Course in Ethics in Military AI Governance
Online 300 h course in ethics in military AI governance. 6 modules covering the Guiding Principles of the GEG of the CCW on lethal autonomous weapons systems (2019), the Political Declaration on Responsible Military Use of AI and Autonomy (2023) and NVivo. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Course in Ethics in Military AI Governance — studying from the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom maintains a substantial defence industry, with prime contractors such as BAE Systems and Babcock, and a wide supply chain across the Midlands, the North West, Bristol and Scotland. Land systems, armoured vehicles, munitions and military engineering programmes provide long-term employment for engineers in design, integration, test and sustainment. The Ministry of Defence, Defence Equipment and Support and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory oversee procurement and research. Security clearance requirements shape recruitment, and professional standards are maintained through UK defence engineering frameworks.
Fees for the United Kingdom: £537 (Pound sterling), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in the United Kingdom
Typical roles
Questions from the United Kingdom
Which UK bodies and regulators are relevant to defence and military land systems engineering?
In the UK, the Ministry of Defence sets its own engineering standards and the Engineering Council regulates professional registration. Professional bodies such as the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) and the Royal Engineers' professional structures are relevant. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not accredited by these bodies, so recognition for security-cleared or MOD roles is decided by the employer and the relevant authority.
Will a private qualification help with UK defence industry careers?
UK defence employers, including primes and suppliers, often prioritise security clearance eligibility, relevant experience and formal qualifications recognised by the MOD or industry bodies. A private qualification may support your profile but is unlikely to replace these requirements. Ask prospective employers how they would assess it before enrolling.
Is it practical to study this online while working in the UK, and what about language and funding?
Online study means you can continue working in the UK, and no student visa is needed to study from home. Teaching is in English, so good technical English is essential. Fees can be paid in instalments, and some employers offer training sponsorship, though policies vary. Each programme has a fixed number of hours and an assigned technical tutor. Confirm the workload and costs before enrolling.
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
Describe the international forums on military AI governance.
Compare national strategies and institutions on AI in defence.
Analyse arms control and confidence-building measures.
Evaluate binding and non-binding governance instruments.
Assess the role of industry and civil society.
Identify regulatory gaps in military AI.
Draft a well-founded proposal for military AI governance.
Who it's for
- Technology policy analyst who wants to specialise in ethics in military AI governance.
- Arms control adviser who wants to specialise in ethics in military AI governance.
- Diplomat specialising in emerging technologies who wants to specialise in ethics in military AI governance.
- AI governance researcher who wants to specialise in ethics in military AI governance.
- Consultant to international organisations who wants to specialise in ethics in military AI governance.
- Public affairs manager in defence who wants to specialise in ethics in military AI governance.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to join international organisations.
What you'll work with
- Guiding Principles of the GEG of the CCW on lethal autonomous weapons systems (2019)
- Political Declaration on Responsible Military Use of AI and Autonomy (2023)
- Call to Action of the REAIM Summit (The Hague, 2023)
- NATO AI Strategy (2021)
- Council of Europe Framework Convention on AI and Human Rights (2024)
- Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (AI Act, Art. 2.3)
- Arms Trade Treaty (2013)
6 modules · 300 h
1.1REAIM Summits in The Hague and Seoul1.2Political Declaration of 2023 on responsible military use of AI1.3United Nations General Assembly resolutions1.4GGE on lethal autonomous weapons systems1.5UN High-level Advisory Body on AI1.6NATO and EU positions1.7Positions of China, Russia and the United States1.8Geopolitical competition and arms race1.9Governance gaps1.10Case study: analysis of the Seoul declaration
2.1DoD Chief Digital and AI Office (CDAO)2.2NATO Data and AI Review Board2.3National military ethics committees2.4Legal weapons review authorities2.5Parliamentary oversight of AI programmes2.6Acquisition agencies and requirements2.7Inter-ministerial coordination2.8Role of academia and think tanks2.9Comparison: United Kingdom, France and the Netherlands2.10Practice: institutional map of a country's governance
3.1Confidence-building measures for AI3.2AI in nuclear command and control3.3Commitment to human control over nuclear weapons3.4Verification of AI systems: difficulties3.5Transparency and national declarations3.6Lessons from historical treaties3.7Proliferation and non-state actors3.8Export controls on AI3.9Standards of responsible behaviour3.10Case study: proposal of confidence-building measures
4.1Policies and directives: DoD 3000.094.2System certification and accreditation4.3Algorithmic audits4.4Impact assessments4.5Technical standards under development4.6Incident registries and databases4.7Procurement with ethical requirements4.8Military data governance4.9Maturity indicators4.10Workshop: designing an internal certification process
5.1Technology companies and defence5.2Acceptable use policies of AI providers5.3Employees, activism and objection5.4Venture capital investment in defence5.5Civil society and campaigns5.6Media and public opinion5.7Academia and funding5.8Dual use of foundation models5.9Corporate responsibility5.10Case study: policy change at an AI company
6.1Selection of the governance scope6.2Analysis of the current framework6.3Identification of gaps6.4Map of actors and interests6.5Proposal design6.6Political feasibility analysis6.7Verification and monitoring mechanisms6.8Implementation plan6.9Report and presentation6.10Final 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. No fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it possible to combine the programme with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is NVivo, Zotero, advanced Excel, Gephi (network analysis), in free, academic or evaluation versions. Essays are studied through real procedures: simulations of international negotiation, comparative analysis of national strategies, and drafting of governance proposals. 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.
Describe the international forums on military AI governance.
Compare national strategies and institutions on AI in defence.
Analyse arms control and confidence-building measures.
Evaluate binding and non-binding governance instruments.
Assess the role of industry and civil society.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior qualification is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient level of 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 is 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 NVivo, Zotero, advanced Excel, Gephi (network analysis). 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 are credited towards the higher programme. Check the credit transfer policy when you enrol.
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