Training Courses

Diploma in International Arbitration (Sub-Saharan Africa)

• 600 hours formal CPD

Online

From R45000 + VAT

Save 10% when you book all 3 modules together

Are you seeking to work as an international arbitrator, represent parties effectively in disputes, or gain a deeper understanding of arbitration in Sub-Saharan Africa? The Diploma in International Arbitration is a recognised qualification designed to equip professionals with the skills and practical expertise required in this complex field, including award writing and applying international arbitration principles.

This comprehensive arbitration course is tailored specifically for professionals in the built environment and related sectors within South Africa. You will develop a thorough understanding of arbitration principles, key legal frameworks such as the English Arbitration Act, and international arbitration rules. The course also emphasises practical application, preparing you to manage disputes confidently in both domestic and international contexts.

The course is delivered through a blended learning format, combining online resources, live interactive tutorials, and guided reading. It is structured across three modules, including revision sessions and assessments. Participants will also have access to recorded tutorials and a participant forum for collaborative learning.

Whether you're advancing your career, expanding your professional services, or pursuing dual qualifications in domestic and international arbitration, this diploma ensures you are prepared to meet the demands of international dispute resolution.

Who is this course for

The Diploma in International Arbitration is designed for professionals across the built environment and related sectors who are looking to gain a recognised qualification in arbitration. This course is ideal for those aiming to act as arbitrators, represent parties effectively in arbitration proceedings, or build their expertise in resolving disputes.

This qualification is particularly suited for:

Senior professionals: Directors, Associate Directors, Partners, and Vice Presidents seeking to broaden their expertise and take on arbitration responsibilities.
Technical specialists: Engineers, Project Engineers, and Operations Directors involved in resolving technical disputes within construction, infrastructure, and energy sectors.
Commercial leaders: Commercial Managers, Quantity Surveyors, and Claims Consultants who handle contractual disputes and are looking to strengthen their arbitration capabilities.
Legal and contract advisors: In-house counsel, Contract Managers, and Legal Advisors seeking to expand their skills in arbitration and dispute resolution.
Independent practitioners: Entrepreneurs, consultants, and founders of legal or technical practices who want to offer arbitration services to clients.
Infrastructure and property experts: Project Managers, Development Managers, and other professionals responsible for managing disputes related to large-scale developments, including government employees involved in public sector projects.

Course Format

The Diploma in International Arbitration is a a comprehensive, 18-month arbitration course designed to equip professionals with practical skills, in-depth knowledge, and the confidence to handle disputes effectively. This recognised qualification offers the flexibility to balance your professional commitments while furthering your career in arbitration.

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Blended learning delivery

Study through a combination of tutorials, live webinars, and online interactive sessions, through a structured learning experience that combines flexibility with hands-on, practical learning opportunities.

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Flexible study options

Learn from a location that suits you, and access course materials and webinars online.

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Live interaction with trainers

Engage directly with experienced trainers during live sessions.

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On-demand recordings

Revisit tutorials and webinars through recorded sessions available online.

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Peer collaboration

Join a participant forum to share experiences, discuss ideas, and learn collaboratively with peers from diverse professional backgrounds across the region.

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Earn formal CPD hours

Complete the course to gain formal Continuing Professional Development (CPD) hours, demonstrating your commitment to professional growth in international arbitration.

This blended learning format ensures that participants not only gain a recognised qualification but also develop skills that are directly applicable to arbitration scenarios in the South African and broader African region.

Course programme

The Diploma in International Arbitration is structured across three key modules, designed to provide participants with a deep understanding of arbitration principles and processes, both domestically and internationally. Each module builds practical skills and knowledge essential for handling complex disputes.

Contract Law
Tort
Evidence

Time commitment: Approximately 200 study hours, including tutorials and assessments.

Overview of International Arbitration
Agreement to Arbitrate
Arbitration Institutions
Applicable Laws
Establishment and Organisation of the Tribunal
Emergency Procedures and Interim Measures
Powers, duties and jurisdiction of the Arbitral Tribunal
Conduct of the Proceedings
The Preliminary Meeting
The Role of National Courts
English Arbitration Act

Time commitment: Approximately 250 study hours across both parts, including formative and summative assessments.

Introduction to Award Writing
Challenge and Enforcement
The Award
Writing the Award

Time commitment: Approximately 150 study hours, with live webinars, tutorials, and assessments

Course schedule

The Diploma in International Arbitration is delivered over 18 months, with three progressive modules. 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.

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 Derbyshire

‘International Arbitration’ by Redfern and Hunter

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 understanding of the Law of Obligations within the contexts of the English Legal System and Civil Law, providing a foundation for a deeper study of dispute resolution.
Acquire a comprehensive understanding of the Law of Arbitration, including the key requirements for presenting evidence effectively to a tribunal.
Examine arbitration practice and procedure as defined by the Arbitration Act 1996 and international arbitration rules, with specific relevance to the South Africa and wider African region.
Build the necessary skills for drafting, evaluating evidence, and award writing, enabling you to operate confidently in arbitration scenarios.

What do you receive after completing the course?

The Diploma in International Arbitration is equivalent to a Level 7 qualification on the National Qualification Framework, comparable to a postgraduate degree.

Dual qualification

By completing this diploma, you will earn both:

A Diploma in Arbitration (based on the English Arbitration Act), and
A Diploma in International Arbitration, tailored for professionals handling disputes in the MEA region.

Membership of CIArb (MCIArb)

RICS is a recognised course provider with the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb). Upon successful completion of the diploma, you will be eligible to apply for membership of CIArb (MCIArb).

Local opportunities in the South Africa region

To act as an arbitrator within the South African region, it is recommended that professionals familiarise themselves with any specific regulatory bodies or requirements within their country of practice.

Assessment format

What to Expect

Throughout the Diploma in International Arbitration programme, you will engage in a variety of assessments designed to test your understanding of arbitration principles and enhance your practical skills.

Submission of questions:

During the programme, you will submit questions for marking. This allows you to receive detailed feedback from experienced trainers, helping you refine your knowledge and skills.

Written assessments:

Participants must successfully complete three written assessments, including:

Two law papers: These papers assess your understanding of the Law of Obligations, the Law of Arbitration, and their application in both domestic and international contexts.
Award writing paper: This assessment focuses on your ability to draft legally sound and enforceable arbitration awards.

Module assignments:

In addition to the written assessments, you will complete assignments for both Module 1 and Module 2. These assignments provide a practical opportunity to apply your knowledge and demonstrate your understanding of arbitration processes.

The assessments are a key part of the learning journey, ensuring that you gain both theoretical knowledge and the practical expertise required for international arbitration practices.

Resitting assessments

If you’re unsuccessful in an assessment, you can resit with the next cohort. Resits incur a fee ranging from ZAR 2,500 – 4,000 , depending on the type of assessment.

Meet the trainers

Victor Leginsky

Victor Leginsky is a Chartered Arbitrator and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. He is certified as a mediator through the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (London) [CEDR] and works frequently in respect of mediation with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (London) [RICS] and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. He holds a JD (Juris Doctor) degree and a B.Ed. (Bachelor of Education), both from Canada. He has served as Arbitrator in well over 100 cases, a large proportion of which are high-value construction cases conducting both institutional and ad hoc arbitrations. He confines his practice to that of a neutral (arbitrator / mediator), largely in construction and energy-related disputes.

Paula Boast

Paula Boast is Head of Construction Engineering & Projects for the Middle East Region. Based in Bahrain since 2006, she specialises in construction projects throughout the region, in particular Bahrain, Oman and Qatar. Her extensive experience includes real estate and development, regeneration, infrastructure and utilities, hotels, leisure and tourism, residential, industrial and commercial, education and healthcare, both in the private and public sectors. Paula acts on behalf of government and regulatory clients including Ministry of Works, project employers and developers, lenders and investors, contractors, subcontractors and consultants.

Download the course guide

Diploma in International Arbitration - Brochure (pdf 2.41MB)

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What our delegates say

“The RICS Diploma in International Arbitration has prepared me with the skills and knowledge required to become an International Arbitrator. The level of training, support, assessment and examination over the course of the programme allows me to be confident in my preparedness for an Arbitration career. I strongly recommend the programme for anyone wishing to enter a career in International Arbitration”

Colin Caulfield, FCIArb FIWFM

Executive Director, Estates Management, NEOM

For your business

To discuss training options for your employees or to take advantage of group discounts, contact our dedicated training support team:

Email: drseducation@rics.org

Current cohort

Full Diploma - Starting 24 March 2025 (Save 10%)

R45000 + VAT

Module 1

R12400 + VAT

Module 2

R18800 + VAT

Module 3

R18800 + VAT

Notify me about upcoming courses

Starting March 2026

Frequently asked questions

No, however you'll need to have a good concept of English and be able to produce essays and exam answers in English. The tutorials and assessments will be conducted in English with some marks in the assessments being attributed to; English, punctuation and grammar.

The diploma runs for 18 months, however you have 4 years from first registering to complete the diploma.

Yes, you can but please bear in mind that this diploma is based on UK and UNCITRAL Model law. The Model Law has been widely adopted in many jurisdictions globally. However, please note that the programme emphasises arbitration practices and procedures relevant to the Middle East and Africa.

If you are based outside these regions, it is important to familiarise yourself with any differences between the UNCITRAL Model Law and the arbitration laws or practices in your local jurisdiction.

You can pay for each module individually, payment for each module must be received before the module start date. Or if you would like to book all three modules together you can benefit from a 10% discount.

It’s possible to complete the modules out of order but we strongly recommend you complete them consecutively, particularly that you complete Module 2 before moving on to Module 3.

We do not currently accept exemptions applications for this programme.

All tutorials are recorded but to benefit from discussions and activities which take place at the tutorials we highly recommend they are attended.

You will have the opportunity to resit the assessments, please note there will be a resit fee for each assessment.

We understand that this diploma is often completed alongside work and personal commitments so we will allow you to defer your learning to a later diploma cohort. The first deferral you request is free of charge but any subsequent deferrals will be charged at ZAR 2,500 plus VAT.  Please bear in mind that this diploma needs to be completed within 4 years of its start date.

Currently, RICS does not have an established panel of arbitrators specifically for the MEA region. However, if opportunities for appointments in this region arise, we would look to set up a panel and consider professionals who have successfully completed the Diploma in International Arbitration. Your qualification will position you as a strong candidate for such panels should they be formed in the future.

From R45000

+ VAT

Save 10% when you book all 3 modules together

Diploma in International Arbitration (Sub-Saharan Africa)