Climate Risk and Sustainability Course: FAQs

Read our FAQs to find out more about the course.

 

General

There are no entry requirements. However, you must be an IFoA member to apply for the course.

No. We are only making the course available to IFoA members at this time.

The Climate Risk and Sustainability Course is sat exclusively online supported by the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).

Before booking onto the course, check you have access to a computer that meets the below requirements for the duration of the course.

You can access the course via a Mac, Phone, tablet, or laptop.

The equipment you use must have:

  • internet access
  • a sound card
  • Microsoft Word 2010 or later
  • Microsoft PowerPoint 2010 or later
  • Adobe Reader
  • an up-to-date web browser including Adobe Flash Player
  • access to email

You can check that you can access the VLE by logging in to the members area. Select the ‘My Learning Environment’ icon. If you have any access issues, please contact vle.admin@actuaries.org.uk.

The course is part of the lifelong learning offering and sits outside the qualification structure. It is designed to enhance your skill set, both personally and in your broader career development.

Therefore we are not offering exemptions to any part of the formal curriculum.

Yes. Providing you have qualified as a CAA analyst and joined the IFoA, you can apply for the course.

The IFoA is not able to offer bursaries or scholarships. Those in employment may be able to draw down on career and development loans to support their learning if these are offered.

If you qualify as a reduced rate member, you can apply for the reduced rate fee for the course.

We have cancellation arrangements in place. Find out more in our refund policy.

Course structure

The course is broken down into 9 manageable modules.

Modules 1 to 4 and modules 6 to 8 are self-study modules.

Modules 5 and 9 are half-day online seminars that have to be attended.

A typical plan for the course is:

  • week 1: modules 1 to 5 released and members work through the content and exercises
  • week 5: module 5 online seminar, which must be attended
  • week 5: modules 6 to 9 released and members work through the content and reflective practice discussions
  • week 10: module 9 online seminar, which must be attended

No this is not possible. Once you commit to a particular course you need to complete it in the timelines set.

There is a set start and end date. There is a phased release of the materials throughout the course to provide coherence and structure.

That does not mean a module has to be completed in one week. We recognise this might not always be possible.

The idea of the course is that this is a self-paced study. You can test your knowledge at various stages and during the 2 seminars. The seminars have been designed to bring together the course learnings.

There are no exams. But to pass you must complete all the modules and attend and actively participate in both seminars.

On successful completion of the course, you receive a formal certificate of attendance.

Course content

There has been a considerable amount of discussion with the actuarial community drawing upon the vast amount of resources created by the IFoA’s Sustainability Board.

Assessment

There are no formal written exams.

Participants are required to work through all the materials, complete any multiple-choice questions, and upload short papers when requested.

In addition, you have to attend both of the course seminars and actively participate in the discussions.

Individuals gain a ‘pass’ or ‘fail’ grade only. To pass, you must work through all the modules, do all the quizzes, upload any papers requested, and attend and actively participate in both seminars.

Certification

A certificate is issued to all of those who complete all of the modules, show active participation in the 2 seminars, and upload any papers as required within the course.

There are no plans to grant accreditation of prior learning in this way.

Employers

Not at this stage. This is an individual application process only.

We do not envisage delivering company-specific courses at this time.

After the course

There are no post-nominal letters, but you can refer to the course.

The course shows a level of competence in climate risk and sustainability. You can use the certification on your CV and enhance your transferable skills.

Yes, so long as by taking part you (both points below apply):

  • have addressed a personal development need
  • have an identifiable learning outcome relevant to your actuarial work (current or future) or your professional development