Master’s in AIT: Assembly, Integration & Test
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in AIT: assembly, integration and test. 12 modules covering systems engineering, cleanrooms, mechanical and electrical integration, mechanical, thermal-vacuum and EMC testing, product assurance and launch campaigns, with an assigned technical tutor.
Master’s in AIT: Assembly, Integration & Test — studying from South Africa
South Africa has a established defence industry centred on companies such as Denel and Paramount Group, with capabilities in land systems, armoured vehicles and munitions. The sector supports engineering roles in systems integration, vehicle design and test and evaluation. Defence procurement and export controls are overseen by government bodies, and the industry works closely with the South African National Defence Force. Engineers in this field typically combine mechanical, electrical and systems skills.
Fees for South Africa: R 110 000 (South African rand), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in South Africa
Typical roles
Questions from South Africa
Which South African bodies regulate or recognise defence and military engineering professionals?
Engineers in South Africa are registered through ECSA under the Engineering Profession Act, and defence programmes are guided by institutions such as the South African National Defence Force and Armscor, which set their own requirements. SEIUM is a private online institute, and its qualifications are not state degrees or accredited by a national body. Recognition is decided by these bodies and your employer, so confirm with them first.
Would this qualification help me find work in South Africa's defence or land systems sector?
South Africa has a defence industry with state-linked entities and private contractors, and employers usually require security clearances, relevant experience and recognised qualifications. A private online programme may support your application but does not guarantee employment or clearance. Check requirements with prospective employers, as roles in this sector can be sensitive and tightly controlled.
Can I study alongside a job, and are there funding options?
The course is 100% online and taught in English, so you need strong English, and no student visa is needed to study from home. Master's programmes are 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours, each with an assigned technical tutor. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible, so ask whether your employer would fund part of the training.
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
Plan the model philosophy and verification of a system.
Manage cleanrooms and contamination control.
Carry out mechanical and electrical integration sequences.
Specify and analyse mechanical, thermal and EMC tests.
Develop system functional test procedures.
Apply product assurance and configuration control.
Design a complete AIT campaign in the Master's Thesis.
Who it's for
- AIT engineers.
- Environmental test engineers.
- Systems verification engineers.
- Product assurance managers.
- Electrical integration engineers.
- Launch campaign managers.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter the space sector.
What you'll work with
- ECSS-E-ST-10-03C (space engineering testing)
- ECSS-E-ST-10-02C (space engineering verification)
- ISO 14644-1 (cleanroom classification)
- ECSS-Q-ST-70-01C (cleanliness and contamination control)
- GSFC-STD-7000 (GEVS, General Environmental Verification Standard)
- MIL-STD-810H (environmental engineering and testing)
- MIL-STD-461G (electromagnetic interference control)
- AS9100D (aerospace quality management)
- IBM DOORS
- ESATAN-TMS
- Simcenter Testlab
- NI LabVIEW
- MATLAB
12 modules
1.1Project life cycle according to ECSS1.2Project phases and reviews1.3EM, STM, QM and FM models1.4Model philosophy1.5Assembly, integration and test plan1.6Verification by analysis, inspection, test and review1.7Verification matrix1.8Organisation of the AIT team1.9Interfaces with design and quality1.10Case study: model philosophy for a satellite
2.1ISO 14644-1 classification2.2Particle control2.3Molecular contamination2.4Gowning protocols2.5Protection against electrostatic discharge2.6Cleaning of flight hardware2.7Environmental monitoring2.8Planetary protection2.9Material selection and outgassing2.10Exercise: contamination control plan
3.1Tooling and MGSE3.2Handling and lifting of loads3.3Tightening torques and bolted joints3.4Optical and mechanical alignment3.5Laser tracker metrology3.6Measurement of mass, centre of gravity and inertia3.7Integration of mechanisms3.8Installation of thermal blankets3.9Integration documentation3.10Workshop: mechanical integration sequence
4.1Harnesses and cabling4.2EGSE equipment4.3Continuity and insulation tests4.4First power-on4.5Integration of electrical subsystems4.6Subsystem functional tests4.7MIL-STD-1553 and SpaceWire buses4.8Test control software4.9Anomaly management4.10Lab: first power-on sequence
5.1Sine vibration5.2Random vibration5.3Acoustic testing5.4Pyrotechnic shock5.5Notching and force limiting5.6Static testing5.7Modal characterisation5.8Accelerometer instrumentation5.9Results analysis5.10Exercise: specification of a vibration test
6.1Thermal cycling6.2Thermal balance test6.3Thermal vacuum chambers6.4Bake-out6.5Thermal instrumentation6.6Thermal model correlation6.7Testing at extreme temperatures6.8Leak detection6.9Safety in vacuum testing6.10Case study: thermal vacuum test profile
7.1System EMC requirements7.2Conducted and radiated emissions7.3Conducted and radiated susceptibility7.4Anechoic chamber testing7.5Self-compatibility7.6Electrostatic discharge in orbit7.7Grounding and shielding7.8MIL-STD-461G and ECSS-E-ST-20-07C7.9Radio-frequency and antenna testing7.10Workshop: EMC test plan
8.1Full functional tests8.2Performance testing8.3End-to-end tests with the ground segment8.4Mission simulation8.5Flight software in the loop8.6Deployment tests8.7Launcher compatibility8.8Test data management8.9Results review8.10Exercise: functional test procedure
9.1ECSS-Q requirements9.2Non-conformance management9.3Non-conformance review boards9.4Configuration control9.5Hardware traceability9.6Mandatory inspection points9.7EEE component management9.8Equipment logbook9.9Lessons learned9.10Case study: handling a non-conformance
10.1AIT in military aeronautical systems10.2Environmental qualification according to MIL-STD-810H10.3Avionics integration10.4Ground and flight testing10.5AS9100 quality system10.6Naval systems integration10.7Differences from the space sector10.8Safety in testing10.9System integration rigs10.10Workshop: environmental qualification plan
11.1Satellite transport11.2Containers and monitoring during transport11.3Launch site operations11.4Propellant loading and safety11.5Integration on the launcher11.6Pre-launch reviews11.7Risk management11.8AIT planning and costs11.9Digitalisation and the AIT digital twin11.10Case study: launch campaign plan
12.1Definition of the product and mission12.2Model and verification philosophy12.3Proposed AIT sequence12.4Environmental test plan12.5Support equipment and tooling12.6Product assurance plan12.7Schedule, costs and risks12.8Conclusions and future work12.9Master's Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
How you'll learn
100% online training on SEIUM's 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 it fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is IBM DOORS, ESATAN-TMS, Simcenter Testlab, NI LabVIEW and MATLAB, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: vibration and shock campaigns, thermal vacuum tests and electromagnetic compatibility tests. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: ECSS-E-ST-10-03C, ECSS-E-ST-10-02C, ISO 14644-1, ECSS-Q-ST-70-01C, GSFC-STD-7000 (GEVS), MIL-STD-810H, MIL-STD-461G and AS9100D.
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
- University degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
- 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 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with IBM DOORS, ESATAN-TMS, Simcenter Testlab, NI LabVIEW 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 Master's Thesis. 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 in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
A university degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), 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.
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