Course in International Treaties on Chemical and Biological Weapons
Online 300-hour course on international treaties on chemical and biological weapons. 6 modules covering the Chemical Weapons Convention (CAQ, 1993), the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (CABT, 1972) and Zotero. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Course in International Treaties on Chemical and Biological Weapons — studying from Canada
Canada's defence sector is centred on procurement and sustainment through the Department of National Defence and Defence Research and Development Canada. Industrial activity spans land vehicles, naval systems, avionics and electronics, with firms in Ontario, Québec, Nova Scotia and British Columbia. Companies such as General Dynamics Land Systems Canada and Lockheed Martin Canada are notable employers, alongside a broad base of small and medium suppliers. Engineers work on systems integration, vehicle protection, logistics and sustainment, operating within strict security and export control frameworks.
Fees for Canada: C$852 (Canadian dollar), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Canada
Typical roles
Questions from Canada
Which Canadian bodies or processes govern defence engineering recognition?
Defence engineering in Canada often involves government procurement and security clearances, and engineers typically hold provincial Professional Engineer licences where a title is required. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not official state degrees or accredited by a national body, so they do not confer licensing or clearance. Recognition is for employers or the relevant body to decide, so verify this first.
Would Canadian defence or land systems employers accept this training?
Canadian defence employers and contractors generally rely on security clearance, licensing and demonstrated experience. A private qualification may support your application, but it is unlikely to replace those requirements, and its acceptance is up to each employer. A SEIUM final project can help show applied skill, so discuss expectations with prospective employers early.
Can I study remotely while working, and what are the costs and language demands?
Yes, the programmes are fully online, so you can study from Canada or elsewhere without a student visa, and fit sessions around work. Specialist courses are 300 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 and master's 1,900. Teaching is in English, supported by an assigned technical tutor. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship may be available.
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
Understand the historical evolution of chemical and biological disarmament.
Analyse the obligations and confidence-building mechanisms of the CABT.
Interpret the declarations and inspections regime of the CAQ.
Evaluate the role of the OPAQ in verification and attribution.
Relate the treaties to export controls and national legislation.
Examine the challenges posed by emerging technologies to the existing regimes.
Produce a critical analysis of a treaty on chemical or biological weapons.
Who it's for
- Chemical and biological non-proliferation analyst who wants to specialise in international treaties on chemical and biological weapons.
- Legal adviser in international law who wants to specialise in international treaties on chemical and biological weapons.
- Technical officer at a national CAQ authority who wants to specialise in international treaties on chemical and biological weapons.
- Biosecurity researcher who wants to specialise in international treaties on chemical and biological weapons.
- Compliance manager in the chemical industry who wants to specialise in international treaties on chemical and biological weapons.
- Disarmament affairs officer who wants to specialise in international treaties on chemical and biological weapons.
- Graduates in engineering or science seeking to join international organisations.
What you'll work with
- Chemical Weapons Convention (CAQ, 1993)
- Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (CABT, 1972)
- Geneva Protocol of 1925
- UN Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004)
- Australia Group (control lists)
- Regulation (EU) 2021/821 (control of dual-use items)
- Law 49/1999 (control of chemicals susceptible to diversion)
6 modules · 300 h
1.1The Hague Declaration of 18991.2First World War and Ypres1.3Geneva Protocol of 19251.4Cold War programmes1.5US renunciation of 19691.6Iran-Iraq War1.7Halabja attack of 19881.8Iraqi programmes and UNSCOM1.9Soviet Biopreparat1.10Workshop: chronology of the disarmament regime
2.1Negotiation and entry into force in 19752.2Article I and the general-purpose criterion2.3Absence of a verification mechanism2.4Failure of the 2001 protocol2.5Confidence-building measures2.6Implementation Support Unit2.7Review conferences2.8Mechanism of the Secretary-General2.9Sverdlovsk outbreak of 19792.10Case study: analysis of the Sverdlovsk incident
3.1Negotiation and entry into force in 19973.2General obligations under Article I3.3Schedules 1, 2 and 3 of chemicals3.4Declarations by States Parties3.5Destruction of stockpiles3.6Completion of destruction in 20233.7Challenge inspections3.8Chemical industry and verification3.9National authorities3.10Practice: interpreting the CAQ schedules
4.1Structure of the OPAQ4.2Designated laboratories4.3Fact-finding mission4.4Investigation and Identification Team4.5Syria and Douma case4.6UN-OPAQ joint mechanism4.7Skripal poisoning4.8Navalny case4.92013 Nobel Peace Prize4.10Case study: reading an OPAQ report
5.1Advances in synthetic biology5.2Gene editing and dual use5.3Central nervous system agents5.4Non-state actors and Resolution 15405.5Australia Group and export controls5.6Biosafety and biosecurity in laboratories5.7Codes of conduct in science5.8Governance of gain-of-function research5.9COVID-19 research and the BWC5.10Workshop: debate on strengthening the BWC
6.1Selection of the case study6.2Historical context6.3Applicable legal obligations6.4Verification mechanisms6.5International response6.6Assessment of effectiveness6.7Improvement proposals6.8Conclusions6.9Report and presentation6.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
Training 100% online on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the enrolment period, which makes it possible to combine it with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Zotero, NVivo, advanced Excel, Python (pandas), in free, academic or evaluation versions. The exercises are based on real procedures for analysing OPAQ reports, historical disarmament case studies and review conference simulations. Assessment is continuous per module plus the final integrative project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Understand the historical evolution of chemical and biological disarmament.
Analyse the obligations and confidence-building mechanisms of the CABT.
Interpret the declarations and inspections regime of the CAQ.
Evaluate the role of the OPAQ in verification and attribution.
Relate the treaties to export controls and national legislation.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior degree is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient level of Spanish to follow technical regulatory texts.
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 300 hours spread over 3 to 5 months. That is an average of 10 to 15 hours per week, compatible with a full-time job.
You will work with Zotero, NVivo, advanced Excel, Python (pandas). Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
An in-house diploma from SEIUM Institute upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrative project. It is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the advanced programme. Check the recognition policy when you enrol.
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