The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) and the European Union Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium (EUNPDC) are pleased to announce an intensive online course on the impact of contemporary geopolitical challenges and novel technologies on the proliferation, development, and risk of use of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), and mechanisms to address these, including towards arms control and disarmament.
Graduate and postgraduate students in technical or natural science disciplines, as well as early-career professionals in relevant fields, are encouraged to apply. The course will be held online from 20–23 January 2026, between 14:00 and 18:00 Central European Time (CET).
The course will cover the fundamentals of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons; the non-proliferation and disarmament regimes designed to control them; the impact of novel technologies and recent geopolitical changes on WMD proliferation, disarmament, and nuclear security; the proliferation risks associated with natural sciences and engineering skills and knowledge; as well as potential career paths in non-proliferation and disarmament of WMD. The course will also explore the role of EU institutions and industry in addressing the challenges mentioned above.
Course instructors will include renowned experts on non-proliferation, arms control, disarmament, export controls, verification and related subjects from SIPRI, other European research centres, think tanks and international organisations. The language of instruction is English.
Eligibility
The course is available to all students currently enrolled at a university pursuing a graduate or postgraduate degree in any technical or natural science, as well as to early-career individuals (with 5 years or less of work experience) working on topics relevant to this course in their professional roles.
There is no tuition fee. Twenty applicants will be chosen as course participants and will receive participation certificates upon successfully completing the course.
Persons who have already participated in an EUNPDC online or in-person course in this series are not eligible to participate again. Applications from qualified women and underrepresented communities are encouraged.
Due to the course’s popularity and its online format, up to fifteen applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria outlined above may be invited to participate as observers. These could include, for example, mid-career professionals for whom these subjects are pertinent. To qualify for observer status, an applicant should demonstrate the relevance of their occupation to the course subject. Observers will have the same access to the online course and materials as participants, but will not receive participation certificates.
Selected participants and observers will be granted access to preparatory materials and are expected to attend all course sessions.
Applications
The deadline for applications is 1 December 2025. As space is limited, we advise submitting applications as early as possible.
Applications should be submitted in English here. Applicants will be asked to upload a cover letter and a curriculum vitae.
Selection will be finalised by 15 December 2025, and applicants will be informed shortly thereafter.
All inquiries regarding the course should be directed to Vitaly Fedchenko, Senior Researcher with the SIPRI Weapons of Mass Destruction Programme, via email at fedchenko@sipri.org.