Master’s in Ethics, IHL and Human Rights in Defence Technology Engineering
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in ethics, IHL and human rights engineering in defence technology. 12 modules covering technology ethics, military ethics, international humanitarian law, weapons law, human rights, emerging technologies, cyberspace and international law, ethics by design, corporate responsibility, international justice and policy, with the 1949 Geneva Conventions, Additional Protocol I (Art. 36) and the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, with an assigned technical tutor.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this programme. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Apply ethical theories to defence technology.
Analyse the principles of international humanitarian law.
Carry out legal reviews of new weapons and technologies.
Assess the impact of technology on human rights.
Integrate ethical requirements into systems design.
Analyse corporate responsibility and due diligence.
Formulate governance recommendations for emerging technologies.
Who it's for
- IHL legal advisers
- Technology ethics specialists
- Human rights analysts
- Corporate ethics officers
- Disarmament researchers
- Technology governance consultants
- Engineering or science graduates looking to work in international organisations
What you'll work with
- 1949 Geneva Conventions (core treaties of international humanitarian law)
- Additional Protocol I, Art. 36 (legal review of new weapons)
- Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (restrictions on specific weapons)
- UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (corporate responsibility)
- Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (international criminal justice)
- Directive (EU) 2024/1760 (corporate sustainability due diligence)
- IEEE 7000 (addressing ethical concerns during system design)
- NVivo
- Zotero
- Atlas.ti
- Microsoft Excel
- Miro
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1Ethical theories: consequentialism, deontology and virtue1.2Engineering ethics and professional codes1.3Philosophy of technology1.4The neutrality of technology: a debate1.5Dual use and responsibility1.6Research ethics1.7Responsible research and innovation1.8Technology assessment1.9Historical cases of dilemmas1.10Case study: ethical analysis of a dual-use project
2.1The just war tradition2.2Ius ad bellum: just cause and last resort2.3Ius in bello: discrimination and proportionality2.4Ius post bellum2.5Pacifism and realism2.6Ethics of deterrence2.7Ethics of the soldier and the engineer2.8Distributed moral responsibility2.9Contemporary debates2.10Workshop: structured debate on proportionality
3.1Sources of IHL: treaties and custom3.2Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocols3.3Principle of distinction3.4Principle of proportionality3.5Precautions in attack3.6Prohibition of superfluous injury3.7Protection of civilians and civilian objects3.8The environment in armed conflict3.9International criminal responsibility3.10Practical exercise: analysis of ICRC cases
4.1Regulation of means and methods of warfare4.2Article 36 review4.3Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons4.4Chemical and biological weapons4.5Blinding laser weapons4.6Mines and cluster munitions4.7Nuclear weapons and the TPNW4.8Arms trade4.9National review processes4.10Case study: legal review of an emerging technology
5.1International human rights law5.2Extraterritorial application5.3Right to life and use of force5.4Privacy and surveillance5.5Freedom of expression and information5.6Non-discrimination and algorithmic bias5.7UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights5.8Human rights due diligence5.9Remedy mechanisms5.10Workshop: human rights impact assessment
6.1Autonomous systems and human control6.2Artificial intelligence and decision-making6.3Operations in cyberspace6.4Outer space and its use6.5Biotechnology and neurotechnology6.6Directed energy: legal framework6.7Human enhancement technologies6.8Mass surveillance6.9Anticipatory governance6.10Practical exercise: governance analysis of an emerging technology
7.1Applicability of international law to cyberspace7.2Tallinn Manual 2.07.3Sovereignty and non-intervention7.4Attribution and state responsibility7.5Protected civilian infrastructure7.6UN norms of responsible behaviour7.7Cyber operations and IHL7.8Data privacy7.9Ethics of cyber defence7.10Case study: legal analysis of a cyber incident
8.1Value-sensitive design8.2IEEE 7000 and ethical processes8.3AI ethics: guidelines and frameworks8.4Ethical impact assessment8.5Ethics committees in industry8.6Ethical requirements in specifications8.7Transparency and explainability8.8Accountability8.9Ethical auditing8.10Workshop: ethical requirements for an autonomous system
9.1Social responsibility of the defence industry9.2ESG criteria and defence9.3Responsible investment and exclusions9.4Corporate transparency9.5Anti-corruption9.6Supply chain due diligence9.7Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive9.8Relations with civil society9.9Sustainability reporting9.10Practical exercise: ESG analysis of a defence company
10.1International Criminal Court10.2Ad hoc tribunals10.3Universal jurisdiction10.4Command responsibility10.5Corporate liability10.6Commissions of inquiry10.7Documentation of violations10.8Digital evidence and open sources10.9Transitional justice10.10Case study: analysis of an international judgment
11.1Democratic oversight of defence11.2Transparency and secrecy11.3Public opinion and military technology11.4Civil society campaigns11.5Disarmament diplomacy11.6IHL education11.7Ethical communication11.8Ethics of the university researcher11.9Foresight11.10Workshop: policy brief on a technology
12.1Selection of the technology or case12.2Applicable ethical framework12.3IHL analysis12.4Human rights analysis12.5Governance assessment12.6Proposed recommendations12.7Critical review12.8Conclusions12.9Master's Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
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 you can combine it with your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original legal texts and applied exercises. The working software is NVivo, Zotero, Atlas.ti, Microsoft Excel and Miro, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Real procedures are studied, such as legal reviews of emerging technologies, human rights impact assessments and analysis of international law cases. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: 1949 Geneva Conventions, Additional Protocol I (Art. 36), Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, Directive (EU) 2024/1760, IEEE 7000.
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
- A university degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
- An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's 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 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with NVivo, Zotero, Atlas.ti, Microsoft Excel and Miro, 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 Master's Thesis. 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 in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
A university degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), a computer able to run the programme's 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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