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Discover how to have your previous study recognised as credit towards your current degree.

If you gain entry into a program at UNSW, you may be eligible for credit for courses (subjects) studied at another institution. Whether you’re a new or existing student, we’re here to walk you through the process.

Get credit towards your current degree

If you have completed study prior to enrolling at UNSW, you may be eligible for a credit transfer, giving your credit towards your current degree.

Credit transfer is also known as 'advanced standing' or recognition for prior learning (RPL).

The awarded credits are governed by the and the rules covering credit, as outlined below.

It is essential that you submit your application for credit transfer as early as possible.ÌýÌý

  • You can apply to have previous study from another institution or another UNSW degree program recognised, and the credit transferred to your current degree program at UNSW.

    To be awarded these credits, UNSW would need to assess the courses or combination of courses as equivalent to UNSW courses.Ìý

    The final approval for credit transfers resides with the Program Authority offering the course.

  • At the undergraduate level, credit transfer is generally a recognition of prior study at a university or TAFE. See the rules below.

    At the postgraduate level, it is generally a recognition of prior postgraduate study at a university. See the Postgraduate Coursework Credit Transfer and Articulation Guidelines below.

    Note that credit transfer does not include:

    • Exemption, where a student is exempted from a specified compulsory course and instead is required to complete an unspecified course to the same unit of credit value, or
    • Substitution, where a student completes a specified equivalent course in place of a specified compulsory course.
    1. It is essential that you submit your application for credit transfer as early into your degree program as possible. Delays in applying for credit transfer could result in you undertaking courses which ultimately are not required for the completion of your degree.
    2. If you are approved for transferred credits for course(s) completed at another institution, the marks you achieved for those courses will not be included on your academic statement, official UNSW academic transcript or in the calculation of your Weighted Average Mark (WAM).Ìý This reflects the different grading schemes at other institutions.
    3. If you are approved for transfer credit for course(s) completed at UNSW in a different program, then the marks you achieved for the specific course(s) will be included on your academic statement, will be included in the calculation of your WAM for your new Program but will not appear on your official UNSW academic transcript under your new program. The courses will remain on your academic transcript under your old program.

    If you were approved for transferred credits prior to Semester 1 2016, all courses and marks achieved will appear on your transcript under the program you were enrolled in when you attempted the course(s).Ìý However, the marks achieved in courses for which you have been granted credit transfer, cannot be included in the calculation of your WAM for your new program.

  • You can apply for credit transfer by completing the relevant forms below and attaching the course outlines.

    New domestic students canÌý.

    Use this form if you are a new student applying to have previous study from another institution or another UNSW program counted towards your current degree program.

    NOTE: Admissions processing deadlines apply. If you miss the deadline, you will need to apply directly to UNSW.

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    Students applying directly to UNSW (except UNSW Canberra)

    Use this form if you:

    • Are a new student and missed the deadline for Admissions processing, or
    • Are returning to UNSW after exchange studies, or
    • Didn't apply for credit transfer when you first applied to study at UNSW, and wish to now

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    Students applying directly to UNSW Canberra

    Submit your form directly below if you are a UNSW Canberra student.

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    Include with your form:

    • An official transcript, and
    • Course descriptions of studies undertaken at another institution. (See more information on course description requirements)

    Failure to provide all information and documentation will delay the assessment of your application.

  • 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 semester)
    • Assessment weighting schedules (e.g. 30% mid-semester exam, 70% final exam etc.)
    • Weekly topic schedule (i.e. Which topics were taught in each week)

    Optional components that may be required:

    • Textbook materials used
    • Credit units for the course and total credit units for a full-time student per semester
  • Students may be admitted to undergraduate degrees or awards with credit for previous study and/or attainments. All credit granted in undergraduate degrees or awards must comply with the following rules. Note that the home Faculty may also have their own credit transfer procedures.

    1. All credit assessments will be based on the completion date for the course to be used as credit and not the program.
    2. Courses with a successful completion date of up to 10 years can be used for credit within a program.
    3. Any credit granted must be consistent with the program progression rules applicable at the time the application is assessed
    4. Students who are admitted to the University after completing, or partly completing, the requirements of another degree or award of another tertiary institution must complete a program of study deemed to be no less than that required of students in full-time attendance in the final year of the program concerned.
    5. Where faculty rules permit, students who have been awarded the degree of Bachelor at Pass level may be permitted to enrol for the award of the degree at Honours level with credit for all courses completed if, during their studies for the Pass degree, they have satisfied the prerequisites for entry to the Honours level laid down by the schools concerned or the equivalent of those prerequisites.
    6. Enrolled students have the right of appeal against credit transfer decisions under the Student Complaint Procedure.

    Eligibility for credit in a UNSW program does not guarantee admission to that program.

  • The following guidelines apply to credit granted in postgraduate coursework degrees, diplomas or certificates. Note that the home Faculty may also have their own credit transfer procedures.

    1. A postgraduate coursework student may be granted credit by the program authority. The credit granted must be consistent with the guidelines detailed below. Any credit granted must also be consistent with the rules governing progression within the program as determined by the relevant faculty.
      1. At least 50% of program requirements must be completed at UNSW for the award of a UNSW postgraduate coursework degree or diploma. Credit Transfer to a maximum of 50% of UNSW program requirements may be granted for completed or partially completed postgraduate awards from UNSW or from another institution. When considering the granting of credit transfer on the basis of previous postgraduate study at another institution, the program authority must take into account the quality of the institution and the quality, level and content of postgraduate courses previously undertaken. A Faculty Standing Committee may, for a particular program, determine the maximum credit transfer at less than 50% of program requirements.Ìý
      2. A postgraduate coursework certificate student enrolling in a program that requires a total of 24 or more units of credit may be granted credit to a maximum of 50% of program requirements. No credit will be granted where program requirements are less than 24 units of credit.
    2. Some postgraduate programs include preliminary courses similar in content to undergraduate courses, and provide exemption from these courses for students with the appropriate undergraduate background. In such programs, a postgraduate coursework student may be granted credit on the basis of a completed undergraduate degree but must complete a program of study equivalent to one year of full-time study or 48 units of credit.
    3. All credit transfer assessments will be based on the completion date for the course to be used for credit and not the program.
    4. Courses with a successful completion date of up to 10 years can be used for credit transfer within a program as provided within the program rules and the University rules on credit.

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    The following guidelines apply to credit granted in postgraduate articulated programs.

    1. A postgraduate coursework student admitted to a UNSW articulated program is eligible for credit based on Guidelines 1 to 4 above at the time of initial enrolment in the articulated sequence.
      1. A postgraduate coursework student enrolled in an articulated program may apply to progress from Graduate Certificate to Graduate Diploma to Masters level with full credit for courses completed in earlier programs in the sequence, whether or not those awards have been conferred.Ìý
      2. For progression of students who did not qualify for direct entry into a higher level program at initial enrolment in the sequence, a Faculty Standing Committee may stipulate a particular performance level (e.g. credit average) in early programs in the articulated sequence. Students not meeting this performance level would be awarded the Graduate Certificate or Diploma for which they have completed requirements, and would apply for entry into the higher program under Guideline 2(1) above.Ìý
      3. A Faculty Standing Committee may determine that applications for progression through a particular articulated program sequence will be refused if a substantial time period (normally greater than 6 years) has elapsed since completion of requirements for the earlier award.
    2. A postgraduate coursework student who chooses to have the Graduate Certificate or Diploma formally conferred and then wishes to undertake further study in the articulated program sequence, either immediately or after a period of absence, is subject to the Guidelines outlined above in 2(1).
  • The Go8 universities (Adelaide, Melbourne, Monash, ANU, Queensland, Sydney, NSW and WA) have developed a to enhance the mobility of students between Go8 institutions by facilitating the transfer of credit from one Go8 university to another. This Agreement is based on an acceptance that the assessment regimes at all Go8 universities are comparable and transferable.

  • See into UNSW programs from other institutions.

Important note

Providing falsified documents in support of your application will result in one of a range of penalties, from failure in the course to suspension or exclusion.Ìý In some cases, the matter could also be reported to ICAC. As a student, you must be aware of your obligations and responsibilities under the Student Code.

Credit Transfer and Advanced Standing for International Students

As part of your admission you may be given course credit transfer or advanced standing for previous study. Any credit transfer or advanced standing can potentially affect your program completion date.Ìý

If the course credit is given before your visa is granted, your Confirmation of Enrolment end date will reflect this, and the length of your program will be reduced accordingly.

If course credit is given after your visa is issued, and results in your program length being shorter, the University must report the change of program length to the which will affect your visa expiration date.

You are required to maintain a full-time study load, even if you have been given course credit.Ìý

The University will only report changes to your program duration to the , if your degree is shortened due to credit transfer or advanced standing. You would then receive a revised Confirmation of Enrolment that reflects the length of your program.

How to get started at UNSW

Information for local students: Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents or New Zealand citizens.

Information for international students on getting started and settling into life at UNSW Sydney, Australia.

Business School students

Read the credit transfer guide for Business School Undergraduate students.

Want to find out more about credit transfer and advanced standing?

If you have any questions about credit transfer and advanced standing at UNSW or how you can make your studies work for you, contact us below. We're here to help.