PART

NER

GUI

DE

Content

l Qualifications Page_03l Progressions Page_04l Partner Approval Page_05l Recruitment Page_06l Registration Page_07l HDA Papers Page_08l Exam Schedule Page_09l Exam Format Page_10l Assessment Page_11l Disclaimer Page_12

Qualifications Qualifications

3

ACCREDITATION & AWARDING BODYl Higher Diploma in Accounting (HDA) is awarded by BIMS

l Higher Diploma in Accounting (HDA) is accredited by ICAEW

l Higher National Diploma in Accounting (HNDA) is awarded by Edexcel

l Higher National Diploma in Accounting (HNDA) is accredited by ACCA

HDA & HNDA: DUAL CERTIFICATESl HDA qualification consists of 9 exams

l HDA qualification broadly covers all learning outcomes of HNDA

l As per recognition of prior learning policies of BIMS, graduates will get two certificates

a) Higher Diploma in Accounting (HDA)

b) Higher National Diploma in Accounting (HNDA)

Progressions Progressions

PROGRESSIONS WITH HDA CERTIFICATE

PROGRESSIONS WITH HNDA CERTIFICATEAfter receiving Higher National Diploma in Accounting (HNDA) certificate,

1. Students will get final year entry to BA/ B.Sc. degrees offered by different universities in the UK

2. Students will get exemption from all papers of Certified Accounting Technician (CAT) and

Foundation in Accounting (FIA) qualifications

3. Students will get exemption from 6 papers (i.e. F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6) of the ACCA qualification

4. Students will get all papers exemption from AFA Qualification awarded by the Institute of

Financial Accountants (IFA), UK

After completing Higher Diploma in Accounting (HDA),

1. Students will get exemption from 8 papers of the ACA qualification of ICAEW

2. Students will get exemption from 5 papers of the CFAB qualification awarded by ICAEW

3. Students will get final year entry to BBA degree awarded by Heriot-Watt University, UK

through the university-partners in Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, etc.

4. Students will get full exemption from "International Accounting Technician" qualification from UK

4

Partner Approval Partner Approval

APPROVAL CRITERIA

APPROVALOnce a distance learning partner is approved, an approval certificate would be sent to

the partner through e-channels. The partner will be authorised to start marketing the

qualifications after receiving the approval certificate. Each branch/campus of a partner

will be treated separately for approval purposes.

For the tuition support of HDA distance learning programme, a partner needs to be

approved by BIMS. For the purposes of approval, a prospective partner will be inspected

and audited by (the representative of) BIMS. Partner approval criteria are: human

resource, staff resource, physical resource, logistics required for conducting external

exams, learner support system, management systems, centre policies and procedures,

external and internal communication systems, arrangements for administration of

learners, arrangements for payment of finances, academic support, administrative

support, arrangements for verifying student identity, documentation & storage facility and

computing & internet facilities.

5

Recruitment Recruitment

6

ADMISSION POLICYThe qualifications should be available to everyone who is capable of reaching the required

standards. Distance Learning Partners are required to recruit learners to qualifications with

integrity. Partners should take appropriate steps to assess each applicant's potential and

make a professional judgement about their ability to successfully complete the programme

of study. This assessment will need to take account of the support available to the learner

within the partner centre during their programme. Learners aged 15 and under cannot be

registered for the qualifications. Typically, students who have passed GCE A-Level or

equivalent qualification are likely to cope better with HDA qualification.

ADVANCED STANDINGAt the time of admission, a student can be guided on the advanced standing into the

qualification. If a student has completed or partly completed any recognised professional

qualification and/or academic degree s/he may become eligible for advanced standing into

the HDA qualification. Decisions of advanced standing will be provided at the sole

discretion of BIMS. Partners MUST consult and submit appropriate documents to BIMS

before confirming the final decisions of advanced standing to any student.

Registration Registration

7

REGISTRATION FOR HDAAll students can be registered with BIMS at the time of admission with the partner. That

is, all students should pay BIMS registration fees before they start any class. Partner

centres are required to refer to the document of Fee Structure for current registration

fees. It should be noted that the registration fee is subject to periodic increment at the

sole discretion of BIMS. The registration will be valid for three years from the date of

registration. Students failing to complete HDA within this period will be required to re-

register themselves.

REGISTRATION TIMELINEAll partners are recommended to register students by the third week of every month

through www.bimsedu.com. Payments for registration must be received by BIMS within

7 days of online registration. A student can sit for his/her first exam(s) only if his/her

registration payment has been received at least 3 months before the first exam

appearance. For example, if a student's registration payment has been made on the

31st August of 2010, the candidate can sit for his/her first exam earliest on 1st

December 2010.

HDA PapersHDA Papers

8

ID Paper Title Exam Type Study Materials

Financial Accounting (International) Computer Based Exam (CBE)

Computer Based Exam (CBE)

Same as ACCA

Advanced Financial Accounting N/A Currently Not Offered

Management Accounting

H1

H3

Financial Management Monthly Paper Based Exam Same as ICAEWH4

Auditing Computer Based Exam (CBE) Same as ICAEWH5

Taxation (UK) Monthly Paper Based Exam Same as ACCAH6

Business Law & Company Law (Global) Monthly Paper Based Exam Same as ACCAH7

Advanced Management Accounting Monthly Paper Based Exam Same as ACCAH8

Business Strategy (Part I) Computer Based Exam (CBE) Same as ICAEWH9

Business Strategy (Part II) Monthly Paper Based Exam Same as ICAEWH9

H2 Same as ACCA

PAPERS IN HDAA candidate MUST pass 9 exams to become HDA graduate. The table below outlines the

qualification structure:

Exam ScheduleExam Schedule

9

DAY AVAILABILITY PAPERS Exam start time

1st Day Every month H4 Morning Session

2nd Day Every month H6 Morning Session

3rd Day Every month H7 Morning Session

4th Day Every month H8 Morning Session

5th Day Every month H9 (Part II) Morning Session

MONTHLY EXAM SCHEDULEFor (monthly) paper based examination, BIMS allow a maximum of 2 papers per

exam-sitting for any month. Monthly exams are held from the 1st day to the 5th day of

every month as per following schedule:

BIMS reserves the right to cancel/change above schedule.

COMPUTER BASED EXAMSOn-demand computer based exams are available for four papers: H1, H2, H5 and H9

(Part I) at the request of the partner centre.

Exam FormatExam Format

10

ID Assessment Structure Distinction Marks

Merit Marks

Pass Marks

H1

EXAMINATION FORMATMarking and Grading for HDA has been outlined in following table:

Examination format may be subject to periodic review and alteration by BIMS.

Exam Duration: 150 Min; 50 MCQ each carrying 2 marks, ACCA F3 Standard MCQs

50 MCQs

50 MCQs

96 5076

96 5076

50 MCQs 96 5076

50 MCQs 96 5076

Written Questions 80 5065

80 5065

Written Questions 80 5065

H2 Exam Duration: 150 Min; 50 MCQ each carrying 2 marks, ACCA F2 Standard MCQs

H4 Exam Duration: 150 Min; ICAEW Financial Management standard questions and exam structure

H5 Exam Duration: 150 Min; 50 MCQ each carrying 2 marks, ICAEW Assurance Standard MCQs

Written Questions 80 5065Exam Duration: 195 Min; ACCA F4 (Global) standard questions and exam structure

Written Questions 80 5065Exam Duration: 195 Min; ACCA F5 standard questions and exam structure

H6Exam Duration: 195 Min; ACCA F6 (UK) standard questions and exam structure

H7

H8

H9 (I)

H9 (II)

Exam Duration: 150 Min; 50 MCQ each carrying 2 marks, ICAEW Business & Finance Standard MCQs

Exam Duration: 150 Min; ICAEW Business Strategy standard questions and exam structure

Written Questions

AssessmentAssessment

11

PAPER BASED EXAMSl All exams will be set by BIMS

l Monthly exam papers will be available for download from www.bimsedu.com

l Partners are required to print exam papers in excellent quality papers

l Answer booklet to be prepared by the partner as per guideline provided by BIMS

l Examination will be conducted and invigilated by the Partner as per schedule

l BIMS reserves the right to inspect any exam venue without providing any notice in

any form

l All answer scripts should be sent back to BIMS by the 6th day of every month

through registered courier services

l All answer scripts will be assessed by BIMS within three weeks from the date of

receiving the answer scripts at BIMS.

l All costs related to postage will be borne by the partner centre

l Final Marks and grades will be updated at www.bimsedu.com on the last date of

every month

l Partners are allowed to submit appeal for re-assessment on behalf of the students

within 7 days from the date of announcement of result

COMPUTER BASED EXAMSl Assessment for computer based exams will be done electronically

DisclaimerDisclaimer

12

DISCLAIMERAll information contained in this edition of BIMS partner-guide is correct at the time of

publication. BIMS cannot be held responsible for future changes and amendments made

into this document. Respective awarding bodies periodically review their recognition and

exemption decisions towards qualifications developed by BIMS. BIMS cannot guarantee

that existing level of recognitions and exemptions will also be available in the future. BIMS

reserves the right to change any part of this document without providing any notice to any

stakeholders.