Credit is a benefit provided to a student by waiving one or more of the normal requirements for completion of a course on the basis of recognition of an individual's demonstrated knowledge or skills that can be counted towards a qualification.
Advanced standing or credit may enable a student to finish their degree in a shorter period of time.
Advanced standing is awarded for all types of study or work experience, including:
- Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualifications
- Undergraduate and postgraduate degrees from tertiary institutions
- individual units at a tertiary institution
- relevant work and life experience.
Learning that may count towards credit
Different types of learning are assessed to provide credit towards a qualification:
- Formal learning is learning that takes place through a structured program of learning that leads to the full or partial achievement of an officially accredited qualification.
- Non-formal learning takes place through a structured program of learning that does not lead to an officially accredited qualfiication.
- Informal learning gained through work-related or relevant documented life experiences. Unlike formal and non-formal learning, informal learning is not organised or externally structured in terms of objectives, time or learning support.
Credit processes
You can get credit for previous study or learning through one or more of the following processes:
- A credit transfer provides you with agreed and consistent credit for components of a formal and non-formal qualification. This is based on equivalence in curriculum content and learning outcomes between matched qualifications.
- Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) involves assessment of your relevant prior learning (including formal, informal and non-formal learning) to determine the credit that may be granted towards completion of a qualification. This is based on demonstrated equivalence in curriculum content and learning outcomes of the unit/s for which you are seeking credit.
How to apply for credit, including RPL
Apply using the Application for Credit form STU129 and submit your application and supporting material as directed on the form.
The relevant faculty will assess your credit application.
Supporting documents
For credit gained from formal learning, you must provide all of the following documents relating to your previous study:
- an academic transcript (original or certified copy)
- an explanation of what the results mean (usually found on the back of the transcript).
- an extract from the handbook of the institute where you completed your study, detailing the course structure and credit points (or equivalent weighting of the course).
- a unit outliine including the assessment requirements for each unit for which you are seeking credit.
For credit gained from
non-formal/informal learning, examples of documentation that need to be provided include:
- a CV or resume outlining relevant work history
- statements from employers or other organisations demonstrating how previous experience relates to the learning outcomes
- a personal statement demonstrating how unit curriculum content and learning outcomes have been met through relevant work experience
- evidence of professional accreditation.
All documents must be relevant, valid, sufficient and current.
International documents/qualifications not issued in English
If the original document is not issued in English, an official translation from a recognised translation service listed below must also be provided:
- National Accreditation Authority for Tranlsators and INterpreters (NAATI) accredited translator in Australia
- the Awarding institution
- a Notary Public Office
- the official government body
- an official and accredited translator*
*Official translations are subject to review by Holmesglen Institute.
Students may be required to provide further supporting documentation.
Timelines
Completed credit applications must be received within four weeks of the commencement of the course.
Articulation pathways from VET courses into degrees
If a VET course has been studied at Holmesglen or another registered training organisation, the exemptions/advanced standing (unit credits) will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the relevant faculty. The number of unit credits may vary depending on elective units successfully completed with any qualification. There is a maximum number of credit points for which exemption can be granted for each qualification. The minimum time to complete a degree is dependent on subject availability.
Holmesglen credit arrangements with other providers
Holmesglen has a number of partnership arrangements with other educational institutions that enable students who complete qualifications at these institutions to be granted credit towards Holmesglen's courses.
Holmesglen credit arrangements with other providers. (Word - 106kb)