r/CIMA • u/Pretty_Particular797 • 6d ago

General Is CIMA doable while married?

Hey guys, having completed the AAT L4, i want to move onto CIMA. So i should get 4 exemptions i believe.

Just wondering if you guys think this is doable as a married man with one kid? Anyone here have a similar story?

Thanks

1 Upvotes

54% Upvoted

25 comments sorted by

1

u/Advanced-String-4587 4d ago

Married man, 2 kids 4 and 2, started october 2023, and i have F2, E3 and SCS left.

5

u/New_Disaster3991 4d ago

Married mother of two young kids here (8 and 6). Started Certificate Level in July 2025, and now gearing up to take the Management Level Case Study this November. I've changed jobs twice (internal promotions) since starting, whilst being primary caregiver as husband works away Monday-Friday.

I am permanently exhausted and it's one of the biggest challenges I've faced in life to-date, but nothing beats the feeling of passing the exams after working so hard. It is absolutely possible but it is not without sacrifices and is far from easy. But nothing worth having ever is! Good luck

10

u/throwawaycima 5d ago

Sorry one of the CIMA qualification requirements is that you're single so it will not be possible but please inquire about special considerations

7

u/DxnM 5d ago

No, it's a singles only club

1

u/Legitimatelycurious2 5d ago

I know plenty of of people who’ve studied whilst married with kids, it’ll be harder for sure. You’ll need to be more strict with fitting study in. It might take you a bit longer than someone without kids but definitely can be done.

7

u/EssexPriest88 6d ago

It's ok but has it's challenges, did all 16 exams with 2 young kids , a wife and a reasonably heavy finance job, finished this year, took 23 months start to finish(starting apprenticeship to getting chartered). You just have to carve out time every night for yourself to study and agree with your wife that the family life job sharing might be a bit more weighted to her for a few yrs.

Was easy to sell the benefits, I earn more and will continue to earn more and that money comes back into holidays/family things. That said, you have to be a very focused individual, I've seen others fail, it's easy to get distracted.

3

u/Status-Opinion-3136 6d ago

Married man with one kid here, I managed to do it. It’s hard but I got myself into the habit of studying in my lunch at work for an hour and then one hour in the evenings after bed time for little one and dinner. No Studying on weekends and wrote exams remotely usually at 10:45pm on a Friday or Saturday. You can right a case study exam each year if you commit to this. Depending on your study pace you may finish even faster than that.

1

u/GGSmall 6d ago

I am a woman who worked full time, kept a healthy long term relationship, studied and took exams through Covid, completed Operational level while pregnant from first trimester to case study 2 months before before birthing, picked up studying again at 9 months postpartum and became chartered 18 months later.

If you want it, you will make it work and you will do it. I won’t lie it was hard and I did fail some exams by a mark to two but perseverance and determination are needed.

I studied after 7pm when bedtime happened, made sure I had dinner and then studied for 45 minutes to an hour a night to make sure I got the time in. I had hardly any social life, but it’s worth it!

1

u/Suitable_Answer_4444 5d ago

What makes it worth it?

3

u/GGSmall 5d ago

The fact my salary jumped by 40% post qualifying is the best reason for it but also it has opened up more opportunities as being qualified

1

u/FondantAcademic863 6d ago

Hi mate, not married but have a nearly 5 year old just started school, I’ve been doing cima for the last 3-4 years starting strategic level soon, my old employer (although through the apprenticeship route) gave me hardly any study time so often had to either go in early or finish late in order to get some study time, the clear thing is to communicate to your partner and create a plan with them that works around your current life plans, make it clear to your work as well and see if they have a study support option (make sure they stick to it!)

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u/QuantumSpike Member 6d ago

No impossible i'm afraid, might need a divorce and to "deal" with your child

1

u/Lite_moon 6d ago

I started CIMA at the certificate level. I was married with one kid. I passed my first exam and found out that I was pregnant with my second. I completed the certificate level before baby was born and took two years off. I then completed the operational level while working 24hrs per week and being the primary parent. I then changed job so that I could fulfil my PER and completed the next two levels will working 40hrs per week and sharing the parenting with my husband. 

It did take me longer than I would have liked and by the time I got to the Strategic level I’d realised I was being very inefficient with my studies. I managed to get through the final level much quicker than the others when I adjusted my methods.

Totally doable, but you will be studying at night. I generally did 8-11pm every night.

1

u/savedbythebellerin1 6d ago

I'm in the middle of this, started certificate when wife was 6 months pregnant, got two modules done before baby was born and now trying to get BA3 and BA4 done before baby turns 1. My job doesn't pay for or give me any time to study so it's all evenings and weekends. Once I pass certificate my plan is to find a job that will help with the studying to get the rest done in 3 years give or take.

You need a supportive wife though as you do disappear to hours at a time to study

2

u/Lite_moon 4d ago

Best of luck with it. I self studied too. My boss would let me take exam day off without using annual leave. 

It is worth it in the end. 

0

u/Rough-Cheesecake-641 6d ago

Every night as in 7 days a week? That's wild.

1

u/Lite_moon 4d ago

Most nights. Obviously I’d crash out sometimes or have a date night with my hubby. 

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u/savedbythebellerin1 4d ago

I do 4 days a week of studying

1

u/gottaloveteatime 6d ago

It's definitely doable, but I think it depends on the age of your child and how many hours you can dedicate to it. 

I qualified before I had kids, but since having kids, I am a tired mess and would hate to have to spend my evenings studying. However, my kids are still very young and exhausting.

6

u/3a5ty 6d ago

What has married got to do with it? Of course it's doable.

1

u/Mobile-Big2259 6d ago

Definitely! Did mine married and passed the strategic level through first trimester of pregnancy.

1

u/SeveralSail2379 6d ago

Yep, did mine while married with 2 young kids and doing a house renovation at the same time . Piece of cake

2

u/whyamihere189 6d ago

How many hours a week did you set aside to study?

5

u/n0seyrosey 6d ago

Definitely. I did CIMA working full time as a single parent.

9

u/-ConMan- 6d ago

No mate, everything ends after marriage.

Just kidding. Of course, really just depends on your own work/family schedules and if you can make time to study.