Master’s in Data Governance, Classification and Information Security Engineering (NATO/EU/US)
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in data governance, classification and information security engineering (NATO/EU/US). 12 modules covering C-M(2002)49, Council Decision 2013/488/EU, NIST SP 800-171, CMMC, data-centric security architectures and industrial security, using Microsoft Purview and Collibra, with an assigned technical tutor.
Master’s in Data Governance, Classification and Information Security Engineering (NATO/EU/US) — 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$15,800 (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
Design data governance frameworks in defence.
Apply national, NATO, EU and US classification systems.
Meet NATO and EU information security requirements.
Manage controlled information in line with NIST SP 800-171 and CMMC.
Design data-centric security architectures.
Manage industrial security and information sharing.
Apply ethical and accountability principles to secrecy.
Who it's for
- Information security managers in defence organisations and suppliers.
- Data governance leads responsible for catalogues, quality and data life cycle.
- Facility security officers handling classified contracts and clearances.
- CMMC compliance consultants advising suppliers to the US market.
- Data security architects designing labelling, access control and cross-domain solutions.
- Security auditors reviewing compliance with NATO, EU and US requirements.
- Engineering or science graduates aiming to enter the defence industry.
What you'll work with
- C-M(2002)49 (NATO security policy)
- Council Decision 2013/488/EU (security rules for protecting EU classified information)
- Law 9/1968 (Spanish Official Secrets Act)
- NIST SP 800-171 (protecting controlled unclassified information)
- 32 CFR Part 2002 (controlled unclassified information)
- Executive Order 13526 (classified national security information)
- 32 CFR Part 170 (CMMC programme)
- ISO/IEC 27001:2022 (information security management systems)
- Microsoft Purview
- Collibra
- Titus Classification
- Varonis
- Splunk
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1Data as an asset in defence1.2NATO and EU data strategies1.3Data governance frameworks1.4Roles and responsibilities1.5Data life cycle1.6Data quality1.7Catalogues and metadata1.8Data interoperability1.9Data ethics1.10Case study: data governance assessment of an organisation
2.1Classification principles2.2National classification levels2.3Spanish Official Secrets Act (Law 9/1968)2.4National Authority for the Protection of Classified Information2.5NATO classification2.6EU classification2.7US classification and Executive Order 135262.8Equivalences between systems2.9Declassification2.10Practical exercise: table of classification level equivalences
3.1NATO security policy C-M(2002)493.2Security directives3.3Personnel security3.4Physical security3.5Security of information3.6INFOSEC3.7Industrial security3.8Security agreements3.9NATO audits3.10Case study: security requirements of a NATO project
4.1Council Decision 2013/488/EU4.2Commission security rules4.3EU classified information4.4System accreditation4.5Industrial security in European programmes4.6European Defence Fund and security4.7Agreements with third countries4.8Incident management4.9Oversight4.10Workshop: security plan for a European Defence Fund project
5.1Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)5.2CUI Registry and categories5.332 CFR Part 20025.4NIST SP 800-1715.5CMMC 2.05.6ITAR-controlled technical data5.7NISPOM industrial security programme5.8Requirements for foreign suppliers5.9Audits and assessment5.10Practical exercise: NIST SP 800-171 self-assessment
6.1Role-based and attribute-based access control6.2Data labelling6.3Digital rights management6.4Data loss prevention6.5Encryption of data at rest and in transit6.6Cross-domain solutions6.7Data-centric zero trust6.8Identity federation6.9Logging and auditing6.10Lab: attribute-based access control with labels
7.1System accreditation7.2TEMPEST security requirements: principles7.3Security zones and areas7.4Media management7.5Secure erasure and destruction7.6Approved products7.7Configuration management7.8Inspections7.9Incident management7.10Case study: media management procedure
8.1Need to know versus need to share8.2Sharing in coalitions8.3Federated mission networks8.4Label interoperability8.5Sharing agreements8.6Personal data protection in defence8.7Open-source intelligence and privacy8.8Aggregation risks8.9Sharing governance8.10Practical exercise: information sharing agreement
9.1Data platforms in defence9.2Quality and lineage9.3Analytics in secure environments9.4Machine learning with sensitive data9.5Differential privacy and federation9.6AI model governance9.7NATO principles of responsible use of AI9.8Algorithm auditing9.9Generative AI risks9.10Workshop: risk assessment of an AI model using sensitive data
10.1Facility security clearances10.2Personnel security clearances10.3Classified contracts10.4Security classification guides10.5International visits10.6Transport of classified material10.7Subcontracting10.8Inspections10.9Training and awareness10.10Case study: classification guide for a contract
11.1Information security audits11.2Compliance indicators11.3Security risk management11.4Insider threat11.5Whistleblowing channels11.6Legal liability11.7Transparency and access to information11.8Ethics of secrecy11.9Accountability11.10Practical exercise: insider threat prevention programme
12.1Selection of the organisation or project12.2Data governance assessment12.3Map of NATO, EU and US requirements12.4Design of the classification model12.5Data security architecture12.6Compliance plan12.7Implementation plan12.8Conclusions12.9Master'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. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within the intake, so the programme can be combined with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Microsoft Purview, Collibra, Titus Classification, Varonis and Splunk, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures for designing classification and data-labelling models, NIST SP 800-171 self-assessments and drawing up security plans for international projects. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: C-M(2002)49, Council Decision 2013/488/EU, Law 9/1968, NIST SP 800-171, 32 CFR Part 2002, Executive Order 13526, 32 CFR Part 170, ISO/IEC 27001:2022.
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 Microsoft Purview, Collibra, Titus Classification, Varonis and Splunk, 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 degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), a suitable computer 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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