How to apply for credit for prior learning

Consult the ACU handbook entry for the degree or degrees that you are interested in. Identify any units that are equivalent to your prior learning, and for which you might be eligible for credit.

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You can also use our credit search to see what credit you might be eligible for.

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Credit can only be granted for prior learning completed within the last 10 years.

As a general rule, the maximum amount of credit granted is usually

• two-thirds of a 3-year Bachelor degree
• three quarters of a 4-year Bachelor degree
• one-half of a postgraduate course.

For more information about the maximum amount of credit that may be granted for your course, visit the Academic Regulations

You will need to provide clear copies of official documents, such as transcripts, to support your application.

Scans should be:

• of original, official documents
• clear, easy to read and full colour
• straight and in focus.

Documents that are not in English must be certified, translated copies.

Skewed or poorly focused documents will be refused.

Types of prior learning

There are three different types of prior learning for which you might get credit: formal; non-formal; and informal. The supporting documentation and information required for each is given below.

Learn more about types of prior learning

Formal prior learning

• The official transcript of your prior study
• Detailed unit outlines, including Learning Outcomes, for each of the units for which you are seeking credit

Non-formal prior learning

• A certified copy of a statement of satisfactory completion of the course offered by a professional body, enterprise, or other provider; and
• A statement of the objectives, learning outcomes, content of the course and of any assessment completed; and
• Details of the contact hours of the course; and
• Information on the course presenter/s and their qualifications.

Informal prior learning

All, or a combination of, the following evidence must be provided:

• detailed curriculum vitae and a letter of support from an appropriate person/organisation who/which can verify relevant details
• certificates, reports, testimonials or affidavits relating to the applicant's learning, skill or competency
• certified supporting statements from employers
• if the applicant has been self-employed, a copy of the ABN registration and a letter from an accountant or solicitor certifying the nature of the business and the period during which the applicant has been engaged in the business
• examples of the applicant's work drawn from the workplace, social, community or other settings in which the applicant applies their learning, skill or competency
• reflective papers, journals, portfolio or a statement that relate/s the applicant's prior learning to the learning or competency outcomes for which recognition is sought.

What is EFTSL?

Each tertiary unit has an Equivalent Full-Time Study Load (EFTSL) value. The standard full-time load for a student for one year is 1.0. If your institution has eight units per year as a standard full-time load, each unit will have an EFTSL value of 0.125. Units that have twice the standard number of credit points will have an EFTSL or 0.25; units with half the credit points will have an EFTSL of 0.0625.

If you are applying for credit for non-formal or informal prior learning you will need to explain how your prior learning meets the learning outcomes of the relevant ACU units.

You will need to:

• provide evidence of your relevant knowledge, skills and experience; and
• provide supporting documentation to support your claims.

Each unit has specific learning outcomes, which you can find in the ACU Handbook. You should refer to these when writing your claims to achievement of the learning outcomes for each unit.

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The following statements illustrate how you can demonstrate the relevant knowledge, skills and experience. You should explain the relationship between your claims and the supporting documents.

• As part of my job role, I XXX.
• In my workplace, I must communicate regularly with people from XXX backgrounds. When I need to communicate with them, I can do so in a manner that XXX.
• I am on the XXX committee and we are responsible for X and achieved YYY.
• I worked with a XXXX who had these issues XXXX. I assessed these needs by XXXX and worked collaboratively to the address issues through XXX process with YYY outcome and I learnt XXX.
• Doc A shows evidence of my practice in XXX.
• Doc G illustrates how I XXX.