Diploma in Ethics in Defence Acquisition
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in ethics in defence acquisition. 8 modules covering the defence acquisition cycle, public procurement ethics, the legal framework, corruption prevention, cost, value and accountability, sustainability and social responsibility, and international cooperation, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in Ethics in Defence Acquisition — 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
Describe the defence acquisition cycle.
Apply ethical principles to public procurement.
Interpret the legal framework for defence procurement.
Prevent corruption in programmes.
Assess cost and value with accountability.
Integrate sustainability criteria into purchasing.
Analyse the governance of international cooperation.
Who it's for
- Defence programme managers.
- Public procurement managers.
- Compliance officers in defence companies and administrations.
- Programme auditors.
- Cost analysts.
- Integrity consultants.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter the defence sector.
What you'll work with
- Directive 2009/81/EC (defence and security procurement)
- Law 24/2011 (Spanish public sector contracts in defence and security)
- Law 9/2017 (Spanish Public Sector Contracts Law)
- Regulation (EU) 2021/697 (European Defence Fund)
- OECD Anti-Bribery Convention (1997)
- United Nations Convention against Corruption
- ISO 37001 (anti-bribery management systems)
- ISO 20400 (sustainable procurement)
- Spanish Public Sector Procurement Platform
- Microsoft Project
- Deltek Cobra
- Power BI
8 modules
1.1Capability planning1.2Requirements definition1.3Special modernisation programmes1.4Procurement procedures1.5Contract execution and monitoring1.6Receipt and acceptance1.7Sustainment and life cycle1.8Decommissioning and disposal1.9Stakeholders in the acquisition system1.10Case study: life cycle of a vehicle programme
2.1Public interest and efficiency2.2Equal treatment and competition2.3Transparency in sensitive contracts2.4Conflicts of interest2.5Revolving doors2.6Gifts and hospitality2.7Ethics of the programme manager2.8Political and industrial pressure2.9Institutional integrity2.10Practical exercise: analysis of a conflict of interest
3.1The Defence and Security Procurement Directive3.2The Spanish Law on Public Sector Contracts in Defence and Security3.3The Spanish Public Sector Contracts Law3.4National security exclusions3.5Industrial offsets3.6The European Defence Fund3.7Joint procurement programmes3.8Ammunition procurement in the EU3.9Appeals and judicial review3.10Workshop: choosing a procurement procedure
4.1Corruption risks in defence4.2International bribery cases4.3The OECD Anti-Bribery Convention4.4The United Nations Convention against Corruption4.5Anti-bribery management systems4.6Due diligence on intermediaries4.7Red flags4.8Internal investigation4.9Criminal liability of legal persons4.10Case study: analysis of a bribery case
5.1Life-cycle cost estimation5.2Cost overruns and delays5.3Programme risk management5.4Value for money5.5Performance indicators5.6Audit by the Court of Audit5.7Parliamentary oversight5.8Public information on programmes5.9Lessons from major programmes5.10Lab: earned value analysis
6.1Sustainable public procurement6.2Environmental criteria in defence6.3Social clauses6.4Supply chain due diligence6.5Critical minerals and raw materials6.6SMEs and innovation6.7Employment and regional impact6.8Responsible purchasing6.9Sustainability indicators6.10Practical exercise: sustainable clauses in tender specifications
7.1Multinational programmes7.2Industrial workshare7.3European procurement agencies7.4Government-to-government sales7.5Technology transfer7.6Exports and end-user control7.7Strategic dependencies7.8Ethics of cooperation7.9Governance of joint programmes7.10Case study: a European aircraft programme
8.1Programme analysed8.2Procurement process8.3Legal framework8.4Integrity risks8.5Cost and value analysis8.6Prevention measures8.7Recommendations8.8Conclusions8.9Report 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 the programme fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original regulation and applied exercises. The working software is the Spanish Public Sector Procurement Platform, Microsoft Project, Deltek Cobra and Power BI, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Exercises are based on real procedures: earned value analysis of programmes, integrity risk assessment and drafting sustainable clauses in tender specifications. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final integrating project.
Standards covered: Directive 2009/81/EC, Law 24/2011, Law 9/2017, Regulation (EU) 2021/697, OECD Anti-Bribery Convention (1997), United Nations Convention against Corruption, ISO 37001, ISO 20400.
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 the Spanish Public Sector Procurement Platform, Microsoft Project, Deltek Cobra and Power BI, 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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