Diploma in Ethics of New Materials
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in the ethics of new materials, structured in 8 modules covering responsible materials innovation, toxicology, chemical regulation, life-cycle impact, military use, research governance and laboratory safety, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in Ethics of New Materials — 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: €895 (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
Analyse the ethical implications of advanced materials.
Assess the toxicological risks of new materials.
Apply European chemicals regulation.
Evaluate environmental impact across the life cycle.
Examine the legal limits on the military use of materials.
Design research governance mechanisms.
Promote safety in the laboratory and in manufacturing.
Who it's for
- Responsible innovation advisers.
- Materials engineers.
- Chemical safety specialists.
- REACH compliance managers.
- Life-cycle analysts.
- Laboratory risk prevention technicians.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter the defence sector.
What you'll work with
- Regulation (EC) 1907/2006 (REACH: registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals)
- Regulation (EC) 1272/2008 (CLP: classification, labelling and packaging of substances)
- Commission Recommendation 2022/C 229/01 (definition of nanomaterial)
- ISO/TR 12885 (health and safety practices in occupational settings relevant to nanotechnologies)
- ISO 14040 (life-cycle assessment principles and framework)
- Protocol I to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (non-detectable fragments)
- Directive 2004/37/EC (protection of workers from carcinogens and mutagens)
- SimaPro
- OpenLCA
- ECHA CHEM
- Granta EduPack
8 modules
1.1Advanced materials and society1.2Nanomaterials and graphene1.3Metamaterials1.4Smart and self-healing materials1.5Materials for armour and protection1.6High-performance composites1.7Responsible research and innovation1.8Anticipating risks1.9Ethics of materials science1.10Case study: the history of asbestos
2.1Toxicology of nanomaterials2.2Exposure through inhalation and contact2.3Respirable fibres and their hazards2.4Heavy metals in alloys2.5Chemical risk assessment2.6Occupational exposure limits2.7Health surveillance of workers2.8Risk communication2.9The precautionary principle2.10Lab: assessing exposure to nanoparticles
3.1The REACH Regulation3.2Defence exemptions under REACH3.3CLP classification and labelling3.4Substances of very high concern3.5EU definition of nanomaterial3.6Restrictions on hazardous substances3.7Safety data sheets3.8Registration and evaluation of substances3.9Compliance in the supply chain3.10Practical: REACH analysis of a coating
4.1Life-cycle assessment of materials4.2Carbon footprint of production4.3Critical raw materials4.4Mining and communities4.5Recyclability of composites4.6Release of particles into the environment4.7Persistence of PFAS substances4.8Hazardous waste management4.9Ecodesign of materials4.10Case study: life cycle of ceramic armour
5.1Legal review of new weapons5.2Materials and unnecessary suffering5.3Non-detectable fragments5.4Explosive remnants and contamination5.5Depleted uranium: the scientific debate5.6Protecting the combatant as a duty5.7Dual use and civil transfer5.8Export controls5.9Transparency and secrecy5.10Case study: analysis of CCW Protocol I
6.1Ethics committees in materials research6.2Risk assessment in projects6.3Funding of defence research6.4Academic freedom and secrecy6.5Publication of sensitive results6.6Scientific integrity6.7University-industry collaboration6.8Public participation6.9Responsible innovation indicators6.10Workshop: ethical assessment of a materials project
7.1Safe laboratory design7.2Hierarchy of controls7.3Protection against dusts and fibres7.4Fire and explosion risks7.5Staff training7.6Incident management7.7Safety culture7.8Safety audits7.9Responsibility of the principal investigator7.10Practical: risk analysis of a synthesis
8.1Selected material8.2Civil and military applications8.3Risks to health and the environment8.4Regulatory framework8.5Ethical analysis8.6Governance measures8.7Recommendations8.8Conclusions8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with your tutor
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 the programme is compatible with full-time work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is SimaPro, OpenLCA, ECHA CHEM and Granta EduPack, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied on real procedures from assessment of exposure to nanomaterials, life-cycle assessment of materials and REACH compliance reviews. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final project.
Standards covered: Regulation (EC) 1907/2006, Regulation (EC) 1272/2008, Commission Recommendation 2022/C 229/01, ISO/TR 12885, ISO 14040, Protocol I to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, Directive 2004/37/EC.
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 SimaPro, OpenLCA, ECHA CHEM and Granta EduPack, 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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