Postgraduate recognition of prior learning (Credit transfer)

If your Transcript or Course Outline is not in English, it must be officially translated. Applications will not be accepted where the course outline was translated from an unofficial source or appears to be self-written. Please refer to the UNSW document certification, opens in a new window page for more information. 

Students will be disqualified from receiving credit and reported to the relevant authority for further action if found to have plagiarised any content in their submission.

The UNSW Student Code provides a framework for the standard of conduct expected of UNSW students with respect to their academic integrity and behaviour. Where a student breaches the Student Code with respect to academic integrity, the University may take disciplinary action under the Student Misconduct Procedure, opens in a new window.  

If you request the removal of Recognition of Prior Learning, opens in a new window and it’s approved, you will not be eligible to have it reinstated under any circumstances.  

The following components are required when submitting course outlines:  

• Course code and title  
• Course description  
• Total hours for the whole course (e.g. How many lecture/tutorial hours per week and how many weeks per term)  
• Assessment weighting schedules (e.g. 30% mid-term exam, 70% final exam etc.)  
• Weekly topic schedule (i.e. Which topics were taught in each week)  

Other components that may be required:  

• Textbook materials used  
• Credit units for the course and total credit units for a full-time student per term   

Please note: You may be required to submit further proof/ evidence of studies. 

Students can apply for recognition of prior learning upon admission. Any RPL granted will be noted in the offer letter.

Students who do not opt to have RPL assessed at admission and have accepted an offer, need to submit an application by completing the ‘Recognition of Prior Learning’ webform, opens in a new window. The application for Recognition of Prior Learning will be assessed by the Nucleus: Student Hub, opens in a new window (in consultation with the Program Director).  

Note: Students should submit the application at least 4 weeks prior to the start of their first term of study. Any applications received after this time will not be processed in time for credit to be awarded. Applications cannot be assessed if you have completed the course at UNSW or have remained enrolled in the course past census date. 

If you’ve been approved for recognition of prior learning, you should take care to ensure that your skills are up to date, and your background and/or experience matches the assumed knowledge expected of you.  While we have made every effort to ensure that our assessment is accurate, you’re ultimately responsible for your own enrolment and you should seek advice immediately if you have any concerns about your ability to study higher level material.

If your credit transfer has not been approved, you can submit an appeal in writing by responding to the email with your outcome. You must outline the reason(s) why you think the decision should be overturned and you may provide additional documentation if appropriate.  

If the decision to deny your credit transfer request is upheld, you may submit a further appeal to the UNSW Student Integrity Unit., opens in a new window 

The Academic Statement screen displays an unofficial record of your academic history. The statement includes details of your program, enrolled courses and results and awards obtained at UNSW. 

Please refer to the steps here, opens in a new window to access your academic statement.

Students who articulate will receive recognition of prior learning for all eligible courses completed in earlier programs in the articulated suite (e.g. Graduate Certificate and/or Graduate Diploma).

The Australian Government wants overseas students in Australia to have a safe, enjoyable and rewarding place to study. Australia's laws promote quality education and consumer protection for overseas students. These laws include the Education Services for Overseas (ESOS) Act 2000 and the National Code. Please refer to our Student Visa Information for International Students webpage for more information.   

Accreditation is the process for approval by an accrediting authority of a program of learning using quality assurance standards. Accreditation may be for recognition of a program of learning as an AQF qualification or by professional bodies for the purpose of professional registration leading to practice in a particular field. 

A defined sequence of programs in which the courses and requirements for completion of earlier programs in the sequence are a subset of subsequent programs in the sequence, and full credit is granted for courses completed in earlier programs in the sequence.

‘Block Credit’ refers to RPL that is awarded as a singular unit of value under a unique course code that includes a particular set of courses. For example, the course code ENGG0082 equals 18 UoC of Foundational Courses (COMP9020, COMP9021 and COMP9024). For more information please visit the UNSW Glossary. 

A cognate discipline is a closely allied or related discipline, or defined branch of study or learning. The disciplines, branches of study or learning that are considered ‘cognate’ are commonly defined at the program level for the purposes of assessing applicants for entry or for recognition of prior learning.

A type of exemption from a core course or other requirement. Students are still required to complete an equivalent, or near equivalent, course to the same unit of credit value.

Please refer to the Faculty Enrolment Rules for more information regarding course substitution.

A process whereby a student who transfers from a program at another higher education provider, or from another program at UNSW, is granted credit for courses completed at that higher education provider or program.

Please refer to the Faculty Enrolment Rules for more information regarding credit transfer.

The process of assessing an individual’s relevant prior learning (including formal, non-formal learning and informal / workplace learning) for equivalence to:

• the learning outcomes of the qualification specified as a requirement for admission to the program, or

• courses in the program to which a student has been admitted to determine the credit value to be granted as advanced standing or exemptions.

Please refer to the Faculty Enrolment Rules for more information regarding recognition of prior learning. 

Washington and Seoul Accord are separate multi-lateral agreements between bodies responsible for accreditation or recognition of tertiary-level engineering (Washington) or computing and IT-related (Seoul) qualifications.