Credit Regulations Higher Education

Credit may be granted for study, learning or experience in any or all of the following cases:

Credit Transfer
Previous successful study at University of Ballarat. Previous successful study at another higher education, tertiary or TAFE institution.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
Learning acquired in a credentialled context other than higher education, tertiary, or TAFE, such as courses offered by professional organisations, enterprises, private educational institutions and/or any other recognised providers. Learning acquired in an uncredentialled context, such as through work experience or through life experience.

Complementary Credit
Specific studies approved in advance by a course(s) committee, which are successfully completed at another institution.

Types of Credit
Three categories of credit may be approved by course(s) committees:

• Block credit: granted for whole stages or years of a course, such as semester, year or credit point equivalent.
  
• Specified credit: granted for a unit deemed to be similar to that for which credit is sought.
  
• Unspecified credit: granted in the form of course credit points or equivalent, which may be used where block or specified credit is inappropriate.
  

Conditions Relating to Credit
Applications for credit transfer and notice of intent to apply for recognition of prior learning (RPL) should be lodged with the Head of School administering the course at the time of application for admission to the course. Students should be advised of provisional credit that is offered at the time they accept a place in the course. RPL assessment procedures should be completed, and the results recorded, before the beginning of the semester in which credit is sought.

Any information concerning credit given prior to enrolment will be provisional and will be subject to confirmation by the course(s) committees conducting the course concerned and to ratification by the Academic Board.

Eligibility for credit does not guarantee a place in the course in which that credit would be available.

Maximum Credit
Credit may be granted for up to 50 per cent of a course. Further credit, however, may be granted in cases where: Credit transfer arrangements exist between University of Ballarat courses. Credit transfer agreements have been negotiated between the University of Ballarat and other institutions and approved by Academic Board. Course(s) committees consider there are exceptional circumstances.

Appeals
An applicant shall have the right of appeal against a decision on the granting of credit to a Committee established by Academic Board (refer Regulation 5.2, Section 18). The appeal should be made in writing to the Secretary, Academic Board within seven working days of receiving the decision. The Committee will normally hear the appeal within seven working days of its receipt and will report its findings to Academic Board.

The grounds for appeal are that the decision is inconsistent with the University's credit policy.