Diploma in Ethics of Defence Production
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in the ethics of defence production, structured in 8 modules covering the defence industry, business ethics, health and safety, environmental management, human rights in the supply chain, product integrity and governance, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in Ethics of Defence Production — studying from Australia
Defence is one of Australia's largest engineering employers, with major programmes in land systems, naval platforms, aircraft and integrated systems managed through the Department of Defence. Land systems engineering supports armoured vehicles, weapons and logistics equipment, often through prime contractors and local industry partners. Industry involvement is strongly encouraged through the Defence industry policy framework. Engineers work on sustainment, capability development, systems integration and safety assurance, typically in Canberra, Adelaide, Melbourne and regional defence precincts.
Fees for Australia: A$1,740 (AUD), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Australia
Typical roles
Questions from Australia
How does defence engineering recognition work in Australia?
Defence engineering in Australia is largely run through the Department of Defence and its industry partners, which set their own security clearance and qualification requirements. Engineers Australia is the professional body for accreditation. SEIUM's private qualifications are not accredited by these bodies, so recognition is for employers or the relevant body to decide.
Which Australian employers hire in defence and land systems?
Australia has defence prime contractors, the Department of Defence, and specialist land systems firms. Many of these roles require Australian security clearances, which depend on citizenship and background checks rather than course completion. Ask employers how they weigh private qualifications against experience and clearance requirements.
Is the course manageable with a job, and does it need a visa?
The programmes are 100% online and taught in English, so you can study from Australia without a student visa. Specialist courses take 300 hours, diplomas 800 and master's 1,900. An assigned technical tutor supports you, fees are payable 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
Describe the structure of the defence industry.
Apply business ethics frameworks to the sector.
Manage health and safety in manufacturing.
Integrate environmental criteria into production.
Apply human rights due diligence.
Ensure product integrity and compliance.
Propose responsible governance models.
Who it's for
- Corporate compliance managers.
- Industrial sustainability managers.
- Process safety technicians.
- Supply chain auditors.
- Business and human rights advisers.
- Quality managers.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter the defence industry.
What you'll work with
- UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (corporate responsibility to respect human rights)
- Directive (EU) 2024/1760 (Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive)
- ISO 37001 (anti-bribery management systems)
- ISO 45001 (occupational health and safety management systems)
- ISO 14001 (environmental management systems)
- Directive 2012/18/EU (Seveso III: control of major-accident hazards)
- Regulation (EU) 2023/1525 (Act in Support of Ammunition Production, ASAP)
- SAP Sustainability Control Tower
- OpenLCA
- EcoVadis
- Power BI
8 modules
1.1Structure of the European industry1.2Industrial and technological base1.3Public and private companies1.4Global supply chains1.5Production in times of crisis1.6Defence economics1.7Employment and territory1.8Strategic autonomy1.9Social legitimacy of the industry1.10Case study: ramping up ammunition production in the EU
2.1Corporate social responsibility2.2Stakeholder theory2.3Corporate governance2.4Integrity and anti-corruption2.5Conflicts of interest and revolving doors2.6Transparency and industrial secrecy2.7Responsible investment and ESG criteria2.8The debate on excluding defence from ESG2.9Ethics of senior management2.10Practical: analysis of a sustainability report
3.1Risks in manufacturing plants3.2Process safety3.3Facilities with hazardous substances3.4Explosive atmospheres3.5Occupational safety management3.6Accident investigation3.7Safety culture3.8Ergonomics and psychosocial risks3.9Health surveillance3.10Case study: analysis of an industrial accident
4.1Environmental management systems4.2Industrial emissions and discharges4.3Contaminated soil at facilities4.4Hazardous waste management4.5Restricted chemical substances4.6Carbon footprint of production4.7Circular economy4.8Demilitarisation and recycling4.9Environmental impact assessment4.10Workshop: environmental plan for a plant
5.1UN Guiding Principles5.2Human rights due diligence5.3EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive5.4Conflict minerals5.5Forced labour in the supply chain5.6Supplier assessment5.7Risk of improper end use5.8Grievance mechanisms5.9Transparency reports5.10Practical: supplier risk map
6.1Quality assurance in defence6.2Counterfeit components6.3Integrity of test data6.4Product safety for the user6.5Export control within the company6.6Internal compliance programmes6.7Whistleblowing channels6.8Independent audits6.9Sanctions and criminal liability6.10Case study: a test falsification scandal
7.1The defence industry and public opinion7.2Relations with universities7.3Civil technology transfer7.4Industrial offsets7.5Parliamentary oversight7.6The role of NGOs7.7Honest corporate communication7.8Sector codes of ethics7.9Future scenarios7.10Practical: code of ethics for a defence company
8.1Company or plant analysed8.2Stakeholders8.3Safety and environmental risks8.4Human rights risks8.5Compliance analysis8.6Governance proposal8.7Recommendations8.8Conclusions8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with your tutor
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, so the programme is compatible with full-time work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is SAP Sustainability Control Tower, OpenLCA, EcoVadis and Power BI, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied on real procedures from supplier due diligence audits, analysis of industrial accidents and evaluation of sustainability reports. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final project.
Standards covered: UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, Directive (EU) 2024/1760, ISO 37001, ISO 45001, ISO 14001, Directive 2012/18/EU, Regulation (EU) 2023/1525.
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
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
- 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 800 hours over 6–8 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with SAP Sustainability Control Tower, OpenLCA, EcoVadis and Power BI, 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 final project. 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 are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector (no university degree required), 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.
Related programmes
Diploma in Ethics in Defence Acquisition
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in ethics in defence acquisition. 8 modules covering the defence acquisition cycle, public procurement ethics, the legal framework, corruption prevention,…
Diploma in Validation of Field Infrastructure
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in the validation of field infrastructure. 8 modules covering field infrastructure types, requirements and acceptance criteria, geotechnics and pavements to…
Diploma in IAEA International Compliance Policies
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in IAEA international compliance policies. 8 modules covering the non-proliferation regime, IAEA safeguards, nuclear material accounting and control, the Additional…
More in Defense, Military Engineering & Land Systems
All Defense, Military Engineering & Land Systems programmes → · How to apply · Fees & financing · Scholarships