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The Gafta Arbitrator Diploma is the next step* to becoming a Gafta Arbitrator, following successful completion of one of our structured training programmes.

Questions? Check our FAQs page

The exam is aimed at professionals who:

  • Want to work towards becoming a Gafta Qualified Arbitrator
  • Are looking to progress their career within the grain trade

Criteria

The Gafta Arbitrator Diploma is open to candidates who:

  • Are members of Gafta
  • Have passed the four Gafta Professional Development (GPD) courses OR passed the six Gafta Distance Learning Programme (DLP) modules within the last 5 years
  • Have applied for and have been granted exemption from GDP or DLP by the Gafta Arbitration Committee**
  • Are members in ‘good standing’ – nothing that could bring Gafta into disrepute or give concern that the individual was not a ‘fit and proper person’ to be an Arbitrator
  • In-house lawyers working for Gafta members are eligible, but those working primarily in private practice are not

Exam Structure

Language: The Arbitrator Diploma exam is only available in English. Candidates are required to demonstrate a high level of competence in their understanding and quality of written English.

Time allowed: Candidates will have 3 hours 45 minutes to complete the exam. 15 minutes is recommended as reading time. Candidates should aim to spend:

  • 45 minutes on Section A;
  • 1 hour and 15 minutes on Section B and;
  • 1 hour and 30 mins on Section C.

Pass Mark: Candidates must achieve 65% per section in at least two of the three sections to achieve a pass overall. i.e. If you pass sections A and B, then even if you have failed section C, you will pass the exam.

Candidates who achieve a borderline mark will be informed by Gafta and invited to participate in a interview to discuss the weaker areas of their exam. If this is completed successfully, the candidate will be considered to have pass the Arbitrator Diploma exam.

Resitting the Exam: Gafta’s Arbitration Committee has stipulated that a candidate can only take the exam twice in a two year period. Therefore, if you retook the exam six months after your initial attempt and were again unsuccessful, it would be a further two years before you could sit the exam again.

Materials: Candidates can use the materials provided with the exam, but no others. Invigilators must take care that candidates are not accessing reference materials outside of the files Gafta have provided either via audio, electronically or by any other means.

Fee

Exam fee: £500 exclusive of VAT
Application for exemption from training: £250 + VAT

*Taking the Arbitrator Diploma exam does not automatically qualify you to be Gafta Arbitrator, you must satisfy all requirements
**There is no possibility to apply for exemption from the Gafta Arbitrator Diploma Exam, only from training

The process:

  1. Notify Gafta that you wish to take the exam
  2. Gafta will check that you meet all the requirements
  3. Notify Gafta where you would like to take your exam. Gafta can host exam candidates at the London and Kiev offices. All other locations must have a Gafta member host who is not your employer
  4. Gafta will confirm who will be hosting & invigilating your exam (for exams not held at Gafta only)
  5. Confirm a date and time for your paper – you must give Gafta at least 6-8 weeks' notice

Contact events@gafta.com to discuss your exam requirements

Conditions

  • For Trade Diploma and Arbitrator Diploma: Candidates who fail the exam can arrange to re-take once. Retakes must be taken within 12 months of the first paper. Candidates who fail the retake paper must wait 24 months before attempting the exam again
  • For Appeal Board exam: Candidates who fail the exam must wait 12 months before they are eligible to retake
  • Candidates must be employees of Gafta members or be members in their own right
  • Candidates must not use their own personal computers/laptops to take the exam
  • Candidates who opt to take the exam anywhere other than Gafta London may be charged an fee towards the cost of room hire and/or invigilation. Additional charges will be agreed with candidates in advance
  • Exams cannot be arranged until the relevant training has been passed
  • If there is a training requirement for the exam, training must have been completed within 5 years of your exam date
  • Exemption decisions are final
  • Exam papers must be written and submitted in English. Candidates are partly assessed on the standard of written English exhibited

Becoming a Gafta Qualified Arbitrator

For candidates wishing to become a Gafta Qualified Arbitrator, they must meet the following criteria:

  • Have completed and passed the Arbitrator Diploma exam
  • Have 10+ years’ experience in the grain trade
  • Be a Gafta member or be employed by a Gafta member
  • Not work for a professional law firm (in-house trade lawyers will be considered)

Please see the How to become a Gafta Qualified Arbitrator page to see how to progress from the Arbitrator Diploma to Qualified Arbitrator status.

Once they have, they must contact membership@gafta.com and fill out an application form. The application will then be considered by the Gafta Arbitration Committee.