Study advice required

mark057

Hi everyone,

I'm in need of some advice regarding possible study options for the the June sitting.

I've passed F4 and F5 by purchasing study texts, passcards and revision books from BPP but want to
experience some proper classroom tuition for my next paper.

Having attended a Kaplan open day today I just feel their courses are too expensive at £500.00 plus
for each paper (way out of my league on price).

I'm not working at present and can't borrow any money so was wondering if anyone knows of any
other providers or colleges who offer cheaper courses? I live in Chester and am prepared to travel to
Liverpool or similar distance.

If not, do you think it would be possible to find a private tutor who I could pay by the hour?

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated as I'm sick of having to study without any support.

Mark

Rozzi Rainbow

Hi Mark

Have you tried the ACCA tuition provider search?

https://portal.accaglobal.com/tpweb/faces/page/public/tuitionprovider/searchtp/XXTPQuickSearchVO1Table.jspx

It may not give you any options other than Kaplan/BPP, but might be worth a shot. My college doesn't show up on there though! Unfortunately as I'm the other side of the country, I can't recommend anywhere for you.

Good luck!

mark057

Hi Rozzi,

I've tried the ACCA search option but it doesn't seem to come up with anything.

I have also put in a google search but keeps returning the usual suspects.

There really needs to be more choice around the country as BPP, Kaplan and LSBF seem to dominate the
market in my area.

In the current economic climate how can they expect you to find this sort of money? Surely courses
could be run with people on a budget?

Mark

NeilH

Hi

Have you checked out your local/nearest college or uni? I know the local uni to myself offers ACCA and CIMA, although the attendance pattern wasn't great. Reed Business School in the Cotswolds offer courses at less than BPP or Kaplan and have residential facilities, although this may just make them as expensive for you.

Have you considered BPP's online courses or Acorn http://www.acornlive.com/ ?

Neil

mark057

I've checked my local colleges and universities.

The closest offering ACCA is Manchester Met University but the travel costs would outweigh the savings
in tuition costs.

I'm not sure about the online route as I would like access to a tutor for questions and explanations.

Mark

Rozzi Rainbow

mark057 wrote: »

There really needs to be more choice around the country as BPP, Kaplan and LSBF seem to dominate the
market in my area.

In the current economic climate how can they expect you to find this sort of money? Surely courses
could be run with people on a budget?

Same in my area, the nearest college that teaches ACCA is 28 miles away (only had to travel 12 miles for AAT). They only teach the F papers at the moment though. I think it's cos the F papers are part funded by the government for students who don't have a degree, but the P papers aren't so they'd have to charge over twice as much for those modules. That wouldn't bother me though, it would still be preferable to BPP (which I think is great but it's a long commute and very fast paced how it's all crammed into 3 or 4 days).

After that it's a uni 55 miles away, who do teach the P papers but only on a night class. And there's no way I'm travelling that far at night when I have to get up for work the next morning! (It was bad enough travelling the 12 miles home after AAT night class.)

Even the nearest BBP and Kaplan centres are 48 miles away. I suppose there's not much demand with it being quite a specialised qualification.

mark057

Hi Rozzi,

Yes I agree the ACCA is a very specialised qualification.

In one way it is a privilege to be studying and passing exams with real prestige but the costs
and travel to training centers would be draining on my limited finances, particularly as I'm not having
much luck finding any work.

I have just resolved to study for my next paper (F8) the usual way and work very hard at it using the
study materials I can afford.

Do you know of any funding I might be able to apply for to take the sting out of the costs?

Mark

Julia

Aww Mark I was pleased to see you pass F5. I used to teach the equivalent when it was 2.4 and it is a challenge.

Sorry you are struggling with tuition providers. There is not anything I can suggest as BPP charge similar fees to Kaplan. If you are studying for F8 we normally tell students on day 1 to ensure they have the syllabus to hand. We teach F8 over 4 days (less in some centres) prior to a 4-5 day revision. Be sure you print off and read all the technical articles certainly over last 12 months and even prior. If you are home studying set a realistic timetable and stick to it!! If you do get chance to go on a revision cours that would also help. It is also best to start now if you are a home studier.

Richard

Hi Mark,

If you're studying F8 you may want to buy Alan Lewin's, (previous F8 examiner), book as a supplement to your text book, I found it really useful when I was studying for the audit exam.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Students-Guide-Auditing-Alan-Lewin/dp/0857322036/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1330110512&sr=8-1

uknitty

I'm using Alan Lewin's book right now to complement my AAT auditing studies It explains things so clearly.

Regarding funding - have a mooch through this article on MSE - it has a few grant and scholarship databases that you could search to source funding.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/grants-education

ETA

Also try this website - "Funding Education Chester" they may be able to point you in the direction of a small grant or bursary that may help out with costs in some way.

http://local.intereducation.co.uk/Funding_Education_Chester_EN-t6844_Chester+EN.html

mark057

Thanks for all the advice.

Much needed and I'm very grateful.

Mark

Rozzi Rainbow

mark057 wrote: »

Hi Rozzi,
Do you know of any funding I might be able to apply for to take the sting out of the costs?

Mark

Hi Mark,

Unfortunately not I'm afraid.

With regards to F8, I self studied that module. I agree with Julia that it would be best to start sooner rather than later. I waited till my previous result came out before I started, and wish I'd started sooner as I hardly had any time left for revision. Just reading the textbook took longer than I thought. But I managed to pass the exam, and was surprised with my result, so it is possible.

kateyliz

Hi I've been studying acca. For the F papers we were lucky as our AAT tutor from college taught us privately (on a sofa in her front room!!) but since then a few of us have been using LSBF's lectures. Their £180 online package is the best value of what they offer, and you can get them on 3 for 2, so not bad £360 for 3 modules.
I've used them for P1, 2 and 3 and passed first time so they did the trick for me