Graduate Certificate in
International Arbitration
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Curriculum
(a) LCC5390 Contract, Tort and Evidence (CTE)
(b) LCC5391 Arbitration Law and Practice (ALP)
(c) LCC5392 Drafting and Award Writing (DAW)
The DAW Practicum is an intensive, interactive assessment which involves role play, drafting exercises and a final Award Writing examination.
This programme is conducted over a university semester. Teaching will commence in the first week of January and will end within May.
It is strictly limited to 30 students (including any re-takers). This is to ensure that an appropriate tutor / student ratio is maintained (which is especially important for DAW), and to satisfy the requirements of the accrediting professional institutions.
Yes. Any absence as a result of illness must be supported by a medical certificate. Any absence due to unavoidable work commitments must be supported by a letter from your employer.
Tutorials are arranged as presented in the timetable. However, as with previous GCIA sessions, students are encouraged to organise peer discussion and revision groups among themselves.
The following summarizes the differences between the two programmes:
| Programme/ Feature | Graduate Certificate in International Arbitration (GCIA) | Graduate Certificate in International Arbitration & Dispute Resolution (GCIADR) |
| Target Audience | Non-Lawyers & Lawyers | Lawyers only |
| Entry Requirements | Good bachelor’s degree in any discipline | LLB degree or its equivalent |
| External Accreditation | Singapore Institute of Arbitrators (SIArb) & Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) | None |
Generally, all classes are conducted in a face-to-face setting, in the NUS Faculty of Law in Singapore. Unless otherwise stated, online classes are not available and classes will all be conducted in-person. Students are advised to log in to Canvas for class announcements at least 3 days before each lesson to have the latest updates on arrangements.
Course Assessments
In April and May 2024. Please click here to download the draft timetable.
No exemptions are available in respect of the ALP and DAW courses.
Successful applicants who are qualified lawyers, have substantial post-qualification experience in the practice of law, and can demonstrate an up-to-date knowledge of Singapore’s laws of contract law, evidence and tort may subsequently apply and be granted an exemption from the CTE examination, at the sole discretion of the Law Faculty.
However, attendance at and participation in all CTE classes is necessary for qualification.
There are no supplementary examinations.
A candidate who fails any of the examinations or is prevented by any cause judged sufficiently by the examiners to excuse him/her from taking any of the examinations may, at the sole discretion of the Law Faculty, be allowed ONE opportunity to retake any failed or excused course the following year upon payment of the entire course fee which is applicable for that year.
Yes, all students are required to use their own laptops for lessons and examinations. Course materials and assignments may be disseminated on the NUS Learning Platform, Canvas. Examinations will be conducted using the ExamSoft software and a briefing will be conducted for this purpose.
For reasons relating to the integrity and security of the examinations, no data storage devices (or any similar devices) are to be used at any time during the examinations, and the use of any existing soft copy template or otherwise (whether via the Internet or otherwise) is strictly prohibited.
Yes, but strictly in accordance with the University’s guidelines for final examinations. Please refer to the University’s Guidelines on Special Consideration here.
Yes, but strictly in accordance with the University’s guidelines. Please refer to the University’s Guidelines for Review of Examination Results here.
Grading
| Courses | Passing Marks (%) | Grade |
| CTE and ALP | 55 and above | Completed Successfully (CS) |
| Below 55 | Completed Unsuccessfully (CU) |
| Courses | Technical Merit + Judicial Merit (%) | Grade |
| DAW | 70 and above | Completed Successfully (CS) |
| Below 70 | Completed Unsuccessfully (CU) |
Students must obtain CS grade for all examinations to successfully graduate and be awarded the Graduate Certificate in International Arbitration.
Graduation Requirements
Candidates must successfully pass all 3 courses in order to be awarded the Graduate Certificate in International Arbitration.
Professional Accreditation
No. Nevertheless, GCIA is a significant first step towards such qualification and recognition.
While successful GCIA candidates are exempted from taking CIArb’s own examinations (provided they score at least 70% in the DAW Award Writing examination), its other requirements such as passing an Interview must still be met. Since these requirements change from time to time, you are encouraged to check on current requirements directly with CIArb.
Yes. GCIA is fully recognised by SIArb. Upon graduation, you may apply for Fellowship with that institution.
Admission
Candidates with a good Bachelor's Degree from a recognised University are invited to apply for this course.
Candidates without an English-medium degree and/or non-native English speakers must have a valid certification of one of the following, at minimum:
- TOEFL iBT of 90/120
- TOEFL paper-based score of at least 550
- IELTS 6.0
No, but priority will be given to applicants over the age of 35, the reason being that this is the required minimum age for Fellowship with the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, and practical experience will be advantageous in the programme.
The online application will take you approximately 15 mins to complete. Before you start, you should have details of your academic qualifications and employment and the PDF version of the following required documents at hand:
- A one-page resume detailing your academic qualifications, employment history & professional training or membership
- Scanned copies of all your Bachelor/ Post-graduate Degree Certificates (with a certified English translation if the original is not in English)
- Scanned copies of all your Bachelor/ Post-graduate Degree Transcripts (with a certified English translation if the original is not in English)
- Scanned copy of NRIC (both sides) / Passport/ Documentary Proof of Permanent Resident Status
Any omission of supporting documents or information required in the Online Application Form will render the application void. All supporting documents, if not in English, must be accompanied by copies of the English translated version.
Click here to apply.
Referee Report
To complete your application for the programme, please click here to download a copy of the Referee Report Template Form for your onward forwarding to your referee.
Your referee should forward the completed report in a sealed envelope with his/her signature across the sealed flap of the envelope to the following address:
Attn: Mr Cephas Tham
Faculty of Law, National University of Singapore
469G Bukit Timah Road
Singapore 259776
Important: Please ensure your referee sends the hard-copy to the right address and that NUS Law Academy receives the completed report by 5 November 2023
The NUS Law Academy reserves the right to reject any referee report that is incomplete, received beyond the deadline, or is otherwise not received in the conditions stated above.
Sunday, 5 November 2023
You should receive an offer letter by the end of November 2023.
No. The Immigration & Checkpoint Authority will only issue a Student’s Pass if an applicant has been accepted to pursue full-time study in Singapore. GCIA is a part-time programme intended for working adults already resident in Singapore.
Fees & Payments
SGD 10,333.20 (including 9% GST). 9% GST is chargeable as the programme will be conducted after the GST increase slated from January 2024.
Payment may be made by cheque, credit card, internet banking and GIRO. Once enrolled in the programme, students will be billed for the course(s) and the student services fees. Payment is due before the start of each Semester.
No. Successful applicants will receive an offer email by end November (Semester Two). Instructions on payment will only follow after applicants have accepted the offers.
This programme is eligible for SkillsFuture Credit claim. All Singaporeans aged 25 and above can use their SkillsFuture Credit from the government to offset part of the course fee. Applicants who wish to use the SkillsFuture Credit may refer to https://www.skillsfuture.gov.sg/credit for more details.
No. Furthermore, you will not be allowed to defer your attendance and complete the course the following year without paying the entire course fee which is applicable for that year.
Learning Resources
Yes. The materials will be disseminated in class or via Canvas – an integrated online learning portal.
Yes. Students will be required to access Canvas to download materials and upload assessments, and to use a laptop for their CTE, ALP and DAW Examinations.
Yes, all GCIA students will be provided with library borrowing rights and access to the CJ Koh Law Library at the Bukit Timah Campus. To support students’ learning and research, they will also have access to 2 digital research resources – LawNet & WestLaw.
Yes, all GCIA students will be provided with an NUS email account and access to Canvas for their learning needs.
Support & Assistance
Our Graduate Certificate Programmes are not meant to allow adult learners to raise issues not directly relevant to the course material or hypothetical case studies used in teaching. Course instructors are entitled to decline to offer consultations or take specific questions on matters that are not relevant to the course syllabus or pedagogical objectives. In particular, participation in this Graduate Certificate Programme is not a legitimate means to develop competing or in-house training programmes on the same subject matter. This may amount to a breach of copyright or plagiarism and may be dealt with accordingly.
Yes, there will be an orientation briefing prior to the start of your first lesson. A technology briefing will also be scheduled on a Saturday morning.