An application for credit based on prior learning must be made on the appropriate form at the time of application for admission to a course. The application should be accompanied by sufficient documentary evidence to support the application.
Assessment of the application will be undertaken by the Course Coordinator who will advise the applicant in writing of the result of their application. A record of any credit granted (including any reasons for not giving credit) will be signed by the Course Coordinator and the student and placed on the student’s file.
It is the intention of this policy that students should be advised of the credit that is offered at the time they accept a place in a course.
If the applicant is an international student applying for a study visa the following applies:
- Where credit is granted before the issue of a visa, the actual course duration in the eCoE issued to the student will be reduced.
- Where credit is granted after the issue of a visa, the Institute will report the change of course duration via PRISMS.
If an international student is granted credit that shortens their course, it remains a visa condition that they continue to study full-time.
In line with national policy, the Institute will systematically negotiate agreements with other tertiary education providers to maximise the credit available to eligible students for entry into the Institution’s courses. These agreements will provide graduates of specific courses offered by recognised providers of tertiary education credit for particular units of study which form part of an Institute course.
When negotiating these agreements, the Institute will take into account the comparability and equivalence of the articulating institute’s course, notably:
- The learning outcomes;
- The volume of learning;
- The content; and
- Learning and assessment approaches.
In order to assess the quantum of credit which may be awarded, the Institute will map the specified learning outcomes for the course provided by the external institution against the learning outcomes of units of study within the relevant Institution course. Credit for a unit of study within the Institute course will only be granted where there is a substantial match against the learning outcomes of that unit of study.
The benchmarks for the quantum of guaranteed credit granted to students towards higher level AQF qualifications in the same or related discipline are as follows:
- 50% credit for an Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree linked to a 3-year Bachelor Degree.
- 37.5% credit for an Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree linked to a 4-year Bachelor Degree.
- 33% credit for a Diploma linked to a 3-year Bachelor Degree.
- 25% credit for a Diploma linked to a 4-year Bachelor Degree.
The existence of a credit agreement does not preclude an individual student applying for additional credit under this policy.
The Academic Board will approve all articulation arrangements after evidence of the mapping of the learning outcomes of the external course against the Institution course underpinning the proposed credit arrangements has been considered.
Once approved by the Academic Board the articulation arrangement will be set out in a formal credit agreement, signed by both parties and recorded in a register of approved articulation agreements.
The Institution will make publicly available details of all current credit agreements in accordance with section 2.3 of the AQF Qualifications Pathways Policy.4
The Institute may develop internal articulation arrangements to enable graduates of lower AQF level courses offered by the Institute to articulate to higher AQF level courses offered by the Institution, where appropriate. The process for developing these arrangements and determining the quantum of credit will be the same for external articulation arrangements.
A student may appeal against a decision on the granting of credit. The grounds for appeal are that the decision is inconsistent with this policy. Appeals must be made in writing and lodged with the Academic Director within ten (10) working days of the student receiving written notification of the decision. The Academic Director will respond to the appeal within twenty (20) working days and may confirm or vary the decision. All decisions of the Academic Director in relation to appeals will be reviewed by the Teaching and Learning Committee.
If a student remains dissatisfied with the outcome of their appeal against a decision regarding the award of credit they may utilise the Institute’s grievance handling procedures.
Credit for Prior Learning Application Form
This policy will be made available to all prospective and existing students on the Institute’s website to enable them to make well-informed choices between alternative pathways and take into account the credit that may be available to them. Prospective students will be advised in pre-enrolment materials and upon enrolment about this policy.
This policy will be regularly reviewed to maximise applicability to new and updated awards and to student and industry needs in line with section 4.3 of the Institute’s Quality Assurance Framework.