Exemptions

Law degree/Qualified Lawyer

1. Bachelor of Laws and Juris Doctor degrees from recognised universities in the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and overseas (CGI and its Divisions in other jurisdictions) are considered relevant legal qualifications for exemption assessment.
2. The law degree should have included Corporate or Company Law.
3. 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.
4. 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 the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong 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.

1. Application for CGQP module(s) exemption 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.
2. The Institute may require applicants to provide supplementary information if necessary. If the supplementary information is not provided by the stipulated deadline, the exemption application will be deemed rejected and a new application will have to be submitted.
3. All approved exemption statuses will be forfeited if the applicants fail to settle their exemption fees within the stipulated deadline (i.e. one month from the issuance date of the relevant exemption confirmation notification).
4. All fees paid for the exemption applications are non-refundable and non-transferable.
5. 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.
6. 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 or within six months from successful new studentship registration. Applications submitted after six months will not be accepted.
2. Only completed academic/professional qualifications are acceptable for exemption assessment.
3. Unless further and better information is provided, the same qualification could not be used for other exemption applications.

Further exemption

1. Students who acquire a relevant qualification after the studentship registration should apply for further exemption within six months from the conferment of the newly acquired qualification.
2. Applicants who previously failed a CGQP module may use the newly acquired highest qualifications for further exemption.
3. Administrative charges shall apply to further exemption applications made after the six-month period as follows:
   1. An additional administrative charge set for the applicable financial year is payable for ALL late applications, and

   2. Late application charge rates as follows:

      (Applicable to applications made on or before 30 June 2024)

      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

      (Applicable to applications made on or after 1 July 2024)

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

Exemption appeal application

1. Applicants unsatisfied with the result of their exemption assessment may apply for an appeal with the exemption appeal application fee within the stipulated deadline (i.e. one month from the issuance date of the relevant exemption confirmation 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 application fee is non-refundable unless the exemption appeal application is successful.

Exemption reapplication

1. A reapplication for exemption can be made for forfeited exemption assessments within six months from the issuance date of the relevant exemption confirmation notification.
2. All exemption reapplications are subject to payment of the administrative charges:
   1. An exemption reapplication fee set for the applicable financial year, and
   2. An administrative charge on exemption fee for application made on more than one occasion:

      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 registration and maintenance requirement and relevant CCA policies below. CCA full exemption applications later than 24 months from the conferment of the master's degree will not be accepted.
2. Administrative charges shall apply to CCA full exemption applications made after the six-month period as follows:
   1. An additional administrative charge set for the applicable financial year will be charged for ALL late applications, and
   2. Late application charge rates as follows:
      (Applicable to CCA students commence CCA programme study on or before 30 June 2024)

      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

      (Applicable to CCA students commence CCA programme study on or after 1 July 2024)

      Application period made from the award of qualification	Late application charge
      7th to 12th months	two times the exemptions fee
      13th to 24th months	three 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/re-register with the Institute as HKCGI students within three months after the commencement of the programme. Students registering after the deadline are subject to payment of CCA studentship late registration charges.

   2. (Applicable to CCA students commence CCA programme study on or before 30 June 2024)
      The late registration charge is calculated on a monthly basis from the 4th month until the CCA programme students are on the Institute’s register.

      (Applicable to CCA students commence CCA programme study on or after 1 July 2024)
      Students of the CCA programme who registered or re-registered as HKCGI students three months after the commencement of the CCA programme are subject to payment of CCA studentship late registration charges from the fourth month until they register or re-registered as HKCGI students during their CCA programme study, including:

      1. an administrative charge for the applicable financial year for ALL late CCA studentship applications, and
      2. an additional late application charge for CCA studentship from the seventh month after the commencement of the CCA programme.
      The late application charge rates are as follows:

      Application period made from the commencement of CCA programme	Late application charge
      7th to 12th months	Two times the studentship registration fee
      13th to 24th months	Three times the studentship registration fee
      25th to 36th months	Four times the studentship registration fee
      37th months and onwards*	Five times the studentship registration fee

      * applicable to CCA students whose study period beyond the required timeframe of three years.

   3. 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

   (Applicable to CCA students commence CCA programme study on or before 30 June 2024)
   CCA programme students must settle their student renewal fee to maintain their studentship with the Institute at all times for at least 1.5 years during their study. Students who re-register with the Institute must maintain their studentship with a minimum of 1.5 years from the date of re-registration.

   (Applicable to CCA students commence CCA programme study on or after 1 July 2024)
   CCA programme students must settle their student renewal fee to maintain their studentship with the Institute at all times for at least 1 year during their study. Students who re-register with the Institute must maintain their studentship with a minimum of 1 year from the date of re-registration.

5. Credit transfer requirement
   1. Credit transfer/exemptions may be awarded to CCA programme students from respective university, subject to the requirements of the Institute. Students must inform the Institute on their credit transfer status.
   2. Students who have taken common subjects, from other programmes of the same university, 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. (Applicable to CCA students commence CCA programme study on or before 30 June 2024)
      CCA programme students must complete all the required courses or subjects within the period designated by the Institute.

      University/Institute	Required timeframe for completion
      City University of Hong Kong	Part-time: 2 years
      Hong Kong Baptist University	Full-time: 1 year Part-time: 1.5 years
      Hong Kong Metropolitan University	Full-time: 1.5 years Part-time/Distance learning: 3 years
      Saint Francis University (formerly Caritas Institute of Higher Education)	Part-time: 1.5 years
      The Hong Kong Polytechnic University	Full-time: 1 year Part-time: 2 years

      (Applicable to CCA students commence CCA programme study on or after 1 July 2024)
      CCA programme students must complete all the required courses or subject within three years.
   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 who have not yet fulfilled the studentship maintenance 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 required timeframe 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.