Course in International Academic Defence Policy
Online 300-hour course in international academic defence policy. 6 modules covering Regulation (EU) 2021/821 (dual-use products control), the Wassenaar Arrangement and Zotero. Personal tutor and open enrolment.
Course in International Academic Defence 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
Analyse the role of scientific knowledge in international security and defence policy.
Identify international academic cooperation frameworks and their constraints.
Apply the criteria for controlling intangible technology transfers in the university sphere.
Assess research security risks in collaborations with third countries.
Evaluate the ethical dilemmas between scientific openness and the protection of sensitive knowledge.
Design an institutional international cooperation policy with proportionate safeguards.
Draw up a plan for managing and monitoring that policy in an academic institution.
Who it's for
- Research security officer wishing to specialise in International Academic Defence Policy.
- Science and defence policy analyst wishing to specialise in International Academic Defence Policy.
- Export control technician in universities wishing to specialise in International Academic Defence Policy.
- International R&D project manager wishing to specialise in International Academic Defence Policy.
- University international relations adviser wishing to specialise in International Academic Defence Policy.
- Regulatory compliance consultant in sensitive technologies wishing to specialise in International Academic Defence Policy.
- Graduates in engineering or sciences seeking to enter universities and research centres.
What you'll work with
- Regulation (EU) 2021/821 (dual-use products control)
- Wassenaar Arrangement
- Council of the EU Recommendation on research security (2024)
- Law 53/2007 (control of foreign trade in defence and dual-use materials)
- Royal Decree 679/2014 (regulation on the control of foreign trade)
- Regulation (EU) 2021/695 (Horizon Europe)
- ISO/IEC 27001 (information security)
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Science diplomacy and its role1.2International academic cooperation in security1.3National interests in elite training1.4Researcher mobility and brain drain1.5Academic networks and think tanks1.6International research funding1.7Influence and interference through academia1.8Vocabulary of international relations1.9Useful sources and databases1.10Exercise: mapping a cooperation network
2.1European research programmes in security and defence2.2Participation and eligibility rules2.3Bilateral agreements between States2.4Agreements between universities and military academies2.5International organisations and their programmes2.6Regional cooperation instruments2.7Chairs and centres of excellence2.8Philanthropic and industrial funding2.9Common conditions and clauses2.10Practice: analysing the rules of a programme
3.1Dual-use research and its identification3.2Export control of technology and knowledge3.3Restrictions on publication and their legitimacy3.4Screening of researchers and institutions3.5Foreign investment rules in strategic sectors3.6Research security and good practice3.7Protection of industrial property3.8Cybersecurity of research data3.9Balancing openness and protection3.10Practice: assessing the risk of a collaboration
4.1Cooperating with States with poor human rights records4.2Academic boycott: arguments for and against4.3Institutional neutrality and its feasibility4.4Benefit of shared knowledge versus risk4.5Asymmetry between rich and developing countries4.6Knowledge extraction and authorship4.7Transparency about the funder4.8Responsibility of the individual researcher4.9Role of professional associations4.10Debate: accepting or rejecting an agreement
5.1Drafting an international cooperation policy5.2Criteria for assessing partners5.3Institutional due diligence procedure5.4Enforceable contractual clauses5.5Review committee and how it works5.6Monitoring and review of existing agreements5.7Transparency and public register5.8Training of staff involved5.9Monitoring indicators5.10Practice: designing the due diligence procedure
6.1Choosing the institution and its international portfolio6.2Inventory of agreements and funders6.3Analysis of the applicable regulatory framework6.4Risk assessment per partner6.5Identifying ethical dilemmas6.6Proposed cooperation policy6.7Due diligence procedure6.8Transparency and training plan6.9Proposal report6.10Project defence
How you'll learn
100 % online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and a dedicated technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the intake, 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 Zotero, NVivo, Power BI, Advanced Excel, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Assignments are based on real procedures: analysis of international scientific cooperation cases, compliance audits for intangible export controls, and drafting of institutional research security policies. Assessment is continuous per 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.
Analyse the role of scientific knowledge in international security and defence policy.
Identify international academic cooperation frameworks and their constraints.
Apply the criteria for controlling intangible technology transfers in the university sphere.
Assess research security risks in collaborations with third countries.
Evaluate the ethical dilemmas between scientific openness and the protection of sensitive knowledge.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior degree is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme’s 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 a full-time job.
You work with Zotero, NVivo, Power BI and Advanced Excel. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM own diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrative project. It is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a Course or Postgraduate Diploma in the same area count towards the higher programme. Check the recognition policy when you enrol.
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