Master’s in Aerospace NDT Engineering
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in aerospace NDT engineering. 12 modules covering visual and penetrant inspection, magnetic particle testing, conventional and advanced ultrasonics, eddy current, radiography and CT, thermography, inspection reliability, NDT in maintenance and structural health monitoring, working with EN 4179, NAS 410, ISO 9712 and CIVA, with an assigned technical tutor.
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 conventional and advanced non-destructive testing techniques.
Select the inspection method according to material, geometry and defect.
Prepare inspection procedures and technical instructions.
Assess inspection reliability using probability of detection curves.
Manage personnel qualification according to EN 4179 and NAS 410.
Integrate NDT into maintenance and damage tolerance programmes.
Implement automated inspection and structural health monitoring solutions.
Who it's for
- Non-destructive testing engineers.
- Level 3 NDT inspectors.
- NDT laboratory managers.
- Aircraft maintenance engineers.
- Aerospace quality engineers.
- Structural integrity engineers.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter the aerospace industry.
What you'll work with
- EN 4179 (qualification and approval of NDT personnel)
- NAS 410 (certification and qualification of NDT personnel)
- ISO 9712 (qualification and certification of NDT personnel)
- ATA Spec 105 (training and qualifying personnel in NDT)
- ASTM E1417 (liquid penetrant testing)
- ASTM E1444 (magnetic particle testing)
- ASTM E2375 (ultrasonic testing of wrought products)
- MIL-HDBK-1823A (NDE system reliability assessment)
- CIVA
- UltraVision
- Olympus OmniScan MXU
- MATLAB
- Volume Graphics VGSTUDIO MAX
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1The role of NDT in the life cycle1.2Classification of methods and physical principles1.3Damage tolerance and critical flaw size1.4Organisation of an NDT laboratory1.5Qualification levels 1, 2 and 31.6EN 4179 and NAS 410 schemes1.7Procedures, techniques and work instructions1.8Accidents caused by undetected defects1.9Human factors in inspection1.10Case study: analysis of an inspection failure
2.1Direct and remote visual inspection2.2Borescope and videoscope inspection of engines2.3Principles of capillarity and sensitivity2.4Fluorescent and visible-dye penetrants2.5Process stages and dwell times2.6Interpretation of indications2.7Requirements of ASTM E14172.8Process control and material checks2.9Health, safety and environment2.10Practical exercise: penetrant inspection procedure
3.1Magnetism applied to inspection3.2Longitudinal and circular magnetisation techniques3.3Dry and wet fluorescent particles3.4Detection of surface and subsurface cracks3.5Requirements of ASTM E14443.6Demagnetisation and residual field check3.7Inspection of landing gear3.8Fixed and portable equipment3.9System quality checks3.10Lab: inspection of a steel component
4.1Wave propagation and modes4.2Transducers and probes4.3Pulse-echo and through-transmission techniques4.4DAC and TCG calibration curves4.5Inspection of forgings and plate4.6Inspection of composite laminates4.7Immersion inspection and C-scan4.8Thickness and corrosion measurement4.9Evaluation and sizing of indications4.10Practical exercise: calibration and scanning of a reference block
5.1Phased array principles5.2Total focusing method and full matrix capture5.3Time-of-flight diffraction (TOFD)5.4Guided waves for large areas5.5Laser ultrasonics5.6Air-coupled ultrasonics5.7Inspection simulation with CIVA5.8Robotic inspection systems5.9Data analysis with UltraVision5.10Workshop: phased array inspection of a composite panel
6.1Electromagnetic fundamentals and depth of penetration6.2Absolute and differential probes6.3Detection of surface cracks6.4Rotating bolt-hole inspection6.5Conductivity measurement and heat treatment6.6Corrosion detection in multilayer structures6.7Eddy current arrays6.8Low-frequency eddy current in structures6.9Aeronautical standards and procedures6.10Lab: inspection of fastener holes
7.1Physics of X-rays and gamma rays7.2Digital and computed radiography7.3Industrial computed tomography7.4Radiation protection and regulations7.5Detection of inclusions and porosity7.6Inspection of honeycomb structures7.7Volumetric analysis with VGSTUDIO MAX7.8CT of additively manufactured parts7.9Automated evaluation7.10Case study: CT of an additive part
8.1Pulsed and lock-in active thermography8.2Shearography for disbonds8.3Acoustic emission in structural tests8.4Vibration and resonance analysis8.5Holography and optical methods8.6Inspection of impact damage8.7Advantages and limitations of each method8.8Combining complementary methods8.9Standardisation of emerging methods8.10Practical exercise: thermography of an impacted laminate
9.1The probability of detection concept9.2MIL-HDBK-1823A methodology9.3Hit/miss and a versus â curves9.4a90/95 size and its meaning9.5Design of reliability experiments9.6Human and environmental factors9.7Model-assisted POD9.8Relationship with inspection intervals9.9Validation of new techniques9.10Lab: POD curves in MATLAB
10.1Maintenance programmes and inspection tasks10.2Manufacturer NDT manual10.3Supplemental structural inspections10.4On-wing engine inspection10.5Landing gear inspection10.6Inspection for corrosion and accidental damage10.7Part-145 organisations and NDT10.8Airworthiness directives involving NDT10.9Inspection records and traceability10.10Case study: inspection arising from a directive
11.1Structural health monitoring11.2Piezoelectric sensors and networks11.3Fibre Bragg grating sensors11.4Guided waves for continuous monitoring11.5Artificial intelligence in signal evaluation11.6Digital twin of inspection11.7Robotic and drone-based inspection11.8Digital management of results11.9Certification of monitoring systems11.10Workshop: monitoring concept for a structure
12.1Selection of the study component12.2Analysis of expected defects12.3Selection and justification of methods12.4Writing the inspection procedure12.5Inspection simulation12.6Probability of detection study12.7Implementation plan in the plant or hangar12.8Conclusions and recommendations12.9Thesis 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. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, making it compatible with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is CIVA, UltraVision, Olympus OmniScan MXU, MATLAB and Volume Graphics VGSTUDIO MAX, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Real procedures are studied, such as phased array ultrasonic inspection of laminates, eddy current inspection of fastener holes and probability of detection studies. Assessment is continuous per module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: EN 4179, NAS 410, ISO 9712, ATA Spec 105, ASTM E1417, ASTM E1444, ASTM E2375, MIL-HDBK-1823A.
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 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 CIVA, UltraVision, Olympus OmniScan MXU, MATLAB and Volume Graphics VGSTUDIO MAX, 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, plus 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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