Diploma in Arbitration

Who is the UK Diploma in Arbitration for?

The Diploma in Arbitration is designed for professionals across the built environment and related sectors who are seeking a recognised qualification in arbitration. This course is ideal for those who want to gain a comprehensive and practical understanding of the arbitral process, whether to serve as arbitrators, represent parties as advocates, or build their expertise in resolving disputes.

This qualification is particularly relevant for:

• Senior professionals: Roles such as Directors, Associate Directors, Partners, and Vice Presidents looking to diversify their skill set and take on arbitration responsibilities.
• Technical specialists: Engineers, Project Engineers, and Operations Directors involved in complex technical disputes.
• Property and infrastructure leaders: Estates Managers and Heads of Ground Infrastructure responsible for managing disputes in land, valuation, and boundary issues.
• Independent practitioners: Founders and business owners in consultancy or legal practices who want to expand their services.
• Rural and valuation experts: Professionals dealing with rural and land valuation disputes, including those addressing boundary disagreements.
• Commercial valuation: Surveyors, property consultants, and valuation professionals focusing on disputes related to commercial property valuation, lease renewals, and rent reviews

Course programme

Module deferrals

While the course is designed to be completed within 18 months, participants have the option to defer modules and complete them within a maximum of 4 years.

Required reading materials

To support your learning, the following reading materials are mandatory for this course:

• Nutshell Contract Law by Robert Duxbury
• Law Express: Tort Law by Emily Finch & Stefan Fafinski
• English Legal System by Penny Derbyshie
• The Arbitration Act 1996: A commentary by Harris, B; Planterose, R; & Tecks, J
• Russell on Arbitration by David St John Sutton; Judith Gill; Matthew Gearing
• The Modern Law of Evidence by Adrian Keane & Paul McKeown
• Arbitration Awards: A Practical Approach by Turner, WR

Please note that these books are not included in the cost of the Diploma, and participants will need to source and pay for them independently. We recommend securing these materials in advance to reduce time pressures when the course begins and to ensure they’re readily available. This will also allow participants to begin reading and familiarising themselves with the content prior to the start of the course.

Learning outcomes

• Develop your knowledge of the Law of Obligations within the context of the English Legal System and Civil Law that underpins a more detailed study of dispute resolution.
• Gain a full understanding of the Law of Arbitration and ensure you are aware of the underlying requirements relating to the presentation of evidence to a tribunal.
• Examine the arbitration practice and procedure as defined by the Arbitration Act 1996
• Develop the necessary skills for drafting and evaluating evidence and award writing.

Assessment format

The course modules will be assessed by assignments and time-controlled examinations. 

What to Expect

The assessments for the Diploma in Arbitration are carefully designed to test your knowledge, develop your practical skills, and prepare you for real-world arbitration scenarios. Assessments are completed online in a controlled environment. Here's what you can expect:

Module 1

• Assignment (40%): A 3,000-word open-book assignment with 4 weeks to complete, due towards the end of the module.
• Exam (60%): A 4-hour closed-book exam with essay-style questions.

Module 2 (Parts 1 & 2)

Each part includes:

• Assignment (30%): A 3,000-word open-book assignment to be completed within 4 weeks.
• Exam (70%): A 3-hour closed-book, time-controlled exam.

Module 3

• Exam (100%): A 5-hour closed-book assessment requiring you to write a reasoned arbitration award, showcasing your ability to apply practical knowledge.

Resitting assessments

If you’re unsuccessful in an assessment, you can resit with the next cohort. Resits incur a fee ranging from GBP 150-300, depending on the type of assessment.