lab: PEM fuel cell model in Simulink
3.1Gaseous hydrogen at 350 and 700 bar3.2Type III and IV tanks3.3Liquid hydrogen and cryogenics3.4Boil-off losses3.5Integration of the tank into the aircraft3.6Hydrogen embrittlement3.7Sensors and leak detection3.8Tank testing3.9Pressure valves and regulators3.10Case study: tank sizing for an eVTOL
4.1Hybrid propulsion architecture4.2Component location4.3Mass distribution4.4Compartment ventilation4.5Energy management during the mission4.6Reference prototypes4.7Direct hydrogen combustion4.8Certification challenges4.9System integration requirements4.10Workshop: architecture of a hydrogen air taxi
5.1Flammability and explosive limits5.2ATEX zone classification5.3Modelling of leak consequences5.4Refuelling stations5.5Refuelling protocols5.6Hydrogen quality5.7Infrastructure regulations5.8Risk management at vertiports5.9Training of refuelling staff5.10Case study: risk analysis of a refuelling point
6.1Mission definition6.2Propulsion architecture6.3Fuel cell and battery sizing6.4Storage system6.5Integration and masses6.6Safety analysis6.7Refuelling infrastructure6.8Economic and environmental assessment6.9Report and presentation6.10Final project: final 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. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within the intake, so you can combine it with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is MATLAB/Simulink, Aspen HYSYS, DNV Phast, COMSOL Multiphysics and FLACS, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Exercises are based on real procedures for fuel cell-battery system sizing, hydrogen leak risk analysis and refuelling infrastructure studies. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final integrative project.
Standards covered: ISO 14687, ISO 19880-1, EN 17124, ISO 22734, Directive 2014/34/EU (ATEX), Regulation (EU) 2023/1804 (AFIR), EASA SC E-19, SAE J2601.
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
- No prior qualification is required.
- 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 300 hours over 3 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, Aspen HYSYS, DNV Phast, COMSOL Multiphysics and FLACS, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute certificate, 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.
No prior qualification is required; you need an internet connection, 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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