Diploma in Corporate Responsibility in Defence
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in corporate responsibility in defence. 8 modules covering business and human rights, due diligence, export control and end use, integrity and anti-bribery, sustainability reporting and compliance systems, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in Corporate Responsibility in Defence — 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: £1,070 (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 social and legal responsibility of defence companies.
Apply the international frameworks on business and human rights.
Implement due diligence processes across the value chain.
Assess export and end-use risks.
Design integrity and anti-bribery programmes.
Prepare sustainability and transparency reports.
Manage relations with investors and stakeholders.
Who it's for
- Compliance officers in defence companies.
- Corporate sustainability managers.
- Business and human rights advisers.
- Integrity auditors.
- Export control analysts.
- Corporate social responsibility consultants.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter the defence industry.
What you'll work with
- UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (international framework on corporate respect for human rights)
- OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises (responsible business conduct)
- Directive (EU) 2024/1760 (corporate sustainability due diligence)
- Common Position 2008/944/CFSP (export of military technology and equipment)
- Law 53/2007 (Spanish law on the control of foreign trade in defence and dual-use material)
- ISO 37001 (anti-bribery management systems)
- Arms Trade Treaty (international regulation of the arms trade)
- Directive (EU) 2022/2464 (corporate sustainability reporting)
- NVivo
- Power BI
- SAP GRC
- Refinitiv World-Check
8 modules
1.1Specific features of the defence sector1.2Corporate social responsibility1.3Legal liability of the company1.4Reputation and social licence1.5Responsible investment and defence1.6Stakeholders1.7The ethical debate on the industry1.8International cases1.9Corporate governance1.10Case study: analysis of a reputational conflict
2.1The UN Guiding Principles2.2Protect, respect and remedy2.3The OECD Guidelines2.4National contact points2.5Human rights risks in defence2.6Conflict zones2.7End use of products2.8Remedy mechanisms2.9Case-law trends2.10Workshop: human rights risk matrix
3.1The European due diligence directive3.2Identification of impacts3.3Prevention and mitigation3.4Supply chain due diligence3.5Conflict minerals3.6Due diligence on customers and end uses3.7Monitoring and reporting3.8Enhanced due diligence3.9Assessment tools3.10Practical exercise: due diligence for an export operation
4.1The Arms Trade Treaty4.2Common Position 2008/944/CFSP and its criteria4.3Spanish Law 53/20074.4End-user certificates4.5Post-shipment verification4.6Re-export and diversion4.7Export transparency4.8Responsibility of the exporting company4.9International sanctions4.10Case study: applying the Common Position criteria
5.1Corruption risks in defence5.2ISO 370015.3International anti-bribery laws5.4Intermediaries and agents5.5Industrial offsets and their risks5.6Gifts and hospitality5.7Whistleblowing channels5.8Internal investigations5.9Criminal liability of legal persons5.10Lab: audit of an anti-bribery programme
6.1The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive6.2European reporting standards6.3Double materiality6.4Environment in the defence industry6.5Social indicators6.6Integrated reports6.7External assurance6.8Transparency indices6.9Investor communication6.10Practical exercise: analysis of a sustainability report
7.1Architecture of the compliance programme7.2Compliance risk assessment7.3Policies and procedures7.4Training and culture7.5Monitoring and audit7.6Compliance body7.7Indicators7.8Continuous improvement7.9Certifications7.10Workshop: design of an integrated compliance system
8.1Company profile8.2Risk map8.3Applicable regulatory framework8.4Due diligence process8.5Integrity programme8.6Transparency strategy8.7Monitoring indicators8.8Recommendations8.9Report 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 each intake, so it fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is NVivo, Power BI, SAP GRC and Refinitiv World-Check, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures: a human rights due diligence assessment of an export, an audit of an anti-bribery programme and the analysis of a sustainability report. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final integrating project.
Standards covered: UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, Directive (EU) 2024/1760, Common Position 2008/944/CFSP, Law 53/2007, ISO 37001, Arms Trade Treaty, Directive (EU) 2022/2464.
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.
- 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.
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 NVivo, Power BI, SAP GRC and Refinitiv World-Check, 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 programme 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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