Law of Obligations
- The Legal System
- Comparison of common law and civil law
- Contractual
- Quasi-contract
- Tort
DRS Training Courses
Diploma in Arbitration
Mon 24 Mar 2025 – Sat 26 Sept 2026 • 09:00 - 17:00 CUT • 420 hours formal CPD
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£3780 + VAT
Save 10% when you book all 3 modules together
Are you seeking work as an arbitrator, aiming to represent parties effectively, or exploring a deeper understanding of arbitration? The Diploma in Arbitration is a recognised qualification designed to equip you with the essential skills and practical expertise necessary in this complex field, such as reason award writing.
This comprehensive arbitration course develops your knowledge of the principles and processes of arbitration and focuses on applying these skills in real-world scenarios. From understanding key legal frameworks, such as the Arbitration Act 1996, to learning about impartial decision-making, this diploma prepares you to handle disputes confidently and competently.
Whether you're advancing your career or expanding your current services, this diploma ensures you’re well-prepared to explore opportunities 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
The Diploma is a comprehensive, 18-month arbitration course designed to equip you with practical skills, in-depth knowledge, and the confidence to advise or represent parties in arbitration. Delivered entirely online, this recognised qualification offers the flexibility to balance professional commitments while advancing your career.
Fully online delivery
Study from anywhere in the world with access to a structured online learning experience, including live webinars, interactive tutorials, and formal assessments.
Flexible learning
Choose a study location that works for you, with the convenience of accessing materials and sessions when required.
Live interaction with trainers
Engage directly with experienced trainers during live webinars to ask questions, clarify points, and get expert guidance.
On-demand session recordings
Revisit tutorials and webinars with online recordings
Peer collaboration via forums
Join a participant forum to share your thoughts, experiences, and ideas with peers.
Earn formal CPD hours
Complete the course to gain formal CPD hours.
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.
The Diploma in Arbitration is delivered over 18 months, with three progressive modules (Module 2 is split into two parts). There are live sessions scheduled for each module that range from full day tutorials to shorter webinar sessions. Attendance is highly encouraged to ensure you get the most out of the training and recordings will be available to review.
A significant portion of the course involves guided reading, with an estimated commitment of up to 6–7 hours per week. This may vary depending on the module and individual learning pace, as the depth and complexity of the material varies throughout the programme.
- 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.
What do you receive after completing the course?
The Diploma in Arbitration is a recognised qualification, structured to be equivalent to a Level 7 qualification on the National Qualification Framework, comparable to a postgraduate degree.
Eligibility for CIArb Membership (MCIArb)
RICS is a recognised course provider with the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb). Upon successfully completing the diploma, you can apply for membership of CIArb (MCIArb), further supporting your professional credibility.
Pathway to the RICS President’s Panel of Arbitrators
The RICS Diploma in Arbitration is a key criteria for consideration onto the RICS President’s Panel of Arbitrators, providing the opportunity to join a panel of leading dispute resolution professionals, as and when vacancies arise.
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.
Diploma in Arbitration Course Calendar (PDF 0.07MB)
Published date: 04 March 2025
“The quality of the tutors chosen for the different modules was what made this course stand out for me. Each was very experienced in their respective fields. There was a university professor of law to take us through the Law of Obligations module and a practicing arbitrator taught the final Award Writing module. This gave a real insight into the different aspects of the arbitral process.”
Liam Melly
Forensic Delay Analyst, Assured CE Ltd
“The course was well constructed and a great eye opener to the basics of Contract and Tort through to the intricacies of an arbitration. I got a lot out of each assessment in my submissions and in my professional life. Each of the relevant tutors were clearly experts and highly knowledgeable. Their knowledge provided an oasis of welcome learning inputs, always at the right time. I have enjoyed the course, thoroughly and miss its deadlines and learning.”
Richard McConn
Director, D G Jones & Partners
“I thought online learning balanced with in-the-room tutorials worked well. It was interesting to meet other people who had been involved in rent reviews. You have to be disciplined to learn online and force yourself to make time for it, but it was an adaptable programme, accessible and flexible in terms of time.”
Robert Burke
Director, Lambert Smith Hampton
For your business
Group Discounts
Book three or more places and receive a 10% discount. Please note that only one discount can be applied per booking, and group discounts cannot be combined with the Early Bird rate (if applicable).
Contact Us
To discuss training options for your employees or to take advantage of group discounts, contact our dedicated training support team:
Email: drstraining@rics.org
Call: +44 (0) 2476868584
Notify me about upcoming courses
Register your interest in a future course, and one of our team will be in touch to assist you.
- Starting March 2026
