(1) This Policy provides a principled basis for the granting of credit towards Victoria University (VU) Awards and accredited courses and units on the basis of formal, informal and non-formal learning, through credit transfer, academic credit, recognition of prior learning, and recognition of current competency. (2) This Policy demonstrates VU's compliance with the following HESF Standards. (3) Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021 (Cth): Standard 1.2; 7.2. (4) ESOS Act - National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2018: Standard 2 (specifically 2.1, 2.3). (5) Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015 (Cth): Standard 1.8; 1.12; 3.5. (6) This Policy applies to current and future domestic and international students of all VU Award and accredited courses, or accredited units within non-accredited courses, whether in Higher Education (HE) or Vocational Education and Training (VET). (7) This Policy applies to credit granted on the basis of: (8) This Policy covers: (9) Advanced Standing: Refer to Credit definition. Advanced Standing term is being phased out and referred to as Credit. (10) Articulation: A method of progression from one completed qualification to another with guaranteed admission and/or credit in a defined pathway. (11) Block Credit: Granted toward whole stages or components of a qualification, block creditis given for a whole section of a course (e.g. a semester or a year of full-time study) rather than for specific units. (12) Same/similar discipline: Refers to a prior qualification or studies that is demonstrably the same as or very similar to the discipline to the one for which a person seeks academic credit. (13) Credit: Credit is the value assigned for the recognition of equivalence in content and learning outcomes between different types of learning and/or qualifications. Credit reduces the amount of time required to achieve a qualification and may be through credit transfer, recognition of prior learning or academic credit. (14) Credit Transfer: is a process that provides students with agreed and consistent credit outcomes for completed components of a course of study. This may be based on identified equivalence in content and learning outcomes between matched courses of study, or the completion of units of competency or skillsets evidenced by AQF certification documentation or authenticated VET transcripts. (15) Pathways: Formally agreed structures by which students may move through qualification levels and between courses with full or partial recognition for the qualifications and/or learning outcomes they already have achieved. (16) Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL): Recognition of prior learning is an assessment process that involves assessment of an individual's relevant prior learning (including formal, informal and non-formal learning) to determine the credit outcomes of an individual application for credit. (17) Specified Credit: Specified credit is granted for one or more specific units in a course, exempting students from those units and awarding the appropriate credit points in their place. Specified credit may be granted where the applicant has met the learning outcomes, attained the knowledge and/or developed the skills related to a specific unit. The result for that unit is not transferred and credit only is indicated on the academic transcript. (18) Designated Credit: Credit given for specific units undertaken at VU when the result for that unit is also transferred and indicated against the unit on the academic transcript. The result may, or may not contribute to GPA calculation depending on the approved circumstances for the use of designated credit. (19) Unspecified Credit: Credit granted towards components of a qualification or program of learning, such as minor studies where options exists or where block credit is applied, but the credit is not applied against a specific unit/s. (20) The objectives of this Policy are to: (21) The Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021 (Cth), the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015 (Cth) and the AQF Qualifications Pathways Policy apply to the assessment of credit at VU and form the basis of the rules below. In particular: (22) Credit can facilitate student progress, completion and mobility. However, the integrity of VU Awards and accredited courses and units, and the potential for success of students, are the primary considerations in decisions regarding credit. Credit will not be granted if it would: (23) A student is eligible for credit for learning or evidenced experience that: (24) Credit is available towards a VU Award or accredited course regardless of the location at which the course is taught. (25) Credit may be available for formal, informal or non-formal learning undertaken in any language and any mode. In the case of formal learning undertaken outside Australia, the award must be deemed by reference to the Country Education Profiles (CEPs) or UK NARIC to be equivalent in level to an AQF qualification for which credit would be available, as advised by VU Global or Domestic Admissions. (26) Where the learning has been undertaken in a language other than English, applicants' English language proficiency must be demonstrated. English language proficiency requirements and methods of demonstrating them are established in the Admissions - English Language Admission Requirements Procedure. (27) Learning will be measured against the learning or competency outcomes of the courses for which the student has applied for credit. (28) To be eligible for credit, a student must have successfully completed the relevant course or unit. Provided that the student has passed, credit is not dependent on grades achieved in the formal study which forms the basis of the student’s application. (29) Credit will not be given on the basis of: (30) VU reserves the right to review and verify the credit determinations made by other providers, where these are relied upon by an applicant. (31) Maximum limitations apply to the application of credit to HE courses. (32) With the exception of nested postgraduate awards, credit that has been applied to a conferred award cannot be re-applied to a further course. (33) The relevant Executive Dean will verify any restrictions on credit needed to satisfy professional accreditation requirements. This includes limitations of the amount of credit, as well as the nature of what prior learning may be eligible for credit (e.g. credit may be limited to formal study, or may be limited to comparable units with the required volume of professional placement hours). Following this, the Executive Dean may, through Courses Committee, adjust any credit parameters for any course to fulfil professional accreditation requirements. (34) Limitations of credit still apply even when the prior study has taken place at VU. (35) There is no limit on credit available for VET courses. (36) Designated credit is given for specific units undertaken at VU when the result for that unit is also transferred and indicated against the unit on the academic transcript. (37) Designated credit will count towards GPA when: (38) Designated credit is not used for: (39) VU may decide to apply designated credit in other circumstances to: (40) The University may enter into pathway agreements and credit agreements: (41) These agreements may include a commitment to provide students with guaranteed entry into and/or credit towards a course. (42) A credit agreement may be made within VU, involving courses across AQF levels. Such agreements are only valid if approved by the relevant Executive Dean, the First Year College and, if the agreement involves entry into VET courses, the Director, Quality, Learning and Support, Victoria University Polytechnic. (43) A credit agreement must include terms establishing the following aspects of the agreement: (44) A pathway / credit agreement may be made between VU and another Australian tertiary institution that issues AQF qualifications. Agreements specifying entry into or credit toward a Higher Education award are only valid if approved by the Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer. (45) If the agreement involves entry into or credit toward a VET course, the endorsement of the Chief TAFE Officer must be obtained. (46) A pathway / credit agreement may be made between VU and an overseas tertiary institution that is deemed by reference to the Country Education Profiles (CEPs) or UK NARIC to offer the qualification for which VU will offer credit at a level equivalent to the corresponding AQF level qualification. Such agreements are only valid if approved by the Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer. (47) If the agreement involves entry into VET courses, the endorsement of the Chief TAFE Officer, must be obtained. (48) When negotiating credit agreements with other organisations, the University will consider whether the following aspects of courses involved in the credit agreement are comparable and equivalent: (49) Eligibility for credit towards a course on the basis of an agreement does not guarantee entry into the course, unless that is a stated term of the agreement (ie guaranteed pathways). (50) Students entering a VU course on the basis of a credit agreement may be required to complete prerequisite units where their enrolment in the previous course has not included content equivalent to these prerequisite courses. (51) The process for developing pathway / credit agreements is established in the Credit - Pathways Procedure. (52) All pathway / credit agreements are contracts, and must be managed, filed and maintained in accordance with the University's Contracts Policy, Contracts Procedure and Records Management Policy. (53) An applicant or student may apply for credit on an individual basis, outside of a credit or pathway agreement. (54) Applications for credit must be: (55) When assessing applications for credit, VU will apply past precedents where available to ensure consistency of outcome. A precedent database will be maintained and will enable students to obtain an indication of the credit available to them when deciding whether to apply to VU. (56) Individual credit applications will be considered in the light of the following elements of the past study: (57) The process for applying for and assessing individual credit applications is established in the Credit - Academic Credit Procedure (HE). (58) Informal and non-formal learning may be used to claim Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) or Recognition of Current Competency (RCC), to be applied as credit in some HE courses and VET courses respectively. (59) No RPL or RCC is available for Higher Degree by Research courses at VU. (60) Where informal or non-formal learning is the basis for an application for credit in a HE course, assessment of learning is conducted initially by the relevant Course Chair or equivalent, and endorsed by the Director, Learning and Teaching. This process is outlined in the Credit - Academic Credit Procedure (HE), Part F. (61) An applicant or student may apply for credit on an individual basis, outside of a credit or pathway agreement. (62) Applications for credit for VET courses will be assessed in accordance with the Credit - Skills Recognition Procedure (VET). (63) Decisions regarding applications for credit will be: (64) Credit will only be granted if it will not impinge upon: (65) The granting of course credit is subject to the conditions of professional accreditation bodies, where these exist. For courses that lead to entry into regulated professions (e.g. Law, Nursing, Education) credit can only be given for formal learning that is considered to be equivalent in a professionally accredited course at another institution. (66) Credit may be reversed where: (67) Credit reversal determinations are made by the Manager Admissions Pathways and Scholarships. (68) Credit reversals may only occur prior to, or during, the period of a student's enrolment at VU. If it is discovered after the student has graduated that credit was improperly granted or there has been fraud or falsification of documentation, the matter must be handled under the Revocation of Awards provisions in the Awards Regulations 2018. (69) Students must be informed in writing of: (70) Applicants who are dissatisfied with a credit outcome may request a review of the decision on the grounds that: (71) A request to review the decision must be lodged in writing, addressed to the Director, Admissions, Enrolments, and Graduations within 10 University business days of the communication of the credit decision. (72) The Director, Admissions, Enrolments, and Graduations will review the credit decision. (73) A written outcome will be provided within 10 University business days of the date received by the University. (74) Where the outcome is in favour of the applicant, and a new offer with credit is subsequently made, the applicant will be required to enrol correctly in remaining units. (75) Where a new offer impacts an applicant's ability to reasonably enrol and commence study, with a view to their ability to succeed in the course, a deferment may be applied on the applicant's behalf. (76) The review is final and cannot be appealed within the University. (77) Credit - Academic Credit Procedure (HE)Credit Policy
Section 1 - Summary
Section 2 - TEQSA/ASQA/ESOS Alignment
Section 3 - Scope
Top of PageSection 4 - Definitions
Section 5 - Policy Statement
Part A - General
Part B - Eligibility for Credit
Part C - Limitations on Credit
Part D - Designated Credit and GPA
Part E - Credit and Pathways Agreements
Part F - Individual Applications for Credit – HE Courses
Applications for credit based on past formal learning
Applications for credit based on past informal or non-formal learning
Part G - Individual Applications for Credit – VET Courses
Part H - Assessing Credit Applications
Part I - Professional Accreditation
Part J - Reversal of Credit
Part K - Review
Section 6 - Procedures
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and will take into account the student’s ability to successfully meet the learning outcomes of the Award.