Postgraduate DiplomaDefense, Military Engineering & Land Systems Applications open

Diploma in Risk and Sovereignty in Procurement

Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in risk and sovereignty in defence procurement. 8 modules covering Directive 2009/81/EC, acquisition risks, security of supply, technological sovereignty, classified contracts, award and contract supervision, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration6–8 months
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute diploma

Diploma in Risk and Sovereignty in Procurement — 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$2,330 (Canadian dollar), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.

Relevant bodies in Canada

  • Department of National Defence (DND)
  • Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC)
  • Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries (CADSI)
  • Public Services and Procurement Canada

Typical roles

  • Defence Systems Engineer
  • Land Systems Engineer
  • Systems Integration Engineer
  • Sustainment Engineer

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.

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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Understand the legal regime governing defence and security procurement.

02

Identify and assess risks in acquisition processes.

03

Integrate security of supply and information security requirements.

04

Apply technological sovereignty criteria in procurement.

05

Manage third-country dependencies and export restrictions.

06

Design contractual clauses to mitigate risks.

07

Supervise contract performance.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Defence procurement officers.
  • Acquisition risk managers.
  • Public procurement legal advisers.
  • Supply chain analysts.
  • Strategic purchasing managers.
  • Contract auditors.
  • Engineering or science graduates looking to enter public administration.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • Directive 2009/81/EC (procurement in the fields of defence and security)
  • Law 24/2011 (Spanish law on public sector contracts in defence and security)
  • Law 9/2017 (Spanish Public Sector Contracts Act)
  • Regulation (EU) 2019/452 (screening of foreign direct investment)
  • Regulation (EU) 2023/2418 (EDIRPA, common defence procurement)
  • ISO 31000 (risk management)
  • ISO 20400 (sustainable procurement)
  • ITAR (22 CFR 120-130)
  • the Spanish Public Sector Procurement Platform (PLACSP)
  • SAP Ariba
  • Power BI
  • @RISK
Syllabus

8 modules

  1. 1.1Specific features of defence procurement
  2. 1.2Directive 2009/81/EC
  3. 1.3Spanish Law 24/2011
  4. 1.4Exclusions and Article 346 TFEU
  5. 1.5Award procedures
  6. 1.6European joint procurement
  7. 1.7Procurement agencies
  8. 1.8International procurement
  9. 1.9Principles of transparency and competition
  10. 1.10Case study: choosing the award procedure
  1. 2.1Risk identification
  2. 2.2Technical risks
  3. 2.3Schedule and cost risks
  4. 2.4Supplier risks
  5. 2.5Dependency risks
  6. 2.6Regulatory and export risks
  7. 2.7Corruption risks
  8. 2.8Risk matrices
  9. 2.9Cost simulation
  10. 2.10Lab: cost risk analysis with simulation
  1. 3.1The concept of security of supply
  2. 3.2Requirements in tender specifications
  3. 3.3Industrial capabilities
  4. 3.4Strategic stocks
  5. 3.5Priority in crisis situations
  6. 3.6Multi-tier supply chains
  7. 3.7Capacity tests
  8. 3.8Supplier assessment
  9. 3.9Cooperation between States
  10. 3.10Practical exercise: security of supply clauses
  1. 4.1Strategic autonomy in acquisitions
  2. 4.2Control of intellectual property
  3. 4.3Access to source code
  4. 4.4ITAR restrictions and their impact
  5. 4.5Components from third countries
  6. 4.6Foreign investment screening
  7. 4.7European preference
  8. 4.8European defence funds
  9. 4.9Sovereignty assessment
  10. 4.10Case study: assessment of a bid with restricted components
  1. 5.1Classified contracts
  2. 5.2Facility security clearances
  3. 5.3Security classification guides
  4. 5.4Supplier cybersecurity
  5. 5.5Technology transfer
  6. 5.6Subcontracting and security
  7. 5.7Security audits
  8. 5.8Incidents during performance
  9. 5.9Model clauses
  10. 5.10Workshop: security annex to a contract
  1. 6.1Selection (solvency) criteria
  2. 6.2Award criteria
  3. 6.3Life cycle cost
  4. 6.4ISO 20400 sustainability criteria
  5. 6.5Abnormally low tenders
  6. 6.6Negotiation
  7. 6.7Appeals and litigation
  8. 6.8Procurement file documentation
  9. 6.9Integrity of the procedure
  10. 6.10Practical exercise: comparative evaluation of bids
  1. 7.1Contract management
  2. 7.2Milestones and payments
  3. 7.3Contract modifications
  4. 7.4Penalties and guarantees
  5. 7.5Performance monitoring
  6. 7.6Managing changes at the supplier
  7. 7.7Dispute resolution
  8. 7.8Contract close-out
  9. 7.9Lessons learned
  10. 7.10Case study: managing a change of control of the contractor
  1. 8.1Selection of the procurement file
  2. 8.2Applicable legal framework
  3. 8.3Risk analysis
  4. 8.4Sovereignty assessment of the bids
  5. 8.5Proposed clauses
  6. 8.6Proposed award criteria
  7. 8.7Supervision plan
  8. 8.8Conclusions
  9. 8.9Report and presentation
  10. 8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
Methodology, software & labs

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 it fits around your job.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is the Spanish Public Sector Procurement Platform (PLACSP), SAP Ariba, Power BI and @RISK, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures: risk analysis of a procurement file, evaluation of security of supply clauses and comparison of bids using sovereignty criteria. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final integrating project.

Standards covered: Directive 2009/81/EC, Law 24/2011, Law 9/2017, Regulation (EU) 2019/452, Regulation (EU) 2023/2418, ISO 31000, ISO 20400, ITAR.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of Directive 2009/81/EC, Law 24/2011 and Law 9/2017 applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:the Spanish Public Sector Procurement Platform (PLACSP), SAP Ariba, Power BI and @RISK, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Final project:A procurement risk and sovereignty project covering the legal framework, risk analysis, sovereignty assessment of bids, proposed clauses and a supervision plan, reviewed by your tutor.
Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Procurement file and framework
Select a procurement file and analyse the applicable legal framework.
Risk analysis
Identify and assess the technical, cost, supplier and dependency risks.
Sovereignty assessment
Assess the bids against technological sovereignty and security of supply criteria.
Clauses and award criteria
Propose mitigation clauses, award criteria and a supervision plan.
Final project
Present the conclusions and report, reviewed by your tutor.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Defence procurement officerAcquisition risk managerPublic procurement legal adviserSupply chain analystStrategic purchasing managerContract auditor
Admissions & scholarships

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.

FAQ

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 the Spanish Public Sector Procurement Platform (PLACSP), SAP Ariba, Power BI and @RISK, 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.

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