Credit and recognition of prior learning

The university grants credit for previous learning where this is assessed as equivalent to Monash University study (though there are some limits on this – see Policy and Procedures below).

Credit towards a course may include credit transfer and/or recognition of prior learning (see definitions below).

Applications

To apply for credit please download the credit application form from the Service Centre forms web page. This form includes information on where you should submit it.

Application processing

Applications for credit transfer where there are current precedents will normally be assessed within ten working days. A longer period may be required, where full assessment is required, particularly at peak admission and enrolment times.

Applications for recognition of prior learning will normally be assessed within 20 working days. A longer period may be required at peak admission and enrolment times.

Faculty credit pages

For information on credit that may be available to specific courses, including any standard or block credit arrangements, see the faculty credit information pages (links below).

If you are unsure which faculty is responsible for your course of study, the course information on Course Finder includes the faculty of the course.

Policy and procedures

For the university’s policy and procedures on credit and recognition of prior learning, including limits on the amount of credit that may be available, please see the Credit (including RPL) Policy and its related procedures.

Requests for review/appeals

Assessment of credit is an academic decision and as such, students may request a review of the decision under the Academic and Administrative Complaints and Grievances Policy and its related procedures.

Definitions

Block credit transfer	Block credit transfer is a standard arrangement. It does not involve individual student assessment. Block credit transfer involves credit being granted for a whole section of a course such as a semester or year of full-time study in the course, rather than for specific units.
Credit	Where a student is assessed and considered previously to have completed the equivalent of a unit or a proportion of a course through formal study (see Credit transfer) or other study, work or life-experience (see Recognition of prior learning), they may receive credit for that unit or proportion, and the course requirements may be correspondingly reduced.
Credit transfer	Granting of credit towards a course, on the basis of a course or unit(s) previously completed in a course with an Australian university, TAFE or a VET course, or equivalent. Credit transfer involves assessment of equivalence of the previous unit(s) with the unit(s) for which credit is being given.
Discipline-specific credit	Credit that is specified only by credit point value, level and discipline, but not by unit codes. That is, the credit is identified as being within the discipline, but not as equivalent to any specific unit. Thus it may contribute to completion of major, minor or sequence requirements but may not stand in place of a compulsory unit.
Recognition of prior learning	RPL is an assessment process that assesses the individual's non-formal and informal learning to determine the extent to which that individual has achieved the required learning outcomes, competency outcomes, or standards for entry to, and/or partial or total completion of, a qualification.
Specified credit	Credit for specific Monash University units as identified by their unit code.
Unspecified credit	Credit that is specified only by credit point value and level, and which can only contribute to course completion by standing in place of elective units.