Postgraduate DiplomaDefense, Military Engineering & Land Systems Applications open

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.

Duration6–8 months
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute diploma

Diploma in NATO/EU Industrial Independence Strategies — 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: €1,090 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.

Relevant bodies in Malta

  • Armed Forces of Malta
  • Ministry for Home Affairs, National Security and Law Enforcement
  • Department of Contracts (Malta)
  • Malta Standards Authority (MSA)

Typical roles

  • Military Systems Engineer
  • Defence Equipment Maintenance Engineer
  • Procurement Engineer
  • Communications Systems Engineer

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.

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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Analyse the structure of the European defence industrial base.

02

Understand the EU industrial policy instruments.

03

Understand NATO industrial policy.

04

Identify dependencies in supply chains and critical raw materials.

05

Assess technology and ownership risks.

06

Plan the resilience of production capacity.

07

Formulate well-founded strategic recommendations.

Profile

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.
Standards & tools

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)
Syllabus

8 modules

  1. 1.1The concept of a defence technological and industrial base
  2. 1.2Structure of the sector
  3. 1.3Major industrial groups
  4. 1.4The role of SMEs
  5. 1.5Market fragmentation
  6. 1.6External dependencies
  7. 1.7Trends in defence spending
  8. 1.8Critical industrial capabilities
  9. 1.9Lessons from the war in Ukraine
  10. 1.10Case study: industrial map of a segment
  1. 2.1European Defence Fund
  2. 2.2Permanent Structured Cooperation
  3. 2.3The EDIRPA instrument
  4. 2.4ASAP Act on ammunition production
  5. 2.5European Defence Industrial Strategy
  6. 2.6The EDIP programme
  7. 2.7Directive 2009/81/EC
  8. 2.8Strategic Compass
  9. 2.9Role of the European Defence Agency
  10. 2.10Workshop: analysis of an EDF call
  1. 3.1Defence Production Action Plan
  2. 3.2The NDPP planning process
  3. 3.3The NSPA agency
  4. 3.4The DIANA accelerator
  5. 3.5NATO Innovation Fund
  6. 3.6Standardisation and interoperability
  7. 3.7Joint procurement
  8. 3.8EU-NATO relations
  9. 3.9The transatlantic industrial base
  10. 3.10Practical exercise: comparison of EU and NATO instruments
  1. 4.1Regulation (EU) 2024/1252 on critical raw materials
  2. 4.2European Chips Act
  3. 4.3Supply chain mapping
  4. 4.4Concentration risks
  5. 4.5Strategic reserves
  6. 4.6Supplier diversification
  7. 4.7Recycling and the circular economy
  8. 4.8Reshoring
  9. 4.9Security of supply
  10. 4.10Lab: dependency analysis with Gephi
  1. 5.1ITAR-free components
  2. 5.2Foreign investment screening
  3. 5.3Regulation (EU) 2019/452
  4. 5.4Intellectual property
  5. 5.5Technology transfer
  6. 5.6R&D programmes
  7. 5.7Emerging and disruptive technologies
  8. 5.8Spin-in from the civil sector
  9. 5.9Protection of know-how
  10. 5.10Practical exercise: assessing the technological dependency of a product
  1. 6.1Production surge capacity
  2. 6.2Strategic inventory management
  3. 6.3Advanced manufacturing
  4. 6.4Multi-year framework contracts
  5. 6.5Demand aggregation
  6. 6.6Industry financing
  7. 6.7Skilled workforce
  8. 6.8Plant resilience
  9. 6.9Capacity indicators
  10. 6.10Case study: scale-up plan for a production line
  1. 7.1Strategic autonomy indicators
  2. 7.2Scenario analysis
  3. 7.3Cost-benefit analysis
  4. 7.4Cooperation versus autonomy
  5. 7.5The Spanish defence industry
  6. 7.6National industrial policy
  7. 7.7Technology foresight
  8. 7.8Communicating recommendations
  9. 7.9Public-private governance
  10. 7.10Workshop: autonomy matrix for a capability
  1. 8.1Selection of the capability
  2. 8.2Supply chain map
  3. 8.3Identified dependencies
  4. 8.4Applicable policy framework
  5. 8.5Strategic options
  6. 8.6Scenario assessment
  7. 8.7Recommendations
  8. 8.8Conclusions
  9. 8.9Report and presentation
  10. 8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
Methodology, software & labs

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.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of Regulations (EU) 2021/697 (EDF), 2023/1525 (ASAP) and 2023/2418 (EDIRPA) applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:Power BI, Tableau, Gephi and Python (pandas), in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Final project:a documented industrial independence strategy for a defence capability, with dependency map, scenarios and recommendations, reviewed by your tutor.
Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Capability selection
Choose the defence capability and define the scope of the analysis.
Supply chain map
Map the supply chain and its dependencies with Gephi.
Policy framework
Identify the applicable EU and NATO instruments and regulations.
Options and scenarios
Develop strategic options and assess them through scenarios.
Final project
Recommendations, conclusions and report, reviewed by your tutor.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Industrial Policy AnalystDefence Strategy ConsultantEuropean Programme ManagerSupply Chain AnalystInstitutional Affairs ManagerStrategic Studies Researcher
Admissions & scholarships

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.

FAQ

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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