Learning at ICAS

Digital courses that keep students engaged

Students’ self-study days are centred around our virtual learning platform, Advantage. The state-of-the-art learning material in Advantage has been built following the very best in digital pedagogy. The interactive courses use a variety of formats, such as video and interactive flashcards, designed to keep students engaged as they learn. Each module is broken down into bite-sized lessons, making it easier for students to stay focused and motivated. We also follow the latest guidance to ensure accessibility for all learner types.

Checkers, formative tests and quizzes to embed learning

Our courses include checkers, formative tests and quizzes to reinforce and embed learning as students’ progress. These tools also help to highlight areas which students might need to return to and recap, ensuring they’re on track and fully prepared for their assessment. (Any Knowledge students with exemptions will be given access to all the Knowledge digital course content.)

Authentic assessment experience

The assessment method for some courses includes coursework. This provides students with a direct practical link to the topics covered in the syllabus and an authentic, workplace-applicable experience. The inclusion of coursework also lessens the reliance on final assessments and improves student wellbeing by relieving some of the pressure traditionally faced.

Extra support with pre-assessment drop-ins

Most core courses include a pre-assessment online drop-in session. These sessions give students an opportunity to put any last-minute questions to tutors and help ease concerns ahead of the assessment.

Tutor touchpoints – course workshops

Tutor touchpoints have been embedded throughout the syllabus to increase student engagement and provide key face-to-face connection. These include live workshops, which are offered in-centre or online depending on preference. Designed to complement our digital course material, these interactive sessions take an active learning approach. Students must cover the topics before attending the workshop so the valuable tutor time can be used to deepen understanding through discussions, practice scenarios and case studies. (These workshops are not available to students following a digital-only route.)

Tutor touchpoints – course discussions

Another key touchpoint is the course discussions in Advantage. These online forums allow students to put syllabus or technical questions directly to tutors at any time and ensures they’re fully supported on their self-study days.

A strong link between theory and workplace

The syllabus provides a strong link between everything students cover in theory through the course material and the day-to-day workplace experience that’s recorded in their logbook. This approach helps embed the theory and leads to more-engaged employees. In addition, our logbook competencies are carefully aligned with the specific technical skills that students will need for their career as a CA and to the key enabling skills demanded by the modern workplace.

Rolling three-year terms plan

Our syllabus is structured across a rolling three-year terms plan.

For Knowledge and Skills there are four terms per calendar year and each term is 12 weeks long. From 2026the Integration level will have three terms per calendar year, and each Integration term is 15 weeks per term.

With our three-year terms plan, you have a long view of your students’ learning journey and the certainty to plan. You also have control over your students’ progress through the qualification, you can choose when they’re in the office, focused on work and clients, and when they’re given leave to study.

Detailed learning and assessment schedules

At term level, all courses and assessments follow a schedule that’s designed to enhance the learner journey and provide the certainty to plan. Some of the features of this schedule include holding workshops, mock and final summative assessments on set days and set weeks each term, and the addition of a ‘consolidation week’ at the Knowledge level.

Expected days out of the office

Students at the Knowledge level (with no exemptions) are expected to be out of the office for 47.5 days, including assessments.

Study leave guidance (from Term 2 2025 onwards)

Reporting and Performance 1

Assurance

Taxation

Business Management and Finance

Business Law

Expected study hours

The Knowledge level of the syllabus equates to 60 SCQF credit points and 600 total study hours.

Choose your own route

In addition to our traditional, level-by-level routes through the Knowledge and Skills levels, our approach has the 'structured flexibility' to choose different routes through the qualification.

For example, students in your tax team could follow our taxation learning route, allowing them to be fully up to speed in tax earlier, before they tackle the remainder of the syllabus.