Diploma in NATO/EU Industrial Independence Strategies
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in NATO/EU industrial independence strategies: 8 modules covering the European defence industrial base, EU policies (EDF, ASAP, EDIRPA), NATO industrial policy, supply chains and critical raw materials, technology and ownership, production capacity and resilience, and strategic assessment, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in NATO/EU Industrial Independence Strategies — 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: €1,090 (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 structure of the European defence industrial base.
Understand the EU industrial policy instruments.
Understand NATO industrial policy.
Identify dependencies in supply chains and critical raw materials.
Assess technology and ownership risks.
Plan the resilience of production capacity.
Formulate well-founded strategic recommendations.
Who it's for
- Industrial policy analysts.
- Defence strategy consultants.
- European programme managers.
- Supply chain analysts.
- Institutional affairs managers.
- Researchers in strategic studies.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter the defence industry.
What you'll work with
- Regulation (EU) 2021/697 (European Defence Fund)
- Regulation (EU) 2023/1525 (Act in Support of Ammunition Production, ASAP)
- Regulation (EU) 2023/2418 (common procurement instrument, EDIRPA)
- Regulation (EU) 2024/1252 (Critical Raw Materials Act)
- Regulation (EU) 2023/1781 (European Chips Act)
- Regulation (EU) 2019/452 (screening of foreign direct investment)
- Directive 2009/81/EC (defence and security procurement)
- Power BI
- Tableau
- Gephi
- Python (pandas)
8 modules
1.1The concept of a defence technological and industrial base1.2Structure of the sector1.3Major industrial groups1.4The role of SMEs1.5Market fragmentation1.6External dependencies1.7Trends in defence spending1.8Critical industrial capabilities1.9Lessons from the war in Ukraine1.10Case study: industrial map of a segment
2.1European Defence Fund2.2Permanent Structured Cooperation2.3The EDIRPA instrument2.4ASAP Act on ammunition production2.5European Defence Industrial Strategy2.6The EDIP programme2.7Directive 2009/81/EC2.8Strategic Compass2.9Role of the European Defence Agency2.10Workshop: analysis of an EDF call
3.1Defence Production Action Plan3.2The NDPP planning process3.3The NSPA agency3.4The DIANA accelerator3.5NATO Innovation Fund3.6Standardisation and interoperability3.7Joint procurement3.8EU-NATO relations3.9The transatlantic industrial base3.10Practical exercise: comparison of EU and NATO instruments
4.1Regulation (EU) 2024/1252 on critical raw materials4.2European Chips Act4.3Supply chain mapping4.4Concentration risks4.5Strategic reserves4.6Supplier diversification4.7Recycling and the circular economy4.8Reshoring4.9Security of supply4.10Lab: dependency analysis with Gephi
5.1ITAR-free components5.2Foreign investment screening5.3Regulation (EU) 2019/4525.4Intellectual property5.5Technology transfer5.6R&D programmes5.7Emerging and disruptive technologies5.8Spin-in from the civil sector5.9Protection of know-how5.10Practical exercise: assessing the technological dependency of a product
6.1Production surge capacity6.2Strategic inventory management6.3Advanced manufacturing6.4Multi-year framework contracts6.5Demand aggregation6.6Industry financing6.7Skilled workforce6.8Plant resilience6.9Capacity indicators6.10Case study: scale-up plan for a production line
7.1Strategic autonomy indicators7.2Scenario analysis7.3Cost-benefit analysis7.4Cooperation versus autonomy7.5The Spanish defence industry7.6National industrial policy7.7Technology foresight7.8Communicating recommendations7.9Public-private governance7.10Workshop: autonomy matrix for a capability
8.1Selection of the capability8.2Supply chain map8.3Identified dependencies8.4Applicable policy framework8.5Strategic options8.6Scenario assessment8.7Recommendations8.8Conclusions8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with the 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 the intake, so you can combine it with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original regulation and applied exercises. The working software is Power BI, Tableau, Gephi and Python (pandas), in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real supply chain dependency maps, analysis of European funding calls and assessment of autonomy scenarios. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final capstone project.
Standards covered: Regulation (EU) 2021/697, Regulation (EU) 2023/1525, Regulation (EU) 2023/2418, Regulation (EU) 2024/1252, Regulation (EU) 2023/1781, Regulation (EU) 2019/452, Directive 2009/81/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. A university degree is not 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 Power BI, Tableau, Gephi and Python (pandas), 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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