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Postgraduate DiplomaDefense, Military Engineering & Land Systems Applications open

Postgraduate Diploma in Ethics and International Law on the Use of Armoured Vehicles

Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in ethics and international law on the use of armoured vehicles, with 8 modules covering international humanitarian law, conduct of hostilities, legal review of weapons, arms trade control, engineering ethics, accountability and contemporary challenges, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration800 hours · 6–8 months
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute diploma
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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Explain the principles of international humanitarian law.

02

Analyse the rules on the conduct of hostilities applicable to land assets.

03

Describe the legal review procedure under Article 36.

04

Interpret the international and European arms trade control regime.

05

Apply ethical frameworks to defence engineering decisions.

06

Identify responsibility and accountability mechanisms.

07

Produce a well-founded ethical and legal analysis of a case.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Legal advisers in international humanitarian law.
  • Export compliance managers in the defence industry.
  • Arms control analysts.
  • Engineering ethics consultants.
  • Security studies researchers.
  • Public administration officials working on defence trade.
  • Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter the defence industry.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • Geneva Conventions of 1949 (international humanitarian law)
  • Additional Protocol I of 1977 (Article 36, legal review of weapons)
  • Arms Trade Treaty (2013) (regulation of international arms transfers)
  • Common Position 2008/944/CFSP (export of military technology and equipment)
  • Regulation (EU) 2021/821 (dual-use items)
  • Law 53/2007 (control of foreign trade in defence material)
  • Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (1980) (restrictions on specific weapons)
  • SIPRI Arms Transfers Database
  • Aranzadi (legal database)
  • NVivo
  • Zotero
Syllabus

8 modules

  1. 1.1Ius ad bellum and ius in bello
  2. 1.2The Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocols
  3. 1.3Customary law: the ICRC study
  4. 1.4Principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution
  5. 1.5Military necessity and humanity
  6. 1.6International and non-international armed conflicts
  7. 1.7International human rights law
  8. 1.8Tribunals and criminal responsibility
  9. 1.9Sources and doctrine
  10. 1.10Workshop: analysis of a case from the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
  1. 2.1Legal status of military vehicles
  2. 2.2Armoured vehicles in urban environments
  3. 2.3Protection of the civilian population
  4. 2.4Protected objects and military objectives
  5. 2.5Incidental damage and proportionality
  6. 2.6Use of armoured vehicles in riot control
  7. 2.7The difference between hostilities and law enforcement
  8. 2.8Medical vehicles and protective emblems
  9. 2.9Peace operations and mandates
  10. 2.10Case study: legal analysis of an urban operation
  1. 3.1Article 36 of Additional Protocol I
  2. 3.2National review procedures
  3. 3.3Review of platforms and their systems
  4. 3.4Prohibited and restricted weapons
  5. 3.5Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons
  6. 3.6Ottawa Treaty and Convention on Cluster Munitions
  7. 3.7Automated systems in vehicles
  8. 3.8Documenting the review
  9. 3.9Experiences of different States
  10. 3.10Practical exercise: legal review script for a system
  1. 4.1Arms Trade Treaty (ATT)
  2. 4.2Common Position 2008/944/CFSP
  3. 4.3Denial criteria
  4. 4.4Law 53/2007 and the JIMDDU
  5. 4.5Wassenaar Arrangement
  6. 4.6End-user certificates
  7. 4.7United Nations and EU embargoes
  8. 4.8Re-export and transfers
  9. 4.9Transparency and the UN Register
  10. 4.10Case study: assessment of an export licence
  1. 5.1Applied ethical theories
  2. 5.2Just war theory
  3. 5.3The engineer's moral responsibility
  4. 5.4Professional codes of conduct
  5. 5.5Conscientious objection
  6. 5.6Conflicts of interest
  7. 5.7Dual use and responsibility
  8. 5.8Ethics of protection-oriented design
  9. 5.9Public debate and transparency
  10. 5.10Workshop: ethical analysis of a design requirement
  1. 6.1State responsibility
  2. 6.2Individual criminal responsibility
  3. 6.3Command responsibility
  4. 6.4Corporate responsibility and due diligence
  5. 6.5UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights
  6. 6.6Incident investigation
  7. 6.7Reparation for victims
  8. 6.8NGOs and independent oversight
  9. 6.9Cases before national courts
  10. 6.10Case study: due diligence of a defence company
  1. 7.1Urban warfare and protection of civilians
  2. 7.2Autonomy in ground vehicles
  3. 7.3Cyber operations against platforms
  4. 7.4Private military contractors
  5. 7.5Hybrid warfare and the grey zone
  6. 7.6Environmental impact of conflicts
  7. 7.7Gender and armed conflict
  8. 7.8Lessons from recent conflicts
  9. 7.9Progressive development of the law
  10. 7.10Practical exercise: structured debate on autonomous vehicles
  1. 8.1Selecting the case study
  2. 8.2Applicable legal framework
  3. 8.3Analysis of the facts
  4. 8.4Assessment under IHL
  5. 8.5Ethical analysis
  6. 8.6Responsibilities identified
  7. 8.7Policy and design recommendations
  8. 8.8Conclusions
  9. 8.9Report and presentation
  10. 8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
Methodology, software & labs

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 it fits around your job.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is SIPRI Arms Transfers Database, Aranzadi (legal database), NVivo and Zotero, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures: case-law studies, ethical and legal analysis of programmes and simulated legal review processes. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final integrative project.

Standards covered: Geneva Conventions of 1949, Additional Protocol I of 1977 (Article 36), Arms Trade Treaty (2013), Common Position 2008/944/CFSP, Regulation (EU) 2021/821, Law 53/2007, Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (1980).

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of the Geneva Conventions, Additional Protocol I (Article 36) and the Arms Trade Treaty applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:SIPRI Arms Transfers Database, Aranzadi (legal database), NVivo and Zotero, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Final project:an ethical and legal analysis of a real case involving armoured vehicles, from the applicable framework to IHL assessment, responsibilities and recommendations, reviewed by your tutor.
Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Select the case
Choose a case study and establish the applicable legal framework.
Analyse the facts
Reconstruct and analyse the facts of the case.
Assess under IHL
Evaluate the case against the principles of international humanitarian law.
Ethical analysis and responsibilities
Carry out the ethical analysis and identify the responsibilities involved.
Final project
Present policy and design recommendations and conclusions in a report reviewed by your tutor.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Legal Adviser in International Humanitarian LawExport Compliance ManagerArms Control AnalystEngineering Ethics ConsultantSecurity Studies ResearcherGovernment Defence Trade Officer
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
  • A computer capable of running the programme software and an internet connection.
  • 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.

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FAQ

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 SIPRI Arms Transfers Database, Aranzadi (legal database), NVivo and Zotero, 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 suitable computer 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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