Postgraduate Diploma in Ethical Design and Dual Use of Military Technology
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in ethical design and dual use of military technology, with 8 modules covering technology and society, the dual-use regulatory framework, design ethics, international law and weapons review, sensitive research, corporate compliance and emerging technologies, with an assigned technical tutor.
Postgraduate Diploma in Ethical Design and Dual Use of Military Technology — 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: €895 (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
Understand the relationship between technology, defence and society.
Apply the dual-use regulatory framework.
Integrate ethical principles into technology design.
Analyse the legal review of weapons under international law.
Manage sensitive research and its security.
Design corporate compliance programmes in line with ISO 37301.
Assess the dual-use risks of emerging technologies.
Who it's for
- Research ethics officers at universities and research centres.
- Compliance managers in the defence and technology sectors.
- Dual-use analysts.
- Defence R&D engineers.
- Responsible innovation consultants.
- European project managers.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter the defence industry.
What you'll work with
- Regulation (EU) 2021/821 (control of dual-use items)
- Recommendation (EU) 2021/1700 (compliance in dual-use research)
- Regulation (EU) 2021/695, Article 7 (Horizon Europe ethics)
- Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions, Article 36 (legal review of new weapons)
- Arms Trade Treaty (2013) (international arms transfers)
- ISO 37301 (compliance management systems)
- OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises (responsible business conduct)
- SAP GTS (Global Trade Services)
- NVivo
- Zotero
- advanced Excel
8 modules
1.1History of military and civil technology1.2The concept of dual use1.3Spin-off and spin-in1.4Defence innovation in Europe1.5Funded research and its purposes1.6Public perception of the defence industry1.7Ethics of technology1.8Corporate social responsibility1.9Stakeholders1.10Workshop: analysis of a technology transfer case
2.1Dual-use Regulation (EU) 2021/8212.2Control lists and categories2.3Catch-all controls2.4Wassenaar Arrangement2.5Missile Technology Control Regime2.6Nuclear Suppliers Group and Australia Group2.7Law 53/2007 and Royal Decree 679/20142.8Technical assistance and intangible transfers2.9Sanctions and compliance2.10Practical exercise: classifying a product against the control lists
3.1Ethical theories applied to engineering3.2Value Sensitive Design3.3Ethics by design3.4Anticipatory responsibility3.5Responsible research and innovation (RRI)3.6Technology assessment3.7Moral dilemmas of the engineer3.8Codes of conduct3.9Conscientious objection3.10Case study: ethical assessment of a dual-use sensor
4.1Principles of international humanitarian law4.2Article 36 of Additional Protocol I4.3Prohibited weapons and limitations4.4Chemical and biological weapons conventions4.5Arms Trade Treaty4.6Autonomous systems and the CCW debate4.7Human rights and surveillance technologies4.8State and corporate responsibility4.9Case law4.10Workshop: simulated legal review of a technology
5.1Dual-use research of concern (DURC)5.2Security in university research5.3Internal export compliance5.4Handling classified information5.5Responsible publication5.6International collaborations5.7Horizon Europe and ethics5.8Knowledge protection5.9Ethics committees5.10Practical exercise: internal compliance plan
6.1Internal compliance programmes (ICP)6.2Human rights due diligence6.3Due Diligence Directive 2024/17606.4Assessment of customers and end users6.5Responsible supply chain6.6Transparency and reporting6.7ESG criteria and defence6.8Whistleblowing management6.9Ethics audit6.10Case study: due diligence for an export
7.1Artificial intelligence and dual use7.2Civil and military drones7.3Offensive and defensive cybersecurity7.4Biotechnology and risks7.5Space technologies7.6Quantum and cryptography7.7Advanced materials7.8Technology foresight7.9Anticipatory governance7.10Practical exercise: risk analysis of an emerging technology
8.1Selecting the technology8.2Technical description and applications8.3Regulatory classification8.4Ethical analysis8.5Legal analysis8.6Risks and safeguards8.7Governance recommendations8.8Compliance plan8.9Report 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 it fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is SAP GTS (Global Trade Services), NVivo, Zotero and advanced Excel, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures: ethical assessments of R&D projects, dual-use reviews of emerging technologies and corporate compliance case studies. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final integrative project.
Standards covered: Regulation (EU) 2021/821, Recommendation (EU) 2021/1700, Regulation (EU) 2021/695, Article 7, Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions, Article 36, Arms Trade Treaty (2013), ISO 37301, OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises.
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.
- A computer capable of running the programme software and an internet connection.
- 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 SAP GTS (Global Trade Services), NVivo, Zotero and advanced Excel, 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 suitable computer 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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