The Different Master Program

The Master of Space Engineering and Technology Program is the first university-level effort for practice-oriented and high-paced engineering in EU. Based on the idea that space education should be relevant to the latest trends in the space industry, the Program is co-designed by the satellite manufacturer EnduroSat, the Sofia University „St. Kliment Ohridsky“, the Naval Academy “Nikola Vaptzarov” and the Air Force Academy “Georgi Benkovski”.

The Master's Program is built on the concept of predominantly hands-on education, giving the knowledge, set of skills and mindset for a successful career in the space sector. The program includes 70% hands-on activities in the form of practice-oriented workshops and project work. Therefore, most courses are based on a set of fundamental theory lectures but focus on a concrete hands-on challenge to be solved throughout the semester, backed up by suitable books and online resources provided by the lecturer.

The implementation of the idea behind the Program is only possible by the combination of having some of the best lecturers in the world –from academia, business and space agencies - and the most advanced facilities for practical work.

The curriculum of the Master of Space Engineering and Technology contains a wide range of space topics. The structure of the program includes 12 compulsory disciplines covering the basic required space knowledge, as well as a significant courses, workshops, hands-on projects and internships.

Graduates of the Master Program are expected to have good understanding and practical knowledge in space design, systems engineering, assembly, test and operations, space communication equipment development and use. In addition, they are expected to obtain specific hands-on experience, acquired within the specialized disciplines and the selected Master thesis. Space applications and services, as well as research and development of innovative capabilities are also part of the curriculum.

The fast growth of the space private sector in recent years creates new opportunities for an accelerated development of space sector. There is an ever-growing need for space talents in engineering and tech in EU. Companies are constantly looking for trained professionals in the field of space engineering and technology, but still the number of such young specialists is insignificant and therefore the development space start-up and scale-ups is greatly limited.

As part of their studies, graduates of the Space Engineering and Technology Master of Science (MSc) Program will gain knowledge in the use of space-based systems, their engineering and operations. Furthermore, the students will master space systems engineering, orbital mechanics, space mission design and analysis, spacecraft design and manufacturing, spacecraft propulsion, space navigation, mission control operations, as well as specific payloads (sensors) and their applications within a space missions. Satellite systems are unthinkable without the primary communication systems, and therefore an essential part of the program involves the acquisition of engineering knowledge of basic space communications, networks and equipment. Issues in integrated circuit engineering, microwave engineering and space systems engineering. All of the above forms the necessary set of knowledge in this Master of Science’s education and would enable the graduate students to find immediate realization within the space sector. The Master of Space Engineering and Technology (SET) graduates will gain an interdisciplinary and practice-oriented engineering know-how on spacecraft and space applications. Their training will make them competitive and boost their chance for a good professional realization.