OPCW Scholarships 2026 for the Asser–OPCW Training Programme on Disarmament and Non-Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) in The Hague, Netherlands @OPCW Training Programme on Disarmament and Non-Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) in The Hague, Netherlands

Professionals working in arms control, non-proliferation, international security, diplomacy, and chemical weapons policy now have an exceptional opportunity to strengthen their expertise through one of the world’s most prestigious disarmament training programmes.

Applications are now open for the 2026 Asser–OPCW Training Programme on Disarmament and Non-Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD), jointly organized by the Asser Institute and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in The Hague, Netherlands.

As part of this initiative, the OPCW is offering tuition fee waiver scholarships funded by the European Union for selected participants working in civil society, NGOs, think tanks, and academia.

The intensive five-day programme will take place from 26 October to 30 October 2026 and provides participants with advanced practical and policy-oriented training on the rapidly evolving global challenges surrounding weapons of mass destruction, arms control, export regulations, emerging technologies, and international law.

Programme Overview

The international arms control landscape is currently facing unprecedented pressure due to geopolitical fragmentation, technological disruption, and the weakening of global non-proliferation frameworks.

Concerns over nuclear weapons have returned to global political discourse, chemical weapons continue to pose major threats in active conflicts, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and biotechnology are reshaping traditional security environments faster than existing legal systems can adapt.

Against this backdrop, the Asser–OPCW Training Programme was designed to equip professionals with the legal, diplomatic, technical, and strategic knowledge required to navigate today’s complex disarmament and non-proliferation challenges.

Participants will engage directly with leading international experts, practitioners, policymakers, and researchers through interactive lectures, discussions, case studies, and field visits.

Scholarship Benefits

Selected scholarship recipients will receive:

• Full tuition fee waiver worth €1,895
• Access to expert-led sessions and workshops
• Networking opportunities with international security professionals
• Exposure to high-level practitioners in arms control and disarmament
• Participation in exclusive institutional field visits
• Advanced practical understanding of modern WMD challenges
• Professional development in international law, export controls, and security governance

The scholarships are funded by the European Union and specifically support professionals from civil society organizations and academic sectors.

Female applicants and candidates from lower-income countries are strongly encouraged to apply.

Programme Dates and Location

• Dates: 26 October – 30 October 2026
• Duration: Five days
• Venue: Asser Institute and OPCW
• Location: The Hague, Netherlands

Address:
R.J. Schimmelpennincklaan 20-22
2517 JN The Hague
Netherlands

Key Topics Covered During the Programme

Participants will receive comprehensive training on some of the world’s most urgent disarmament and security challenges.

1. Nuclear Weapons and Strategic Stability

Sessions will examine:

• Expanding nuclear stockpiles
• Declining arms control agreements
• Challenges facing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)
• Deadlocked NPT Review Conferences
• Future pathways for nuclear disarmament

2. Chemical Weapons and Accountability

Participants will explore:

• Use of chemical weapons in modern conflicts
• International accountability mechanisms
• Verification and compliance systems
• Challenges of misinformation and disinformation
• Enforcement of chemical weapons conventions

3. Biological Weapons and Synthetic Biology

Key discussions include:

• Risks posed by synthetic biology
• Advances in pathogen engineering
• Weaknesses in the Biological Weapons Convention
• Biosecurity governance challenges
• Future biological weapons threats

4. Export Controls and Emerging Technologies

The programme also addresses rapidly developing technologies, including:

• Artificial intelligence-enabled systems
• Autonomous weapons
• Hypersonic missile technology
• Export control regulations
• Legal and ethical gaps in emerging military technologies

Exclusive Field Visits

One of the most valuable components of the programme is direct institutional exposure through guided visits to internationally significant facilities.

Participants will visit:

OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology (ChemTech)

This advanced facility supports scientific research, verification training, and international cooperation related to chemical weapons prohibition.

OPCW Headquarters

Participants will gain firsthand insight into the operations of one of the world’s leading international organizations dedicated to eliminating chemical weapons globally.

Confirmed International Experts and Speakers

The programme brings together highly respected scholars and practitioners from globally recognized institutions.

Confirmed speakers include:

• Dr León Castellanos-Jankiewicz – Asser Institute
• Simon Cleobury – Geneva Centre for Security Policy
• Dr Sico van der Meer – Clingendael Institute
• Dr Oliver Meier – European Leadership Network
• Ionut Suseanu – International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
• Dr Ana Sánchez-Cobaleda – University of Barcelona
• Dr Sibylle Bauer – Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
• Dr James Revill – United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR)
• Dr Miranda Smith – SIPRI
• Dr Edward Howell – University of Oxford
• Dr Abdolrasool Farzam Divsallar – UNIDIR

Who Should Apply?

This programme is ideal for professionals and students seeking specialized expertise in international security and disarmament policy.

Suitable applicants include:

• Government officials
• Diplomats
• NGO professionals
• Think tank researchers
• Academic scholars
• International organization staff
• Compliance officers
• Legal advisers
• Graduate students transitioning into the security field

Applicants with backgrounds in international relations, law, diplomacy, political science, security studies, public policy, arms control, and strategic affairs are especially encouraged to apply.

Why This Programme Matters

The global security environment is evolving rapidly. Traditional arms control systems are increasingly challenged by geopolitical tensions, technological innovation, and the growing complexity of modern warfare.

This programme provides participants with:

• Practical policy knowledge
• Exposure to real-world disarmament challenges
• International networking opportunities
• Institutional access to global security actors
• Specialized expertise highly valued in diplomacy and international organizations

For professionals seeking careers in international security, arms control, diplomacy, compliance, or multilateral policy-making, this programme represents a significant career-development opportunity.

Tuition Fee

• Standard Programme Fee: €1,895
• Scholarship Support: Tuition fee waivers available through OPCW scholarships

Application Deadline

1 August 2026

Learn More & Apply

Click HERE to learn more and apply for the OPCW Scholarships 2026.

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