Course in International Regulation on Drone Exports
Online 300 h course in international regulation on drone exports. 6 modules covering the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), equipment annex, Wassenaar Arrangement (dual-use and munitions lists) and SAP GTS (Global Trade Services). Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Course in International Regulation on Drone Exports — 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: £619 (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
Understand the drone market and the associated proliferation risks.
Apply the MTCR criteria and categories to unmanned systems.
Classify drones and components under Wassenaar and Regulation (EU) 2021/821.
Compare the export control regimes of the United States and other countries.
Apply the evaluation criteria of the Arms Trade Treaty.
Assess diversion risks and end-use misuse.
Prepare an export analysis of a drone system.
Who it's for
- Export control analyst who wants to specialise in international regulation on drone exports.
- Compliance manager in the aerospace industry who wants to specialise in international regulation on drone exports.
- Non-proliferation researcher who wants to specialise in international regulation on drone exports.
- Legal adviser in arms trade who wants to specialise in international regulation on drone exports.
- Foreign trade consultant in defence who wants to specialise in international regulation on drone exports.
- Export licensing technician who wants to specialise in international regulation on drone exports.
- Graduates in engineering or sciences seeking to enter the aerospace and defence industry.
What you'll work with
- Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), equipment annex
- Wassenaar Arrangement (dual-use and munitions lists)
- Regulation (EU) 2021/821 (control of dual-use products)
- Arms Trade Treaty (2013)
- Common Position 2008/944/CFSP (export of military technology)
- International Traffic in Arms Regulations, category VIII
- Export Administration Regulations (ECCN 9A012)
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Global military UAV market1.2Main exporters: USA, China, Türkiye and Israel1.3Classification by weight, range and payload1.4Armed versus unarmed drones1.5Strategic effects of proliferation1.6Drones in recent conflicts1.7Transfers to non-state actors1.8SIPRI transfer databases1.9Transparency in exports1.10Workshop: analysis of export flows using SIPRI data
2.1Origin and members of the MTCR2.2Category I: range of 300 km and 500 kg2.3Category II and the presumption of denial2.4Equipment, software and technology annex2.5US reinterpretation of 20202.6Debate on UAVs and cruise missiles2.7Informal adherence and non-member states2.8Hague Code of Conduct2.9Limitations of the regime2.10Case study: MTCR classification of a MALE UAV
3.1ML10 munitions list3.2Dual-use item 9A0123.3Regulation (EU) 2021/8213.4Common Position 2008/944/CFSP3.5The eight criteria of the Common Position3.6Directive 2009/43/EC on intra-Community transfers3.7National control in Spain: JIMDDU3.8Annual export reports3.9EU and UN arms embargoes3.10Practice: assessment of an application against the eight criteria
4.1ITAR and USML category VIII4.2EAR and the 600 series4.3US export policy on UAS4.4Foreign Military Sales (FMS)4.52016 Joint Declaration on Armed UAVs4.6Turkish and Chinese export policies4.7Israel and its export controls4.8Government-to-government transfer agreements4.9End-use clauses4.10Case study: export of the MQ-9 to an ally
5.1Arms Trade Treaty (ATT)5.2Scope and categories covered5.3Human rights risk assessment5.4Diversion and its prevention5.5End-user certificates5.6Post-shipment verification5.7Transparency reports5.8Responsibility of exporting companies5.9Litigation over arms exports5.10Workshop: diversion risk assessment
6.1Selection of the system and destination6.2Technical classification6.3Applicable regimes6.4Risk assessment6.5Licence conditions6.6End-use controls6.7Reasoned recommendation6.8Conclusions6.9Report 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. There are 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 SAP GTS (Global Trade Services), advanced Excel, Power BI, Zotero, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied through real procedures for analysing drone export cases, classifying systems and components, and assessing end-user risks. Assessment is continuous, module 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.
Understand the drone market and the associated proliferation risks.
Apply the MTCR criteria and categories to unmanned systems.
Classify drones and components under Wassenaar and Regulation (EU) 2021/821.
Compare the export control regimes of the United States and other countries.
Apply the evaluation criteria of the Arms Trade Treaty.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior degree 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 totals 300 hours, spread over 3 to 5 months. That is between 10 and 15 hours per week on average, compatible with a full-time job.
The programme works with SAP GTS (Global Trade Services), advanced Excel, Power BI and Zotero. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the open-source 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 advanced programme. Please check the credit transfer policy when you enrol.
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