Policy

Please note the following important points for CIMA exemptions:

• CIMA is not able to confirm your eligibility for exemptions until you have fully registered as a CIMA student.
• Exemptions are a concession and are only awarded at the discretion of CIMA. There is no automatic entitlement to exemptions. Where CIMA determines that a qualification does not contain sufficient relevant coverage, no exemptions will be awarded. 
• CIMA will not be liable for any fees incurred as a result of signing up for a CIMA study course prior to receiving written confirmation of any exemptions awarded.
• Managerial level exemptions are not available to qualifications gained ten or more years prior to registering with CIMA.
• Managerial level exemptions are not available to graduates on accelerated route 2.
• To be eligible for exemptions based on a degree programme, the course must be completed and copies* of the transcripts for all years together with a certificate/letter confirming completion must be provided. If the documents were not issued in English then certified translations of all documents will be required. 
• Exemptions awarded to a CIMA accredited programme apply solely to students who have completed the named programme, graduated within the specified graduation dates and who meet any other requirements as listed in the notes section against the accredited programme.
• To be eligible for a CIMA accredited decision, you must have completed all studies at the home campus of the university, unless otherwise stated.
• You must have completed the final two academic years of a bachelor degree qualification to be eligible for an accredited exemption decision based on that award.
• If you have completed less than two academic years of a bachelor level qualification (including due to advanced standing), CIMA will consider whether any exemptions can be awarded under accelerated route 2.
• CIMA does not award exemptions to professional body qualifications, unless they are accredited by CIMA.
• CIMA does not award exemptions for exemptions.
• Where exemptions are awarded, a fee for that exemption will be charged. Information on the current fees can be found here.
• When CIMA’s fees for exemptions change, any student who submits full documentation by the publicised end date of the current fee will be charged that rate. Any student who submits full documentation after the publicised end date will be charged the new fee.
• CIMA will not award any exemptions where a student has previously attempted the CIMA exams and failed unless the qualification was undertaken after the exam was failed.
• If you do not accept an exemption and then fail the relevant CIMA exam, you cannot reclaim the original exemption.
• CIMA will not award an exemption where a student has previously failed the CIMA paper unless the relevant qualification was undertaken subsequent to the failed exam.
• Where CIMA is unfamiliar with an international qualification or the awarding institution, the advice of UK NARIC will be sought.
• Where UK NARIC are unable to comment on an institution, CIMA reserves the right to not award exemptions on the basis of that qualification.
• All qualifications must be comparable to at least a UK diploma of higher education standard to be awarded exemptions. Where a qualification does not reach that standard, no exemptions will be awarded.
• Where a qualification has been assessed under a previous CIMA syllabus, the qualification will not be reassessed under the 2005 syllabus.

*From 01 April 2008, CIMA will no longer require certified copies of certificates and transcripts that are issued by the university when applying for exemptions. Any documents which have been translated into English will still be required to be certified as a 'accurate translation of the original'. Any documents submitted on or before 31 March 2008 must be certified. If CIMA receive documents on or before 31 March 2008 that are not certified, certified copies will be requested.

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