ACCA does not charge one course fee. You pay to register, pay a subscription every year, pay for each exam or exemption, and pay for the ethics module. Tuition is a separate choice. This guide shows each official charge for 2026 and adds them up for you.
ACCA total cost calculator
| Registration and subscriptions | |
| Exemption fees | |
| Exam fees ( exams) | |
| Retakes | |
| EPSM | £83 |
| Tuition | |
| Membership |
Uses ACCA's 2026 UK fees. Applied Knowledge exams are estimated at £135 each (set by exam centres). Retakes are priced as an Applied Skills entry.
Every ACCA fee for 2026
| Fee | Amount (UK, 2026) | When you pay |
|---|---|---|
| Initial registration | £89 | Once, when you join |
| Annual subscription | £140 | Every year as a student |
| Exemption: Applied Knowledge | £98 each | When exemptions are awarded |
| Exemption: Applied Skills | £123 each | When exemptions are awarded |
| Applied Knowledge exams (BT, MA, FA) | Set by exam centre, commonly £125–£145 | When you book |
| Ethics and Professional Skills Module | £83 | Once |
Exam entry fees and the late-entry penalty
Session-based exams have entry deadlines. These were the December 2026 fees:
| Exam | Standard entry | Late entry | Extra cost if late |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied Skills (LW*, PM, TX, FR, AA, FM) | £173 | £439 | £266 |
| Strategic Business Leader | £295 | £475 | £180 |
| Strategic Business Reporting | £229 | £475 | £246 |
| Each option (AFM, APM, ATX, AAA) | £229 | £475 | £246 |
*LW is available on demand in most markets. Late entry more than doubles the price of an Applied Skills paper, so the single easiest saving is to book every exam inside the standard window.
Three realistic ACCA budgets
These cover fees paid to ACCA only, at standard entry, before any tuition.
| Accredited graduate | Typical student | No exemptions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exemptions | All 9: £1,032 | 3 Applied Knowledge: £294 | None |
| Exams sat | 4 Strategic Professional: £982 | 6 Applied Skills + 4 SP: £2,020 | 13 exams: £2,425 |
| Retakes | None | 1: £173 | 2: £346 |
| Subscriptions | 2 years: £280 | 3 years: £420 | 4 years: £560 |
| Registration and EPSM | £172 | £172 | £172 |
| Total | £2,466 | £3,079 | £3,503 |
After qualifying, membership adds a one-off admission fee and an annual fee, each listed at £326 in common 2026 estimates.
Is paid tuition worth it if you are self-funding?
Tuition is where budgets diverge most, from nothing to several thousand pounds. The exam fees are fixed. The tuition decision is not, so make it paper by paper rather than buying a full package upfront.
- Applied Knowledge: many students pass BT, MA and FA with free resources and practice questions. Pass rates for these on-demand exams are high.
- Applied Skills: PM, FR and AA have lower pass rates and benefit most from structured teaching and marked mock exams.
- Strategic Professional: SBL and SBR reward exam technique, so a course with marked practice exams is often good value even for strong students.
See which papers students find hardest in our ACCA pass rates guide.
What changes to fees in 2027
The redesigned qualification launches from July and September 2027 with 11 exams. ACCA states that students moving across should face no disadvantage in cost to complete, but fee schedules for the new exams had not been fully published when this guide was checked. Read our ACCA 2027 changes guide for the timeline.
Six ways to keep ACCA costs down
- Book every exam at standard entry, never late.
- Claim the exemptions that make sense for you, with the help of our exemptions guide.
- Finish faster: every extra year adds £140 in subscription.
- Ask your employer about study support. Many firms in audit and practice pay exam and tuition fees.
- Buy tuition only for papers where you need it.
- Check your local fee schedule if you are outside the UK, as prices differ by country.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the full ACCA qualification cost?
Fees paid to ACCA for the full qualification typically come to around £2,500 to £3,500 in the UK, depending on exemptions, retakes and how many years you pay the subscription. Tuition and study materials can add anything from nothing to several thousand pounds.
What is the ACCA annual subscription for 2026?
ACCA's UK fee schedule lists the 2026 student annual subscription at £140. It is charged every year you remain a student, so finishing faster saves money.
How much more does late entry cost for ACCA exams?
For the December 2026 session, an Applied Skills exam cost £173 at standard entry and £439 at late entry, a difference of £266 per paper. Strategic Professional exams rise to £475 at late entry.
How much do Applied Knowledge exams cost?
BT, MA and FA are on-demand computer-based exams. Their fees are set by the exam centre or remote provider rather than a single ACCA price, commonly around £125 to £145 per exam in the UK.
Are ACCA fees different outside the UK?
Yes. ACCA publishes separate fee schedules for many countries, and some markets have lower prices. Check the fee page for the country where you will sit your exams.
Official sources