Diploma in Defence Programme Auditing
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in defence programme auditing, structured in 8 modules covering external and internal control, special modernisation programmes, cost auditing, schedule and technical performance, procurement compliance, risk and internal control, and audit techniques and reporting, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in Defence Programme Auditing — 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$2,790 (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 external and internal control system for defence spending.
Analyse the funding and management of special programmes.
Audit costs and prices of defence contracts.
Assess schedule and technical performance with EVM.
Review compliance with procurement regulations.
Design controls against fraud and corruption.
Prepare programme audit reports.
Who it's for
- Public programme auditors.
- Defence cost analysts.
- Public sector comptrollers.
- Management control consultants.
- Compliance managers.
- Public procurement analysts.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter the defence sector.
What you'll work with
- ISSAI 3000 (INTOSAI standard for performance auditing)
- Law 24/2011 (Spanish public sector contracts in defence and security)
- Directive 2009/81/EC (EU defence and security procurement)
- Law 9/2017 on Public Sector Contracts (Spanish public procurement law)
- COSO 2013 (internal control integrated framework)
- ISO 21508:2018 (earned value management in project and programme management)
- ISO 37001:2016 (anti-bribery management systems)
- Law 2/2023 (Spanish whistleblower protection law)
- CaseWare IDEA
- ACL Analytics
- Power BI
- Oracle Primavera P6
- Microsoft Excel
8 modules
1.1The Court of Audit (Tribunal de Cuentas)1.2The Defence Comptroller General (Intervención General de la Defensa)1.3Operational or performance auditing1.4Compliance auditing1.5Financial auditing1.6ISSAI standards1.7Public sector auditing standards1.8The GAO as a benchmark1.9Independence and objectivity1.10Case study: critical reading of an audit report
2.1Origin of the special programmes2.2Funding model2.3Industrial pre-financing2.4Budget process2.5Programme life cycle2.6Programme management2.7Financial risks2.8Lessons learned2.9Transparency and accountability2.10Workshop: financial analysis of a programme
3.1Cost structure of a programme3.2Pricing regime in defence contracts3.3Contractor cost accounting3.4Bid review3.5Cost-based and fixed-price contracts3.6Incurred costs3.7Overheads and profit3.8Cost overruns3.9Contractual claims3.10Practical exercise: review of a price proposal
4.1Contractual milestones4.2Earned value management4.3Technology readiness levels4.4Design reviews4.5Technical performance4.6Product quality4.7Testing and acceptance4.8Programme indicators4.9Warning signs4.10Lab: EVM analysis with programme data
5.1Law 24/20115.2Law 9/2017 on Public Sector Contracts5.3Directive 2009/81/EC5.4File review5.5Contract modifications5.6Penalties5.7Industrial offsets5.8Integrity in procurement5.9Appeals and litigation5.10Case study: review of a procurement file
6.1The COSO framework6.2Fraud risk6.3Conflicts of interest6.4Corruption prevention6.5Red-flag indicators6.6Control design6.7Whistleblowing channel under Law 2/20236.8ISO 37001 anti-bribery systems6.9Compliance programmes6.10Workshop: risk and control matrix
7.1Sampling7.2Data analysis7.3Interviews7.4Sufficient and appropriate evidence7.5Working papers7.6Developing findings7.7Recommendations7.8Writing the report7.9Follow-up of recommendations7.10Practical exercise: writing findings
8.1Programme selection8.2Objectives and scope8.3Cost analysis8.4Schedule analysis8.5Contract review8.6Control evaluation8.7Audit report8.8Conclusions8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
The programme is 100% online 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 it can be combined with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is CaseWare IDEA, ACL Analytics, Power BI, Oracle Primavera P6 and Microsoft Excel, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Exercises are based on real procedures for earned value analysis of programmes, review of bids and prices, and evaluation of internal controls. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: ISSAI 3000, Law 24/2011, Directive 2009/81/EC, Law 9/2017 on Public Sector Contracts, COSO 2013, ISO 21508:2018, ISO 37001:2016, Law 2/2023.
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 CaseWare IDEA, ACL Analytics, Power BI, Oracle Primavera P6 and Microsoft Excel, 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 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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