Terms & Conditions
FT Academy Terms & Conditions
1. Introduction
These terms and conditions govern participation in all Financial Times (”FT Academy”) offerings, including Future Leaders, Women in Business, Executive Programmes, Board Director Programme, Diplomas and Qualifications, in-person and virtual workshops, eLearning modules, Communities, and any free-to-access partner-funded courses. These terms set out the legally binding agreement between you and the Financial Times (“FT”). These terms and conditions replace all previous terms and conditions. We may update these terms and conditions for legal or regulatory reasons, or to reflect changes in our services or business practices, and you should regularly check for any changes.
Each Programme will have its own booking form which sets out programme-specific details such as fees, dates, delivery format, and may include additional terms specific to that Programme (the "Booking Form"). Where there is any conflict between a Booking Form and these general terms and conditions, the Booking Form will take precedence. Both documents form part of your binding agreement with FT and you should read them carefully before booking.
These terms and conditions apply in full to every Programme and to every booking. Together with your Booking Form, they form a single agreement: the opening clauses (Introduction, Access and Use, and Our Responsibilities and Liability), including the provisions on warranties and the limitation of FT's liability, apply to all Programmes and all bookings, and are to be read together with the Terms & Conditions that follow. In these terms, each of 'these terms', 'these terms and conditions' and 'this agreement' means all of these clauses together with your Booking Form. In these terms, "Consumer" means an individual who books a Programme wholly or mainly outside their trade, business, craft or profession; any other customer (including a company, or an individual booking for purposes within their trade, business, craft or profession) is a business customer.
2. Access and Use
a) All information received by you from your use of the FT Academy website (the “Website") will be used by FT in accordance with FT's privacy policy (the “Privacy Policy”). We are the owner or licensee of all intellectual property rights in the Website, including FT Content. FT Content is defined as the content and/or services available on the Website.
b) As a user of the Website, you also agree that you shall not copy, publish, redistribute, or in any way make available any content from the Website. You must not remove the copyright or trademark notice from any copies of FT Content.
c) “The Financial Times” and “FT" are trademarks belonging to us. You are not granted any licence or consent to use these trademarks in any way and you agree not to use them without our prior written permission.
3. Our Responsibilities and Liability
a) The Website and FT Content are provided for general information purposes only and are not intended to amount to any form of advice on which you should rely. The FT promises to develop and operate the Website with reasonable skill and care and will use reasonable efforts to promptly remedy any faults of which it is aware.
b) To the fullest extent allowed by applicable law, the FT disclaims all warranties, representations, conditions, and duties of any kind, including any warranties of satisfactory quality, merchantability, or of fitness for a particular purpose. Nothing in these terms excludes or limits any rights you may have as a Consumer that cannot be excluded or limited by law, including your statutory rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (such as the right to have services performed with reasonable care and skill).
c) Subject to sub-clause 3(d), FT shall not be liable to you, whether in contract, tort (including negligence), breach of statutory duty or otherwise, for any indirect or consequential loss, or for any loss of business, use, profit, anticipated profit, contracts, revenue, goodwill or anticipated savings, in each case arising in connection with this agreement, even if FT has been advised of the possibility of such loss or damage.
d) Nothing in these terms excludes or limits FT’s liability for death or personal injury caused by its negligence, for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or for any other liability that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited.
e) Subject to sub-clause 3(d), FT's total liability to you arising out of or in connection with a Programme, whether in contract, tort (including negligence), breach of statutory duty or otherwise, shall not exceed the total Fees paid by you for that Programme.
Booking Terms & Conditions
4. The Programme
The Programme is the FT Academy offering as described in the Booking Form. These terms apply to all bookings for any Programme, whether delivered:
In-Person: Tutor-led sessions delivered physically at a designated venue;
Live Virtual: Synchronous, tutor-led sessions delivered online via video conferencing platforms (such as Google Meet or Zoom) involving real-time cohort interaction and participation and 1-to-1 Executive Coaching sessions; or
eLearning: Asynchronous, self-paced online modules accessed via an online platform for individual study without real-time tutor or cohort interaction.
Your specific Programme delivery format, dates, fees, and other details will be confirmed in your Booking Form.
5. Booking and Confirmation
a) All bookings are subject to availability and acceptance by FT. Your booking will be confirmed in writing, together with your Booking Form setting out the specific details of your Programme. Upon FT's written confirmation, a legally binding contract is formed between you and FT, comprising these terms and conditions and your Booking Form. FT reserves the right to refuse any booking in its absolute discretion.
b) The person completing a Booking Form (whether a company, an individual, or a third party such as an assistant, agent or representative booking on behalf of another person or organisation) warrants that they have full authority to enter into this agreement on behalf of the participant(s) and/or organisation named in the booking, and that they have all necessary authority and a lawful basis to provide the personal details of, and to enrol, those participants. Where a company books a cohort of employees, it does so on their behalf and is responsible for ensuring that all participants are aware of the booking and of the processing of their personal data as described in these terms.
6. Fees and Payment
a) Fees for the Programme (the “Fees”) are correct at the time of publication and are specified in the Booking Form. FT reserves the right to change its published Fees at any time before your booking is confirmed. However, once a legally binding contract is formed in accordance with clause 5(a), the Fees set out in your Booking Form are fixed and will not be increased. For in-person Programmes, the Fees also include refreshments and access to Programme materials. For eLearning or Live Virtual Programmes, the Fees include access to the relevant software and Programme materials. The Fees do not include travel or accommodation costs.
b) All Fees are exclusive of value added tax (“VAT”) and any other taxes or duties which are or may be applicable. Where VAT or any other sales tax, excise duty or similar charge is due on a Programme under applicable law, you agree to pay it in addition to the Fees at the applicable rate.
c) All Fees are payable in full without any set-off, counterclaim, deduction or withholding except as required by law. If you are required by law to make any deduction or withholding (on account of tax or otherwise) from any payment due to FT, you shall pay such additional amount as ensures that FT receives, free and clear of any deduction or withholding, the full amount it would have received had no such deduction or withholding been required. You shall promptly provide FT with official receipts or other evidence showing that the full amount of any such deduction or withholding has been paid to the relevant authority, and the parties shall each provide reasonable cooperation (including the provision of forms, statements or certificates) to enable any available relief, exemption or reduced rate under an applicable double tax treaty to be claimed.
d) For programmes in collaboration with Cambridge Judge Business School, London Business School or IE Business School, individuals and companies currently contract with the business schools directly.
e) Flexible Payment Option (applicable to Diplomas only)
We may, at our sole discretion and on a limited basis, offer a staged payment plan (“Payment Plan”) to self-funding participants. This Payment Plan is not an automatic right and is subject to availability and our written approval prior to registration.
If you are approved for a Payment Plan, the course fee will be payable in four (4) instalments as follows:
Deposit: A deposit equal to 20% of the total course fee, payable via the registration link for your course cohort;
Second instalment: 30% of the total course fee payment, payable immediately upon acceptance of your registration;
Third instalment: 25% of the total course fee payment, payable during the first month of the course cohort
Final instalment: The remaining 25% of the total course fee, payable during the second month of the course cohort and, in any event, no later than 5 business days prior to the scheduled Two-Day Workshop.
You acknowledge that payments under this plan are processed manually via our third-party provider (Bizzabo). You agree to settle all invoices or payment requests immediately upon receipt. Failure to pay any instalment by its due date constitutes a material breach of these terms.
7. Changes, Cancellations and Postponements
a) FT may alter the content, format, venue, delivery medium or timing of a Programme, and will notify all delegates of such changes. Where any such change is material, FT will give you reasonable notice and, if you are a Consumer or the change has a material adverse effect on you, you may cancel your booking for the affected Programme and receive a refund of any Fees you have paid for it.
b) If you cannot attend the Programme, no refunds will be given. However, FT may, at our discretion, allow you to send a substitute or attend the next available Programme (please note FT will only allow one deferral).
c) FT may, in exceptional circumstances, postpone or cancel a Programme. If the Programme is cancelled, or if it is postponed and you cannot attend the rearranged date, we will refund any Fees you have paid.
d) For Individual Bookings of online courses, we will refund any Fees you have paid provided you notify us no later than 24 hours from the Programme login credentials being sent to you and provided you have not accessed any of the Programme materials. Corporate Bookings of online courses are non-refundable. For executive coaching sessions, 72 hours’ notice is required for cancelling or rescheduling, otherwise the session will be forfeited with no refund or credit (participants are limited to a maximum of 2 reschedules). FT reserves the right to assign coaches and may substitute coaches, if necessary, due to availability or performance reasons. Nothing in this sub-clause affects any statutory cancellation rights you may have as a Consumer, which are set out in sub-clause 7(f) below and, where they apply, take precedence over the periods set out above. References to "Individual Bookings" and "Corporate Bookings" describe who the contracting customer is; they do not affect your rights as a Consumer, which apply whenever you book as a Consumer.
e) A deferral is when a candidate applies to undertake part or all of the assessments with a later cohort. Candidates are limited to a maximum of two deferrals and will be charged a deferral fee of 10% of the course fee for each deferral. Extensions are granted for a short amount of additional time to deliver an individual assessment piece in exceptional circumstances only, with a maximum period of four weeks. Candidates must complete the qualification within 20 months from the date of the original cohort’s end date. Full details of the policy on deferrals and extensions are available on request by contacting ned-diploma@ft.com.
f) If you are booking as a Consumer, you have a statutory right under the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 to cancel your booking within 14 days of the date it is confirmed, without giving a reason, and to receive a refund. You will lose this right in respect of a digital or e-learning Programme once you have expressly consented to immediate access and acknowledged that you thereby lose the right to cancel, and in respect of any other Programme once it has been fully performed within the 14-day period. Where you have asked FT to begin a Programme during the 14-day cancellation period and you then cancel before it is completed, you must pay a proportionate amount for the services provided up to the time you tell FT you are cancelling, and FT will refund the balance of any Fees you have paid. To exercise this right, contact FT at contact@ft.com.
8. Your Attendance and Conduct
a) FT reserves the right to refuse you admission or eject you from the Programme for failure to comply with these terms, or if you represent a security risk, nuisance or annoyance. FT is committed to providing an inclusive, respectful, and professional learning environment that is free from discrimination, harassment, and bullying. We believe that all participants should be able to engage in Programme activities without fear of prejudice or intimidation, regardless of their race, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or any other protected characteristic.
b) All participants are expected to conduct themselves in a professional and respectful manner. Unacceptable behaviour includes but is not limited to: discrimination based on protected characteristics; harassment, bullying, or intimidation of any kind; offensive, derogatory, or inappropriate comments or conduct; deliberate disruption of Programme activities; and any unlawful conduct or behaviour that creates an unsafe environment for other participants.
c) If you experience or witness any unacceptable behaviour, please report it immediately to Programme staff or by emailing conduct@ft.com. All reports will be treated confidentially and investigated promptly. FT encourages early reporting to ensure swift resolution and to maintain a positive learning environment for all participants.
d) You are permitted to make reasonable video or audio recordings and to take photographs at the Programme for your own personal use. You must not make recordings of the whole Programme or use any recordings or photographs for commercial purposes unless expressly permitted by FT. You acknowledge that the Programme, or any part of it, may be recorded, filmed or photographed by, or on behalf of, FT, and that these recordings and photographs may capture your name, image, voice and likeness, together with any contributions you make or information you share during the Programme .You agree to permit FT to use and distribute such footage and photographs, which may feature images of you, for publicity and advertising purposes. Such purposes may include (without limitation) advertising, publicity, reporting, education, research, technology development (including training artificial intelligence systems) or any other related activities. If you have any concerns about being included in any photographs or recordings, please inform FT before such photography or recording takes place. In addition, for some of our online events FT uses AI-generated transcripts to prepare post-event reports.
e) You are responsible for arranging your own appropriate insurance cover in connection with your attendance. To the maximum extent permitted by law, FT shall not be liable for any kind of loss or damage to you or your personal property, unless caused by our negligence.
9. Programme Access and Usage
a) You will be granted access to an online platform to access the Programme materials. You are responsible for all activities carried out on the platform under your username.
b) You must not interfere with information that belongs to another user. You will not use the platform to use or publish material that is obscene, libellous or defamatory.
c) Programme materials are provided for your personal educational use only. You must not copy, modify, reproduce, or distribute any of the Programme materials without prior written permission. You will not record the Programme materials or share your login credentials or password.
d) You are responsible for ensuring that your technology meets the minimum requirements for participation in Live Virtual and eLearning Programmes. This includes maintaining a stable internet connection with minimum download speeds of 1.5 Mbps and upload speeds of 1 Mbps, using compatible devices (desktop computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone), ensuring your browser is up-to-date (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge), having necessary software installed as specified by FT, and maintaining functioning audio and video capabilities including microphone and camera for interactive sessions.
e) FT will provide reasonable technical support for platform-related issues within our control, including access to the learning management system, platform functionality problems, and content delivery issues. However, FT's technical support does not extend to resolving issues with your personal equipment, internet service provider problems, workplace firewalls or IT restrictions, third-party software conflicts, or hardware malfunctions on your devices.
f) FT is committed to providing accessible Programmes and will make reasonable adjustments to accommodate participants with disabilities. Requests for reasonable adjustments must be submitted at least 14 days before the Programme start date by emailing contact@ft.com.
g) Upon receiving a request for reasonable adjustments, FT will work with the participant to identify and implement appropriate adjustments where reasonably practicable. FT may require supporting documentation from a qualified medical professional or disability service provider to assess and implement the most suitable adjustments.
h) Where a Programme includes an assessment, you may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support your research and to help develop your thinking, but all work you submit for assessment must be your own, and any AI tools or other sources you rely on must be clearly acknowledged and cited. Presenting AI-generated material as your own work may be treated as academic misconduct and may result in your assessment being disqualified.
i) You must not input, upload or otherwise submit any FT Content, Programme materials, or the personal data of any other participant into any artificial intelligence tool or other third-party system without FT’s prior written consent, except where you use a closed system under which neither the system nor its provider is permitted to use, retain or train on that content or data beyond providing the service to you.
10. Data Protection
a) All information collected by FT about you will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
b) To deliver the Programme, FT shares your personal data with selected third parties who act on our behalf or provide elements of the Programme, including: (i) Bizzabo, our registration platform, through which bookings are processed and which in turn shares payment data with the relevant payment provider; (ii) the awarding bodies Pearson and Edexcel, for Programmes leading to a regulated qualification; and (iii) Canvas, which hosts our online learning environment. Where you complete a Programme, you may also opt in to receive a digital badge issued through Credly; this is optional and requires you to set up your own account. FT will only share your personal data with these parties to the extent necessary to provide the Programme you have booked and in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
c) The names, job titles and organisations of all registered delegates may be placed on a delegate list which may be provided to sponsoring companies and other delegates for networking. If you do not wish to be included on this list, you must notify FT at the time of booking.
d) When a company books a cohort of employees, it consents to FT sharing details relating to the progress and performance of these employees with the company. FT will comply with its privacy policy in respect of all information held about the employees.
e) Where a company books a cohort, the company will provide FT with the names, job titles, organisations and contact details of the participating delegates, so that FT can register them and deliver the Programme. FT will use this data only to provide the Programme the company has booked and will not use it for marketing purposes unless the relevant delegate has given their express consent.
f) Applicable to FT NED Diploma only- The names of successful candidates will be published in a congratulatory notice in the FT unless you have notified us that you do not wish your name to be published by emailing contact@ft.com.
g) For executive coaching sessions, the content, discussions and outcomes remain strictly confidential between the participant and coach. No personal matters, session content or coaching outcomes will be disclosed to employers or third parties without explicit written consent from the participant (only the participant’s name and number of sessions attended will be shared with the participant’s employer).
11. General Terms
a) These terms and conditions, together with your Booking Form, contain the entire agreement between you and FT. If any provision of these terms is found to be invalid, the invalidity will not affect the validity of the remaining provisions.
b) A person who is not a party to these terms has no right under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce any term of these terms.
c) These terms shall be governed by English law and shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.
d) Information about the FT and our privacy policy is available on www.ft.com. Registered Office: 1 Friday Street, London EC4M 9BT Registered No: 227590 England.
e) You may not assign, transfer, or delegate your rights or obligations under these terms without FT's prior written consent. FT may assign its rights and obligations to any affiliate, subsidiary, or successor entity upon written notice to you.
f) Force majeure events are defined as causes beyond FT's reasonable control including acts of
God, pandemic, epidemic, fire, flood, earthquake, civil unrest, acts of terror, strikes, labour disputes, and telecommunications failures. FT shall not be liable for any failures or delays in the performance of its obligations under these terms resulting from such force majeure events. Upon the occurrence of a force majeure event, FT shall notify participants promptly of such event and shall use reasonable efforts to minimise its impact through rescheduling, alternative delivery methods, or offering access to future programmes as appropriate. If a Force Majeure Event continues for more than ninety (90) days, either party may terminate the relevant programme booking by giving written notice to the other party. In such circumstances, FT shall refund the proportion of the Fees relating to the undelivered part of the Programme.
g) These terms and conditions were published on 4 November 2026 and apply to all Programme bookings placed from that date until these terms and conditions are superseded by a new version.