Master’s in LPWAN IoT
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in LPWAN IoT, covering LoRaWAN, NB-IoT, networks and coverage. 12 modules covering radio propagation, LoRaWAN, NB-IoT and LTE-M, other LPWAN technologies, low-power node design, firmware, network deployment, data platforms, security and sector applications, with an assigned technical tutor.
Master’s in LPWAN IoT — studying from South Africa
Electronics and telecommunications are substantial sectors in South Africa, with operators such as MTN, Vodacom and Telkom supporting national connectivity. Electronics manufacturers and design houses serve automotive, industrial and consumer markets, and embedded systems engineers are needed across these industries. Research at institutions such as Stellenbosch University and the CSIR contributes to advances in communications and signal processing. Compliance with national radio spectrum rules is overseen by the national communications regulator.
Fees for South Africa: R 166 000 (South African rand), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in South Africa
Typical roles
Questions from South Africa
Which South African bodies recognise electronics and telecom engineers, and does SEIUM feature?
ECSA registers engineering professionals in South Africa, and the Electronic Communications and Postal Act means telecom roles are regulated through ICASA and related licensing. SEIUM is a private online institute whose qualifications are not official state degrees and are not accredited by a national body. Recognition is decided by employers or the relevant professional body, so check with them before enrolling.
Would this programme help me work in embedded systems or telecoms in South Africa?
South Africa has electronics manufacturers, telecom operators and technology firms that employ embedded and communications engineers. Employers typically weigh practical skills, experience and recognised qualifications. A private online qualification can strengthen your profile in specialist areas, but it does not guarantee employment. Ask prospective employers whether they would value it.
Can I study around a job, and what English level is needed?
The programme is entirely online and taught in English, so you need solid English for coursework and tutor communication. Because it is remote, 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 supported by a technical tutor. Fees can be paid in instalments, and employer sponsorship may be possible.
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
Compare LPWAN technologies by range, power consumption and cost.
Calculate link budgets for LPWAN deployments.
Deploy private LoRaWAN networks.
Integrate NB-IoT and LTE-M devices.
Design ultra-low-power nodes.
Secure LPWAN networks and devices.
Integrate LPWAN data into application platforms.
Who it's for
- LPWAN network engineers.
- IoT firmware developers.
- IoT radio frequency engineers.
- IoT solutions architects.
- Network deployment technicians.
- IoT product engineers.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter the water and gas utility sector.
What you'll work with
- LoRaWAN Specification 1.0.4 (LoRaWAN link layer specification)
- 3GPP TS 36.300 (E-UTRA overall description, including NB-IoT and LTE-M)
- ETSI EN 300 220 (short range devices in the 25–1,000 MHz band)
- ETSI EN 303 645 (cybersecurity for consumer IoT)
- Directive 2014/53/EU (RED) (Radio Equipment Directive)
- ETSI TS 103 357 (mioty) (low throughput networks protocols)
- IEEE 802.15.4g (smart utility networks physical layer)
- ChirpStack
- The Things Stack
- Nordic Power Profiler
- Node-RED
- Radio Mobile
12 modules
1.1Low-power, long-range requirements1.2ISM and licensed bands1.3Comparison of LPWAN technologies1.4Typical use cases1.5Star topologies1.6Public and private deployment models1.7Connectivity costs1.8Vendor ecosystem1.9Market trends1.10Case study: selecting an LPWAN for water meters
2.1Propagation models2.2Losses in urban and rural environments2.3Indoor penetration2.4LPWAN link budget2.5Sensitivity and spreading factor2.6Antennas for nodes and gateways2.7Interference in ISM bands2.8Duty cycle and regulation2.9Planning tools2.10Lab: link budget for a deployment
3.1LoRa chirp modulation3.2Spreading factors and data rate3.3LoRaWAN network architecture3.4Device classes A, B and C3.5OTAA and ABP activation3.6Adaptive data rate (ADR)3.7Security and keys in LoRaWAN3.8Network and application servers3.9Roaming in LoRaWAN3.10Practical exercise: LoRaWAN network with ChirpStack
4.1Cellular architecture for IoT4.2NB-IoT: deployment modes4.3LTE-M and mobility4.4PSM and eDRX modes4.5Coverage enhancement modes4.6Modules and SIM cards4.7Operators and tariffs4.8Comparison with LoRaWAN4.9Evolution to 5G RedCap4.10Lab: power consumption of an NB-IoT module with PSM
5.1Sigfox and ultra-narrowband5.2Wi-SUN for utility networks5.3mioty and TS-UNB5.4Wize for metering5.5Satellite IoT5.6Low-power mesh networks5.7Amazon Sidewalk device network5.8Other proprietary radio technologies5.9Interoperability between networks5.10Practical exercise: range comparison of technologies
6.1Ultra-low-power microcontrollers6.2Sleep modes6.3Energy budget calculation6.4Primary lithium batteries6.5Energy harvesting6.6Sensor selection6.7Integrated antenna design6.8Enclosure and protection6.9Product certification6.10Lab: power measurement with an energy profiler
7.1LoRaWAN stacks in firmware7.2AT commands for cellular modules7.3Queue and retry management7.4Compact data encoding7.5Firmware update over the air (FUOTA)7.6Node time synchronisation7.7Error handling7.8Firmware testing7.9Software energy optimisation7.10Practical exercise: firmware with FUOTA
8.1Coverage planning8.2Gateway placement8.3Gateway backhaul8.4Capacity management8.5Field testing8.6Network monitoring8.7Gateway maintenance8.8Scaling the deployment8.9Indoor deployment8.10Case study: LoRaWAN network on an industrial estate
9.1Integration with IoT platforms9.2Payload decoders9.3MQTT and HTTP protocols9.4Time-series databases9.5Data visualisation9.6Alarms and notifications9.7Device geolocation9.8Integration with business systems9.9Device management9.10Lab: integrating ChirpStack with InfluxDB
10.1Threats to LPWAN networks10.2Key management10.3Join servers10.4Security in NB-IoT10.5Replay attacks10.6Physical security of nodes10.7ETSI EN 303 645 requirements10.8Security updates10.9Network audits10.10Workshop: security analysis of a deployment
11.1Remote reading of water and gas meters11.2Precision agriculture11.3Smart city services11.4Asset tracking11.5Environmental and air quality monitoring11.6Smart building control11.7Industry and maintenance11.8Health and care11.9Business models11.10Case study: smart parking
12.1Definition of the use case12.2Justified technology selection12.3Node design12.4Firmware development12.5Network planning12.6Platform integration12.7Field testing12.8Assessment of power consumption and coverage12.9Master's Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
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 it can be combined with full-time work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standards and applied exercises. The working software is ChirpStack, The Things Stack, Nordic Power Profiler, Node-RED and Radio Mobile, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures for field coverage testing, node energy consumption measurement and FUOTA update testing. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: LoRaWAN Specification 1.0.4, 3GPP TS 36.300, ETSI EN 300 220, ETSI EN 303 645, Directive 2014/53/EU (RED), ETSI TS 103 357 (mioty), IEEE 802.15.4g.
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
- A university degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
- An 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 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 ChirpStack, The Things Stack, Nordic Power Profiler, Node-RED and Radio Mobile, 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 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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