Diploma in Ethics in Military Naval Engineering
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in ethics in military naval engineering. 8 modules covering naval engineering and society, ethical foundations for naval engineers, crew safety and habitability, the law of the sea under UNCLOS and SOLAS, the marine environment under MARPOL, autonomy and emerging technology, and industry governance, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in Ethics in Military Naval Engineering — studying from Ireland
Ireland maintains a small defence force, the Defence Forces, which operates its own engineering corps and equipment maintenance capabilities. Defence procurement and development are handled through the Department of Defence, while much of the wider defence-related industrial activity involves dual-use technologies, electronics and communications systems supplied by domestic and international firms. Engineers in this area typically work on land vehicle maintenance, military communications, protective equipment and systems integration. Policy and procurement are governed by national and European frameworks, including EU defence initiatives.
Fees for Ireland: €1,790 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Ireland
Typical roles
Questions from Ireland
Which Irish bodies oversee defence engineering and does a private qualification count?
Defence in Ireland is overseen by the Department of Defence, and the Defence Forces run their own training and technical structures. Engineers Ireland sets general professional engineering standards. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not state-awarded, and they are not accredited by any national body, so recognition for any defence-related role is decided by the relevant authority or employer.
Do Irish defence and land-systems employers hire people with private online qualifications?
Irish defence-related hiring is limited and often subject to security vetting and specific qualification requirements, so employers set their own criteria. A private online qualification may be taken into account alongside experience, but we cannot say how any employer will view it or guarantee any result. Check requirements for particular roles directly.
Can I study this from Ireland while working, and what is the workload?
Yes, the programme is 100% online and taught in English, so you can study from home without travel or a student visa. Master's programmes total 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 and specialist courses 300. Each student has an assigned technical tutor, fees can be paid in instalments, and employer sponsorship may be possible. Plan your weekly hours realistically around your job.
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 social role of military naval engineering.
Apply ethical foundations to naval design decisions.
Prioritise crew safety and habitability.
Apply the law of the sea to naval operations.
Evaluate the environmental impact of military ships.
Assess naval autonomy from an ethical standpoint.
Analyse the governance of the naval defence industry.
Who it's for
- Naval engineers and naval architects working on military shipbuilding programmes.
- Technology ethics advisers supporting defence and maritime projects.
- Maritime safety inspectors interested in crew safety and habitability.
- Marine environmental consultants dealing with MARPOL and ship recycling.
- Compliance officers in shipyards handling exports and due diligence.
- Defence policy analysts focused on naval affairs.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter the naval sector.
What you'll work with
- United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982) (legal framework for the oceans)
- SOLAS Convention (safety of life at sea)
- MARPOL Convention (prevention of pollution from ships)
- San Remo Manual (international law applicable to armed conflicts at sea)
- Hong Kong Convention (2009) (safe and environmentally sound ship recycling)
- Common Position 2008/944/CFSP (EU rules on exports of military technology)
- NATO ANEP-77 Naval Ship Code (safety of naval ships)
- NVivo
- Miro
- Zotero
- SimaPro
8 modules
1.1Warships and their role1.2Military shipbuilding in Spain1.3Life cycle of a ship1.4Shipyards and employment1.5Dual use in the naval industry1.6Maritime action and surveillance vessels1.7Rescue and humanitarian support1.8International cooperation programmes1.9Public opinion and naval defence1.10Case study: analysis of a frigate programme
2.1Engineering codes of ethics2.2Professional responsibility2.3Crew safety2.4Virtue ethics2.5Deontology and consequences2.6Dual use and responsibility2.7Conscientious objection2.8Cost and schedule pressures2.9Safety culture2.10Workshop: analysis of a design dilemma
3.1Structural safety and stability3.2Naval classification rules3.3Firefighting on board3.4Survival and evacuation3.5Habitability and ergonomics3.6Noise and vibration in accommodation3.7Integration of women into crews3.8Mental health on board3.9Lessons from naval accidents3.10Case study: analysis of the sinking of the Kursk
4.1United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea4.2Immunity of warships4.3Freedom of navigation4.4The San Remo Manual4.5Protection of the shipwrecked4.6Maritime rescue and SOLAS4.7Counter-piracy operations4.8Migration control operations4.9Human rights at sea4.10Practical exercise: legal analysis of a rescue
5.1MARPOL and state-owned ships5.2Ballast water5.3Underwater noise and cetaceans5.4Sonar and strandings5.5Emissions and fuels5.6Anti-fouling paints5.7Responsible ship dismantling5.8The Hong Kong Convention5.9Environmental management at naval bases5.10Case study: dismantling a decommissioned ship
6.1Uncrewed vessels6.2Autonomy and human control6.3Naval cybersecurity6.4Artificial intelligence in combat systems6.5Sensors and surveillance6.6Privacy in maritime surveillance6.7Accountability in autonomous systems6.8IMO regulations for autonomous ships6.9Legal review of new capabilities6.10Workshop: ethical assessment of an uncrewed vessel
7.1Export of military ships7.2Export controls7.3Human rights due diligence7.4Transparency in contracts7.5Corruption prevention7.6Industrial offsets7.7Labour relations in shipyards7.8Corporate social responsibility7.9Communication with society7.10Case study: export of corvettes
8.1Selection of the case8.2Technical context8.3Stakeholders8.4Ethical analysis8.5Legal framework8.6Environmental impact8.7Recommendations8.8Conclusions8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
The programme is delivered 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 your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is NVivo, Miro, Zotero and SimaPro, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures for analysing naval accident cases, legal assessments of maritime operations and ethical impact assessments. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982), SOLAS, MARPOL, the San Remo Manual, the Hong Kong Convention (2009), Common Position 2008/944/CFSP and NATO ANEP-77 Naval Ship Code.
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 NVivo, Miro, Zotero and SimaPro, 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 Validation of Critical Communication Networks
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in validation of critical communication networks. 8 modules covering critical network architecture, requirements engineering and test plans, performance testing, resilience…
Diploma in Cybersecurity of Naval Combat Systems
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in cybersecurity of naval combat systems: 8 modules covering digital ship architecture, threats and risk, defence in depth, embedded systems…
Diploma in Military Information Classification
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in military information classification, structured in 8 modules covering classification fundamentals, the Spanish legal framework, classification criteria, NATO and EU…
More in Defense, Military Engineering & Land Systems
All Defense, Military Engineering & Land Systems programmes → · How to apply · Fees & financing · Scholarships