Diploma in Applied Supersonic/Hypersonic Aerothermodynamics
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in applied supersonic/hypersonic aerothermodynamics. 8 modules covering compressible flow, hypersonic phenomena, aerodynamic heating, intakes and air-breathing propulsion, hypersonic simulation, atmospheric re-entry and supersonic aerodynamic design with ISO 2533, NASA-STD-7009A and ANSYS Fluent, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in Applied Supersonic/Hypersonic Aerothermodynamics — studying from South Africa
South Africa has a long-standing aerospace base, anchored by the Western Cape cluster around Cape Town and the Gauteng aerospace corridor near Johannesburg. Companies such as Denel Aerospace Systems, Aerosud and Airbus-linked suppliers in the Western Cape draw on local engineering talent. The South African Civil Aviation Authority oversees airworthiness and drone regulation, while the South African National Space Agency coordinates national space activity. Demand for skills in aircraft systems, unmanned aerial systems and satellite engineering continues to grow across both regions.
Fees for South Africa: R 27 900 (South African rand), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in South Africa
Typical roles
Questions from South Africa
Will a SEIUM qualification be recognised by the South African Council for Aeronautical and Engineering Professions or ECSA?
SEIUM is a private online institute and its qualifications are not official state degrees or accredited by a national body. In South Africa, professional registration is handled by bodies such as ECSA (Engineering Council of South Africa) and SACAP for built environment roles, and aviation licensing by the SACAA. Recognition of a private qualification is decided by the employer or the relevant body, so check directly with them before enrolling.
Would this qualification help me get work with aerospace or drone employers in South Africa?
Employers in South Africa's aerospace and drone sector, such as aircraft maintenance organisations, defence contractors and drone operators, usually weigh experience, licensing and university credentials heavily. A private online qualification can support your CV and show specialist knowledge, but it does not guarantee hiring or a particular role. Ask prospective employers whether they value the programme before you commit.
Can I manage the workload while working full time, and do I need to be fluent in English?
The programme is 100% online and taught in English, so you need solid working English. Study is fully remote, so no student visa is needed to study from home. Master's programmes total 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours, with an assigned technical tutor. Plan your weekly hours realistically, and ask whether employer sponsorship or instalment payment could help with fees.
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
Apply compressible flow theory to supersonic problems.
Characterise the phenomena specific to the hypersonic regime.
Estimate aerodynamic heating with analytical methods.
Analyse air intakes and high-speed air-breathing propulsion.
Simulate hypersonic flows with CFD and DSMC.
Assess re-entry configurations and their stability.
Design supersonic aerodynamic configurations with efficiency criteria.
Who it's for
- Aerodynamics engineers.
- Aerothermodynamics engineers.
- CFD analysts.
- Re-entry systems engineers.
- High-speed flow researchers.
- Spacecraft design engineers.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter the aerospace sector.
What you'll work with
- ISO 2533 (standard atmosphere)
- NASA-STD-7009A (standard for models and simulations)
- ECSS-E-ST-31C (space thermal control)
- AIAA G-077-1998 (guide for verification and validation of CFD simulations)
- ASME V&V 20 (verification and validation in CFD and heat transfer)
- ANSYS Fluent
- SU2
- NASA CEA
- SPARTA
- MATLAB
8 modules
1.1Mach number and flight regimes1.2Isentropic relations1.3Normal shock waves1.4Oblique shocks1.5Prandtl-Meyer expansion1.6Convergent-divergent nozzles1.7Fanno and Rayleigh flows1.8Method of characteristics1.9Shock-boundary layer interaction1.10Practical exercise: calculating shocks in a two-dimensional intake
2.1Thin shock layer2.2Modified Newtonian theory2.3Viscous interaction2.4Entropy layer2.5Real gas effects2.6Dissociation and ionisation2.7Chemical and thermal non-equilibrium2.8Rarefaction and Knudsen number2.9Communications blackout2.10Workshop: Newtonian aerodynamics of a cone
3.1Compressible boundary layer3.2Recovery temperature3.3Fay-Riddell correlation3.4Reference temperature method3.5Transition in hypersonic flow3.6Radiative heating3.7Wall catalycity3.8Leading edges and nose3.9Engineering correlations3.10Practical exercise: stagnation point heat flux
4.1Supersonic intakes4.2Total pressure recovery4.3Intake start and unstart4.4Ramjet4.5Scramjet principles4.6Supersonic combustion at a conceptual level4.7Airframe-engine integration4.8Waverider configurations4.9X-43 and X-51 experimental programmes4.10Case study: mixed-compression intake
5.1Upwind schemes and limiters5.2Thermochemical gas models5.3Shock-adapted meshing5.4Direct simulation Monte Carlo5.5Catalytic wall conditions5.6Coupling with wall conduction5.7Uncertainty in high-temperature models5.8Validation with flight data5.9Computing resources5.10Lab: simulating a wedge in SU2
6.1Ballistic and lifting trajectories6.2Re-entry corridor6.3Blunt-body capsules6.4Lifting bodies6.5Static and dynamic stability6.6Deceleration and heat load6.7Mars and Titan entries6.8Supersonic parachutes6.9Lessons from historical missions6.10Case study: re-entry profile of a capsule
7.1Supersonic commercial aviation7.2Sonic boom and its mitigation7.3Area rule7.4Swept and delta wings7.5Wave drag7.6Supersonic control and stability7.7Shape optimisation7.8Validation testing7.9Environmental requirements7.10Workshop: estimating wave drag
8.1Configuration and mission8.2Inviscid flow analysis8.3Heating estimation8.4Numerical simulation8.5Stability analysis8.6Comparison with correlations8.7Design recommendations8.8Conclusions8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100% online programme on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within the intake, so it fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is ANSYS Fluent, SU2, NASA CEA, SPARTA and MATLAB, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures: calculating shocks and expansions in simple geometries, numerical simulation of hypersonic flows and estimating stagnation point heating. Assessment is continuous per module plus the final project.
Standards covered: ISO 2533, NASA-STD-7009A, ECSS-E-ST-31C, AIAA G-077-1998, ASME V&V 20.
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.
- 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 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 ANSYS Fluent, SU2, NASA CEA, SPARTA 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 Human Factors and HFACS in Accidents
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in human factors and HFACS in accidents: 8 modules covering human factors, operator physiology, the HFACS model and its application…
Diploma in Electric Propulsion Integration and Power Management
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in electric propulsion integration and power management. 8 modules covering electric propulsion architectures, electric machines, power electronics, propulsion batteries, high-voltage…
Diploma in AIV for Payloads and Thermal-Vacuum Environments
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in Payload AIV and Thermal-Vacuum Environments. 8 modules covering payload verification, the space thermal environment, thermal modelling, thermal vacuum testing,…
More in Aerospace, UAM, Drones & Space
All Aerospace, UAM, Drones & Space programmes → · How to apply · Fees & financing · Scholarships