CFA Scholarships 2025-26: What is a CFA Institute?
Founded in the year 1962, the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts today stands proudly dedicated to promoting high standards of ethics, education, and professional excellence in the investment profession worldwide. Its University Affiliation Program enables students to integrate their undergraduate studies with the CFA curriculum, while the CFA Institute Research Challenge offers aspiring professionals a chance to participate in equity research competitions, gaining mentoring and access to a global network.
CFA Programs: A Brief Overview!
The CFA program offered by the institute is designed for several groups of individuals:
- University students aiming to start a career in finance, corporate banking, or investment management.
- Existing industry professionals who want to enhance or establish their credentials.
- Professionals from other fields looking to switch their career focus.
Recently, the institute introduced three specialist pathways at Level III of the CFA Program. It is as follows:
- Portfolio Management
- Private Wealth
- Private Markets
These pathways allow candidates to pursue the CFA Charter with tailored study options. Additionally, digital skills modules in areas like financial modelling and Python have been added to help candidates become more proficient.
Today, the CFA Institute continues to lead the investment profession for the benefit of society. It offers three major scholarship opportunities for interested individuals. Let us take a look at them below.
CFA Scholarships 2025-26: Access Scholarship
Access Scholarship – Application Timeline
The Access scholarship offers the following application window:
| May 2025 | August 2025 | November 2025 | February 2026 |
| Application opens: 8th August 2024
Application closes: 26th August 2024 |
Application opens: 6th November 2024
Application closes: 25th November 2024 |
Application opens: 12th February 2025
Application closes: 3rd March 2025 |
Application opens: 29th April 2025
|
The selected candidates are notified by email within 4-6 weeks after the application window.
Eligibility Criteria
- The application is open to students holding a Bachelor’s or equivalent degree, with combined work experience and/or higher education of 4,000 hours or more.
- Applicants must possess an international passport and working knowledge of the English language.
- Ineligible applicants include former or current employees or directors of the CFA Institute or a CFA Institute member society, or a close family member/relative of the same.
Benefits
- The CFA Program enrollment fee is waived for new Level I candidates.
- The exam registration fee stands reduced to USD $400 plus any applicable taxes.
CFA Scholarships 2025-26: Student Scholarship
The CFA program Student Scholarship is targeted towards the students of affiliated institutions. The details of the scholarship are mentioned hereafter:
Application Timeline
The application window for the year 2025 is open till August 1, 2025. The selected candidates are notified within 7-10 working days after selection.
Eligibility Criteria
- The application is open to students currently enrolled in an affiliated university and not yet registered for their next examination.
Benefits
- The CFA Program enrollment fee is waived.
- The exam registration fee stands reduced to USD $600 plus any applicable taxes.
CFA Scholarships 2025-26: Professor Scholarship
The CFA program Professor Scholarship is offered for college/university faculties interested in the program. The details of the scholarship are mentioned below:
Application Timeline
The application window for the year 2025 is open till July 16, 2025. The selected candidates are notified within 7-10 working days after selection.
Eligibility Criteria
- The application is open for college/university professors or administrators/department heads working full-time to teach a minimum number of credit hours. Their institution must be recognised as an educational institution by state or federal agencies and grant academic degrees or an equivalent.
- Applicants should not be registered for a CFA examination.
- Applicants must possess an international passport and working knowledge of the English language.
- Applicants must present the following at the time of application:
- English language letter/university letterhead signed by the administrator
- Curriculum Vitae
- Employment verification
- Ineligible applicants include former or current employees or directors of the CFA Institute or a CFA Institute member society, or a close family member/relative of the same.
Benefits
- The CFA Program enrollment fee is waived.
- The exam registration fee stands reduced to USD $600 plus any applicable taxes.
- Access to the curriculum and standard study tools.
CFA Scholarships 2025-26: Application Process
- Visit the official website meant for the CFA Scholarships and select/click on the respective scholarship.
- Navigate to the embedded application link available on top of the page or in the ‘how-to-apply’ section and click on it.
- Verify a working email address and create an account by following the given instructions.
- Complete the eligibility profile and choose a program by clicking on the ‘Apply’ option for that particular program.
- Read the information carefully and accept the terms and conditions.
- Proceed to fill the application with valid information and upload the necessary documents, then submit the application.
Also Read: Top Scholarships for Indian Students in the USA
CFA Scholarships 2025-26: Terms and Conditions
- Submit a complete application on the CFA Institute website by the deadline to be considered for a scholarship.
- Provide true information; inaccuracies may lead to application voidance or scholarship revocation.
- Supporting documentation and proof of financial situation and ID may be requested.
- Failure to comply can result in voided applications and cancelled registrations.
- CFA Program registration fees are non-refundable.
- Registering for an exam while the scholarship application is pending will make the application void.
- Access Scholarships are awarded on the discretion of CFA Institute and are valid for one exam cycle.
- Recipients must register before the expiration date in the award email and cover all other expenses.
- Not registering, not attending, or withdrawing from the exam forfeits future scholarship opportunities.
- New applications and selections are required for future exams.
- Recipients may attempt the exam twice per level with a scholarship benefit.
- Scholarships cannot be sold, transferred, or converted to cash and may be rescinded by the CFA Institute.
CFA Scholarships 2025-26: Contact Details
CFA Institute India Private Limited, 702, 7th Floor, A Wing, One BKC Tower, G Block, Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai 400 051, India.
Phone Number: 000-800-919-1625.
Also Read: Top 10 Scholarships for CA Students in India and Abroad
CFA Scholarships 2025-26: FAQs
What is the CFA Institute and its significance?
The CFA Institute, founded in 1962, is dedicated to promoting high standards of ethics, education, and professional excellence in the investment profession worldwide. It offers programs like the CFA Charter and organises the CFA Institute Research Challenge for aspiring finance professionals.
Who can apply for the CFA Program?
The CFA Program is designed for university students aspiring to enter finance, industry professionals seeking to enhance their credentials, and professionals from other fields looking for a career switch.
What are the three specialist pathways introduced at Level III of the CFA Program?
The CFA Institute introduced three specialist pathways at Level III: Portfolio Management, Private Wealth, and Private Markets. These allow candidates to tailor their studies based on their career goals.
What is the CFA Access Scholarship, and who is eligible for it?
The Access Scholarship is for individuals facing financial challenges. Eligible applicants must have a Bachelor's degree or equivalent with at least 4,000 hours of combined work and education experience. They must also have an international passport and proficiency in English language.
How does the CFA Student Scholarship benefit applicants?
The CFA Student Scholarship waives the CFA Program enrollment fee and reduces the exam registration fee to USD $600, making it more affordable for students enrolled in affiliated institutions.
What is the eligibility criteria for the CFA Professor Scholarship?
The CFA Professor Scholarship is meant for full-time faculty members teaching a minimum number of credit hours in a recognised institution. Applicants must provide employment verification, a CV, and a university-signed letter.
When is the application window for the CFA Access Scholarship?
The CFA Access Scholarship has the following application window:
- May 2025 with a deadline on May 19, 2025
- August 2025 with a deadline on August 26, 2024
- November 2025 with a deadline on November 25, 2024
- February 2026 with a deadline on March 3, 2025
Are there any visa/accommodation costs provided with this scholarship?
Any expenses outside the mentioned benefits become the responsibility of the applicant. The scholarship does not cover any visa costs or living/accommodation expenses.
Can eligible applicants apply for multiple scholarships at the CFA Institute?
Yes, applicants can apply for multiple scholarship opportunities if they meet the eligibility criteria. If selected for more than one, applicants will be awarded the most recently awarded scholarship.
Is there an expiration date for accepting the scholarships once awarded?
The scholarships have their respective timeline for the selected candidates to accept the scholarship, past which the candidates will be ineligible for future scholarships.
Are these scholarships renewable? If not, is there any way to extend the scholarship tenure?
As these scholarships are meant to support the candidate’s pursuing their studies in the given timeframe, the scholarship is non-extendable in nature and applicable for one-time.