ACCA INDIA
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
ACCA FACTS
170,000
members
432,000 students
180 countries
8,500
approved employers
WHY ACCA GLOBAL ACCA is globally recognised which means opportunities around the world. And our unrivalled network of 91 offices means that you’ll get local support where you need it. RIGOROUS ACCA qualifications provide you with the fundamental skills all accountants should master and required by employers before specialising in the area relevant to your employment.
ACCA IN INDIA The ACCA Qualification is widely recognised in and outside India. We believe that the success of our members is what makes us a coveted qualification globally. Many of our members work with leading Indian and multinational organisations in and outside India. You can read some of the Indian member profiles here http://www.accaglobal.com/indiamembers
The ten focus points
RESPECTED We’ve been around for over 100 years and have a reputation for developing ethical finance professionals with the skills and knowledge to grow businesses. FLEXIBLE You can study full-time or part-time, through face-to-face tuition or distance learning. We give you the flexibility to choose the right study options for your situation.
Governance, risk and control
OPPORTUNITY The breadth of the syllabus means that you will have skills to work across a range of sectors including corporate, practice, public and financial services, creating more career opportunities.
Stakeholder relationship management
Leadership and management Law and taxation
Professionalism and ethics
Audit and assurance
Sustainable management accounting
Corporate reporting Financial management
Strategy and innovation
The global body for professional accountants
ACCA helps you develop the ten focus points (as shown in diagram above) which are required by employers today. Each of these areas are covered in the ACCA Qualification syllabus, which allows you to become a complete finance professional and work your way to the top of an organisation.
STUDYING WITH ACCA
Q I HAVE NO PREVIOUS FORMAL QUALIFICATIONS – CAN I STUDY ACCA? If you have no formal qualifications, you can begin the ACCA qualification by enrolling as Foundations In Accountancy Student. You can find more information here: http://www.accaglobal.com/en/qualifications/glance/founda tion-level/overview.html
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Q I HAVE JUST COMPLETED MY SCHOOLING. CAN I STUDY ACCA? To begin studying ACCA after school, you must have the following • Two A Levels and three GCSEs (or their equivalent) • These need to be in five separate subjects including English and Mathematics
Q I HAVE COMPLETED AN UNDER GRADUATE/POST GRADUATE/OTHER PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS – CAN I GET ANY EXEMPTIONS?
OR If you hold any of the following certificates providing passes are held in 5 subjects (at least 3 in Year XII) including English and Mathematics / Accounts, mark of 65% in at least 2 subjects and over 50% on the others
10+2 India School Certificate Intermediate Certificate Higher School Certificate Higher Secondary Certificate All India Senior School Certificate Pre-University Course
If you have completed your bachelors, masters or hold qualification from other bodies, then you will be entitled to exemptions. To check how many exemptions you can claim, please click on the link below and enter your institute name. Follow the steps thereafter to find out your exemptions. However, please note that until you are registered with ACCA as a student the exemptions will not be finalized or reflected on your account. www.accaglobal.com/exemptions
INDIAN CAs If you are an Indian CA since May 2003 or a passed finalist then you are exempted from 9 papers out of the 14 in the ACCA qualification. You are directly eligible to begin your ACCA qualification at the professional level and progress to your ACCA membership through just 5 papers. If you are an IPCC cleared student, you get eligible to get 5 papers (F1, F2, F3, F6 & F8). To apply for the ACCA course, you can click on this link and fill out the online application form www.accaglobal.com/applynow
Q
WHY SHOULD INDIAN CA’S STUDY ACCA?
The ACCA qualification helps Indian CA’s in the following ways International recognition – Indian CAs also studying the ACCA qualification broadens their career options. As an ACCA member, they are able to undertake more diverse roles, work in more diverse industries as well as work with multinational organizations that require expertise of finance professionals who are trained with international standards. Flexibility – an Indian ACCA needs to give only 5 papers (professional level) of The ACCA Qualification in order to gain their ACCA membership. The CA articleship counts towards the ACCA Practical Experience Requirement (PER). Exams - exams are not held in groups. You will only reappear for modules you haven’t cleared when appearing for ACCA exams.
Q
WHERE CAN I FIND BOOKS IN INDIA?
Usually the tuition providers can get you books in India if you are enrolled with them. If you are self studying then you can find all information about books here http://www.accaglobal.com/indiastudentsupport Full details about course syllabus, practical experience requirement and online ethics module can be found here http://www.accaglobal.co.uk/en/qualifications/glance/acca/d etails.html
Q
WHAT IS THE TIME FRAME TO COMPLETE ACCA?
The ACCA qualifications have 14 papers in total. You can take exams twice a year and up to 4 exams in each session. Keeping this in mind, you can finish your exams in a minimum of 2.5 years. You may also get some exemptions depending on your previous qualifications which mean you can also complete the qualification sooner. However, in order to attain the ACCA membership, you should also complete the Ethics modules and have 3 years or 36 months practical work experience which you can gain before, alongside or after your studies.
Q
WHERE CAN I STUDY?
Learning providers – we have a range of learning providers in India. We also have suitable distance learning options about which you can read here http://www.accaglobal.com/indiastudentsupport
SITTING EXAMS
Q
DO I HAVE TO GIVE EXAMS IN INDIA OR UK? Exams can be taken in India at any/nearest British Council. We also have developed Computer Based Exam centers at various locations in India. If during the course of the study, you have an opportunity to relocate for work or other commitments, you can let your national office know who can help you find a suitable learning partner and exam center in the new city.
Q WHAT ARE COMPUTER BASED EXAMS? WHY SHOULD I GIVE THEM? Computer-based exams (CBEs) are available for the first seven Foundation-level exams. These are the exams required for the Introductory Certificate in Financial and Management Accounting (FA1, MA1); the Intermediate Certificate in Financial and Management Accounting (FA2, MA2); and the Diploma in Accounting and Business (FAB, FMA and FFA). These exams are also required for the Certified Accounting Technician qualification. CBEs are also available for the ACCA Knowledge module exams (F1, F2 and F3) of the ACCA Qualification.
Q WHAT SUBJECT VARIANTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR INDIAN STUDENTS? We have subject variants available for Tax and Law. You can read more here http://www.accaglobal.com/en/student/acca-qual-studentjourney/exams/variant-papers.html
Q WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO ON TOP OF THE ACCA QUALIFICATION TO ACHIEVE THE BSc DEGREE FROM OXFORD BROOKES? If you didn't study an undergraduate degree course at university, then you can still have the chance to gain a degree while studying to become a qualified accountant with ACCA. We have a partnership with Oxford Brookes University. This means you cangain a BSc (Hons) degree in Applied Accounting while you work towards achieving your ACCA Qualification. And you won't have to double your workload. It is the perfect way to enhance your ACCA Qualification and broaden your skills set. To attain your BSc degree, you must: • Be registered with Oxford Brookes University ie opted-in to the BSc degree scheme before passing any of the three ACCA Fundamentals papers, F7, F8 and F9. You are not eligible for the degree if you have claimed exemptions from any of these papers. • Pass the three ACCA Fundamentals papers F7, F8 and F9 and pass the other papers as required to successfully complete all nine Fundamentals level papers. • Complete the ACCA Professional Ethics module according to the Research and Analysis Project submission dates. • Complete and pass the Oxford Brookes University Research and Analysis Project.
EXAM ENTRY DEADLINES Exam entry period
Early
Standard
Late
June exam session
8 March
9 March - 8 April
9 April - 8 May
December exam session
8 September
9 September - 8 October
9 October - 8 November
Exam entry method
online only
online and paper
online only
MEMBERSHIP
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT
Q
CAN I BECOME AN ACCA MEMBER ONCE I COMPLETE MY ACCA EXAMS?
When you register as an ACCA student you will get access to a range of resources and support, including:
To become an ACCA member, you must
• Student Accountant digital magazine
• Clear all the 14 papers (in case you are not entitled to exemptions)
• syllabuses and study guides
• Complete the online professional ethics module. This can be done during or after the course
• Facebook – where you can network with other students
• Complete your practical experience requirement (PER) 36 months of relevant work experience in finance or accountancy role
• guidance and support for finding and recording relevant work experience
• past exam papers • face to face events
COSTS Easy to remember dates
FEES • ACCA initial registration fees - £79 • ACCA annual subscription fees - £83 • Reinstatement fees - £79
The closing dates for early, standard and late exam entry period are easy to remember – 8 is the date!
EXAM FEES Enter for your exams anytime and online. The earlier you do it the more money you save.
Exam level Knowledge (F1 - F3)
Skills (F4 - F9)
Professional P1, P2 and P3 (and any two from P4, P5, P6 and P7)
We've introduced fees for exam entry that are based on the dates above. These will apply to you when you want to enter for exams after you have registered for the ACCA Qualification.
Exam entry period
June 2015 exam fee (per exam)
December 2015 exam fee (per exam)
Early
£71
£71
Standard
£76
£76
Late
£231
£231
Early
£90
£90
Standard
£96
£96
Late
£252
£252
Early
£103
£104
Standard
£111
£112
Late
£266
£268
EXEMPTION FEES You will be required to pay fee for each exemption ACCA awards you. This will be the same as the early exam entry fee. Please refer to the table above to estimate your exemption fees or find more detailed fee information here www.accaglobal.com/fees For more FAQ’s please visit http://www.accaglobal.com/en/help.html
LOANS FOR STUDYING ACCA To help you fund your ACCA qualification, we have also partnered with Avanse, Credila and Canara Bank so that ACCA students can borrow student loans for studying the ACCA Qualification. You can find more information about this on our India website http://www.accaglobal.com/indiastudentsupport
QUICK LINKS ACCA global website – www.accaglobal.com ACCA India website - www.accaglobal.com/in ACCA India facebook page – www.facebook.com/ACCA.India ACCA exemptions database – www.accaglobal.com/exemptions ACCA fees in detail – www.accaglobal.com/fees Email –
[email protected] ACCA India toll free number – 000 800 100 4298 Twitter – www.twitter.com/accaindia Linkedin – ACCA India Official Group
ACCA qualified professionals are well equipped to perform and take on a variety of roles expected of finance professionals internationally and in India. The ACCA qualification does not however, qualify you to become a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountant of India (ICAI). Certain activities are statutorily reserved for members of the ICAI, which include - Audit of accounts and other statutory functions under Companies Act, 1956 - Tax Audit and other certification under the Income Tax Act, 1961
