STEP - Certificate

STEP Certificate in International Trust Management

STEP Certificate in International Trust Management
Credits Awarding Body STEP

This course covers basic principles and the most up-to-date developments in the industry, introducing you to the fundamentals of international trusts, trust operations and requirements in a global and local environment.

The course will give you an understanding of the fundamentals of trust work in an international environment. You will gain an insight into legal and administrative principles to enable you to manage wealth held in trust. The course can be taken as a standalone qualification or as an introduction to the STEP Diploma in International Trust Management programme. 

This qualification is globally recognised and sought after by employers and professionals throughout international finance centres.

This course is awarded in association with Alliance Manchester Business School, the University of Manchester.

You will be able to: 

  • Provide an overview of the main features of the offshore financial industry. 
  • Distinguish between legal and equitable ownership rights. 
  • Comply with a trustee’s fiduciary duties and duty of care. 
  • Explain the fundamental requirements to create a valid trust. 
  • Describe the different formalities necessary for transferring various types of property into trust. 
  • Navigate your way around a standard trust instrument. 
  • Explain how tax is imposed on individuals and companies that are domiciled or deemed resident for tax purposes in an onshore jurisdiction. 
  • Explain how an inter vivos trust can be used for estate planning purposes to plan who gets what upon an individual’s death. 
  • Create and maintain trust files to record and retain information in a logical, clear and efficient manner. 
  • Explain how a trust may become at risk of being set aside as a sham and avoid that situation occurring. 
  • Explain the uses of offshore companies in managing and protecting privately held assets. 
  • Detail the basic procedure to incorporate a company. 
  • Appreciate when and in what circumstances a company may be wound up. 
  • Explain the position, role, and rights of shareholders. 
  • Highlight the risks that a service provider undertakes in providing directors and the ways to mitigate these. 

The course is designed for all professionals moving into financial services (specifically trusts and corporate services), at an early stage of their career or an aligned practice area who wish to develop their understanding and knowledge of this area.

Students of this course typically include:

  • Trust Officers/Administrators
  • Trust Managers (Senior)
  • Trustees/Fiduciaries
  • Corporate Administrators
  • Lawyers/Solicitors/Attorneys
  • Wealth Managers
  • Accountants
  • Tax Advisors
  • Compliance Officers/Managers
  • Private Bankers
  • Secretarial/Administration
  • Client Relations/Marketing/Sales
  • Financial/Estate Planners
  • Successful completion of the course will award students with 30 Entry-Level credits towards STEP membership. 
  • The programme is open entry, allowing students to enrol without the requirement of previous experience/qualifications. 
  • Ideal for professionals moving into the industry and looking for professional accreditation. 
  • A recognised ‘gold-standard’ professional qualification for those working in the industry, globally recognised by employers, regulators, clients, and professionals. 
  • Blended delivery, written and taught by practitioners, focusing on everyday matters encountered in international trust management from creation, modern usage and administration of trusts and the provision of corporate services for the trust's underlying company. 
  • Access to specimen examination papers and solutions to support you in your assessment preparation. 
  • Ability to grow your own professional network, liaising with students from a range of professions providing an opportunity for networking, building relationships, and sharing study tips/support as a cohort. 
  • Students can submit academic queries to a dedicated programme content team. 
  • The course is subject to the rigorous quality assurance procedures of Manchester Business School, a Faculty of the University of Manchester. 

 


This course is available for study all year round, with intakes at different points throughout the year (depending on your location). The core programme is delivered through a blend of distance-learning and four virtual workshops as part of a revision-week series delivered by experts in the field who possess vast amounts of professional experience and practical knowledge.

If you are based in Jersey and interested in face-to-face teaching for this course, please click here.

We recommend that you spend four to six hours per week on private study for the duration of the course.

  • bespoke soft copy course manual
  • self-assessment material
  • distance learning support
  • four days of online tuition
  • examination fees.

Thanks to our online classroom, students can take this course from anywhere. You can select any of the dates indicated in the 'Booking and Fees' section below.

The regions listed are indicative of the locally focused content of the workshops. Where possible, we encourage students to pick the region nearest to where they are studying from, as they reflect the time zones of the teaching.

  • UK & Crown Dependencies
  • Europe
  • Asia
  • Caribbean & The Americas

The course is assessed by way of a five-hour open-book written examination which comprises 25 compulsory multiple-choice questions (each worth 1 mark), followed by three 25-mark essay/problem style questions chosen from a selection of five questions. The questions will be drawn from across the syllabus and candidates must achieve 50% in order to pass the Certificate.

Additional charges will apply for re-sit attempts and deferrals.

Once you have successfully completed this course, you will gain 30 Entry-Level credits towards STEP membership and be awarded the STEP Certificate in International Trust Management.

View the 2024 Course Timetable

Please note all courses are delivered fully online. However for practitioners based in Jersey, there is currently an opportunity for face-to-face teaching. 

View the Jersey Face-Face Course Timetable

The regions listed are indicative of the locally focused content of the workshops and timezones for the delivery. Where possible, we encourage students to pick the region nearest to where they are studying from, as they reflect the time zones of the teaching and the examination. Examinations cannot be rearranged to an alternative time zone once you have attended the tuition. All students applying for a resit assessment must apply for the date applicable to their local centre.

View the Resit Timetable 2024

Please note resits can only be taken on the dates specified.

Thank you for your interest in CLTI or STEP products. Due to government regulations, we are unable to accept online payments from, or, on behalf of students from certain countries and territories without prior agreement. Please contact us for further details on cltinternational@centlaw.com, +44 (0) 121 362 7733.

Based in Jersey and interested in face-to-face teaching? Sign up to the STEP International Trust Management Certificate Jersey course

 

Book Course

To enrol onto this course, please login to your account or register using our online booking portal.

Get in touch...

To discuss your options, or speak to a member of the Admissions Team, please get in touch.

Duration

4 Months

Entry Criteria

Open-Entry

Course Fee: £1730

Based in Jersey and interested in face-to-face teaching? Sign up to the STEP International Trust Management Certificate Jersey course, starting on 29th March 2024 

Assessment

Examination