IoD Ireland is offering one candidate the opportunity to receive:
- A fully funded place on the Institute of Directors Ireland Chartered Director Programme commencing in 2025.
- The bursary would include full programme costs, including the cost of sitting the Certificate exam, Diploma Exam, and application for the CDir designation (if the candidate is eligible).
- A year's complimentary membership of the Institute of Directors Ireland.
1. Minimum qualifiying eligibility criteria
The bursary is open to a broad range of individuals, including those at the early stages of their governance journey.
a. Leadership Role: Applicants must hold a leadership position in a not-for-profit enterprise. The leadership role can include being a board member, member of the management team, or other leadership role.
b. Commitment to Inclusion and Diversity: Applicants must demonstrate a clear commitment to inclusion and diversity. For 2025, IoD Ireland is particularly focused on, but not limited to, disability inclusion. We encourage applicants to describe past activities they have been involved in or potential future actions they will take because of the bursary that promote disability inclusion.
c. Residency: Applicants must be a resident of the Republic of Ireland
d. English Proficiency: Applicants must demonstrate proficiency in the English language.
e. Financial: Applicants must indicate how the removal of a financial barrier to undertaking the Chartered Director Programme will be of benefit to them and their organisation.
2. One application per candidate in any given bursary offer cycle is permitted.
3. If shortlisted for this bursary, you will be required to provide two letters of recommendation for which a deadline will be provided. At least one of these must be from the organisation in which you have the role you are putting forward.
4. The successful candidate will be published by IoD Ireland.
5. Accepting the IoD Ireland Gary Kennedy Chartered Director Programme Bursary:
A Candidate offered the above bursary must respond by completing and returning an acceptance form within the required timeline. The acceptance form will be provided to the successful candidate together with the Bursary offer. This offer will also detail the Cohort and programme schedule for same.
This programme will bring participants through the syllabus of and will prepare participants for the examinations in the Certificate and Diploma in Company Direction. The examining and awarding body will be the IoD UK. For more information on the programme and on accreditation click here. Once a participant successfully obtains the Certificate and Diploma in Company Direction they may go forward for admission as a Registered Chartered Director (CDir) subject to eligibility criteria. The programme offered by the IoD in Ireland does not include interview and enrolment fees which are payable on the candidate’s admission as CDir. This separate process requires the preparation of a portfolio and an interview with the awarding body (IoD UK).
6. Attendance at training days
This is a classroom-based programme. The awarding of the IoD Certificate and Diploma is conditional upon passing the IoD UK examinations and participation in the training modules. Whilst inevitably there may be unavoidable reasons for someone missing part of a session we expect participants to miss no more than two hours of any module, unless special arrangements have been made. Absence from the course modules may result in a participant being disallowed from sitting exams.
7. Prior to acceptance
Before accepting this bursary, please also ensure you can attend on the dates indicated on the Cohort programme schedule that you are offered. Attendance at modules is required in order to sit exams. Module dates are NOT interchangeable with other concurrent programmes.
8. Withdrawals prior to Programme commencement
Withdrawal from the Chartered Director programme after the bursary has been accepted but prior to programme commencement will result in no further opportunity to complete or recommence the programme* and the bursary place may be offered to another candidate.
9. Withdrawals post-Programme commencement
In the event that the participant withdraws from the programme at any point following its commencement, no further opportunity to complete or recommence the programme will be made*. Non-attendance at modules will be considered to be a withdrawal.
*Personal circumstances may be taken into account.
10. This Bursary is non transferrable to other Chartered Director Programmes.
11. Examinations
We understand that it is the participants intention at this stage to sit the 2025 examinations on the months indicated in the publicity materials for the Cohort offered. The bursary includes examination entry fees for the Certificate examinations and the Diploma examination. Should a participant have to defer an exam they may do so by the date provided to them by IoD Ireland in advance of the exam without further charge. Should a participant have to defer an exam after the given date or repeat an examination, they will be liable for the entry fees themselves and should liaise with the IoD UK Examinations Office on this. In these circumstances, the fees* for exams are currently:
- Certificate Examination - £600 stg
- Re-sit Examination (Single Module) - £200 stg
- Diploma Examination - £600 stg
Please note, candidates must have passed all Certificate exams before sitting the Diploma exam.
*(These fees may be subject to change - Exams must be taken within two years of completing the course)
Computer-Based Testing (CBT) is now the standard delivery method for Certificate and Diploma exams. Your exams will be delivered via remote invigilation on your own laptop or computer. As your exam will be invigilated remotely via a webcam, it is for you to determine the most suitable location (e.g., at work or at home). However, it should have a good broadband speed and be suitably quiet, allowing you to complete your exam uninterrupted.
- You will be provided with the technical requirements for taking exams in advance of exam dates.
- Please note exam delivery method may be subject to change.
12. IoD Ireland membership
Your IoD Membership will be an important source of support both during the Chartered Director programme and on your continued journey as a director when you have completed the programme. This bursary includes one year subscription for IoD membership.
13. Course materials
Please note that materials are for the exclusive use of participants and are not for reproduction.
14. Confidentiality
With regards to matters discussed in class the Chatham House Rule will apply. Please maintain confidentiality as appropriate.
15. Data protection and fair processing notice
IoD Ireland will hold and process the data provided by you strictly in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) under the legal basis of contractual necessity. We will use this data for the purposes of administering our relationship with you as a participant of the Chartered Director Programme. We will not, without your consent, supply your data to any third party except where such a transfer is a necessary part of the activities that we undertake. This refers to the IoD UK who are the awarding authority for the Certificate and Diploma in Company Direction (Cert IoD, Dip IoD) and the exam delivery entity for the purpose of exam delivery, assessment and the communication of exam results from IoD UK to IoD Ireland and the registration of course participants with the IoD UK. For more information, view our privacy notice.