Start your career (with IFA 4) or advance your understanding and career prospects (with IFA 5) in offshore financial services.
Need help?Looking to extend your influence? The IFA qualification covers offshore finance, regulation and company management. Optional modules can deepen your expertise in financial reporting and governance, fund administration and more.
The IFA qualifications are recognised by regulators in Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man and the British Virgin Islands, increasing your employability across the world.
IFA students aspire to work within the global market – whether from the UK, or beyond. They understand that achieving regulator-recognised qualifications (Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man and the British Virgin Islands) can significantly increase the chance of this.
IFA is a suite of qualifications that mix robust core modules with optional elements tailored to your expertise, experience and need.
The core modules cover:
We offer IFA as a Level 4 or Level 5 qualification, depending on your current qualifications and experience:
For help and advice call +44 (0)20 7580 4741 or email the Membership team.
IFA Level 4 is open to anyone who aspires to work within the global market – whether from the UK, or beyond.
The core module provides a sound grounding in regulatory knowledge, trust law, company law, products, services and offshore business.
Optional modules (in Accounting and Investment) allow students to extend their expertise, earning deeper qualifications and benefits. Those who choose the full programme will receive the Level 4 Certificate in International Finance and Administration. Graduates are eligible to become Affiliated members of The Chartered Governance Institute.
The Level 4 IFA is recognised by regulators in Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man and the British Virgin Islands.
Each module is assessed by exams, with the level similar to that which you might expect in the first year of an undergraduate degree.
Note: Students must start with the core module, and the other modules can be taken following this in any order.
Explore the module overviews, a study text chapter excerpt, sample exam papers and tuition options.
Included in your course fees, you will have access to:
In addition, we strongly recommend the use of tuition partners to help structure your study. These external organisations provide tuition options to suit your location, situation and budget – including classroom courses and distance learning.
The costs for IFA Level 4 range from £1,070 to £1,605. Whatever modules you choose to study, your fees will cover:
Start your application online, download our IFA Level 4 Discovery Pack, or call +44 (0)20 7580 4741.
Note: All applications are subject to our Student Rules and Regulations, and the Code of Professional Ethics and Conduct.
The Level 5 IFA is an advanced course for those with existing qualifications.
The core module provides the essential understanding of the regulation of offshore trusts and companies. Students then customise their qualification by selecting at least one optional module. These are available in Financial Reporting and Governance, Fund Administration and Business Management in Practice.
The number of modules studied affects the final qualification awarded.
Those who complete the full programme will receive the Level 5 Diploma in International Finance and Administration. Graduates are eligible to become Affiliated members of the Chartered Governance Institute.
All Level 5 IFA qualifications are recognised by regulators in Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man and the British Virgin Islands.
Each module is assessed by one three-hour exam, with the level similar to that which you might expect in the second year of an undergraduate degree.
Exams are held at our regional centres and take place in June and November each year.
IFA Level 5 is open to anyone who holds one of the following:
If you do not currently qualify, you may wish to consider our Level 4 IFA.
Explore the module overviews, a study text chapter excerpt, sample exam papers and tuition options.
Included in your course fees, you will have access to:
In addition, we strongly recommend the use of tuition partners to help structure your study. These external organisations provide tuition options to suit your location, situation and budget – including classroom courses and distance learning.
The costs for IFA Level 5 range from £1,180 to £2,030. Whatever modules you choose to study, your fees will cover:
Start your application online, download our IFA Level 5 Discovery Pack, or call +44 (0)20 7580 4741.
Note: All applications are subject to our Student Rules and Regulations, and the Code of Professional Ethics and Conduct.
This higher-level certificate is a specialised qualification in fund administration. It draws on our expertise in developing the broader Level 5 IFA programme, and particularly the Fund Administration module.
If you already have suitable qualifications to work in the trust and company administration area, but you would like an additional qualification in fund administration, this certificate offers a qualification specifically tailored to helping you progress in your chosen field.
Admission to this Certificate is open to anyone as a short course qualification. If you complete the Certificate and wish to study the International Finance and Administration programme, we would then assess you for entry.
This course provides an understanding of the investment environment, how a fund structure is created, and examines the roles of the key principals of a fund – the fund manager, the fund administrator and the fund’s governing body. It also covers the relationship between NAV and the performance of a fund, different fund types, structures and services available to investors in offshore jurisdictions and the legislative and regulatory frameworks affecting the funds sector.
On successful completion of the exam, you will gain a specialised qualification from a recognised professional body to help improve your current performance, and equip you for future employment and career development within the funds sector.
Assessment of the course is via one, three-hour exam which can be taken in June or November each year. The exam paper contains a mixture of short- and extended-answer questions with a pass mark of 50%.
Recommended study time for the whole course is 150 hours.
The following study options are available to those studying the Certificate in Fund Administration
You will receive an e-copy of the study text as part of your tuition fee, available to download on MyCG, and you will have access to the following study support:
Please note: Choosing to use a tuition provider will incur tuition fees to be paid direct to the provider, on top of your student fees.
The fee for the Level 5 Certificate in Fund Administration is £765.
This includes:
Are you ready to start the Certificate in Fund Administration? Click the button below and begin your registration.
Find out more about IFA 4 and 5 by downloading the Discovery Packs.
You can also: