Course in Defence Acquisition Policy
Online 300-hour course in defence acquisition policy. 6 modules covering Directive 2009/81/EC (public defence and security contracts), Law 24/2011 (public sector contracts in defence and security) and Microsoft Project. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Course in Defence Acquisition Policy — studying from Malta
Malta's defence sector is comparatively small, reflecting the country's neutrality and modest armed forces. Activity centres on the Armed Forces of Malta, maritime surveillance, border security and the associated technical support. Engineering roles are mostly found in equipment maintenance, communications, infrastructure and government procurement rather than large-scale defence manufacturing. Professionals may find opportunities through public service and contractors supplying the armed forces and related agencies, where reliability and compliance with national procurement rules are important.
Fees for Malta: €743 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Malta
Typical roles
Questions from Malta
Which bodies regulate defence and military engineering work in Malta?
Malta's Armed Forces and the Ministry responsible for defence oversee military engineering and procurement. General engineering practice is regulated by the Chamber of Engineers (KSU) under the Engineering Profession Act. Export and dual-use controls follow EU and national rules. A SEIUM qualification is private and not accredited, so any recognition depends on employers or the relevant authority.
What career paths exist in Malta for land systems and defence engineering?
Opportunities in Malta are limited and mostly within government, the Armed Forces and their suppliers, with more substantial defence industry work typically found abroad. Many roles require security clearance and specific experience. A private qualification can support your profile, but you should expect employers to focus on experience and clearance eligibility.
How do I study this from Malta, and what should I consider about workload and funding?
The programme is delivered fully online in English, with an assigned technical tutor and a final project. You do not need a visa to study from home in Malta. Durations range from 300 to 1,900 hours, so plan time alongside any work commitments. Ask about instalment payments and whether employer sponsorship is 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
Explain the fundamentals of defence economics and the arms market.
Interpret the legal framework of public defence procurement.
Apply programme management techniques to major acquisitions.
Estimate lifecycle costs and analyse deviations.
Evaluate international cooperation models in joint programmes.
Assess new innovation instruments in public procurement.
Produce a critical analysis of an acquisition programme.
Who it's for
- Acquisition programme manager looking to specialise in Defence Acquisition Policy.
- Lifecycle cost analyst looking to specialise in Defence Acquisition Policy.
- Defence public procurement officer looking to specialise in Defence Acquisition Policy.
- Programme risk management lead looking to specialise in Defence Acquisition Policy.
- Defence economics analyst looking to specialise in Defence Acquisition Policy.
- International armaments cooperation consultant looking to specialise in Defence Acquisition Policy.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter public administration.
What you'll work with
- Directive 2009/81/EC (public defence and security contracts)
- Law 24/2011 (public sector contracts in defence and security)
- Law 9/2017 on Public Sector Contracts
- AQAP-2110 (NATO quality assurance requirements)
- ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288 (system lifecycle processes)
- Regulation (EU) 2021/697 (European Defence Fund)
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Defence budgets and NATO spending1.2The 2% of GDP target1.3Defence market: monopsony and oligopoly1.4Defence industrial and technological base1.5Weapon system lifecycle1.6Total cost of ownership1.7Cost escalation and Augustine's Law1.8Industrial compensation (offsets)1.9European strategic autonomy1.10Workshop: analysis of the Spanish defence budget
2.1Directive 2009/81/EC on defence contracts2.2Law 24/2011 on public sector contracts in defence2.3Article 346 TFEU2.4Negotiated procedures and competitive dialogue2.5Information and supply security2.6Subcontracting and supply chain2.7Export control and ITAR2.8Transparency and the Court of Audit2.9Preventing corruption in defence2.10Case study: appeal in a defence tender
3.1Acquisition models: DoD 5000 and AAP-203.2Definition, development and production phases3.3Operational requirements and specification3.4Special Modernisation Programmes3.5Programme risk management3.6Earned Value Management (EVM)3.7Technology readiness TRL and MRL3.8Systems integration and testing3.9Integrated logistics support (ILS)3.10Case study: lessons from the A400M programme
4.1European Defence Agency (EDA)4.2OCCAR and management of cooperative programmes4.3European Defence Fund4.4PESCO and collaborative projects4.5NATO NSPA4.6FCAS, Eurodrone and Tiger programmes4.7Workshare and juste retour4.8Government-to-government sales and FMS4.9NATO standardisation4.10Workshop: structure of a multinational programme
5.1Agile acquisition and rapid prototyping5.2Defence Innovation Unit and DIANA5.3Innovative public procurement5.4SMEs and start-ups in defence5.5Software as a capability5.6Sustainability and ESG criteria5.7Supply chain resilience5.8Lessons from the war in Ukraine5.9Ethics in procuring autonomous systems5.10Case study: accelerated munitions acquisition
6.1Programme selection6.2Strategic context and need6.3Acquisition strategy6.4Contractual framework6.5Cost and schedule analysis6.6Risks and mitigation6.7Evaluation of results6.8Policy recommendations6.9Report and presentation6.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
Training is 100% online on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the enrolment period, which makes it possible to combine the course with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Microsoft Project, Primavera P6, @RISK, advanced Excel, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practice cases are based on real procedures for analysing a real acquisition programme, estimating lifecycle costs and assessing programme risks. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final integrative project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Explain the fundamentals of defence economics and the arms market.
Interpret the legal framework of public defence procurement.
Apply programme management techniques to major acquisitions.
Estimate lifecycle costs and analyse deviations.
Evaluate international cooperation models in joint programmes.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior qualification required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
- Sufficient Spanish to follow technical regulatory texts.
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 comprises 300 hours in total, spread over 3 to 5 months. That is between 10 and 15 hours per week on average, compatible with full-time work.
You will work with Microsoft Project, Primavera P6, @RISK and advanced Excel. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
SEIUM's own diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the final integrative project. This is institutional training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or Postgraduate Diploma in the same area are recognised towards the higher-level programme. Check the recognition policy when you enrol.
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