Exemptions

Law degree/Qualified Lawyer

1. Bachelor of Laws and Juris Doctor degrees from recognised universities in Hong Kong, Mainland China and overseas (CGI and its Divisions in other jurisdictions) are considered relevant legal qualifications for exemption assessment.
2. Relevant legal qualifications for exemption assessment purposes refer to those qualifications (e.g. Bachelor of Laws and Juris Doctor degrees) whose holders are eligible to take the Postgraduate Certificate in Laws (PCLL) examination.
3. Qualified lawyer of a recognised professional body with more than five years’ relevant post-qualifying experience may apply for the Fast Track Professional route. Please click HERE for details.

Accounting or Finance degree; Qualified Accountant

1. Accounting or Finance degrees from recognised universities in Hong Kong, the Mainland and overseas (CGI and its Divisions in other jurisdictions) are considered relevant qualifications for exemption assessment.

   Relevant professional accounting qualifications refer to qualified members of:

   1. American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
   2. Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
   3. Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)
   4. Chinese Institute of Certified Public Accountants (CICPA)
   5. CPA Australia
   6. Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA)
2. Membership of the Association of International Accountants (AIA) is NOT considered to be a relevant accounting qualification for exemption assessment purpose.
3. The Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) qualification is considered to be a relevant finance qualification for exemption assessment purpose.
4. Qualified accountants of recognised professional body with more than five years’ relevant post-qualifying experience may apply for the Fast Track Professional route. Please click HERE for details.

Application for CGQP module(s) exemption, together with the certified true copies of supporting documents (including but not limited to, certificates and transcripts of the academic or professional qualifications) and exemption fees (if applicable), must be submitted online.

1. The Institute may require applicants to provide supplementary information if necessary. If the supplementary information is not provided by stipulated deadline, the exemption application will be deemed the rejected and a new application will have to be submitted.
2. All approved exemption statuses will be forfeited if the applicants fail to settle their exemption fees within the stipulated deadline from the issuance date of the relevant exemption confirmation notification.
3. All fees paid for the exemption applications are non-refundable and non-transferable.
4. All exemptions granted by the Institute are a concession, and not an automatic right. The Institute reserves the right to withdraw or amend the exemption policy without prior notice.
5. All exemption applications are subject to the final decision of the Institute.

New students’ exemption

1. Students are required to apply for exemptions immediately upon studentship registration. Exemption applications should be made within six months from successful new studentship registration. Applications after six months will not be accepted.
2. Exemptions will be considered and granted only upon successful completion of an academic/professional qualification. Exemptions will not be granted in respect of incomplete academic/professional qualifications.
3. Unless further and better information is provided, the same qualification could not be used for the purpose of another exemption application.
4. The latest highest qualifications are accepted for exemption applications for applicants who previously failed a CGQP module.

Further exemption

1. After a relevant qualification acquired after the studentship registration, further exemption applications should be made within six months from the conferment of the newly acquired qualification.
2. Further exemption applications made after the six-month period are subject to payment of the administrative charges:
   1. An additional administrative charge of HKD700 is payable for ALL late applications, and
   2. A late application charge is as set out below:

      Application period made from the award of qualification	Late application charge
      7th to 12th months	two times the exemptions fee
      13th to 18th months	three times the exemptions fee
      19th to 24th months	four times the exemptions fee
      25th months and onwards	five times the exemptions fee

Exemption appeal application

1. Applicants who are not satisfied with the result of their exemption assessment may apply for an appeal with the exemption appeal application fee of HK$1,400 within one month from the date of the notification.
2. Applicants must submit the following documents for the appeal review:
   1. Course outline of academic/professional qualification(s); and
   2. Syllabus of academic/professional qualification(s), and
   3. Syllabus matching table for the relevant module(s).
3. An appeal fee of HK$1,400 is non-refundable unless the exemption appeal application is successful.

Exemption re-application

1. A re-application for exemption can be made for forfeited exemption assessments within six months from the date of issue of the first exemption confirmation notification.
2. All exemption re-applications are subject to payment of the administration charges:
   1. An exemption re-application fee of HKD700, and
   2. An administrative charge on exemption fee for application made on more than one occassion:

      Application made	Administrative charge
      2nd time	two times the exemptions fee
      3rd time	three times the exemptions fee
      4th time	four times the exemptions fee

CCA full exemption application

1. CCA programme graduates should apply for full exemption within six months from the conferment of the CCA programme, i.e. the date of award of their master’s degree (the six-month period). The Institute reserves the right to decline full exemption applications if CCA programme graduates fail to meet the studentship maintenance requirement and relevant CCA policies set out below. CCA full exemption applications later than 24 months from the conferment of the master degree will not be accepted.
2. CCA full exemption applications made after the six-month period are subject to payment of the administrative charges:
   1. An additional administrative charge of HKD700 will be charged for ALL late applications, and
   2. A late application charge is as set out below:

      Application period made from the award of qualification	Late application charge
      7th to 12th months	two times the exemptions fee
      13th to 18th months	three times the exemptions fee
      19th to 24th months	four times the exemptions fee
      25th months and onwards	the application will be accessed under other exemption application categories

3. Studentship registration requirements
   1. CCA programme students must register with the Institute as a student within three months after they enrolled into the programme. Students registering after the deadline are subject to a late application charge of HKD450 per month.
   2. The late application charge is calculated on a monthly basis from the 4th month until the CCA programme students are on the Institute’s register. The Institute reserves the right not to admit any late studentship registration from the CCA programmes. Click HERE to learn more about the studentship registration for CCA programme students.
4. Studentship maintenance requirements
   1. CCA programme students must maintain their studentship for a minimum of 1.5 years during their study before they could apply for full exemptions. Students who re-register with the Institute must maintain their studentship with a minimum of 1.5 years from the date of re-registration.
5. Credit transfer requirement
   1. Subject to provisions in the CCA programmes entered with the universities/institution, exemptions (credit transfer) may be awarded to CCA programme students. Students must inform the Institute on their credit transfer status under their declaration form.
   2. Students who have taken common subjects, from other programmes of the same university/institution, may apply for credit transfer. There is a time limit of 24 months for a credit transfer arrangement. Students should consult the Institute on a case-by-case basis before they start their CCA programme.
6. Study timeframe and mode of study
   1. CCA programme students must complete all the required courses or subjects within the period designated by the Institute. For details, please click HERE.
   2. CCA programme students must inform the Institute immediately of any changes of their study mode and/or change of their CCA programme.
   3. CCA programme graduates whose study period is shorter than the normal programme duration and/or who have not yet fulfilled the 1.5 years studentship requirement for full exemption application should apply for exemption within six months after fulfilling the requirements.
   4. CCA graduates whose study period is longer than the normal programme duration must submit the explanation letter with supporting documents for an individual exemption assessment.
   5. HKCGI reserves the right to decline full exemption application if the students fail to meet the studentship maintenance requirement and relevant policies.