If you have completed a course or modules at a university that the IFoA has an agreement with (an IFoA accredited university) you may be eligible for exemptions from some of our examinations.
If your IFoA accredited university has made changes to their examinations due to Covid-19, you will still be eligible for IFoA examination exemptions when you graduate.
You can find a list of universities that we currently have IFoA examination exemption agreements at the bottom of this page at directory: courses with exemptions.
Deadlines to apply for IFoA examination exemptions
If you hold an exemption from an IFoA accredited course or university that was awarded before 31 December 2018 (when we changed curriculum), you have until 31 December 2023 to claim that exemption.
If you hold an exemption from an IFoA accredited course or University that was awarded after 1 January 2019, you have 5 years from the date of your awarding degree to claim that exemption with the IFoA. For example, if the date on your degree certificate is July 2021, you have until July 2026 to claim that exemption.
Applying for IFoA examination exemptions
Details of how to find out whether you are eligible to apply for IFoA examination exemptions and how to apply for IFoA examination exemptions are set out below depending on whether you have completed an accredited degree course or accredited degree modules.
IFoA accredited degree courses
If your degree is from a course that the IFoA has an agreement with, your IFoA examination exemption recommendations will have already been confirmed in writing by your university.
However, if you are not sure which IFoA examination exemptions your IFoA accredited degree course makes you eligible to apply for, you can search for your qualification using our Find my Exemptions search tool.
You can find the Find my Exemptions search tool by logging in to the IFoA website and clicking on My Account. In your My Account area, select My Exams, and then Exam Exemptions, where you will find the Find my Exemptions search tool.
IFoA accredited degree modules
If you have studied IFoA accredited modules as part of your degree, but your degree is not accredited by the IFoA, you may still be eligible to apply for IFoA examination exemptions.
If you are not sure which IFoA examination exemptions your IFoA accredited modules make you eligible to apply for, you can search for your qualification using our Find my Exemptions search tool.
You can find the Find my Exemptions search tool by logging in to the IFoA website and clicking on My Account. In your My Account area, select My Exams, and then Exam Exemptions, where you will find the Find my Exemptions search tool.
Before you apply
If you know which IFoA examination exemptions you would like to apply for, you can apply for these exemptions using the Apply for Exemptions tool in your My Account area.
As part of the online application process, you will be asked to upload the following documents listed below.
IFoA accredited degree course:
A copy of your official university transcript.
This should include the marks for all modules taken in each academic year of the degree.
The copy of your official university transcript does not need to be certified. However, we may request certification if required.
IFoA accredited degree modules:
A certified copy of your official university transcript, including marks for all modules taken in each academic year of your degree. The relevant modules should be highlighted.
A certified copy of your university degree certificate that is received after graduating
The person certifying the document must include the following details:
Full name in CAPITAL letters, position, address, and telephone number of the company/firm/practice or employer
Actuarial Reference Number (ARN) or membership number (if applicable)
The date the documentation has been witnessed
To be written on the documentation: ‘I certify this is a true copy of the original document as seen by me'
Evidence of payment
If you are making payment by bank transfer, you will also be asked to upload evidence of payment of the total cost of your exemption fees.
You can find the cost of applying for IFoA examination exemptions listed on our exam and other fees page.
How to apply
You can apply for IFoA examination exemptions using our Apply for Exemptions tool in the My Account area of the IFoA website. Log in to the IFoA website and click on My Account. In the My Account area, select My Exams and then Apply for Exemptions.
You will be asked to select the route which you are using to apply for your exemption (Route A). You will then be asked to select your university (accredited body) and then your course. This will take you to a list of exemptions that you are eligible to apply for.
Once you have selected the exemptions you wish to apply for, you will be asked to make a payment. You can pay by card or by bank transfer. If you choose to pay by bank transfer you will be asked to upload evidence of the payment before you can submit your application.
Once you have made your payment, you will be asked to upload the required documentation listed above (see before you apply). Once you have uploaded the required documentation you will be asked to agree to the applicant’s declaration. When you have agreed to the applicant’s declaration you will be able to submit your application.
You will receive an email confirming that your application has been received and is being processed.
You can track the progress of your examination exemption application using the Track my Exemption tool in the Exam exemptions area in the My Account area of the IFoA website.
If you completed your degree at a university where the IFoA has an exemption agreement before 31 December 2018, you have until 2023 to claim those exemptions.
Depending on your modules, grades, and enrolment date, completing the courses listed below can lead to a recommendation for exemption from some or all of the exams shown.
For each university with whom we have an agreement, we list the:
courses for which we offer exam exemptions (for example, MSc in Actuarial Science)
IFoA exam exemptions we offer for each course (for example, CS1, CB2)
university contact details and website address (in most cases)
Previous IFoA curriculum
Students who enrolled on university programmes prior to the 2019 to 2020 academic year are eligible for exemptions from subjects in our previous curriculum. These subjects are converted to the corresponding ones in the new curriculum upon application.
Graduates with exemptions from subjects in our previous curriculum have until the end of 2023 to apply for them.
