Faculty

Chris Ansell, CFA

International Consultant, Visiting Fellow Cranfield University

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Garry Honey

Director, Chiron Risk

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Nadeem Khan, PhD

Professor of Governance, Policy and Leadership, Henley Business School

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Prof. Nada Korac Kakabadse

Professor of Policy, Governance and Ethics, Henley Business School

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Course Outline

The PGCert in Board Practice and Directorship comprises of three modules taught over an intensive rezidential week, covering topics like :

PG Cert Module 1: Building Board and Director Effectiveness

• Different roles at board level and their responsibilities as part of the board
• Developing awareness of your own strengths, weaknesses and background
• Influencing skills at board level
• How boards can enable strategy design and execution
• The nature of dysfunctional boards and the issues they face
• The importance of succession planning to director effectiveness
• Balancing short-term and longer-term board value

PG Cert Module 2: Investor Relations, Governance and Innovation

• The board-level impact on processes, decisions, diversity and dynamics, as well as how these outcomes affect sustainability for internal actors, external influences, and organisational change and innovation
• The relationship between boards and investors
• The differences between ownership types and their change implications
• The effectiveness of independent directors
• Key relationships within the organisation (e.g. Chairman-CEO; CEO-Board)
• ‘Common good competitiveness’ as a more sustainable alternative to profit orientation, short-termism, or shareholder/self-interest

PG Cert Module 3: Handling Risk at Board Level

• The relationship between risk and uncertainty in relation to business decisions, behavioural economics, cognitive bias, accounting and finance, and handling conflict and crises
• Appetite and tolerance for risk
• The link between risk and internal/external factors
• How boards and board members interpret and report risk

Assesment Process

For each module, there will be a written assignment of 3,000 words (60%) and a case study (40%) presented in a 2 day workshop. Each module’s assignment accounts for 20 credits.

Course & assesment timeline

• 20th November 2026 / Residential week start, on-boarding ceremony
• 21st November 2026 / Envisia Day
• 22nd-23rd November 2026 / PG Cert Module 1
• 24th- 25th November 2026 / PG Cert Module 2
• 26th-27th November 2026 / PG Cert Module 3
• 3rd December 2026 / Introduction to Henley Business Library (online attendance)
• 22nd December 2026 / Assessment Module 1
• 21th January 2027 / Assessment Module 2
• 18th February 2027 / Assessment Module 3
• 8th April 2027 / Student Experience Reflections (online attendance)

Application Process

Entry requirements

• A Master’s degree or a good BA degree (or equivalent)
• Organizational leadership/board experience, or at least three years’ senior management experience with board-level access
• Access to a live board-level governance challenge identified in your proposal
• English language proficiency: IELTS 7.0, with no element below 6.0 (see note below) OR an “English Proficiency at Work” document – signed by current employer)

Applicants who possess exceptional organisational experience but do not meet the standard academic requirements are welcome to apply and may be considered for entry onto the programme on a case-by-case basis.

Enrolment process outline

• Application Form
• Your CV in English
• Copy/scan of the official qualification diploma / certificate transcript in English
• 2 Referrals: from Board of Director’s Level or work superiors
• English Language proficiency document
• Personal Development Plan

Enrolment Timeline

• Enrollment file submission closing date and interview sessions closing date: 15h September 2026
• Official feedback on admission and confirmation of cohort running: 18th September 2026
• Official offer submission from Henley: 28th September 2026
• Acceptances required: 9th October 2026

Programme start date: 21th November 2026

Fee PGCert Stage 1 
£10,000

About course

The PGCert (Stage 1) is focused on director development. Building a personal awareness of strengths, limitations, skills and capabilities. This stage draws attention to director contribution and frames stewardship of the organisation, and due diligence in your leadership qualities. You will learn how to work through ambiguous issues, engaging as a board to reach a consensus.
The PGCert in Board Practice and Directorship comprises of three modules taught over one week intensive period. An individual assignment and group case study is required to be submitted each month during the 3 months following the workshops.
Workshop attendance and successful completion of all assignments for each module are compulsory in order to achieve the award. Participants are also required to keep a reflective Postgraduate learning journal.