Through the APU-ACCA Accelerate scheme, First Class graduate Lau Zhi Xuan completed her bachelor’s degree while progressing towards a globally recognised professional accountancy qualification — entering the workforce with both academic excellence and professional readiness.

For many accounting and finance students, the journey towards professional qualification begins only after graduation. For Lau Zhi Xuan, 23, that milestone came much earlier. 

A 2025 First Class Degree graduate of the Bachelor of Accounting and Finance (Honours) programme at Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU), Zhi Xuan proudly obtained her ACCA Affiliate status in April 2026 — a significant step towards becoming a professional accountant and an inspiring example of what focused planning, academic discipline and the right study pathway can achieve. 

Her success was made possible through the APU-ACCA Accelerate scheme, which enables eligible APU students to begin their ACCA journey while pursuing their undergraduate studies. By enrolling in the scheme during her second year, Zhi Xuan received exemptions for all nine Applied Knowledge and Applied Skills papers based on her APU degree programme, allowing her to progress directly to the Strategic Professional level of the ACCA qualification. 

This meant that while completing her degree, she was also taking on the most challenging stage of the professional accountancy route. During her three-year tenure at APU since 2022, Zhi Xuan balanced coursework, examinations, internship responsibilities, her final year project and campus activities — while preparing for and passing all four Strategic Professional level ACCA examinations on her first attempt with commendable pass marks. 

Her journey reflects the value of an integrated academic-professional pathway, where university learning is not separated from industry expectations, but aligned with them. Through the APU-ACCA Accelerate scheme, students are given the opportunity to save time, sustain momentum and graduate with a sharper competitive edge in the accounting and finance profession.

“Zhi Xuan’s Bachelor’s Accounting and Finance degree studies at APU had literally turned from lecture-hall theory into exam-hall victory without slowing down the momentum of her undergraduate life,” commented Mr Bryan Chan Loke Teng, Lecturer at the School of Accounting & Finance (SoAF), APU.

By adding the ACCA Professional Accountancy qualification to her First Class Bachelor’s degree, Zhi Xuan begins her professional working life with both academic distinction and a globally recognised accountancy credential. Her achievement demonstrates that a demanding student schedule need not be a barrier; instead, it can become a training ground for resilience, focus and long-term ambition. 

Professor Dr Chong Lee Lee, Head of the School of Accounting & Finance at APU, said Zhi Xuan’s achievement affirms the strength of APU’s industry-relevant academic pathways.

“The APU-ACCA Accelerate scheme is designed to help our students move faster and further in their professional journey. By allowing them to progress to the ACCA Strategic Professional level during their degree studies, we are giving them a valuable head start towards professional recognition. Zhi Xuan’s success is a proud reflection of how APU combines academic excellence with professional readiness, preparing graduates who are not only qualified, but also confident, resilient and industry-ready from day one,” said Prof Dr Chong.