Master’s in Motor Control and Drives Engineering
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in motor control and drives engineering: 12 modules covering electrical machines, dynamic modelling, variable frequency drives, scalar and vector control, sensorless control, servo drives, digital implementation and EV traction, 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
Model electrical machines using transforms and reference frames.
Design scalar, vector and direct torque control strategies.
Implement sensorless position estimation algorithms.
Size the power electronics of a drive.
Programme real-time control on microcontrollers and DSPs.
Assess the efficiency and functional safety of drives.
Develop and validate a complete drive on a test bench.
Who it's for
- Motor control engineers seeking deeper expertise in advanced control strategies.
- Electrical drives engineers.
- Motor control firmware developers.
- Electric traction engineers.
- Servo systems engineers.
- Drive commissioning technicians looking to move into design and control.
- Engineering or science graduates aiming to enter the electric mobility sector.
What you'll work with
- IEC 61800-5-1 (adjustable speed electrical power drive systems: electrical, thermal and energy safety)
- IEC 61800-5-2 (adjustable speed drives: functional safety)
- IEC 60034-30-1 (efficiency classes of line-operated AC motors)
- IEC 61800-9-2 (ecodesign and energy efficiency indicators for power drive systems)
- IEC 61800-3 (EMC requirements for adjustable speed drives)
- IEC 60034-1 (rotating electrical machines: rating and performance)
- ISO 13849-1 (safety of machinery: safety-related parts of control systems)
- IEC 61000-3-12 (limits for harmonic currents of equipment above 16 A)
- MATLAB/Simulink
- PLECS
- STM32 Motor Control SDK
- TI C2000 MotorControl SDK
- Ansys Motor-CAD
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1Induction motor: equivalent circuit1.2Permanent magnet synchronous motor1.3Switched reluctance motors1.4Synchronous reluctance motors1.5BLDC motors and trapezoidal commutation1.6Stepper motors1.7Torque-speed curves and operating regions1.8Losses and IE efficiency classes1.9Nameplate data and motor parameters1.10Lab: no-load and locked-rotor tests
2.1Clarke and Park transforms2.2dq-axis model of the induction motor2.3dq model of the synchronous machine2.4Magnetic saturation and saliency2.5Reluctance torque and MTPA2.6Mechanical dynamics and load inertia2.7Identification of electrical parameters2.8Discrete-time models2.9Model validation with measurements2.10Practical exercise: dq model in Simulink
3.1Variable frequency drive architecture3.2Rectifier stage and DC bus3.3Three-phase inverter and modulation3.4Dynamic braking and chopper3.5Regeneration and active front end3.6dv/dt and sine-wave filters3.7Bearing currents and common mode3.8Long cables and reflected wave3.9Parameterisation of commercial drives3.10Workshop: commissioning a drive
4.1Open-loop V/f control4.2Slip and torque compensation4.3Field-oriented control (FOC)4.4Decoupled PI current regulators4.5Field weakening4.6Direct torque control (DTC)4.7Model predictive control4.8Tuning of current and speed loops4.9Comparison of control strategies4.10Lab: FOC on a PMSM motor
5.1Incremental and absolute encoders5.2Resolvers and R/D conversion5.3Hall sensors and position estimation5.4Phase current measurement5.5Flux and back-EMF observers5.6High-frequency injection at low speed5.7Extended Kalman filter5.8Start-up and initial rotor alignment5.9Robustness to parameter variation5.10Practical exercise: sensorless estimator on a PMSM
6.1Cascaded position-velocity-current loops6.2Motion profiles and limited jerk6.3Torque feedforward control6.4Friction and backlash compensation6.5Mechanical resonances and notch filters6.6Electronic cams and electronic gearing6.7Multi-axis synchronisation6.8Fieldbuses for motion control6.9Automatic servo tuning6.10Case study: servo axis with resonance
7.1Selection of IGBTs and SiC MOSFETs7.2Gate drivers and protection7.3Bus voltage and current measurement7.4DC bus capacitor sizing7.5Thermal design of the power module7.6Inverter stage layout7.7Short-circuit fault detection7.8Isolated auxiliary supplies7.9Loss reduction strategies7.10Lab: inverter test bench for a motor
8.1Microcontrollers and DSPs for motor control8.2Synchronised PWM and ADC peripherals8.3Fixed-point and floating-point arithmetic8.4Real-time task scheduling8.5Code generation from models8.6Motor control libraries8.7Debugging with oscilloscope and traces8.8Hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing8.9Fault management and safe states8.10Practical exercise: FOC firmware on a microcontroller
9.1Traction powertrain architecture9.2Traction motors and power density9.3Torque control across the full speed range9.4Regenerative braking and recovery9.5800 V inverters with SiC9.6System efficiency maps9.7Thermal management of motor and inverter9.8Communication with the vehicle control unit9.9Noise, vibration and torque ripple9.10Case study: traction efficiency map
10.1IES efficiency classes for systems10.2Energy savings in pumps and fans10.3Electromagnetic emissions from drives10.4Harmonics in the supply network10.5Safe Torque Off and safety functions10.6Electrical safety of drives10.7Thermal and overload protection10.8Motor maintenance and diagnostics10.9Motor current signature analysis10.10Workshop: energy assessment of a drive
11.1Pumping and pressure control11.2Hoisting, cranes and load control11.3Winders and web tension control11.4Compressors and HVAC11.5Machine tools and spindles11.6Robotics and fast actuators11.7Railway traction drives11.8Wind turbines and doubly-fed generators11.9Medium-voltage drives11.10Case study: winder control
12.1Drive definition and specification12.2Motor and electronics selection12.3System modelling and simulation12.4Control algorithm design12.5Implementation on a real platform12.6Test bench trials12.7Performance and efficiency analysis12.8Conclusions and proposals for improvement12.9Master'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, making it compatible with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is MATLAB/Simulink, PLECS, STM32 Motor Control SDK, TI C2000 MotorControl SDK and Ansys Motor-CAD, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: commissioning drives on a motor-brake bench, tuning FOC and sensorless loops on PMSMs, and measuring drive efficiency maps. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: IEC 61800-5-1, IEC 61800-5-2, IEC 60034-30-1, IEC 61800-9-2, IEC 61800-3, IEC 60034-1, ISO 13849-1, IEC 61000-3-12.
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's 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 MATLAB/Simulink, PLECS, STM32 Motor Control SDK, TI C2000 MotorControl SDK and Ansys Motor-CAD, 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's 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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