STEP Advanced Certificate in Trusts: Law and Practice (International)

Master the trust concept and trustee responsibilities with the STEP Advanced Certificate in Trusts: Law and Practice. Take a step closer to the STEP Diploma and achieve global recognition in the international trusts industry with this Advanced Certificate.

Course details

This course provides practitioners with the technical knowledge and practical skills required to manage wealth held in trust in a professional and effective manner in compliance with industry best practice.

Gain in-depth expertise: Improve your technical knowledge of the trust concept and the role, powers, and duties of a trustee.
Practical focus: Practical advice and guidance written by practitioners, for practitioners on everyday matters encountered in international trust management from creation, modern usage, and administration of trusts.
Build valuable connections: Network with like-minded professionals in varied roles and firms from all over the world.
Industry recognition: Recognised worldwide as the ‘gold-standard’ benchmark qualification for those working in the international trusts industry by employers, regulators, clients, and professionals. Successful completion provides 30 Diploma Level credits towards STEP membership, enhancing your professional standing, and is awarded in association with Alliance Manchester Business School, a School of the University of Manchester.

Course fees: £1,875 + local taxes

View the March 2025 course timetable

View the June 2025 course timetable

Course dates, fees and enrol now:

Please select the region closest to your timezone. If course dates for your region are not currently displayed, the next intake will be September 2025, so please check back in a couple of days when the dates will be available to book.

Find out more about The STEP Diploma

Entry requirements

60 Entry Level credits which can be achieved through:

Completion of a STEP Certificate (30 credits)
Previous learning - confirmed through Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning (APCL) application - 30 credits
Work experience - confirmed through Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) - 30 credits

Note: You do not need to apply for APEL or APCL if you already have confirmed, or if you have studied for at least two STEP Certificates previously.

Apply for APCL or APEL

What will I learn?

Download Syllabus

The essential characteristics and parties to a trust
The roles, responsibilities and duties of trustees
How to effectively manage and administer trusts
Typical provisions of a trust instrument, including dispositive provisions of discretionary, settlor-directed and life interest trust.
The significance of conflict of laws issues, choice of law and changing the governing law of the trust
Estate planning and forced heirship issues
How offshore trusts may be used to protect family wealth
The practical uses of purpose trusts
The characteristics and governance of foundations

Is this course right for me?

The course is designed for all professionals moving into or working in financial services (specifically trusts and corporate services), who wish to develop their understanding and knowledge of this area.

Students of this course typically include:

trust assistants/officers/administrators
trust managers (senior)
trustees/fiduciaries
corporate administrators
lawyers/solicitors/attorneys
wealth managers
accountants
tax advisers
compliance officers/managers
private bankers
secretarial/administration
client relations/marketing/sales
financial/estate planners

Course format

This course is available for study all year round, with intakes at different points throughout the year. The core programme is delivered through a blend of distance learning and four virtual workshops as part of a revision week series delivered online.

Enrolment onto this course will include the following:

access to the online learning platform containing:  bespoke soft copy course manual supplementary resource material, including over 50 trust-related documents
self-assessment material
distance learning support
four days of online tuition
examination fees

The course is assessed by way of a five-hour open book written examination comprising of multiple-choice questions and three 25-mark essay style questions.

Once you have successfully completed this course, you will gain 30 Diploma Level credits towards STEP membership and be awarded the STEP Advanced Certificate in Trusts: Law and Practice (International).

Become a member of STEP

This is a STEP course/qualification. STEP membership is required to study this course and must be maintained throughout the duration of your studies.

You will need 60 Entry Level credits and if you are not already, you will become an Affiliate member by enrolling on this course. STEP will contact you regarding membership 4-6 weeks after course enrolment.

Successful completion of the course will provide 30 Diploma Level credits as part of the STEP Qualification and Membership framework.

Find out more about STEP Membership