Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)

Fees | Course length | Entry requirements

Why choose this course?

We have over 30 years' experience in providing tuition for professional accountancy students at all levels.
Our tutors are qualified and experienced in all the disciplines you will study.
You can study single subjects if that's all you need.
We've got CIMA Learning Quality Partner approval.
You'll have full access to University facilities, including a modern, well equipped library with a variety of study materials including some that are available remotely.

About the course

Becoming a qualified accountant gives you the opportunity to work in almost any kind of organisation, in a wide variety of roles. Your career may lead you to advise people and organisations on financial and management performance, future plans, strategy, investment issues, overseas activities and numerous other aspects of the accounting process.

We offer structured part time tuition through regular taught afternoon and evening classes, which also enable you to share your practical experiences and discuss study issues with other students. You'll also receive study manuals which have been written specifically for the course, and you'll have full access to our well-equipped library.

Most classes are fairly small and are conducted as seminars, including tutor input, discussion and question practice. Work is set by the tutors to support self directed learning which is reviewed in class by the tutor. The tutors also set mock exams.

You'll be assessed by CIMA external exams. Certificate level is assessed entirely by Computer Based Assessment (CBA). Higher Level exams are held once a year in May. T4 Part B (Top CIMA) is usually offered once a year, starting in January.

It's a requirement of CIMA that you register with them before applying to sit any exams, and you must also obtain confirmation of any exemptions which you think you're entitled to.

Find out more about what subjects and modules you'll be studying...

You'll be aiming to pass (or gain exemption from) 15 subjects, organised in five levels - Certificate, Operations, Management, Strategic and T4 (Top CIMA) Part B.

At Certificate level there are five subjects. At Operations, Management and Strategic levels there are three subjects each, plus a case study (T4 Part B). You must complete each level before moving on and the three subjects at Strategic level must be taken together and passed before you do your case study.

Certificate level:

C01 - Fundamentals of Management Accounting
C02 - Fundamentals of Financial Accounting
C03 - Fundamentals of Business Mathematics
C04 - Fundamentals of Business Economics
C05 - Fundamentals of Ethics, Corporate Governance and Business Law.

Operations level

E1 - Enterprise Operations
P1 - Performance Operations
F1 - Finance Operations.

Management level:

E2 - Enterprise Management
P2 - Performance Management
F2 - Financial Management

Strategic level:

E3 - Enterprise Strategy
P3 - Performance Strategy
F3 - Financial Strategy

T4 Part B (case study)

Part A - Initial Professional Development - Work Based Practical Experience (maximum 50 credits)
You must prepare and submit a 'CIMA Career Profile' for assessment of your personal work based practical experience and skills development. An approved Career Profile is awarded 50 credits - the amount needed to meet the requirements for Part A of the Test of Professional Competence in Management Accounting.
Part B - Case Study Examination (maximum 50 credits)
You must sit and pass the Case Study Examination - a three hour assessment of competence, completed within a supervised examination environments. 25 credits must be awarded to meet the minimum requirements for Part B of the Test of Professional Competence in Management Accounting.

On successful completion of the Test of Professional Competence in Management Accounting, you need to apply to be elected as a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.

All subjects follow international standards.

Download the full CIMA syllabus

Your career

This is a prestigious and versatile qualification which will open up a world of opportunity to you.
The Management Accountant qualification includes business-related subjects, and members may find themselves in jobs within industry and commerce, advising on the internal management of that company - such as product pricing, costing and the measurement of performance and efficiency. There are many Management Accountants employed in accountancy practices advising on the business implications of clients' activities, as well as in public bodies.
Once you've completed the Strategic Level exams, you can 'top up' to an MBA.

How you're assessed

Assessment will be by CIMA external examinations. Certificate level is assessed entirely by Computer Based Assessment (CBA).

Operational, Management and Strategic Level examinations are held once a year in May. T4 Part B (Top CIMA) is usually offered once a year, starting in January.

Anything else?

Contact CIMA

Chartered Institute of Management Accountants
26 Chapter Street
London
SW1P 4NP

Tel: +44 (0)20 8849 2251
Fax: +44 (0)20 8849 2450
www.cimaglobal.com
Email: cima.contact@cimaglobal.com

Apply online

Start dates

C03 starts in January, and TopCIMA. All other papers start in September.

Fees

£485 for certificate level modules (you usually take 5 of these modules in total).
£495 for operational level modules (you usually take 3 of these modules in total).
£505 for management level modules (you usually take 3 of these modules in total).
£505 for strategic level modules (you usually take 3 of these modules in total).

This price includes the provision of the core text and coffee/tea/water at each session.

*These fees apply if you're starting this course between September 2012 and August 2013. We recommend you check fee details with us though, as they can change. Costs can increase each year and there may be extra costs eg for exams, trips or special modules.