Diploma in Environmental Assessment and Supply Chain SAF
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in SAF environmental assessment and supply chain. 8 modules covering life cycle assessment, SAF carbon intensity, feedstocks, supply chain design, traceability and decision-making, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in Environmental Assessment and Supply Chain SAF — 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 24 000 (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 life cycle assessment methodology to fuels.
Calculate the carbon intensity of SAF pathways.
Assess environmental impacts beyond carbon.
Analyse the availability and sustainability of feedstocks.
Design efficient SAF supply chains.
Manage fraud and traceability risks.
Prepare environmental reports to support investment decisions.
Who it's for
- Life cycle analysts moving into sustainable aviation fuels.
- Aviation sustainability consultants.
- Fuel procurement managers at airlines and airports.
- Supply chain analysts in bioenergy and energy logistics.
- Sustainability scheme auditors.
- Bioeconomy planners.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter the aviation sector.
What you'll work with
- ISO 14040 (life cycle assessment: principles and framework)
- ISO 14044 (life cycle assessment: requirements and guidelines)
- Directive (EU) 2018/2001 (Renewable Energy Directive)
- Regulation (EU) 2023/2405 (ReFuelEU Aviation)
- CORSIA (ICAO Annex 16, Volume IV)
- ISO 14067 (carbon footprint of products)
- Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/996 (sustainability and GHG-saving verification rules)
- SimaPro
- openLCA
- GREET
- Aspen Plus
- ArcGIS
8 modules
1.1ISO 14040 and 14044 framework1.2Functional unit and system boundaries1.3Life cycle inventory1.4Allocation and system expansion1.5Impact assessment1.6Interpretation and sensitivity1.7Attributional and consequential LCA1.8ecoinvent databases1.9Critical review1.10Practical exercise: inventory of a reference fossil fuel
2.1CORSIA default values methodology2.2Renewable Energy Directive methodology2.3Cultivation and collection emissions2.4Processing and transport emissions2.5Indirect land use change2.6Waste credits2.7Electricity and e-SAF2.8Uncertainty of results2.9Comparison of methodologies2.10Workshop: carbon intensity calculation with GREET
3.1Water and water footprint3.2Biodiversity3.3Air quality and particulate matter3.4Non-CO2 climate effects3.5Land use and soils3.6Waste and by-products3.7Social impacts3.8Circularity indicators3.9Communication of results3.10Case study: environmental profile of a HEFA pathway
4.1Used cooking oils and animal fats4.2Agricultural and forestry residues4.3Intermediate crops4.4Municipal solid waste4.5Industrial waste gases4.6Captured CO2 and hydrogen4.7Availability and competing uses4.8Annex IX lists4.9Land-use change risk4.10Practical exercise: residue availability map
5.1Collection and pre-processing5.2Biorefinery location5.3Multimodal transport5.4Logistics optimisation models5.5Intermediate storage5.6Distribution to airports5.7Costs and economies of scale5.8Supply chain resilience5.9Performance indicators5.10Lab: location optimisation with GIS
6.1Chain of custody6.2Mass balance6.3Fraud in used cooking oils6.4Union Database6.5Audits and verification6.6Traceability technologies6.7Supplier due diligence6.8Reputational risks6.9Lessons from fraud cases6.10Case study: traceability audit of a supplier
7.1Techno-economic analysis7.2CO2 abatement cost7.32030 and 2050 scenarios7.4Policies and mandates7.5Offtake contracts7.6Sustainable finance7.7Corporate sustainability reporting7.8Investor communication7.9Multi-criteria assessment7.10Workshop: multi-criteria assessment of suppliers
8.1Case definition and scope8.2Life cycle inventory8.3Impact calculation8.4Feedstock analysis8.5Supply chain design8.6Risk analysis8.7Recommendations8.8Conclusions8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
Training is 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 it fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is SimaPro, openLCA, GREET, Aspen Plus and ArcGIS, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures for life cycle assessment of SAF pathways, modelling of feedstock supply chains and sustainability risk assessment. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: ISO 14040, ISO 14044, Directive (EU) 2018/2001, Regulation (EU) 2023/2405, CORSIA, ISO 14067, Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/996.
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 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 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 SimaPro, openLCA, GREET, Aspen Plus and ArcGIS, 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 Orbital Mechanics and Maneuvers
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in orbital mechanics and manoeuvres. 8 modules covering the two-body problem, orbital perturbations, application orbits, impulsive manoeuvres, relative motion and…
Diploma in Economics from UAM and Market Regulation
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in UAM Economics and Market Regulation. 8 modules covering the urban air mobility ecosystem, demand analysis, unit economics, infrastructure investment,…
Diploma in Vertiport Infrastructure and Operational Safety
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in Vertiport Infrastructure and Operational Safety. 8 modules covering vertiport types, geometric design of the movement area, structure and building…
More in Aerospace, UAM, Drones & Space
All Aerospace, UAM, Drones & Space programmes → · How to apply · Fees & financing · Scholarships