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Credit and Recognition of Prior Learning Policy

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Section 1 - Purpose and Scope

(1) Consistent with compliance obligations under relevant Commonwealth legislation and the Australian Qualifications Framework, this Policy sets out the principles and requirements for the recognition of prior learning.

(2) This Policy applies to:

  1. all coursework programs;
  2. all coursework students; and
  3. applicants for admission to a coursework program (hereafter ‘program’).

(3) This Policy is supported by the Recognition of Prior Learning Procedure.

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Section 2 - Principles and Key Requirements

(4) Recognition of prior learning (RPL) at UQ will:

  1. maintain the integrity, quality and standards of the University’s programs
  2. be based on learning and evidence that is valid, authentic, current and sufficient
  3. recognise learning completed to a comparable level and/or standard of UQ study, provided that the learning is relevant, current and contributes to the requirements of the program
  4. not disadvantage a student in achieving the learning outcomes for a program
  5. be academically defensible
  6. be equitable, transparent and applied consistently and fairly.

(5) Prior learning may be recognised for a program of study, consistent with the general principles above, to:

  1. satisfy the entry requirements of programs specified in the Admission to Coursework Procedure and its associated schedules; and/or
  2. grant credit or exemption as set out in the Credit and Recognition of Prior Learning Procedure.

(6) Once credit or exemption is granted by the Associate Dean (Academic) or authorised delegate and takes effect, it may be rescinded only under the following circumstances:

  1. Credit/exemption was granted due to a procedural error, incomplete or inaccurate information, or fraud.
  2. Reduced program duration credit was granted to a student and they submit a request to the faculty to have it rescinded.

(7) Eligibility for recognition of prior learning does not guarantee admission to a program.

(8) Articulation and credit transfer agreements established by the University or the faculties with partner institutions (domestic or international) will be consistent with the requirements of this Policy and the Credit and Recognition of Prior Learning Procedure, in conjunction with the:

  1. Collaborative Academic Program Arrangements Policy, and
  2. International Agreements Policy (in the case of international partnerships).
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Section 3 - Monitoring, Review and Assurance

(9) Review of, and compliance with, this Policy and supporting Procedure is overseen by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) and the Committee for Academic Programs Policy (CAPP) as outlined in the Credit and Recognition of Prior Learning Procedure.

(10) Records related to the application of this Policy are maintained in accordance with the Information Management Policy.

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Section 4 - Appendix

Definitions, Terms, Acronyms

Term Definition
Articulation For the purpose of this Policy, articulation pathways facilitate the progression of students from a partner institution (either domestic or international) to UQ. Articulation involves the recognition of study completed at a partner institution to allow admission and/or credit and/or exemption to a specified UQ program under specified conditions (for example, study undertaken in a completed undergraduate diploma at another institution is used as credit towards a bachelor level program at UQ).

For articulation through a postgraduate program suite refer to the Program Design Procedure.
Authorised delegate University staff authorised to make decision regarding the assessment and granting of credit or exemption, as set out in the Academic Powers (Teaching and Learning) Sub-delegation Schedule.
Associate Dean (Academic) The relevant Associate Dean (Academic) of the faculty administering the program.
Course Has the meaning given to it in the Course Design Policy.
Credit The unit 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 learning required to achieve a qualification and may be granted through credit transfer, articulation, or recognition of prior learning.
Credit transfer A process that provides students with agreed and consistent credit outcomes for components of a qualification based on identified equivalence in content and learning outcomes between matched qualifications.
Exemption Waiver of a requirement to complete a course specified for a program, where there is no reduction to the units needed to complete the program requirements and another UQ course, at the same level or higher within the program requirements, is completed in place of the exempted course.
Prior learning Any learning that has taken place prior to admission to a program of the University or prior to undertaking a relevant component of a program.
Program Has the meaning given to it in the Program Design Procedure.
Program requirements Has the meaning given to it in the Program Design Procedure.
Reduced program duration credit Credit granted into select master’s programs that offer two or more durations, as a reduction in the number of units required to complete the program. The reduction is in 8-unit blocks, and the program requirements will specify the remaining units applicable for the reduced duration.
Student For the purpose of this Policy, student means a person enrolled in courses, non-award studies or programs at the University.
Units Has the meaning given to it in the Course Design Policy.