FAQs: ACCA Accelerate for FAME Accounting Students (Updated 2025)

1. What is ACCA Accelerate?

The ACCA Accelerate programme is a special route that lets eligible university degree students start the ACCA qualification earlier and with certain benefits.
At FAME, it means you can be studying your Bachelor Degree – BA (Hons) Business, Accounting and Finance and also begin the ACCA journey. It’s a “fast-track” style.

Read more about ACCA Accelerate: https://blog.fame.edu.my/acca-accelerate/

2. What are the key benefits of joining the programme?

Here are the main perks for students in Malaysia:

• A reduced initial registration fee for ACCA

• Waiver of the annual ACCA subscription fee while you are studying your degree (i.e., you don’t pay the yearly membership fee during that period).

• Discounted exemption fees: If your university degree gives you exemptions (i.e., you don’t need to take certain ACCA exams), the cost of those exemption fees is lower under Accelerate.

• Ability to sit certain ACCA exams while still at university.

• Access to ACCA’s study materials, events, networking etc, via the Accelerate status.

3. Who can apply / what are the eligibility criteria?

Some typical conditions (subject to your university/college’s arrangement) include:

• You are enrolled in a relevant degree programme at a partner institution of ACCA (e.g., BA (Hons) Business, Accounting and Finance awarded by University of Cumbria at FAME International College).

• Generally you start applying while still studying your degree (e.g., in your 2nd or 3rd year).

• Your degree must be recognised/accredited so that ACCA will accept it for exemptions or accelerated status. BA (Hons) Business, Accounting and Finance awarded by University of Cumbria at FAME International College) has been accredited by ACCA with 9 papers exemption.

• You must apply before you graduate (or at least during your degree) so you can gain the benefits while you study.

Read more: https://www.accaglobal.com/my/en/student/Accelerate.html#The-Benefits-(for-Malaysia)

4. What is the process to join ACCA Accelerate?

Here are the general steps:

1. Confirm you’re eligibility.

2. Talk to your Head of Programme at FAME about the Accelerate code / letter.

3. Register with ACCA using the Accelerate code: you’ll pay the reduced registration fee (e.g., £20).

4. While studying your degree, you continue with your degree modules and you may begin some ACCA exam-preparation or even sit ACCA papers.

5. After you graduate, you submit your degree certificate/transcript to ACCA to claim any exemptions and pay the discounted exemption fees (within a stated time-limit).

6. Then you progress with your ACCA exams, gain the required experience (PER), complete membership requirements.

5. What about exemptions and fees under Accelerate?

• Exemption = you don’t have to sit certain ACCA exams because your degree covered equivalent content, or your university is accredited.

• Under the Accelerate programme for Malaysia: the exemption fee is discounted (lower) compared to standard. ACCA Global

• The discounted registration + exemption savings can add up substantially. For example: registration at ~£20, annual subscription waived, exemption fees reduced—total savings “up to £1,054” (for Malaysia) quoted. ACCA Global

• Note: You must submit your degree certificate + transcript to ACCA within 1 year of graduation to pay the discounted exemption fees. If you miss that window, you may lose the discount.

Use this tool to see if you may be eligible for any exemptions from ACCA exams: https://www.accaglobal.com/my/en/help/exemptions-calculator.html

6. Can I begin ACCA exams while still doing my degree?

Yes — one of the main attractions of Accelerate is that you can begin ACCA exams (depending on your progress), even before you graduate. 
However: you should still focus on your degree too — because the degree must still be completed.
Some students take 1 ACCA paper per semester, or during semester breaks.

7. How does this affect the time & cost to complete ACCA + degree?

Time: Because you start earlier, you can finish more of your ACCA journey by the time you graduate (or soon after). This shortens overall time to membership.
Cost: Because of the fee reductions (registration, subscription, exemption), your cost is lower.
Caveats:

• Even though you may start ACCA earlier, you still need to meet the full ACCA membership requirements (exams + practical experience).

• You still need to manage both your degree and ACCA timetable—so it may be more demanding.

8. What should I be careful about / what are practical tips?

• Check eligibility early: Confirm your degree programme is on an ACCA-approved list or partner list, and that your university participates in Accelerate.

• Plan your schedule: Balancing degree classes + ACCA study + possibly work or internships needs good time-management.

• Don’t overload: While taking many ACCA papers early is tempting, make sure you can cope academically. One student said:

• Use good tuition/support: It’s recommended to use a good learning partner (ALP) approved by ACCA.

• Submit required documents on time: After graduation, submit your degree certificate/transcript within one year for the exemption discount. Missing the deadline may cost you money.

• Be clear on costs: Even with discounts, there are still fees (exam entry, tuition, etc). Budget accordingly.

• Focus on experience: Remember, membership doesn’t come only from passing exams — you also need to fulfil the Practical Experience Requirement (PER) of ACCA.

• Stay motivated: Doing ACCA early is a great advantage, but it’s a commitment. Build good habits early.

9. If I fail a paper or get behind, what happens?

• If you don’t pass an ACCA exam, you’ll need to retake it like anyone else. The Accelerate benefit does not remove the exam difficulty.

• If you delay your degree or do your ACCA more slowly — that’s okay, but you may not fully use the time-advantage of Accelerate.

• Ensure you still complete your degree (if that was a requirement) — because not completing it may affect your exemptions or the Accelerate status.

10. What happens after I graduate?

• Submit your degree certificate and transcript to ACCA as requested (for Malaysia: within 1 year).

• Pay the discounted exemption fees (if any) to convert your university subjects into ACCA-exam exemptions.

• Continue/complete the remaining ACCA exams (if any) that you still need.

• Complete the Practical Experience Requirement (PER) as required by ACCA for membership.

• After all is done, you become an ACCA member and carry the “ACCA” designation with your name.

11. Are there any limitations or things that Accelerate does not cover or guarantee?

• Accelerate does not guarantee you will pass ACCA exams — you still need to meet exam standards.

• You still must meet the practical experience (PER) requirement.

• Exemptions depend on your university degree programme’s accreditation and your specific modules — just because you join Accelerate doesn’t mean you’ll get full exemptions automatically.

• Some higher-level papers or membership steps may only be taken after graduation or after certain conditions.

• Discounts apply only if you follow the Accelerate conditions (e.g., submit documents on time). If you don’t follow, you may lose the benefit.

12. Typical FAQ Questions from Students

Here are some sample questions and short answers:

• Q: Can I join ACCA Accelerate in my 1st year of degree?
  A: Usually you join once you are confirmed on a relevant accounting degree (often 2nd or 3rd year) so that you are settled and can manage both degree + ACCA.

• Q: Do I need to finish my degree before sitting ACCA papers?
  A: No — with Accelerate you can sit some ACCA papers while still doing your degree. But you must finish your degree to claim exemptions and full benefits.

• Q: How many ACCA papers can I take while at university?
  A: That depends on your university, your timetable, your capability. Some students take one per semester, others more or fewer. Plan carefully.

• Q: What does the registration fee reduction mean?
  A: For Malaysia, under Accelerate the initial registration fee is £20 (saving ~£69) compared to standard.

• Q: What if I graduate and forget to submit my certificate within a year?
  A: You would lose the discounted exemption fee benefit (or at least part of it). It’s important to submit on time.

• Q: Is this only for Malaysian students?
  A: The Accelerate programme is global, but the exact benefits (fees, rules) differ by country. The figures above are for Malaysia. If you study abroad or in another country the benefits may differ.