Diploma in Space Contracts and Compliance Management
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in Space Contracts and Compliance Management. 8 modules covering space law, launch and satellite manufacturing contracts, space insurance, export controls, compliance management systems and public procurement under the Outer Space Treaty (1967), the Liability Convention (1972) and ITAR, with an assigned technical tutor.
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What you will be able to do
Interpret the international and national legal framework for space activities.
Draft and negotiate launch and satellite manufacturing contracts.
Allocate risk through liability, insurance and guarantee clauses.
Apply the ITAR, EAR and dual-use regimes to space products.
Design a compliance management system in line with ISO 37301.
Prepare bids for European institutional programmes.
Assess the contractual and regulatory compliance of a space programme.
Who it's for
- Space law practitioners.
- Aerospace compliance officers.
- Contract managers on space programmes.
- Export control specialists.
- Space risk and insurance analysts.
- Regulatory consultants in the space sector.
- Engineering or science graduates aiming to join the space industry.
What you'll work with
- Outer Space Treaty (1967) (principles governing the activities of states in outer space)
- Liability Convention (1972) (international liability for damage caused by space objects)
- International Traffic in Arms Regulations (22 CFR 120-130) (US defence export controls)
- Export Administration Regulations (15 CFR 730-774) (US dual-use export controls)
- Regulation (EU) 2021/821 on dual-use items (EU dual-use export control regime)
- ISO 37301:2021 (compliance management systems)
- Registration Convention (1975) (registration of objects launched into outer space)
- ISO 37001:2016 (anti-bribery management systems)
- DocuSign CLM
- Icertis Contract Intelligence
- SAP GRC
- Descartes Visual Compliance
8 modules
1.1The 1967 Outer Space Treaty1.2The Liability and Registration Conventions1.3Launching state and jurisdiction1.4Authorisation and supervision of private activities1.5National legislation: France, Luxembourg and the USA1.6The Spanish Space Agency and the national framework1.7Spectrum use and coordination with the ITU1.8Space resources and the Artemis Accords1.9Space debris mitigation and IADC guidelines1.10Case study: licensing a smallsat operator
2.1Structure of a Launch Services Agreement2.2Launch windows, delays and relaunch2.3Cross-waiver of liability clauses2.4Payload integration and rideshare2.5Price, payment milestones and bank guarantees2.6Termination, force majeure and excusable delay2.7Technical interface: ICD and launch vehicle requirements2.8Contracts with agencies: ESA and NASA2.9Dispute resolution and international arbitration2.10Workshop: negotiating a rideshare contract
3.1Turnkey satellite procurement3.2Specifications, statement of work and technical annexes3.3Milestone reviews: PDR, CDR and QR3.4In-orbit acceptance and IOT testing3.5Delay penalties and liquidated damages3.6In-orbit performance incentives3.7Intellectual property and software licences3.8Subcontracting and flow-down of clauses3.9Scope changes and configuration control3.10Case study: review of a manufacturing contract
4.1Pre-launch, launch and in-orbit life insurance4.2Third-party liability4.3Policies, exclusions and proof of loss4.4The space insurance market and underwriters4.5State guarantee and indemnity limits4.6Assessment of collision and re-entry risks4.7Programme contractual risk matrix4.8Claims for in-orbit anomalies4.9Reinsurance and market capacity4.10Practical exercise: analysis of a launch insurance policy
5.1ITAR: the USML and Category XV5.2EAR: the Commerce Control List and the 9x515 series5.3EU Dual-use Regulation 2021/8215.4Product classification and ECCNs5.5Licences, TAAs and technical assistance agreements5.6Restricted party screening and lists5.7International sanctions and current embargoes5.8Intangible technology transfers5.9Internal export compliance programme5.10Workshop: classification of a satellite subsystem
6.1ISO 37301 requirements in space organisations6.2Compliance risk assessment6.3Anti-bribery and ISO 37001 in public procurement6.4Whistleblowing channel and Directive (EU) 2019/19376.5Due diligence on partners and suppliers6.6Policies, training and ethical culture6.7Indicators, internal audit and reporting6.8Data protection in Earth observation6.9Criminal liability of legal persons6.10Case study: compliance audit of an operator
7.1ESA procurement and geographical return7.2The Copernicus, Galileo and IRIS² programmes7.3EU Financial Regulation and tenders7.4R&D contracts and pre-commercial procurement7.5Cost and price audits in contracts7.6Management of claims and contract amendments7.7Contractual cybersecurity and the NIS2 Directive7.8Security requirements for classified information7.9Document management and contractual traceability7.10Practical exercise: preparing a bid to ESA
8.1Case definition: mission and parties8.2Map of applicable regulatory obligations8.3Draft of key contractual clauses8.4Risk matrix and insurance cover8.5Programme export control plan8.6Compliance programme and internal controls8.7Indicators and monitoring plan8.8Cross legal and technical review8.9Report 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 the programme fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original legal texts and standards, and applied exercises. The working software is DocuSign CLM, Icertis Contract Intelligence, SAP GRC and Descartes Visual Compliance, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures for reviewing launch contracts, classifying component exports and conducting regulatory compliance audits. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final capstone project.
Standards covered: Outer Space Treaty (1967), Liability Convention (1972), International Traffic in Arms Regulations (22 CFR 120-130), Export Administration Regulations (15 CFR 730-774), Regulation (EU) 2021/821 on dual-use items, ISO 37301:2021, Registration Convention (1975), ISO 37001:2016.
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.
- 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 DocuSign CLM, Icertis Contract Intelligence, SAP GRC and Descartes Visual Compliance, 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 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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