ACCA Simpson Scholarship: Eligibility, Coverage & How to Apply (2026)

Quick answer: The Simpson Scholarship is ACCA’s official merit scholarship, funded by the estate of Miss Muriel Simpson FCCA. Five students are chosen every year. It pays your ACCA exam fees, annual student and affiliate subscription fees, and your one-time membership admission fee, for up to five years or until you become a member (whichever comes first) — though it doesn’t cover the ongoing annual subscription once you’re already a member. To apply, you need strong first-attempt exam results (80%+ average in Applied Knowledge and LW, or 66%+ in two Applied Skills papers if exempt from Applied Knowledge) and a 1,000-word essay on how the scholarship would help you reach your potential

The Simpson Scholarship is ACCA’s flagship merit-based scholarship — a genuine way to get your ACCA exam and subscription fees paid if you’re performing well and need the financial support. It’s named after Miss Muriel Simpson FCCA, a lifelong ACCA supporter who, after her death on 22 December 1977, left her residuary estate to ACCA specifically to fund a scholarship for high-achieving students. This guide covers exactly who’s eligible, what it pays for, and how to put together a winning application.

• As a bonus on top of the fees above, winners also receive a set of learning materials from ACCA’s Content Partners for each exam they’re currently preparing for.
• Coverage runs for a maximum of five years from the date of the award, or until you become an ACCA member — whichever happens first.

• You must be registered as an active ACCA student, with your fees for the upcoming year fully paid and no outstanding dues.
• You must meet one of these two academic thresholds, both measured on your first attempt:
  Completed Applied Knowledge and Corporate & Business Law (LW) with an average score of 80% or higher, OR
• If exempt from the Applied Knowledge exams, achieved 66% or higher in at least two Applied Skills exams.
• Only five students receive the scholarship each year, so it’s genuinely competitive — a strong essay matters as much as the exam scores. For general study strategy to hit these thresholds, see our ACCA Exam Difficulty & Study Resources guide.

• Write the required essay: titled exactly “How the award of a Scholarship will help me to realise my full potential.” Judges are looking for essays that are personal and inspiring — think about how the scholarship would help your career, your community, the accounting profession in your country, or your path to membership, and be specific rather than generic.
• Follow the essay format rules exactly: maximum 1,000 words, typed in MS Word or similar, 12-point black font, double line-spaced, 1-inch (2.5cm) margins on all sides, A4 size, with your student registration number, date and page number at the top of every page. Must be in English, clear and directly relevant to the title. If you include tables or figures, every six figures counts as one word. Handwritten submissions are not accepted.
• Submit a Scholarship Submission form with two references, plus your official ACCA exam results and proof that your fees for the upcoming year are paid in full.
• Apply through ACCA’s official online application form before the closing date — do not send queries to the application mailbox itself; direct any questions to ACCA Connect instead.

• Submitting a generic essay that could apply to any scholarship, rather than one genuinely specific to your own circumstances and goals.
• Missing the exact essay title or formatting requirements (word count, font, margins, header details) — these are strict and getting them wrong risks disqualification regardless of essay quality.
• Applying without having your fees for the upcoming year fully paid — this is a hard eligibility requirement, not a formality.
• Underestimating how much the essay matters relative to exam scores — with only five scholarships awarded annually and many eligible applicants meeting the marks threshold, the essay is often the deciding factor.

• Coaching focused on hitting the 80%/66% first-attempt thresholds the scholarship requires.
• Guidance on structuring and refining your essay and supporting documents before submission.
• Affordable ACCA training options that can serve as a financial safety net alongside — or instead of — a scholarship application; see the  Proschool ACCA course page for details.

How many students win the Simpson Scholarship each year?
Five students are selected annually by ACCA’s judging panel.

What exactly does the scholarship pay for?
ACCA exam fees, annual student and affiliate subscription fees, and your one-time membership admission fee, for up to five years or until you become a member — whichever comes first. It does not cover tuition/coaching fees, retake costs, or your ongoing annual subscription once you’re already a full member.

Can I apply if I have exemptions from some ACCA papers?
Yes — if you’re exempt from the Applied Knowledge exams, you can qualify by scoring 66% or higher in at least two Applied Skills exams on your first attempt.

What is the exact title of the required essay?
“How the award of a Scholarship will help me to realise my full potential.” Use this exact title, not a paraphrased version.

When do applications open each year?
Timing varies slightly year to year — in the 2026 cycle, applications opened 18 May and closed 29 June. Always check ACCA’s official scholarship page for the current year’s exact dates.
The Simpson Scholarship is competitive, but it’s also one of the few genuinely well-funded, need-based routes through the ACCA Qualification — and unlike vague scholarship promises elsewhere, ACCA publishes exactly who’s eligible, what’s covered, and how winners are chosen. If you’re on track for the marks threshold, a well-crafted essay is very much worth the effort.