Education & Training

Industry Educational Programmes

Irish Funds partners with the Funds by IOB to provide practical, relevant and flexible university accredited programmes, specifically designed for those who work in the funds industry. All programmes are part-time and designed for those who are working and studying. Those who participate can benefit from the relevance, range and flexibility of the programmes while studying at their own pace. The Institute of Banking is a recognised college of University College Dublin (UCD), successful participants will receive their academic awards from UCD. A UCD qualification is internationally recognised and portable. In addition to accredited programmes, the Institute also offers masterclasses on relevant industry topics. Check out the 2025/26 brochure.

If you are interested in finding out about any of the programmes commencing in the academic year 2025/26, please contact the Programme Director, Margaret D’Arcy at Margaret.Darcy@iob.ie.

Professional Certificate in Capital Markets, Investments and Funds

The Professional Certificate in Capital Markets, Investments and Funds is designed to deepen your knowledge of the drivers of performance of capital markets and of capital market products, the settlement and trade life cycles, regulations, and the importance of risk management and operational robustness in the fund management sector.

The programme is targeted at the fund management industry, bringing together all the major areas of requisite knowledge required for portfolio and risk management processes within the funds and investment environment.

View programme details and express an interest

Professional Certificate in International Investment Fund Services

The Professional Certificate in International Investment Fund Services is a unique and specifically-designed programme to support the funds industry.

The programme will be of interest and particular relevance to those working, and those seeking to work, in the funds industry. This three module programme aims to introduce, discuss and describe the investment fund from its inception through to termination. It will detail the functions and parties to a fund, the roles, responsibilities and activities of all the parties to a fund and how each interacts with each other.

View programme details.

Upon successful completion of this programme graduates will be invited to the Accredited Funds Professional Designation. The Accredited Funds Professional is a designation developed by IOB in conjunction with Irish Funds. This title is an industry badge of excellence that exemplifies your funds expertise, client focus and professional standing, supported by lifelong learning. As an employer in the funds industry, your talented people hold a title that is an external validation of their professional competence and commitment to lifelong learning. Find out more on the Accredited Funds Professional.

Professional Certificate in Complex Financial Instruments in International Financial Services

The Professional Certificate in Complex Financial Instruments in International Financial Services is designed for an ever increasing range of people working in the international financial services area who are engaged in activities which require a good working knowledge of the characteristics of derivative products and complex financial instruments.

The objective of the programme is to provide students with not only a very practical understanding of how the most common types of complex financial instruments and derivative products are used in the financial markets, but also their use in hedging, risk management and return enhancement strategies.

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Professional Diploma in Applied Alternative Investments

The Professional Diploma in Applied Alternative Investments provides an opportunity for professionals working in the funds industry to develop their expertise in the growing alternative assets market.

Increasingly, alternative assets which includes hedge funds, commodities, private equity, structured products and real asset investments such as infrastructure investments, are becoming mainstream investments which are predicted to grow significantly.

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Professional Certificate for Designated Persons in a Fund Management Company

The Professional Certificate for Designated Persons in a Fund Management Company was introduced to support the development of individuals in Designated Person roles, or those who aspire to these roles. It is also relevant to individuals who support Designated Persons and to other professionals in Fund Management Companies.

The programme will support your personal and professional development in taking on senior roles in the fund management industry. It will:

• Enhance your knowledge and skills; and

• Equip you with the competencies necessary to take on a DP position, or to support a DP

View programme details.

Certified Investment Fund Director (CIFD) Programme

The programme's syllabus is intended to cover all key aspects of the value chain for funds and address the key governance issues faced by fund directors. The content delivered by the Programme's faculty is dynamic - reflecting key prevailing industry topics and trends, such as the rise of sustainable finance and the evolving technology and digital landscape - to ensure participants are well equipped with the knowledge to become successful fund directors in the industry today.

The CIFD Programme is designed for all investment fund directors, those with extensive asset management or funds experience who aspire to become investment fund directors and other financial services executives.

The programme is continuously kept up to date to reflect key prevailing industry topics and trends, such as the rise of sustainable finance and the evolving technology and digital landscape – to ensure participants are well equipped with the knowledge to become successful fund directors in the industry today.

View the CIFD programme brochure. For more information on this programme, visit IOB's website or contact Relationship Manager Kate Walsh at kwalsh@cifdi.org