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Please note this explanatory guide applies to the National Code 2017 and will not apply after 1 January 2018. Factsheets on the National Code 2018 are available here.
Frequently asked questions on this page:
Registered providers appropriately recognise course credit within the ESOS framework.
This standard outlines the process for providers to grant course credit to students with suitable prior learning or experience. Students are kept informed by providers, which give the students a copy of the course credit for their records. If necessary, the duration of study is adjusted accordingly and students are advised of the registered providers’ granting of credit.
If a provider does not grant course credit, Standard 12 does not apply.
‘Exemption from enrolment in a particular part of the course as a result of previous study, experience or recognition of a competency currently held. Includes academic credit and recognition of prior learning.’
have documented procedures for the granting and recording of course credit; and
Compliance tips
For a provider to show it is complying with Standard 12, it may need some of the following as evidence:
Please note: The principles in the examples below can be applied to all sectors.
Q
Are providers required by the National Code 2007 to offer course credit to students?
A
No. Standard 12 applies where registered providers grant course credit. If providers do not wish to grant course credit in any circumstances, that is their choice.
If a student applies for course credit at the same time as applying for admission to a course, and the provider agrees to grant course credit, can the provider write the course credit into the letter of offer and accept the student’s signed acceptance of offer as acceptance of the course credit?
Yes. As long as the details of course credit are made clear in the letter of offer, a copy of the accepted letter of offer kept in the student’s file would be sufficient to meet the requirements of Standard 12.1 b.
What should providers keep in mind when writing their procedures for granting and recording course credit?
Good practice would be for the procedures to include at least:
If an enrolled student applies for course credit and the provider rejects the student’s application for course credit, can the student appeal this decision?
Standard 12 does not prescribe how a provider is to address a student’s dissatisfaction with its response to his or her application for course credit. However, Standard 8 requires that providers have appropriate internal complaints and appeals processes. Enrolled students should be able to access their provider’s complaints and appeals processes to have their grievances heard and addressed.
A student applied for course credit after commencing studies and the application was rejected
Fatima commenced her Diploma of Graphic Design course at the World College of Graphic Arts. A few weeks into her course she noticed similarities between what she was studying and what she had studied in Pakistan, so decided to apply for course credit. She downloaded the college’s application form for course credit from the College’s website, completed it and submitted it to the college.
Following the college’s policy and procedures for granting and recording course credit, the course convenor for Graphic Design examined the content of the courses that Fatima had completed in Pakistan. On close inspection of the course content, it was clear that the courses Fatima had studied in Pakistan did have some content in common with her current course, but not enough to allow Fatima an exemption from any course components in the Diploma of Graphic Design.
When informing Fatima of the decision to refuse her application for course credit, World College explained the reasons for the decision. At that time Fatima was reminded of the provider’s processes for complaints and appeals.
Note:
If a student has accepted an offer of place then applies for, and is granted, course credit, what happens?
The provider must refer to its course structure and unit/subject offerings and determine whether course credit granted will affect the duration of the course for that student.
If the course credit granted will not affect the duration of the course, the provider records the course credit in the student’s file but does not need to take any other action.
If the course credit granted will affect the duration of the course, the provider must record a change of course duration on PRISMS. To do this, the provider uses the Student Course Variation function, and indicates that the student has requested a change to the existing enrolment. The provider then chooses ‘transfer student into same course’ and then changes the end date of the course. This process will result in the creation of a new CoE (with the revised end date) and the cancellation of the original CoE.
Paragraph 33 of the National Code 2001 prevented providers from granting Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) to a student if this would result in a less than a full-time load. Is there any such restriction under the National Code 2007?
No. The concept of ‘full-time’ is not a feature of the National Code 2007.
Standard 9 (Completion within the expected duration of study) requires that providers manage student’s loads so that students finish within the expected course duration (with opportunities for extension of the CoE under certain circumstances – see 9.2).
However, Standard 12.2 requires providers to respond appropriately (issue shorter CoE or notify the Department of Education of change of the duration of the CoE through PRISMS) if the granting of course credit leads to a shortening of the student’s course.
Standard
National Code
ESOS Act
Other
12
Standard 8
Section 19