cfa scholarship essay help

CFA ® Scholarship Guide

A CFA Scholarship is financial support for individuals who may be unable to afford all the fees of the CFA program . All CFA Institute Scholarships include a waived enrollment fee and discounted registration.

There are multiple scholarships and each one has a different set of application requirements, eligibility rules, and application windows.  CFA scholarships are available for existing CFA program candidates and people considering pursuing the CFA charter.  If you are an existing CFA program candidate you can apply for a scholarship for Level I, II, or III exams depending on which stage of the program you are at.  

TABLE OF CONTENTS

What Are The Total Fees of The CFA Program?

• CFA Access Scholarship
• CFA Women’s Scholarship
• CFA Student Scholarship
• CFA Professor Scholarship
• CFA Regulator Scholarship
• How To Check Your CFA Scholarship Application Status
• Can You Reapply for A CFA Scholarship If You Aren’t Chosen?

How Many People Get CFA Scholarships?

The total fees for a CFA program candidate are over $3,000 USD. Considering it’s common for CFA program candidates to have accrued debt from gaining a traditional education in finance from a college or university, a CFA Scholarship can make a difference.  

What Is The CFA Access Scholarship?

The CFA Access Scholarship is designed to specifically improve access for individuals who are considering the CFA program and may be unable to afford all the fees associated with the program.  Recipients of the CFA Access Scholarship will be able to enroll in the CFA Program for free and pay $250 USD to register for the CFA exam vs the standard exam registration fee. 

CFA Access Scholarship Application Requirements

As you gather materials for the CFA Access Scholarship application don’t forget to:

• Disclose any potential conflicts of interest
• Include references
• Write a personal statement
• Submit the application within the designated application window

How To Apply For The CFA Access Scholarship

The first step to applying for the CFA Access Scholarship is to make sure you meet the enrollment criteria and requirements for the CFA program . 

If you meet those requirements, check to see when applications are being accepted for the CFA Access Scholarship . 

The CFA Institute usually opens registration for the CFA Access Scholarship once or twice a year.  When the application window is open you can submit your application for the scholarship through your CFA Institute account.

How To Write A Personal Statement For The CFA Access Scholarship

Writing a personal statement for the CFA Access Scholarship is an important part of developing your application because awards may be granted based on a combination of factors.  The factors to emphasize in your personal statement should be:

• Financial need
• Academic, professional, or other accomplishments
• Any obstacles you’ve overcome
• Any contributions to your local community
• Why you’re interested in pursuing the CFA charter
• Some personal characteristics that indicate why you should be considered for the scholarship

What Are The Rules For The CFA Access Scholarship?

Besides being eligible to enroll in the CFA program and submitting your application on time, there are rules that you should be aware of when applying for the CFA Access Scholarship.

• While your scholarship application is pending, you should not register for a CFA Program exam.
• If you are awarded the CFA Access Scholarship, you’ll receive email instructions that must be followed about when you can register for the exam.
• Awards may not be sold, transferred, deferred, or assigned and are not convertible to cash.
• If you are awarded the CFA Access Scholarship, and you don’t show up for the exam, you may be ineligible to receive future scholarships.

CFA Access Scholarship Deadlines

CFA Access Scholarship application windows contain an open date and a deadline. The deadlines for applying to the CFA Access Scholarship fluctuate each year but are usually around 35 days after the open date.  

What Is The CFA Women’s Scholarship?

The CFA Women’s Scholarship is designed to specifically improve access for women who are considering or currently enrolled in the CFA program and do not qualify for other CFA Institute scholarships.  Recipients of the CFA Women’s Scholarship will be able to enroll in the CFA Program for free and pay $350 USD for exam registration vs the standard exam registration fee.

CFA Women’s Scholarship Application Requirements

Make sure to include these components in your CFA Women’s Scholarship Application:

• Disclosure of any potential conflicts of interest
• A personal statement

How To Apply For The CFA Women’s Scholarship

CFA Women’s Scholarship applicants can be currently enrolled in or be in the consideration phase of enrolling into the CFA program.  The steps for applying are the same however if you are not already enrolled in the CFA program you should make sure you meet the enrollment criteria and requirements for the CFA program first. 

The next step regardless of what stage of the CFA Program you are in is to check when applications are being accepted for the CFA Women's Scholarship . 

The CFA Institute usually opens registration for the CFA Women’s Scholarship once or twice a year.  When the application window is open you can submit your application for the scholarship through your CFA Institute account. 

If you receive the CFA Women’s Scholarship, apply for Kaplan Schweser’s materials scholarship to help cover the cost of your materials.

How to write your essay for the cfa women’s scholarship.

Writing a personal statement for the CFA Women’s Scholarship is an important part of developing your application because awards may be granted based on a combination of factors.  

The factors to emphasize in your personal statement should be:

• Experience in the investment management industry

What Are The Rules For The CFA Women’s Scholarship?

Besides submitting your application on time and being eligible to enroll in the CFA program if you haven’t enrolled yet, there are rules you should be aware of when applying for the CFA Women’s Scholarship.

• If you are awarded the CFA Women’s Scholarship, you’ll receive email instructions that must be followed about when you can register for the exam.
• If you are awarded the CFA Women’s Scholarship, and you don’t show up for the exam, you may be ineligible to receive future scholarships.

CFA Women’s Scholarship Deadlines

The CFA Women’s Scholarship application window contains an open date and a deadline. The deadlines to apply for the CFA Women’s Scholarship fluctuate each year but are usually around 28 days after the open date.

What Is The CFA Student Scholarship?

The CFA Student Scholarship is designed to financially support students around the world who are enrolled at a CFA Insitute affiliated university and considering entering the CFA program. Recipients of the CFA Student Scholarship will be able to enroll in the CFA Program for free and will be able to pay $350 USD for exam registration vs the standard exam registration fee.

CFA Student Scholarship Application Requirements

Each CFA Institute-affiliated university has a different set of requirements for the CFA Student Scholarship so pay extra attention to the additional documentation pertaining to your college or university for the CFA Student Scholarship.

How To Apply For The CFA Student Scholarship

The first step to applying for the CFA Student Scholarship is to make sure your school or college is in the CFA Insitute University Affiliation Program . If they are not currently enrolled in that program you will need to discuss enrolling your college or university into this program with the appropriate person at your school.  

If your college or university is enrolled in the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program, start by checking when applications are being accepted for the CFA Student Scholarship .

The CFA Institute usually opens registration for the CFA Student Scholarship once or twice a year.  When the application window is open you can submit your application for the scholarship through your CFA Institute account. 

If you receive the CFA Student Scholarship, apply for Kaplan Schweser’s student scholarship to help with the cost of your exam prep materials.

What are the rules for the cfa student scholarship.

Besides being enrolled at a college or university that is a part of the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program, there are rules that you should be aware of when applying for the CFA Student Scholarship.

• If you are awarded the CFA Student Scholarship, you’ll receive email instructions that must be followed about when you can register for the exam.
• If you are awarded the CFA Student Scholarship, and you don’t show up for the exam, you may be ineligible to receive future scholarships.

CFA Student Scholarship Deadlines

The CFA Student Scholarship application window is open for most of the year but does contain an open date and a deadline. The deadline to apply for the CFA Student Scholarship fluctuates each year but is usually around 10 months after the open date.

What Is The CFA Professor Scholarship?

The CFA Professor Scholarship is designed specifically for full-time college or university professors or department administrators who teach topics found in the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge . Recipients of the CFA Professor Scholarship will be able to enroll in the CFA Program for free and pay $350 USD for exam registration vs the standard exam registration fee.

CFA Professor Scholarship Application Requirements

Applications for the CFA Professor Scholarship must:

• Confirm you are a full-time professor and the number of credit hours you teach per quarter or semester
• Include a CV
• Attach a form of employment verification
• Be submitted within the designated application window
• Be submitted before registering for an exam

How To Apply For The CFA Professor Scholarship

The first step to applying for the CFA Professor Scholarship is to make sure you teach the minimum number of credit hours at your institution, which is set by the CFA Institute. 

If you do, then you must get that information verified by obtaining an English language letter from your university.  This English language letter should be on a university-branded letterhead and signed by an administrator from your institution. 

Then you’ll need to gather one of the following forms of employment verification:

• A copy of a university-issued identification card
• A university-affiliated email address
• Proof of a teaching license from an issuing government agency
• A list of current publications, research papers, or some other document that confirms your affiliation with said institution

Once you have those materials, you can start checking to see when applications are being accepted for the CFA Professor Scholarship .

The CFA Institute usually opens registration for the CFA Professor Scholarship once a year.  When the application window is open you can submit your application for the scholarship through your CFA Institute account. 

If you receive the CFA Professor Scholarship, apply for Kaplan Schweser’s professor discount to help with the cost of your exam prep materials.

What are the rules for the cfa professor scholarship.

Besides being teaching the minimum number of credit hours in topics covered in the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge, there are rules that you should be aware of when applying for the CFA Professor Scholarship.

• If you are awarded the CFA Professor Scholarship, you’ll receive email instructions that must be followed about when you can register for the exam.
• If you are awarded the CFA Professor Scholarship, and you don’t show up for the exam, you may be ineligible to receive future scholarships.

CFA Professor Scholarship Deadlines

The CFA Professor Scholarship application window is usually for most months of the year but it does contain an open date and a deadline. The deadline to apply for the CFA Professor Scholarship fluctuates each year but the application window usually closes around 11 months after the open date.

What Is The CFA Regulator Scholarship?

The CFA Regulator Scholarship is designed specifically for organizations in the financial industry that regulate operations in the investment management industry. Organizations that receive CFA Regulator Scholarships will be able to nominate employees to apply internally to receive free enrollment in the CFA Program and a reduced exam registration fee of $350 USD vs the standard exam registration fee. 

CFA Regulator Scholarship Application Requirements

If you are applying for the CFA Regulator Scholarship as an organization, the application should contain:

• Disclosures of any potential conflicts of interest
• Confirmation that the organization oversees or regulates operations, standards of practice, or business conduct in the investment management industry
• Agreement to the terms and conditions of participation set by the CFA Institute 

How To Apply For CFA Regulator Scholarship

If you represent an organization, you will need to get in touch with the CFA scholarship team at CFA Institute to discuss the process of entering into a program agreement with CFA Institute.  

If you have been nominated to receive a CFA Regulator Scholarship on behalf of your organization, HR or the CFA representative in your organization will determine the requirements for your scholarship application.

What Are The Rules For The CFA Regulator Scholarship?

As an individual who gets nominated for the CFA Regulator Scholarship through their employer, you should be aware of the rules below if you are awarded the CFA Regulator Scholarship.

• You’ll receive email instructions that must be followed about when you can register for the exam.
• If you don’t show up for the exam, you may be ineligible to receive future scholarships.

CFA Regulator Scholarship Deadlines

CFA Regulator Scholarships are allocated annually to participating organizations and those organizations will determine the application window.

Check Your CFA Scholarship Application Status

If you want to check the status of your CFA Scholarship application, start by logging in to your CFA Institute account and looking for a status update on your application.  Pay attention to the dates listed for the application window and make sure the application deadline has passed.  

If you would like to speak with someone directly about your application email the CFA Insitute Scholarship department . 

When Are CFA Scholarships Recipients Announced?

It can take a few weeks or months for the CFA Institute to announce CFA Scholarship recipients. Sometimes members of the CFA society will request additional information from you or request to conduct a reference check or personal interview.  

Can You Reapply For A CFA Scholarship If You Aren’t Chosen?

Yes, if you are eligible and apply for a CFA scholarship and don’t get selected, you can re-apply.  Even if you receive a CFA scholarship, you can be selected again for the same CFA scholarship if you re-apply.  

The CFA Institute does not disclose how many scholarships are awarded each year, however, it is fair to assume that at least one CFA scholarship is awarded each year for each type of scholarship.

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CFA Scholarships: How to Successfully Get Them

Aside from the time commitment, there is a considerable  cost to pursuing the CFA charter , especially for students. Level 1 enrollment and registration fees alone can be as high as $1,600, not including any  third-party materials  you might need.

Luckily, there are a variety of CFA scholarships available for candidates, allowing you to reduce the enrollment and signup fees to as low as $250. I was fortunate enough to be awarded Access Scholarships thrice, and in this article I’ll share my experience in applying and receiving one of the CFA Institute’s scholarships.

Here’s all you need to know about the latest CFA scholarship application process (including deadlines, application windows, requirements, CFA scholarship essay tips etc), and some sage advice to improve your chances of securing one!

First, a little about me

I’m Alexander Law, hailing from the greater Austin area in Texas. I recently completed by MS Economics at Baylor University, in addition to some elective coursework from the Baylor Law School.

​In my final year, I participated in a two-semester practicum course of Small Cap Investing, which is similar to the Phillip M. Dorr & Friends Large Cap Endowment Fund I served as an analyst for the Healthcare sector in the Fall of 2016, with proceeds going towards student scholarships.

In addition to my undergraduate background in finance, I also have strong academic and internship experience in the healthcare sector, and would ideally want to leverage this towards a career in the finance area of healthcare to help increase operational efficiencies. My pursuit of the CFA charter is also part of my aim to be better equipped to serve in this capacity.

CFA scholarships are undersubscribed, so grab the opportunity

I had a busy semester and was worried about whether my existing scholarships would make me less attractive for the need based portion of the CFA Access Scholarship.

My professor mentioned about the dearth of applicants for the Access Scholarship, which was encouraging since my local charter was a much smaller city than my professor’s charter.

The various CFA exam scholarships, summarized

All CFA scholarships also have varying deadlines and application windows, so make sure you understand them and apply early to stand a chance of receiving one.

Most scholarships are completed online, but some (e.g. Regulator Scholarship) will require you to email CFA Institute directly.

The main requirements and differences of all CFA Program scholarships are outlined below.

CFA scholarship application: 13 handy tips & advice

• Know the form : You can save your current progress in the application for later and return to earlier sections of the form. However, you cannot proceed to a later section of the online application without first fully completing the earlier sections. This may be a small nuisance to some.
• Save your personal statement on your own platform : For applications that require a personal statement (e.g. Access and Women scholarships), we recommend typing up your 3,500 characters max personal statement on a word processor for grammar and spelling check, but more importantly to have a backup that you can easily copy over into your application later.
• While this applies only to Access and Women scholarship applicants, our research suggests that the more personal your answer, the better.
• CFA Institute is interested in learning about you, why you would like to earn the CFA charter and how it helps you achieves your goals. Tell them your story (succinctly)!
• how you found out about the exam and scholarship;
• your career goals;
• how the scholarship helps your financial position, why you need the scholarship, or in essence “how will this scholarship make a difference for you and your pursuit of the CFA designation?”;
• the value CFA would bring (i.e. why you need the CFA charter);
• An additional point for Level 2 and Level 3 candidates could include what you’ve learnt so far from the CFA exams and how it has been directly applicable for you.
• No changes allowed after submitting : Make sure that all the details in your application are correct before submitting.
• Apply for the scholarship(s)  before  registering for the exam . You don’t qualify for the scholarship if you have already registered for the exam, as it indicates that you do indeed have the ability to pay. However, if you are not selected for a CFA scholarship, you can receive the early exam registration fee discount on the next exam registration, which is valid for approximately one year (this was verified with CFA Institute directly).
• Wait for the scholarship decision  before  registering for the exam : Once you’ve applied for a scholarship, you will need to wait for an official decision on it prior to exam registration. Your scholarship application will be declined/voided if you’ve gone ahead and registered for an exam without a result on your scholarship application.
• Get your international passport done . You will need your international travel passport when registering and taking the CFA exams , as no other form of identification is valid. For those whom haven’t got a passport, this is something you should keep in mind, due to the length of time it takes to obtain or renew a passport.
• You can apply more than once : Fortunately, you can receive a CFA scholarship more than once, so provided that you qualify, it is worth applying again after your first exam. Even if you’ve failed an exam, you still can apply for a scholarship for your retake.
• You can apply for multiple scholarships at once : If a candidate receives multiple scholarships (of any kind), the scholarship that is most recently awarded will be applied.
• No double-dipping : You will not qualify for a scholarship if you start working for an employer that offers reimbursement for exam registrations, but of course you wouldn’t really need the scholarship in that case anyways.
• You still need  some  funding . Do also keep in mind that even with the scholarship, you still have to pay an additional $150 for the physical copies of the curriculum if preferred. The eBooks themselves are included in the registration fee, and it is worth worth trying out the digital version first before paying extra for the physical copies, as they are handy and easily accessible across different platforms. The eBooks are especially helpful when travelling abroad, although I personally prefer paper copies of textbooks whenever possible.
• References : ​In the latest updates, it seems that CFA Institute has removed the need for any references in your Access scholarship applications. Yay!
• Gross household income and net assets:  Firstly, there is no minimum or maximum income or asset level for scholarship candidates. Although this section may look thorough, just go through each category of income and net asset systematically, then add them up to form your best estimates in US$. Put what you think is most accurate and would be in line with the CFA Program Code of Ethics. You don’t need to send supporting documents unless requested, nor should you upload any documents that contain personally identifiable financial information.
• Wasting the scholarship is a costly decision : It also goes without saying that if you are awarded a scholarship, you should treasure the opportunity by studying hard, giving it your best shot and sit for the exam. Even worse, if you don’t turn up for the exam as a scholarship recipient, this may disqualify your future scholarship application(s).

Hope this helps with your CFA scholarship application. If you have further questions, leave a comment below – good luck! ​ Meanwhile, here are other articles which you may find interesting:

• CFA in 2023: A Beginner’s Guide
• CFA Exam Fees: How Much Does It Really Cost?
• 7 Reasons Why You Should Be Considering Getting the CFA Charter
• 2023 CFA Exam Dates: Updated Deadlines for Your Calendar
• CFA Exams: 20 Things I Wish I Knew Beforehand
• How to Become A CFA Charterholder
• Does the CFA Charter Increase Your Salary? If So, By How Much?

281 thoughts on “CFA Scholarships: How to Successfully Get Them”

Hi Michael – now that’s a conundrum! Is putting your CFA Society in the application optional? Can you submit the application without putting a CFA Society in at this stage? I would imagine this issue affects all scholarship candidates. If your application is submitted and can’t be changed, I suggest contacting both CFA Institute ([email protected]) and your CFA society about this to see what they say.

Hi, I wanted to know when would the window open for the Access and Women’s scholarship again as I want to give CFA L2 in May 2024

I want to apply for the scholarship but the window opens on 1st September. I wish to give the November attempt but if I wait for the scholarship result, I’ll lose the early applicant discount. What should I do?

I want to apply for scholarship for CFA L3 August 2023 attempt. I’m employed but my employer doesn’t sponsor for CFA.

So in case If I applied and by any bad chance, if I don’t get selected.

Will I be offered to register for CFA L3 August 2023 at early registration fee?

Hi I want to apply for the access scholarship which is due on 1st September 2023 .I just want to know that in case I an awarded the scholarship then it will be valid for how many windows? because I want to give the exam in August 2024 . And if I am awarded the scholarship from November 2024 and I register for August 2024 then what will happen?

I’ve got a question that would appreciate your help with.

I would like to sit for level III in Aug 2023, and I also want to apply for the CFA scholarships. Will I be able to register for that preferred exam window however the scholarship result?

Hi Team, I had earlier registered for the exam in Feb 2022 but was unable to take the exam for personal reasons. I had paid the one time registration fees already. Does this disqualify me for all scholarships?

No, I believe you can still fill out the scholarship form and point out your inability to pay the full or actual fees This (if scholarship granted) will help you to pay the reduced amount as your exam fees

Hi, Could I re-use my last essay that I used to submit for the CFA scholarship for the next application cycle? Could doing so be consider self-plagiarism?

I’m sure you could reuse it. I can’t comment on how much it affects your chances though!

I’d use it as a base and tweak it as necessary, adding in your experiences with the first cycle and why you’re re-applying for the scholarship. Hope that helps, and let me know how it goes!

Hey can you please guide me in writing access/women scholarship. I applied for access scholarship but didn’t get it. I don’t know what was exactly missing in that essay. I am now planning to apply for it again. Just need some guidance as you said you’d got scholarship.

Hi I have some questions, which I would love for you to help with Firstly I am currently in my third year (penultimate) in uni. I want to be sure if I can sit for the exams. Also for the access scholarship as we would have to wait till march 2023, would the CFA give us materials or we would have to get that ourselves? Thank you for your time.

Hi Samuel, so if you’re applying for the next Access scholarship window between 17 Jan 2023 – 14 Feb 2023, with results only being announced in March 2023, you can only register for CFA Level 1 after March 2023. So looking at the exam registration deadlines , the earliest exam window you can register for is August 2023.

As part of your registration, you would receive CFA Institute’s study materials, although quite often some candidates also pay for third party prep provider’s study material either to supplement or replace (if insufficient time) the curriculum books.

Hi Sophie Would you advice I pay for other study materials because I don’t think I would have enough preparation time if I were to wait till March for my registration since I intend on sitting for the exams August. Just so as to cover for potential missed time

Hi Samuel, it’s a hard one because everyone’s situation is different. If it is something you can afford, I’d recommend it.

Alternatively if cost is an issue, you could look at getting some 2022 curriculum books since there are only minor changes in readings for Level 1 from 2022 to 2023. You can check the differences in curriculum changes in this useful summary article and plan your studies from now till March accordingly before you get the 2023 curriculum. This will enable you to start studying now at a slower/less stressful pace without costing too much money.

Hope that helps!

hello sophie here if we got rejected for the scholarship then are we still eligible for earlybird registration for aug because early bird registration for aug ends at the month end of january.

Thank you so much Sophie. I took your advice on getting outside materials before march 2023, so I can get ahead and start my preparation. When the results of the scholarship arrives I can then start my reading with the latest curriculum ahead of the exam in August. Also finally, if I were to get the scholarship would I have the option to choose between sitting for the exam in August or November. Thank you and I hope you had a wonderful holiday.

you’re welcome! Good luck with the studies Samuel!

Hi, I’m Sun. Currently, I just finished my CFA Level I exam in Aug 2022 and I am waiting for the result. That said, the CFA Women’s Scholarship application window is now open and will be closed on 3 Oct 2022 when I will probably not receive my result yet. So could I apply for Women’s scholarship for my CFA Level II exam while waiting for my CFA level I official result?

hey, even I have the same doubt. please let me know if you get any sort of information regarding the scholarship eligibility criteria for level 2 exam.

Hello! Thank you for all the information 🙂 I would like to know if I wait for the next cycle of application of the women’s scholarship (September) and I don’t get the scholarship, can I access to the early exam registration fee discount on the exam registration of February 2023 (even if the regular date of early exam registration fee for that exam finishes on August 9th)? Thank you very much!

I do have same question. Could someone please confirm today as early registration deadline is 9th August?

Hi Ursula and Siddhika, the answer is already in the article itself, highlighted in bold yellow under the “CFA scholarship application: 13 handy tips & advice” section 🙂

Thanks Sophie 😊

Hi All I was awarded the scholarship for L1 but still total fees is coming to 1450$ is this correct or the system will take few days to get update!?

Hyy gaurav can you give a rough idea on what you wrote in that essay ?? It would be helpful I mean coz I am also L1 candidate:)

Hi…thanks for the valuable information. I actually got an access scholarship in 2018, however I was not able to register due to some personal problems. Can I apply again? As far as I know that if you register and then not appear in the exam, you will be disqualified from receiving future scholarships. However I did not register. Can you please guide in this scenario.

I got access scholarship for Level 2 but I could not register. I passed level 2 in Nov-2021 exams and paid personally for that exam. Will I still have a chance if I apply for access scholarship for Level 3 in 2023?

Hi there! The above blog on scholarships mentions that- However, if you are not selected for a CFA scholarship, you can receive the early exam registration fee discount on the next exam registration, which is valid for approximately one year (this is confirmed with CFA Institute in 2022). Is this even if the early registration date has ended? Or this is because you applied for scholarship but you didn’t get one so the early registration date is extended?

Scholarship applicants cannot register for the exam until they receive their scholarship results. Since they may (unfairly) miss out on early registration discounts, this is CFA Institute’s way of making sure scholarship applicants still get the early registration discount if they are unsuccessful in their scholarship application.

In the Annual Household Gross Income section for students do we need to write family income(parents) as it is asking about our income and not the parent’s income.

Obviously there’s room for interpretation both ways. My take on it would be that the relevant income would be the income of the party that is paying for the CFA exam fees.

Hello, I’m from Uganda and I don’t currently have a passport. Is the passport a requirement to apply for the scholarship?

Yes. Passport is a must for registration.

Hi ! I want to appear for the Level 1 examinations in the Nov 2022 attempt and I intend on applying for the Access Scholarship. The scholarship cycle is closed for now. And the additional cycle would be commencing from 9th May,2022. I just want to confirm that if I apply for the scholarship on or after 9th may then will I be eligible to appear for the Nov 2022 attempt ?

According to the timelines given by CFA Institute for both the scholarship and CFA exam, you SHOULD be able to. But I’m afraid there are no guarantees!

Hi Micheal, I applied for a CFA unfortunately I wasn’t selected . Is it possible to apply again

Hi Joseph. Yes, you can apply again. The window is open now.

See https://www.cfainstitute.org/en/programs/cfa/scholarships/access

Hey, I had applied for scholarship and gotten it for L1 but failed that exam. I had submitted the same essay for 2022 exam but didn’t receive the scholarship. Is it because I didn’t clear?

Hi Anupriya, sorry to hear that. I think it is unlikely to be penalized because of an exam failure. There are so many factors affecting who gets it, e.g. competition, needs-based etc so don’t worry about it and keep trying for next level.

Hi I Need your help regarding CFA can you please help me by texting me on 9769175193. So we can communicate regarding the same. It will be helpful for me

Wooooowwwwww, following the tips in this beautiful article (to the tiniest dot!!!) helped me to bag an Access scholarship on 8th March 2022, …!!!!

Your lady is 22 years, from the Pearl of Africa, (Uganda) in the Eastern part of the Continent…

Thankkssssssssssssssssss….. @300hours team!!!

I first read this article in mid 2021 as a final year Undergraduate student (Finance Major) with alot of anxiety about how I will be able to achieve my dream timeline of starting the CFA Charter journey, (I was 21years at the time) with no full-time job (I was just surviving on random gigs), with savings less than $50, etc…to help offset the exam costs….

Google Search about how to write a winning scholarship personal statement helped to lead me to your website!!! And the rest is history ……

I plan on taking on my Level 1 exam in Nov ’22……and I’m grateful for the game changing resources that you provide all the way through!!

Cheers to 300hours…🎉🎊📚

Yay, *high five* Mercy! Congrats, we are so proud of you! And thank you for letting us know, this made our day 😀 😀 😀

Don’t forget to use our CFA study planner for Level 1! It’s magic 🙂

Hi i want to appear in nov 22 exams so if i apply for scholarship in june22(will open as per site) then can i appear in nov22 exams?

Hi Saurabh, the final registration deadline for Nov22 exams is 9 Aug 2022.

So assuming CFA Institute takes the same 6 weeks time to announce scholarship from the date they close the application (e.g. recent Access scholarship closed on 14 Feb 2022 and results announced by 31 March 2022), the estimated results for June’s access scholarship (closing 13 June 2022) would be announced end of July 2022, this is a very tight window but it gives you a week from that to register for Nov22, assuming it is 6 weeks.

I failed my CFA L2 and I am rounding up my scholarship application. I felt a strong urge to include in the application that I had failed the L2 in November.

Will including this reduce my chances of being successful with the scholarship application?

Looking forward to your quick response.

Hi Victor, I’m sorry to hear that. But L2 is just a step above in terms of difficulty of passing, and you’re not alone. We do not know what factors CFA societies and CFA Institute use in its decision making for scholarship, but I don’t think it should impact your chances of success as it’s normal for people to fail L2, and we don’t think it would prejudice you in a needs-based scholarship application.

Hey! I am currently in the penultimate year of my graduation. Can I still apply for the access scholarship? I plan to take the exam in December 2022, I’ll be in my final year by then

Hi I want to appear for August 2022 attempt .I have applied for CFA access scholarship once if I get the scholarship can I give exam in August 2022 or Am i too late

Hey I have applied for the cfa acess scholarship and didn’t get a reply yet and registration ends on 10th Feb what should I do ?

Hi Ashish, as per our table above, Access scholarship only closes on 14 Feb with results announced by 31 March. So if you register now, your scholarship application would be voided. You would not have time to make it for May 2022 registration given the 8 Feb final registration deadline, but August 2022 registration is possible.

hey Sophie , But I want to take exam in May window only !! so should i wait till 31st march for the scholarship result ?

Hi Ashish, as per my previous message, May 2022 registration has closed on 8 Feb. So you are too late for May 2022 by now. The earliest exam you can register for – after waiting for scholarship results – is Aug 2022.

Hi Sophie I applied for acess scholarship and did not get it and gave the examination on my own in November last year and I didn’t clear it , so I am thinking of applying for acess scholarship again can you help me out with essay and tell me how can I improve it.

If I don’t get the scholarship will I have to pay the full registration fee or the early registration fee as I applied on 11th January 2022 ?

Same Question

Hi Shubham and Estuti, I have double checked this with CFA Institute, and they have confirmed that if you are not selected for a CFA Institute scholarship, you can get the early registration fee/discount on your next exam registration (valid for ~ 1 year).

What if I don’t get cfa scholarship and can’t pay early fees ?

Will subscribing to any third party provider impact my chances of getting the scholarship while its in process? Just a random thought.

Hey, I plan to appear for the August 2022 L1 Examinations. I want to apply for the women’s scholarship as well. Am I too late for the same?

Sorry for my late reply Parina! If you did apply for Women’s scholarship which closed on 28 Jan, you should hear back by 18 Feb 2022 and be still in time to register for L1 Aug22.

If not, the next Women’s scholarship application cycle opens 1–28 March 2022, with a decision around mid April. If awarded, you can still make the Aug22 registration since Aug 2022’s final registration deadline is 3 May .

For some reason I couldn’t able to mention any references in the scholarship application but was able to write an excellent essay So will I still be considered for the scholarship without mentioning the references

Hey where do we put the name of our references, you know it? I connected with my lecturers at university and they feel free to help on this.

Yeah I also have the same issue. I think this year they have removed the reference section completely from the form. They are just asking for the essay. Can anyone confirm this?

Hi Suryans, yes, it seems that in 2022’s Access Scholarship application, CFA Institute have just removed the need for providing any references going forward. You’ll be fine! Good luck 🙂

Currently I can apply for both women as well as access scholarship. I heard that women scholarship are on first come first serve basis. 11 days have already passed. Also I am a full time student. So should I apply for access or women? Can I apply for both? If yes, which to apply first? Looking forward to hear from you. Thanks! Purva

Hi Purva, you can apply for both if preferred, no worries about that. You can even apply for Student scholarship too if you’re from an affiliated university . Order of application doesn’t matter as long as you send them in early before the deadlines.

can you apply for women and access scholarship at the same time ? because the womens scholarchip page says”the Women’s Scholarship is available to women around the world who are interested in earning the CFA charter and who do not qualify for other CFA Institute scholarships” can you confirm if you can apply for both

Yes you can Henri. If you get one, the other application will not be reviewed.

hi Sophie if I apply for the access scholarship in jan2023, if awarded the scholarship will I be able to register for may2023 as the deadline is 31jan2023.if I hear back after the 31st can I still register for may late ?

Hi I am planning on applying for the September access scholarship window this mean I will get the scholarship answer after October but I want to write cfa level 1 in nov 2023. Can this work or will the deadline to register for nov 2023 have passed

Hello , i have one questions , i already registered for CFA L1 May 2022 exam , can i apply for access scholarship for CFA L2 before my exam of CFA L1 ?

No you can’t your scholarship will be rejected

Hi Punit, current registered candidates are not eligible to apply unfortunately. So you would have to wait until May exams are over, then apply in the next application window.

Hi I plan to take level 2 exam in Nov 2022 ; may i apply for this round of access scholarship (jan 2022) since CFAI said if it is awarded; it can be used for the current years’ exams (2022) ;nov? Thanks for helping

Yes I believe so Boyka. Note that Access Scholarship applications are closing soon, so make sure you get that sent in. Good luck!

Hi, I want to apply for Access Scholarship for Aug 2022 level 2 examination. I’m 23 and the sole earning individual in my nuclear family. My father has retired and my mother is a homemaker. Will I be in a disadvantageous position if I disclose that I’m earning as the CFA Institute might think that I’m capable of paying the fee? Also are there any income proofs that we are required to submit or any other documents required in the application process?

I don’t think there’s any income proof needed. I believe you should include as much context as necessary – yes, you’re earning, but you also have to support your parents, which should be taken into consideration.

Good luck, and let us know how it goes!

Hello, I wanted to give CFA level 1 on Aug2022/ Nov 2022 for which I would be applying for a scholarship that is going to start from 10th Jan 2022. At present, I have a pending application to register for the exam in Aug 2022. So, I wanted to ask will it amount to the disqualification of the scholarship application or I will still be eligible for availing of the scholarship.

I’m not sure by what you mean by ‘pending application’. If you’re registered for a CFA exam, you can’t apply for a CFA scholarship, but if you’ve not completed registration, you should be eligible for a scholarship. Hope that helps!

What is the word limit for essay for women scholarship

It can vary from year to year, but generally ‘essays’ are a short personal statement rather than a lengthy essay. Some CFA scholarships this year have 100-500 word limits for their statement-based answers. Hope that helps!

Hi, I just applied for the Student Scholarship to take the August 22 exam, but I forgot to consider the time to receive an answer. As the deadline for a reply is until July, if I understood correctly, I may not have much time to study. Did I make a mistake choosing August over November or do they tend to respond sooner?

Student scholarship applications, I believe, depend on the affiliated university so I wouldn’t be able to advise too much about that.

However if your reply is coming in July there is no way you’d be able to prepare in time for August – ideally you want 5-6 months to prepare, 3-4 months minimum. Hope that helps.

I have received Access Scholarship and currently registered For L1 May 2022. Am I eligible to apply for Access Scholarship for L2?

Yes, you can reapply for subsequent levels, or even when retaking the same level.

Hi, I’m writing the Women’s Scholarship essay at the moment and I happened to come across some comments mentioning that one has a higher chance of getting the scholarship if one applies ASAP once the application window opens. If this is true, then I’m considering to apply for the next window (Jan 2022), but also I’m worried that I’ll miss the early bird deadline which caused me to pay 1000USD in case I don’t receive the scholarship. What should I do?

Scholarship applicants will be offered the early-bird pricing regardless of the outcome of your scholarship application.

Hi, Are you sure ab this. I applied for the Women scholarship and how can I claim the early-bird registration fee in case I am not accepted for the scholarship?

do you know what happenned to the access scholarship? they put program media scholarship instead when i sign in to my account

CFA Institute have taken the Access Scholarship off for now. They keep saying it’s “coming back soon” but so far we’ve been waiting for about 7 months and counting…

Is there any update on the access scholarship, for Nov2022 exam?

Unfortunately no – still no word and Access scholarship is still not open to new applicants. ☹️

Hii. I had apply for women scholarship..When can I expect a reply from them.And also will I be getting any update if they reject my application?

CFA Institute has been changing the rules quite quickly on this, but we believe that you should get a response within max 12 weeks of applying. You will be notified whether you have been successful in your application, regardless of whether you were awarded the scholarship or not.

I have completed my graduation by opting for BBA (general) and got certification in the investment foundation course offered by CFA Institute. what is the chance that I will get the scholarship, or if it is less then what should I do to get the scholarship?

There is no insight on how many scholarships are awarded nor award criteria. It’s entirely at the discretion of CFA Institute, so your guess is as good as ours.

Hello, i want to apply to the acces scolarship this fall, and im planning to take the exam in May-22. As i read, the outcome will be on 1st December; assuming that i don´t get the scolarship, will i be able to register to the May-22 exam or it will be too late?

Thanks a lot!

We don’t really have an actual schedule confirmed for the Access Scholarship – this has been delayed several times so I’m not actually certain that the Access Scholarship will be open for applications on time as planned.

If I were you I would set a deadline for myself to wait for applications to open, and if that deadline is missed, you should think about registering without a scholarship anyway, if it’s possible.

Hey! I just failed my level 1 exams , but however I’m trying to give it in Feb 2022 . I want to apply for the women’s scholarship that is available for us but while writing an scholarship letter should we have to mention about the failing of level 1 exams in the letter? Also what kind of documents should we have to submit?

same question

I don’t think you have to speak about not passing the exams – in any case they likely have records of it anyway. I don’t think there’s any documentation necessary for the Women’s Scholarship.

Hi. I want to give the November 2022 attempt for CFA Level I. I was trying to apply for the women’s scholarship, however, the page isn’t opening and is showing some error. Please advice on what I sould do. Thank you.

It seems to be working for me now. It’s also the last day of applications for this quarterly cycle, so make sure you get your application in ASAP!

Hi, If my women scholarship gets declined, can I apply for scholarship again in future?

Yes, you can apply the same for the next cycle.

Yes, of course!

I have given level 2 exam in Aug-Sep, the results of which will be declared by the end of October. I want to give level 3 in the May window so, should I apply before my results are declared or after it?

I have the same question. Would appreciate if you could help

You can only apply for L3 after you’ve passed L2.

Hi, I am currently CFA Level 1 candidate and will be appearing for exam in November’ 2021. Am I eligible to apply for scholarship for Level 2 examination?

Same question!

You should be fine. The scholarship is awarded and valid for your next exam registration, regardless of whether it’s L2 (if you pass) or L1 (if you don’t).

Hello, can I apply for scholarship and register in my second year of under graduation so that I can give my CFA Level 1 in my third year?

Hello, as it has been mentioned a couple of times that while waiting for scholarship results, if we are denied of scholarship, we get early bird registration offer for the next available exam. So, does this mean if I want to register for November but am denied scholarship and the early bird period has expired, i will get early bird for Feb exam only and not November (which is my preference)?

You will get the early registration fee offer for the next available exam when you receive your scholarship application result. So if the standard registration for November is still open, you should be able to register for November with the early-registration fee.

Good evening and thanks for the insight.

I am new to CFA and just planning to start. I however want to apply for women scholarship in September before anything. I don’t have any cfa account yet. Do I need to create an account before applying for the scholarship or i can just go ahead and apply for the scholarship 1st before anything? Kindly guide me through. Thanks.

I believe you’ll need to create a CFA Institute account to apply for the Women’s Scholarship anyway. You’ll use the same account to register for the exam.

Read this article after my registration.. Can I cancel it and apply for the scholarship?

You should be able to cancel your registration without penalty if you’re cancelling within 14 days of registration. Make sure that the scholarship you’re eyeing is accepting applications though – for example the Access Scholarship is still not open for applications.

Has the cfa scholarship for feb 2022 been awarded yet and can we still get discount after the early registration passes

CFA scholarships are awarded independently of the exam windows – there isn’t a CFA scholarship ‘for’ Feb 2022. Scholarship applicants do get offered the early registration discount even after the deadline has passed if they’ve been waiting for scholarship results.

Hello, I’m looking to give my CFA level 1 exam in 2022. Can you please clarify whether the access scholarship for the 2022 exam has been announced. And if not what could be the possible dates for the scholarship?

The Access scholarship is unfortunately still closed, and no date announced for when applications will be opened.

Any idea when they will open? And if scholarships are announced this late, will I be able to give May 2022 attempt with scholarship?

Hi. I wanted to know that if I get the access scholarship, results of which are announced in December, then can I register for the February exam next year(assuming that I have prepared) or will I have to go for the May examination

The CFA Access Scholarship is currently closed to applications so it’s not confirmed that you’ll be able to apply and get results by December.

Hi, I had applied for the Women’s Scholarship on April 19th, 2021 for the November Level 1 Exam. I have not heard back from them yet, I am getting very anxious as I expected to hear from them by now. The November registration is closing by 20th July, I thought it was gonna end by 16th first. I wish to appear for the exam in this year. Will I have to pay the standard fees now? I read that they usually do reply within 3 months and its almost 3 months now. What should I do? 🙁 🙁

CFA Institute has indicated that scholarship results take about 12 weeks as they review applications quarterly, which in your case is around 20th July. 12 weeks is also a guide rather than a hard deadline, so it might come a little earlier, or take a little longer.

Scholarship applicants will be offered the early-bird registration fee for the next available exam so they won’t miss out due to waiting for scholarship results. But since normal registration for Nov’21 closes 20th July I would prepare to have to miss Nov’21 in all honesty.

If you wish, you can follow up with them at [email protected] or any other contact details given to you during the scholarship application process.

Good luck, and let me know how it goes!

Hi Zee, I got a reply from CFAI that my scholarship was declined 🙁 They have said that I can apply for the next exam and pay the early bird fee. But I do not see it being reflected in my account. What do I do next?

You should see the early-bird rate reflected when you book your exam window. But if you don’t, send an email to [email protected] and copy in [email protected] describing your issue and saying you need your early-bird offer reset.

I want to register for Feb 2022 level 1, so does it makes any sense to wait for access scholarship? As the results of the scholarship would be declared in December, and till then the registration for Feb 2022 would have ended, if I’m not wrong.

So should I register or wait for access scholarship for Feb 2022 exam?

Currently there is no indication on when the Access scholarship will be open to applications. CFA Institute have previously indicated mid-April, but obviously we’re way past that now. Whether you should register or wait depends on how badly you want the scholarship.

I have been awarded cfa level 1 scholarship but now when I am registering and during check out the scholarship fees is not being reflected there ,what should I do now ,the last date is 30th June

You’ll need to get in touch with CFA Institute for this. Sometimes candidates’ scholarship can disappear if the checkout process is not done in one go. There is a discussion thread here: https://300hours.com/f/cfa/general/t/cfa-registration-issue/

Could you please let us know how you drafted in that application for scholarship like What points you have mentioned It would be of great help if u can mention

Thanks in advance Anjan

I applied for the women’s scholarship back in April. I’m still waiting on a response. Any idea when I could expect to hear?

CFA Institute have said that candidates can expect to hear back within 12 weeks, so it could be up to July for your case.

When will the scholorship window will open for 2022 attempts?

We just don’t know. CFA Institute have indicated that it should have opened in April/May, but clearly that hasn’t happened yet, and they were unable to follow up with a concrete date. So “whenever they’re ready” seems to be the best answer we have at the moment.

I am a late riser in the CFA club. However, I have made my decision to write the exam in Nov 2021. Looks like I am late for the women’s scholarship and I have to wait till September to apply for it.This automatically implies that If I am to write the Nov Exam, I have to pay the full fees of $1000. Am I correct in gathering that information from the website? I would appreciate any response on this.. Thank you!

CFA Institute has previously informed us that the Women’s Scholarship is supposed to be awarded on a rolling basis going forward, so we’re not sure why they’ve closed it until September.

You’ll miss the registration deadline for Nov 2021 if you wish to to apply for the Women’s scholarship in September, so it’ll have to be one or the other.

Exactly my thoughts. That leaves in terrible lurch. Is this a first time incident of them closing the scholarship window early. Any chance I can get the scholarship for Nov by reaching out to them?

You could always try, but I doubt it.

Think about which is more important to you – applying for a scholarship or proceeding with the exams sooner.

Well, I am still contemplating the idea to take the test in Feb 2022. However, the scholarship opens only in September and that gives me another question. If the early bird registration ends in August. Then how will the scholarship be effective for me, if I chose to write L1 in Feb 2022. If I choose the early bird option, I have to register for the exam. And If I choose the scholarship then I wait to register the exam and bear the late fee. Am I thinking tooo much?

Definitely not over-thinking it, it’s a fair and often-asked question. CFA Institute have confirmed to us that unsuccessful scholarship applicants will be offered the early-bird rate for the next exam, so you won’t miss out. If you get the scholarship obviously it wouldn’t matter 😊

Hello , Have a good day ! I want to apply for women’s scholarship for the 2022 exams. However I apply and wait for the revert from CFA institute even after the “early bird registration” which results in i have to pay extra after deadline. If I unable to get the scholarship what will be the amount i have to pay after deadline.? Is there any reduction in amount for those who are waiting for the scholarship? Though I cannot afford the late registration fee , I can expect a reply form CFA ASAP.

You won’t miss out on the early-bird registration fee as a scholarship applicant. Quoting CFA Institute:

Applicants that are not awarded a scholarship are offered the early exam registration fee for the next exam registration.

Hi Tan, It means i do not have to pay late registration fee for coming exam in 2022 ( I am studying for CFA level 1 May 202 exam).

It means if you apply for the Women’s Scholarship but are not awarded it, you will be able to register for the next exam with the early exam registration fee, even though it’s passed.

Thank you so much for clarifying doubts.

No problem at all!

I have the same question. If I apply for women’s scholarship in September for cfa level-1 may 2022 exam and I’m not able to get it will I be able to pay the early bird registration fees for may 2022 even if the deadline passes?

Yes, you will be eligible for the early-bird rate.

Hi, I am working for an employer for the past 10 years after completing my Post Graduation in Engineering . Will I be eligible for Access Scholarship or any other Scholarship. Thanks in advance.

I think pretty much anyone is eligible to apply for the Access Scholarship, but applications are not open yet. I don’t think you’re eligible for any other CFA scholarship.

hi , i want to know that if I register for access scholarship for 2022after informing that the cfa institute will giving the information for the access scholarship, After applying for the scholarship can i really get the scholarship, for that I have financial issues so I can’t afford the fees and I have very much interested and I have knowledge of investment and finance field. can u please tell me about this?

I won’t be able to tell you what are your chances of getting the scholarship. If you’re interested in finance and determined to get the scholarship, read our guide carefully, follow all the advice there and apply when the Access Scholarship is open for applications. Good luck!

please reply to my comment done on 9th May 2021

My name is Dinesh and I am CA final student from india. Is it I am eligible to student scholarship? Is it The Institute of Chartered Accountant’s of India is affiliated university as per CFA Institute

Student scholarship eligibility and deadlines depend on the specific affiliated university. I could not find The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India on the list of affiliated universities on CFA Institute’s website .

Thank you so much for this useful information. I was having a doubt , can a 12th passout apply for access scholarship and if we receive access scholarship, is it a one time application (valid or applied to all the 3 levels) or should we have to apply it again for L2 and again for L3?

I’m not sure what you mean by ’12th passout’. Each application applies to only one level of the CFA exam – you can reapply again for subsequent levels.

I’m looking at the Access Scholarship to open for November 21. However, the early bird registration for November 21 closes on 5th of May.

I understand that even if we don’t get the Scholarship, we would get to apply the exams with the discounted fees. However based on 2020’s scholarship, the awards are given in December..so, I’m not sure how that would work out.

The Access Scholarship schedule was originally configured to suit the old CFA exam schedule (twice a year in December and June) so yes, the Access Scholarship schedule doesn’t quite fit the new CFA exam schedule. CFA Institute are aware of this and are working to eventually move the Access Scholarship to a rolling schedule, like all other CFA scholarships. CFA Institute have not actually announced details for the latest Access scholarship, so your concerns on scheduling might be addressed once they disclose full info on how the latest Access scholarship is going to work.

So I guess it’s a risk not applying for the early bird dateline for 5th May, cause the info from CFAI is still not out and it’s anyone’s guess.

I mean, I technically have the ability to pay for it, but it’s not quite the same as really being able to afford it.

Guess I’ll have 1 more day to decide. Thanks Zee!

“I mean, I technically have the ability to pay for it, but it’s not quite the same as really being able to afford it.” That’s the best description of the CFA scholarship applicant I’ve seen yet! You’re welcome – good luck! If you have any further questions, just post in our support forum .

When do access and student scholarship applications start for the 2022 attempt?

There are no fixed deadlines for role-based or Women’s CFA Program scholarship applications, including student scholarships. Applications are considered on a rolling basis, with awards made throughout the year.

There is less clear info on Access scholarships. There is an effort to eventually move this to a rolling schedule as well, but for now it’s still on an annual basis. Access scholarship applications should open any time now, but it might be delayed due to the many changes over the past year (and changes that are still going on!).

Hey, I want to apply for the student scholarship. In the list of affiliated universities my university is listed but my program isn’t. Will I still be able to apply for the student scholarship and be considered for the same?

I’m pretty sure your program doesn’t need to be listed to be able to apply. There are additional requirements depending on your university that you should check out though – see here .

Thank you Zee that clears my doubt.

You’re welcome!

I have applied for the women’s scholarship and planning to take the nov 2021exam. If I don’t hear back from them before the early bird deadline and I didn’t get the scholarship should I pay the extra fee in standard deadline or the same fee as in early bird deadline?

We’ve received quite a few questions about this – we have reached out to CFA Institute and will update everyone when we hear back on this. Stay tuned!

Hi Vamshik, I finally got a confirmation from CFA Institute on this:

Hope this clarifies.

Hi Alexander,

Had a doubt. I have applied for women’s scholarship for Nov 21 exam. Waiting for the reply. If in case the scholarship gets rejected, and this rejected reply if I get after the date of early registration which is May 4 2021, then will I be eligible for early bird registration or I will have to pay the entire 1000$ fees ?

Hi Riya, I’ve just got confirmation from CFA Institute that applicants that are not awarded a scholarship are offered the early exam registration fee for the next exam registration.

Hello. I had applied for access scholarship last year. But i did received an early exam registration fee waiver only. The last date to redeem this offer was given as 30 june 21. But now when i wanna register for nov 21 level 1 exam it is not reflecting at the time of checkout and i am asked to pay in full $1150. Can you please guide me in this. Thank you.

Hi Aakansha, last year’s scholarship awards have been extended to include all 2021 exams. You must register for an exam by the testing window’s registration deadline.

I suspect there is a system issue in your case and you’ve to contact CFA Institute directly to sort this technical issue, as you’re not the first to report this! You should be allowed to register for L1 Nov21 with reduced fees from your scholarship award.

Hi, I’m planning to take L1 Nov21. But I want to apply for Women scholarship before that. Considering the early registration deadline falls on 4th May’21, should I take the L1 Feb’22 attempt or should I just go ahead with the registration asap to avoid paying $300 for the late registration. Also, while applying for the women scholarship, there’s an option to attach supporting documents. Could you please guide what kind of documents can these be so that I can obtain them if possible to support my application?

I’m also having similar questions.

Hi Sophie, one last question what is the word limit for the essay?

Hi Ridhi, for Women’s scholarship application it is max 3500 characters. As Access scholarship is not open yet, I would assume it is similar length. Good luck!

Hi I applied for women scholarship 1 week back.but I have time only till 4th May to register for cfa Level 2 august 2021exam,its the final registration date.since I won’t be able to receive the scholarship with in the above time period. I want to register for my cfa without scholarship. What would happen if I register for my cfa exam as applied for scholarship?

Hi Sowmya, if you register for L2 Aug21, your scholarship application would thus not be considered.

Hi Alexender,

I applied for the women scholarship in Feb, when can I expect to get a reply? I am planning to appear for the exam in Nov 21 and early registration is open till 4th May.

Hi Sumedha, it can take up to 3 months to hear back for Women’s scholarship. That said, you can still register for Nov21 exams if awarded with the reduced fee. Nov21 exam’s registration closes on 10 Aug 2021 .

I got access scholarship with a deadline of 30 june 2021. Today I was trying to enroll for level 1 July exam but could not find any option to choose the scholarship or to reduce the fee to 250$ on the dashboard. Please help. Thanks for your time in advance.

Hi Lakshay, it is worth calling CFA Institute directly as it may be a technical issue on their end. Given that L1 Jul21 registration is closing on 20th April, timing may be tight and you may have left this too late.

It may be worth considering L1 Aug21 registration, as it is just 1 month later with more study time. You can still get the scholarship applied as long as you register for an exam before your 30 June 2021 deadline.

Thanks for your reply. The scholarship is not even reflecting in the August exams and CFA institute is not picking calls or replying to emails. I am waiting from many days for their reply.

Hey! Hope you are doing well 🙂 I just got my result two days back for level 1 and i am so happy that I passed!!! Now, I want to apply for scholarship for level 2 I have a few questions, please help me answer it 🙂 Q1- If I apply for scholarship now, when will I get to know about the result? Q2- If I get selected for scholarship and in the mean time the ‘early bird registration’ gets closed, still I will get the scholarship and the amount will be reduced to $350?? Q3- Can I apply for women and regular scholarship both at the same time?

Thank you in advance! God bless you 😀

Ah I’ve answered your questions here in the forum .

Hi. I appeared for CFA L1 in Feb 21 but I did not pass it. However, I paid the entire fees for it. Now if I want to appear for L1 again in Feb 2022, can I apply for the Access Scholarship or will I have to pay the entire fee again? And if I can apply for the Access Scholarship, when can I do it?

Hi AD, sorry to hear that.

Yes you can apply for scholarship this year for L1 Feb22 retake. Access scholarship this year is supposed to open mid April, that is CFA Institute’s guidance, but clearly they are late on this. But it should be soon.

Hi Alexandar,

I would like to know exam registration fee reduction for CFA access scholarship/ women scholarship entitle for 3 level exam or need to apply for every level?

I’m looking forward for your reply.

Hi Kath – the scholarships apply to individual levels, so you’ll need to apply at every level.

Hello! Hope you are doing great

I have taken my cfa level 1 exam on 17th feb 2021 and the results are awaited, they will be announced in April. I want to apply for women scholarship for level 2, given the fact that level 1 results are not yet out, can I still apply for level 2 scholarship?

Hi Ridhi, you can’t apply for Women’s scholarship yet until your results are out around mid April.

Perhaps you could work on your scholarship application meantime and have it saved whilst awaiting your results.

Hey kindly help me if possible.. I want to take Nov 2021 L1 attempt. I want to apply for women’s scholarship.. is it okay to apply for the scholarship today? will my scholarship get approved? because the last date of early registration is May 4 2021.

Hi Urvashi, Women’s scholarship are assessed on a rolling basis and takes 3 months to hear back from application submission. So if you apply today, you will be late for L1 Nov21 early registration deadline, however, you could still make final registration deadline (10 Aug) if you’re happy to squeeze that in.

Hello, I’m planning on appearing for November 2021 or February 2022 exam. If I apply for the access scholarship in March, which of the above exams can I apply for? Thank you.

Hi Hrishike, Access scholarship is only opening around mid April this year. We don’t know if the rules are changing for Access scholarships, so unable to comment on that at this stage.

For example, pre 2021, Access Scholarships have traditionally open for application in March until September, with results being announced 1st week of December. Obviously with that timeline, Feb22 exam is more realistic.

That said, we expect CFA Institute to update their Access Scholarship deadlines and assessment cycle given the new exam cycles. For example, IF Access Scholarships became like the others and are open on a rolling basis, where you hear back within 3 months, you would then be able to apply for Nov21.

Long story short, we need this year’s Access Scholarship to open to understand if there are any new changes, before we know the answer to your question 🙂

Thank you for the information. What will be the deadline for early registration for February 2022 attempt?

2022 exam details haven’t been published as yet. However, if I were to infer from Feb21 dates, it would be mid Aug for early reg deadline for L1 Feb22 🙂 Stay in touch with us by signing up to our mailing list (at the top of each page), and/or check back on our CFA exam dates page for more info.

Hi, I was awarded the access scholarship last November 2020. I am really confused about the expiration date that was mentioned. The expiration date given is June 30, 2021. It means that I should register before an exam registration closes right, it doesn’t mean that I have to take the exam before June 30, 2021? I mean for instance, for November 2021 exam, the registration closes on August 10, 2021, it means that I can still use the scholarship for it, right? Since the registration for November closes on August, I can still register using the scholarship before June 30? Thank you in advance for answering my question. 🙂

Hi Ey, yes it means you need to REGISTER before the deadline of the scholarship expiry 30 June 2021, NOT take the exam before the scholarship’s expiry.

Hello, Can I now apply for a Scholarship for CFA L1 for November 2021

Hi Rishi, not for Access scholarship as applications only open in March and candidates normally apply 1 year in advance of the target exam.

But for other role-based ones which are open on a rolling basis it could potentially work, but deadlines are tight as early registration deadline for Nov 21 exam is 4 May 2021.

Hi Add and Rishi

Sorry for putting the question here but I could not find where I can put the questions.

I have 2 questions that need your help,

1. I am going take the exam for Level 1 in Nov 2021. It means there is no scholarship which I can apply at the moment ? right? even I enroll Women scholarship ( as the last date to Register for Nov exam is 4 May.) So, I need to pay registration fee and the fee for level 1 ? Am I understanding right? if not could you please correct me and give me a idea?

2. Assuming I pay registration fee and level 1 and pass Level 1, when can I apply for scholarship for Level II ?

Thank you so much

Hi, Is the $25 rescheduling fees applicable for both rescheduling within the exam month (say shifting between 24th-30th August 2021 for Level) and rescheduling within the exam cycles (say shifting from August 2021 to November 2021 for Level 1) ?

Hi there, I applied for Women scholarship on the 9th of January. Just wondering when do you think they tell me the result for my scholarship? Do you think I get back from them soon and would be able to register for May 2021 level 1 exam?

Best Regards,

Bahareh Edalat

Hi, If I appear for Level 1 in August 2021, will I be able to appear for Level 2 in February 2022?

Yes Kardam, if you pass L1 Aug21 you can go for L2 Feb22. See our CFA Journey Planner for more details.

Hi Sophie and Rishi

1) for L1 Nov21, yes it is too late as scholarship applications should happen 1 year BEFORE the exam year you would like to apply for, typically. 2) you can apply for L2 scholarships after you have received your L1 results, but BEFORE you register for L2 exams.

hi I have registered for CFA’s women scholarship program in Nov 29, but I have not received the result yet. Do you think I have any chance to get the scholarship for 2020? because there wasn’t any deadline for women scholarship.

Hi Life, CFA Women’s scholarship is on a rolling basis as you said, and are assessed on a quarterly basis.

So you should hear back on the results within ~12 weeks. Successful role-based or Women’s scholarship applicants have up to 12 months in which to use their Award. I presume you meant 2021, and therefore you should be able to use it for 2021, if awarded.

Hope this helps!

I’m appearing for CFA L1 in Aug’21 which means results would be out by end of Sept’21. By the time results are out for CFA L1, window for Access scholarship would be closed.

How do i apply for Scholarship for CFA L2 before results are out for L1 and before scholarship deadline which is Sept’21.

Hi Neha, If you’re taking CFA L1 in Aug21, the exam window is end of August. So since results are out within 60 days from that, you would only know your results by end of October, not September.

But yes, the Access Scholarship window would be closed by then, based on the current annual cycle. You won’t be able to apply for L2 Access Scholarship without L1’s results in time. We have reached out to CFA Institute previously on this issue, and they have said “We hope to enable a move to a rolling application basis for Access scholarships over time.”

So unfortunately there is no clear time commitment when CFAI would update their Access scholarship cycle, but we expect this should be updated soon.

On the other hand, you could consider Women’s scholarship since there are no fixed deadlines for role-based or Women’s CFA Program scholarship applications. Applications are considered on a rolling basis, with Awards made throughout the year. Women’s scholarship applications are reviewed on a quarterly basis and so candidates can expect to hear the outcome of their application within approximately 12 weeks.

This may be a good alternative/backup if Access scholarship cycle hasn’t changed then.

Hi. I am so much confused pls help me. On October 11 I had received an email for access scholarship decision that I have been selected for scholarship but from that date to up till now the status on my cfa account has not been changed from submitted to awarded. What to do now. Do I suppose to get the scholarship or not. Please tell

Hi Raveena, congrats on the scholarship! It is best to follow up directly with CFA Institute BEFORE you go for any exam registration, as it cannot be deferred to future levels. Registering now without any scholarship details voids the scholarship award. CFA Institute is probably just swamped and it is best to double check your status with them directly via email.

I have emailed them so many times but get no response yet. I am also trying on call but they are not answering. Should I wait till January?

Is there any way by which one can use access scollrship benefit for level 2 February 2022 examination…? Because i don’t see any. Also if i didn’t apply for the same and paid the full fees. Will i be eligible to get a level 3 scollrship further?

Hi Cube, there is a deadline (depending on type of scholarship, e.g. for Access it is around 7 months from award) to register for the CFA exams. So 2020’s scholarship awards are for 2021 exam registrations only usually. I don’t quite understand your second question: do you mean if you paid full fees for L2, will you be eligible to get a L3 scholarship if you apply in the future? If so, yes you can apply for L3 (after you have passed L2), regardless whether you have received a scholarship previously. Does this answer your question?

I have missed the chance to apply for scholarship this year and I’m planning to give level 1 exam in aug. Will I be able to apply for scholarship for level 2 after the exam ??

Hi Kishan, as long as you apply before the deadline it should be fine (and before registering for L2). But we expect CFA Institute to update their scholarship deadlines/timetables hopefully soon to reflect the new CBT exam cycles. So we have to wait and see for now.

If I apply for the level 1 scholarship in March 2021 then will i be able to apply for December 2021 examination if a get the scholarship?

Hi Jainam, from 2021, there are no longer any Dec exams. Check this post ( https://www.300hours.com/articles/all-the-dates-you-need-for-your-next-cfa-exam ) for the new computer-based exam schedules. At the moment, all of the scholarships are on a rolling basis and probably takes 3-4 months on average for results, except Access scholarship, which currently (as confirmed by CFA institute) is on an annual basis. They recognise that this would probably change to a rolling basis as well to accommodate the new exam cycle, but have not confirmed or made any announcements on this.

What are the usual questions or things I need to be prepared for with regards to the the access scholarship interview?

Hi Jieun, as far as I’m aware, there are no in-person interviews for the access scholarships. Just an online application.

I have been scheduled for one this coming weekend, it’s expected to run for 15 minutes

Hi Jieun, thanks for letting me know – interviews are quite rare, but it’s a good thing! Which CFA society are you registered to? 15 minutes isn’t long, so here’s a few tips: as it is access-based, make sure you’re familiar with your financial situation numbers that you’ve submitted, also your CV and career goals. Definitely be prepared to answer ‘why do you want to pursue the CFA charter’ and how this can help with your current job or target career. Good luck, let me know how it goes!

Hi All, I applied for access scholarship this year and I submitted my application on 24th of june 2020. I understand that we get our results by 1st of December. However, I’m a tad worried because all my friends that applied after I submitted have gotten feedback whereas i am yet to receive any. Do i need to send them a mail to enquire about my status or wait till 1st of December. Thanks

Hi Isaac, if you’re worried, feel free to send them an email to chase up. You should hear back by 1st Dec latest as you said. Good luck!

Same here. Same here. I am waiting too. Hopefully, they still get back to us.

Hi, have you heard from them?

Hie sophie. As you replied above in comments for adithya’s question about getting access scholarship on dec 1 if applied before sept 15 (the deadline for feb 21) . And If scholarship granted to me, will there be separate availability of location for people who earned schoarship on December 1 for feb 2021 exam or do we have to struggle instead in getting exam location.

Hi Vikrant, I’m not aware of a separate booking system for scholarship recipients unfortunately. So yes, if you do get awarded an Access scholarship on 1st Dec 2020, you can book for Feb21 provided there are slots available.

Can I apply scholarship for December 2021 attempt??

Hi Archi, there’s no longer a Dec 2021 exam now, given the transition to computer-based testing. Check out this article for 2021 exam cycles by level ( https://www.300hours.com/articles/cfa-journey-planner-registration-options ). That said, you can apply for role-based scholarships now as they are on a rolling basis. The annual Access scholarship applications just closed on 15 September 2020 (for 2021 exams), so you will need to wait until it reopens again. Given the change in exam cycle schedules, it is likely it would be on a rolling basis next year, but we are awaiting CFA Institute’s confirmation on this point.

Hey. Now that the last date for Feb 2021 registrations has been shifted to Dec 7 and Access results are announced on December 1, is there a chance that if awarded, I can use the Access scholarship for Feb 2021 exam dates? Need to know this as I will have to plan my studies accordingly.

Hi Adithya, that may be possible now, assuming you applied for Access Scholarship before 15 Sep 2020. So if awarded on 1st Dec 2020, you should be able to apply that scholarship to a Feb21 L1 exam cycle, which wasn’t possible previously under the old final registration deadline.

hi, I am looking to give December 2021 Level I CFA exam, so do i need to apply for woman scholarship now. At the time of granting scholarship, do CFA give us some kind of timeline in which one need to sit for the exam. thanks for your response.

Hi Sarika, with computer-based exams next year, there would no longer be a December L1 exam cycle, but 4 exam cycles: Feb21, May21, Aug21 or Nov21 for Level 1 exams. You can certainly apply for Women’s scholarship now as it is on a rolling basis with limited numbers awarded per exam cycle. Yes, if awarded, CFA Institute does provide you with a defined window of time (seven months) in which you must enroll for a CFA Program exam before the expiration date listed in the scholarship award email expires. It probably makes sense to apply now, as it takes a few months to award it, which ties in nicely with an end of year L1 2021 exam for you.

Thanks Sophie! Just to clarify, I take the December level 1 exam, wait for results and if I pass, apply for the women scholarship for level 2 (2021). But isn’t the scholarship on first-come first-serve basis? Does women scholarship have any deadline? Thanks again 🙂

Hi Ridhi, yes I think you can apply for scholarship after your results have been announced. For women’s scholarship, it is on a rolling basis throughout the year so no deadline, just apply when you’re eligible and not registered as a candidate. My understanding is that it is on a first-come-first-basis, I don’t know whether that has changed given the new CBT exam schedules next year, but I presume it still would be as they probably allocate a certain number of such scholarships for each exam cycle.

Hi! I have already registered for level 1, which means I cant apply for scholarship now. My level 1 exam is in December 2020. I want to apply for level 2 scholarship. What is the deadline for scholarship for 2021 exams? I have been searching but can’t find. Thanks in advance!

Hi Ridhi, yes you’re right as your situation is similar to the previous commenter above. The deadline for 2021 exams has unfortunately just passed for Access Scholarship (15 Sep). The other Role-based scholarships are awarded on a rolling basis and applications have opened since 1st September, so if you’re eligible for any of those, make sure you prepare your applications now, but only submit it after the exams results are announced. Else your best bet is to wait for 2021’s Access Scholarship to open for 2022 exams. That said, as mentioned above, Access Scholarship’s rigid annual timeline may no longer make sense when we move to computer-based exams which are held 2-4x a year, so hopefully CFA Institute may move Access Scholarship on a rolling basis soon, or else it is quite tricky to plan on when to take an exam! Sorry it wasn’t a clearcut answer – we will certainly update our readers if the deadline/timing changes on Access Scholarship.

I already registered level 1 Dec 2020 exam, does it mean I am not eligible for the scholarship? If so, can I now apply the scholarship for level 2 instead?

Hi Iceberg, yes as you’re a L1 registered candidate, you’re not eligible to apply for a scholarship as you’ve demonstrated the ability to pay via your registration. That said, you’re also a year late for 2020 exam’s scholarships, as this year’s scholarship deadlines are for 2021 exams. I just double checked with CFA Institute and unfortunately it seems that rules have changed (although not made clear) that you can no longer apply for a scholarship (even if for a different level) if you’re currently enrolled in an exam. This seems to create a disadvantage for current Dec candidates given the Access scholarship’s deadlines. The current rigid, annual timeline for Access Scholarship doesn’t seem to work if exams are held 2-4x a year going forward for each level, so I’m hoping that CFA Institute would eventually change Access Scholarship rules to be rolling just like the other Role-based scholarship for the registration timing and requirement to be un-registered when applying to make sense.

Thank you for the information Sophie. Do you know if CFA Institute will soon change the Access Scholarship deadlines? I weren’t able to register for the Access Scholarship this year to take the Level II in 2021 because I’m already registered for the Level I December, 2020. It’s kind of unfair, I will have to wait until 2022 to take the Level II exam then, since the next Access Scholarship will probably be awarded in December, 2021.

Hi Eduardo, CFA Institute hopes to change the Access Scholarship cycle to be on a rolling basis in the future. But currently it is still on an annual basis.

If someone had registered for the now postponed June 2020 exams by paying the full fees and they have not yet selected an upcoming exam date for 2021, can they still apply for the Access scholarship?

Hi Gbilly, I’m afraid not, as the person is currently registered for an exam (although the date was postponed and yet to be selected), so as per the Access Scholarship rules, currently registered candidates are not eligible. Because by registering, they have already demonstrated the ability to pay the examination fees and hence do not qualify for the scholarship.

Hi, I have a questiom, if my unmarried sibling has a car and a house under his name, should I include it in the income and asset portion? I just want to make sure so I hope you can help me.

Hi Jae, I’m confused as to whether it is your CFA scholarship application or your brother’s? Scholarship applicants should include income and assets under their name in the Access Scholarship application.

Yes it is my application. Thank you for that. I was just confused as I am not married yet, so I included for instance my family’s income and asset – e.g. my parents’ house where I currently live since the application said “Household” Income and Asset and I belong to that household including my parents and siblings.

Hi! About the “Income and Asset” portion that is “quite detailed” as you mentioned. Do I have to attach a personal financial statement to support what range of amount I choose? My local society does not require any additional document as per CFA Institute website. So, I just wonder if it should be automatically attached? Thank you!

Hi Angel, if your local society doesn’t require it, then it is optional. But feel free to attach it as additional documentation if you’ve the option to – it can’t hurt your chances. Good luck!

Thanks for Sharing Its Very Informative For Me

Putting the CFA society I belong to on my CFA access scholarship is very compulsory because it was starred. So I chose CFA society of Nigeria. And then I made up my mind to join the CFA society of Nigeria, but before I can successfully be a candidate member of the CFA society of Nigeria, I must be registered for an upcoming CFA exam. But this condition conflicts with one of the requirements of the CFA access scholarship, which is applicant for the CFA access scholarship must not be registered for the upcoming CFA exam until they get a feedback from the CFA access scholarship team. I am very confused

Hi Michael, sounds like it’s best you reach out to CFA Institute and your society to ask about this.

HI. I would like to know for the two referees you provided, were they later contacted by CFA?

That’s a very good question. I’m not sure if they did – it’s been a while ago! They might have had a quick call just to check details etc, but not an extensive phone interview.

Thank you very much for the response. I have a quick question. While registering for the CFA access scholarship, I was asked “which of the CFA society do I belong to”. I am not a member of any CFA society as at the time of registration, but I chose the CFA society in my country; CFA society of Nigeria. Immediately I made preparations and plans to join the CFA society of Nigeria, in which I got necessary information as to how to be a member of the CFA society of Nigeria. I am supposed to be joining the CFA society of Nigeria as a candidate member. One of the requirements for joining the CFA society of Nigeria is to already be registered for an upcoming CFA exam. I can’t register for any CFA exam until I get a response from the CFA access scholarship team. Any registration I make now before I get a response from the scholarship team will imply I am capable of registering for the exam without any financial constraint or need for scholarship, which will therefore automatically cancel me out or make not qualified for the access scholarship. I am a bit confused here. I am not suppose to register for the CFA exam until after the CFA access scholarship team gets back to Me. But While applying for the CFA access scholarship, I was told my access scholarship application will be reviewed by the CFA society I belong to. To be a member of the CFA society of Nigeria (candidate member), I must be registered for an upcoming CFA exam. I am very much confused here and need your help on what steps to take, so I don’t get affected in any way. Thank you.

Hi Michael – now that’s a conundrum! Is putting your CFA Society in the application optional? Can you submit the application without putting a CFA Society in at this stage? I would imagine this issue affects all scholarship candidates. If your application is submitted and can’t be changed, I suggest contacting both CFA Institute ([email protected]) and your CFA society about this to see what they say.

Can i apply for both Access scholarship and women’s scholarship?

Hi Disha, yes you can apply for both scholarships. But a candidate may only receive one CFA Institute scholarship per exam, in which case the most recently awarded scholarship will be applied.

Hiya! Is the women’s scholarship really given on a first come first serve basis? Where does this information come from?

Hi Devin – the women’s scholarship has a set number of scholarships, and the application window closes when all scholarships have been awarded. So it is advantageous to apply as early as possible – hence ‘first-come-first-served’. Hope that makes sense!

If you apply for the scholarship how long will take to hear about the outcome

Historically, about 2-3 months.

1st December for the applied year.

If you’ve applied for the CFA access scholarship but didn’t get it, would CFA Institute refund the difference in higher fees due to trying to meet different scholarship deadlines?

I’m assuming you mean that because the scholarship requires you NOT to register until you hear back from them, you might miss the early registration deadlines? If that is the case, in the past, CFA Institute will allow you to pay the ‘cheaper’ fee. However I’ve not been able to find any official reference to this any more, so they may have changed this. Best to contact them directly ( https://www.cfainstitute.org/en/utility/contact-us ).

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