Faculty of Law

Oxford Legal and Governance Essentials for Directors

Build career-critical governance capabilities for direct application as a board director with a research-backed curriculum led by the Oxford Faculty of Law. Going beyond traditional compliance, explore real-world case studies, network with an exclusive cohort and discover how to drive tangible value in your organisation.

Start date

13 May 2026

Price

$6,699 USD

Installment Plan

Cohort-based learning

Group learning, expert guidance

6 weeks

Excluding orientation

English

Access resources from start date

6–8 hours per week

Self-paced learning online

ABOUT THIS COURSE

Add tangible value in the boardroom

Examine a macro view of the corporate environment, clarifying the board’s purpose, key players and how legal judgment shapes organisational performance.

Explore contemporary, relevant case studies

Analyse pivotal events, including the 2008 financial crisis, aviation industry oversight failures and major climate litigation involving oil companies, and learn to identify the governance ‘red flags’ that often precede corporate failure.

Duration: 6 weeks (excluding orientation)

The Oxford Legal and Governance Essentials for Directors online programme is a research-backed offering designed for board directors and executives to build governance capabilities for direct application. Using contemporary, relevant case studies and assignments, the curriculum offers a comprehensive overview of fiduciary duties, explores oversight and risk management best practices for emerging issues – from AI oversight to climate risk – and clarifies the board's roles and responsibilities across corporate settings.

Leveraging key UK and US governance perspectives, the six-week programme will build your confidence in applying director-level governance duties and improving strategic decisions. You will also have opportunities to connect and network with fellow leaders across different industries. Upon successful completion, you'll be awarded a verifiable certificate from the Oxford Faculty of Law.

Is this programme for you?

This Oxford governance essentials online programme is designed for professionals who would like to better understand the legal and regulatory responsibilities of board directors, and how these relate to the overall mission of a corporate board in overseeing strategy and creating measurable value for their enterprise.

Those in the following roles will benefit from this programme:

Newly appointed directors; aspiring directors; experienced directors/non-executive directors (NEDs) and board chairs; corporate governance professionals and professional service advisors; C-suite executives (CEOs, CFOs, COOs); department heads of key functions such as HR, IT, Legal and Finance; and entrepreneurs and founders.

Duration: 6 weeks (excluding orientation)

Those in the following roles will benefit from this programme:

Newly appointed directors; aspiring directors; experienced directors/non-executive directors (NEDs) and board chairs; corporate governance professionals and professional service advisors; C-suite executives (CEOs, CFOs, COOs); department heads of key functions such as HR, IT, Legal and Finance; and entrepreneurs and founders.

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Leading organisations recognise the value of this course and invest in it to enhance their employees' skills and expertise.

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What will set you apart

On completion of this Oxford governance essentials course, you’ll walk away with:

The ability to determine the role of directors within companies and articulate how directors’ actions impact shareholder value in the corporate environment to prioritise other constituencies.

Skills to effectively identify and advise on governance issues across different settings.

The capacity to analyse conflicts of interest to actively identify, avoid and resolve specific instances through board-level processes to safeguard governance integrity.

Competencies to critique corporate approaches to climate risk and recommend legally aligned oversight strategies for AI use to safeguard corporate value.

Unlimited access to edX’s Career Engagement Network, offering you exclusive resources and events to support your professional journey and drive your career forward.

Programme curriculum

As you progress through the weekly modules of this programme, you will build career-critical, board-level governance capabilities for direct application across a range of industries.

Orientation module

Welcome to your Online Campus

Module 1

The role of the board of directors in the corporation

Module 2

For whose benefit do directors act?

Module 3

The duty of care and oversight

Module 4

Managing conflicts of interest

Module 5

Navigating climate risks governance

Module 6

Implementing AI: Understanding corporate risks and value

Programme Directors

The design of this Oxford Legal and Governance Essentials for Directors online programme is guided by the Oxford Faculty of Law, as well as industry experts, who will share their experience and in-depth knowledge with you throughout the programme.

John Armour

Professor of Law and Finance

Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Oxford

Assaf Hamdani

Professor of Corporate Law, Faculty of Law, University of Oxford

About the certificate

Prepare for emerging legal and governance challenges, and receive an official certificate of attendance from the Oxford Faculty of Law.

Assessment is continuous and based on a series of practical assignments completed online and culminates in a final capstone project that showcases board-ready deliverables. In order to be issued with your digital certificate, you’ll need to meet the requirements outlined in the programme handbook. You can chat to an Enrolment Specialist to learn more about the programme requirements before you register, or view the programme handbook once you start. You can also view general assessment information here.

Your digital certificate will be issued in your legal name and sent to you upon successful completion of the programme, as per the stipulated requirements.

Oxford Legal and Governance Essentials for Directors certificate

YOUR INFORMATION

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Answer a few questions and get more information about the programme.

FAQ

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You can pay your course fees before the course starts, or you may opt for a split payment plan on courses that are nine weeks and shorter. For courses 10 weeks and longer, there is a three-part payment plan available. To find out more about payment options please visit our Payment and Financing page, or contact an Enrollment Adviser, to find out which option you qualify for.

GetSmarter's learning model is designed to help you, as a working professional, improve your skills without compromising on work and family responsibilities. The course work is broken up into weekly, manageable bite-sized modules, designed to help you pace yourself over the duration of the course and allow you the legroom to work when it suits you best. You'll be presented with the course content at the beginning of each module so that you can plan your time.

You also have access to the Global success team who will support you with any administrative or technical queries you might have.

By improving your skills and industry knowledge, you'll have an influence on the success of your organization. Why wouldn't you ask your boss to help you fund your studies if it's going to have an impact on the way you do business?

Of our past students, 37 percent have received financial assistance from their employers. You can ask for help, too. Here is a guide to show you how to request financial assistance from your employer.

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As part of our commitment to your professional development, GetSmarter offers you a two-week period to change your course start date or request your money back if you’re not fully satisfied.

To qualify for a deferral of your course start date, or to cancel your enrollment and receive a refund of your course fee, your request would need to reach our Success Advisers before the release of Module 2. For more information, please read our Terms and Conditions.

The Online Campus will be your virtual classroom for the duration of your course. Through its easy-to-use interface you'll have access to a diverse variety of course content formats including: interactive videos, module notes, practice quizzes, presentations, assignment briefs, and additional web resources.

On the Online Campus, you'll also be able to ask questions and interact with your fellow students and teaching team through the discussion forums. If you are looking for your Online Campus login, please visit your Account page here.

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