Master’s in Supersonic and Hypersonic Aerothermodynamics Engineering
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in supersonic and hypersonic aerothermodynamics engineering, structured in 12 modules covering compressible flow, supersonic aerodynamics, hypersonics, high-temperature gases, aerothermal heating, CFD and DSMC, thermal protection, high-speed air-breathing propulsion, re-entry and testing, with an assigned technical tutor.
Master’s in Supersonic and Hypersonic Aerothermodynamics Engineering — 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 129 000 (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
Understand the fundamentals of compressible flow.
Analyse the supersonic aerodynamics of configurations.
Apply hypersonic and high-temperature gas theory.
Calculate aerothermal loads.
Simulate high-speed flows with CFD and DSMC.
Design thermal protection systems.
Analyse atmospheric re-entry trajectories.
Who it's for
- Aerothermodynamics engineers working on launchers, capsules or high-speed aircraft.
- High-speed CFD specialists dealing with shocks, chemistry and rarefied flow.
- Thermal protection engineers designing ablative or reusable heat shields.
- Re-entry systems engineers analysing trajectories and loads.
- Hypersonics researchers in universities and research centres.
- Wind tunnel test engineers working with blowdown, shock and arc-jet facilities.
- Engineering or science graduates aiming to join the space sector.
What you'll work with
- ECSS-E-HB-32-26A (spacecraft mechanical loads analysis handbook)
- ECSS-E-ST-31C (space thermal control general requirements)
- ECSS-Q-ST-70C (materials, mechanical parts and processes for space)
- ICAO Annex 16 Volume I Chapter 12 (noise standards for supersonic aeroplanes)
- 14 CFR §91.817 (civil aircraft sonic boom)
- ISO 2533 (standard atmosphere)
- NASA-STD-3001 (NASA space flight human-system standard)
- ANSYS Fluent
- SU2
- DSMC SPARTA
- Cantera
- MATLAB
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1Conservation equations1.2Isentropic flow and stagnation relations1.3Normal shock waves1.4Oblique shock waves1.5Prandtl-Meyer expansions1.6Nozzle flow1.7Fanno and Rayleigh flow1.8Method of characteristics1.9Small perturbation theory1.10Lab: nozzle design using the method of characteristics
2.1Linear supersonic theory2.2Supersonic double-wedge aerofoils2.3Wave drag2.4Area rule2.5Supersonic swept wings2.6Shock-boundary layer interactions2.7Supersonic air intakes2.8Sonic boom and its mitigation2.9Civil supersonic aircraft2.10Practical exercise: wave drag and the area rule
3.1Characteristics of the hypersonic regime3.2Thin shock layer3.3Newtonian and modified Newtonian theory3.4Viscous interaction at high Mach3.5High-temperature effects3.6Entropy and the entropy layer3.7Hypersonic similarity laws3.8High-lift waverider configurations3.9Re-entry vehicles3.10Case study: Newtonian coefficients of a capsule
4.1Dissociation and ionisation4.2Thermodynamics of reacting mixtures4.3Chemical non-equilibrium4.4Thermal non-equilibrium4.5Park models4.6Radiation in the shock layer4.7Surface catalycity4.8Transport models4.9Thermochemical databases4.10Lab: chemical equilibrium of air at 6,000 K
5.1Convective wall heating5.2Fay-Riddell correlation5.3Stagnation point5.4Laminar-turbulent transition in hypersonics5.5Radiative heating5.6Heating in shock interactions5.7Ablation of protective materials5.8Transient conduction in the structure5.9Engineering methods5.10Practical exercise: stagnation-point heat flux
6.1High-resolution hypersonic CFD6.2Upwind schemes and shock capturing6.3Chemistry modelling in CFD6.4DSMC for rarefied flow6.5Shock-adapted meshes6.6Turbulence in hypersonics6.7Verification and validation6.8Conjugate fluid-thermal coupling6.9Reference codes6.10Lab: simulation of a blunt body with chemistry
7.1Reusable protection systems7.2Ablative protection systems7.3UHTC ceramic materials7.4C/C and C/SiC composites7.5Heat shield design7.6Joints and gaps7.7Material characterisation7.8Plasma arc testing7.9Lessons from re-entry missions7.10Case study: sizing an ablative heat shield
8.1Subsonic-combustion ramjets8.2Supersonic-combustion scramjets8.3Mixing and combustion in supersonic flow8.4Intakes and isolators8.5Combined turbine-ramjet cycles8.6X-43 and X-51 experimental programmes8.7Endothermic fuels and regenerative cooling8.8Air-breathing propulsion performance8.9Technological and materials challenges8.10Practical exercise: ramjet cycle analysis
9.1Ballistic and lifting trajectories9.2Re-entry corridor9.3Deceleration loads9.4Communications blackout9.5Capsule stability9.6Supersonic deceleration parachutes9.7Mars entry9.8Stage recovery9.9Space debris re-entry9.10Lab: re-entry trajectory simulation
10.1Supersonic blowdown wind tunnels10.2Shock tunnels10.3Arc-jet tunnels10.4Heat flux instrumentation10.5Schlieren visualisation and shadowgraphy10.6Temperature-sensitive paints10.7Flight testing10.8Test scaling10.9Numerical-experimental correlation of results10.10Workshop: design of a Schlieren test
11.1Civil supersonic transport11.2Reusable space vehicles11.3Crewed return capsules11.4Planetary entry probes11.5Winged spaceplanes11.6Launchers with reusable stages11.7Commercial suborbital flights11.8Supersonic environmental regulations11.9Sector outlook11.10Case study: aerothermal analysis of a return capsule
12.1Vehicle definition12.2Trajectory analysis12.3Supersonic or hypersonic aerodynamics12.4Thermal load estimation12.5Numerical flow simulation12.6Thermal protection system12.7Test plan12.8Validation of results12.9Master's Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
How you'll learn
100% online training 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 alongside your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is ANSYS Fluent, SU2, DSMC SPARTA, Cantera and MATLAB, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practice is based on real procedures for blunt-body simulations, Schlieren testing in a supersonic tunnel and thermal protection sizing. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: ECSS-E-HB-32-26A, ECSS-E-ST-31C, ECSS-Q-ST-70C, ICAO Annex 16 Volume I Chapter 12 (supersonic aeroplanes), 14 CFR §91.817, ISO 2533, NASA-STD-3001.
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 ANSYS Fluent, SU2, DSMC SPARTA, Cantera 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 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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