Credit

Introduction

An application for credit is made when a current or prospective student wishes to have previous studies counted towards the completion of an award course at the University of Sydney. Students who are successful in applying for credit receive advanced standing in their award course (i.e. each granted credit reduces the total number of units the student must complete within their award course by one).

There are two main types of credit:

Internal Credit

• Made by current students of the University of Sydney transferring from one award course to another at the University of Sydney.

External Credit

• Made by current or prospective students of the University of Sydney who wish to receive advanced standing on the basis of previous units of study completed at an institution other then the University of Sydney.

Forms of Credit

Specified Credit

• Specified Credit is only granted for units of study undertaken at the University of Sydney that can be demonstrated as an exact or near exact equivalent to a unit of study taught at the same level and currently offered at the University of Sydney.

Unspecified Credit

• Unspecified credit is granted when an exact or near exact equivalence cannot be demonstrated but the unit is of the requisite standard, is in line with other units taught, and is only granted for units of study not available within the Business School.
• Unspecified credit is assigned a credit point value, level (Junior, Intermediate or Senior), and may be in a particular subject area.

Application process for currently enrolled students (undergraduate and postgraduate):

1. If a currently enrolled undergraduate student, the student fills out the online credit application form on the Business School website. If a currently enrolled postgraduate student, the student fills out the Postgraduate Credit Application Form on the Business School website.
2. The student is then automatically emailed a copy of the completed application.
3. The student prints off the copy of application and lodges it at the Student Information Office (SIO) front desk along with the following supporting documents:
   • An original academic transcript from the Registrar of the institution they were previously attending, indicating the units of study they have completed.
   • Detailed Unit of Study outlines, of the type handed out to students at the commencement of a unit, for each unit of study for which credit is being sought. The Unit of Study outline should contain the following information:
     • Contact hours
     • Assessment methods
     • Topics covered
     • Learning outcomes
     • Lecture & Tutorial programme
     • Recommended text and reference books
     • Credit point value of unit at external institution

   The student needs to submit this documentation within two weeks of submission of the original application. If the requested supporting documentation is not submitted within the specified timeframe the application will be cancelled.

   NB: Students applying for internal credit do not need to complete Step 3, i.e. these students are not required to submit a copy of the application or any supporting documentation to the SIO.

4. SIO staff then forward the application to the relevant Discipline for assessment. Where the student has transferred from one degree to another and wishes to request that all or some of the units of study they completed be transferred to the new degree, the SIO will conduct a progression check.
5. When a decision is reached, SIO staff will approve or reject the on-line application and an automatic email will be sent to the student's University email address specifying the outcomes and any conditions that apply (e.g. pre-requisites which may need to be completed).
6. Approved credit will then automatically be added to the student's records. The student needs to notify the SIO immediately if they do not wish to accept the credit.

Application process for prospective students (undergraduate and postgraduate):

1. The student emails the SIO at business.student@sydney.edu.au and includes their name, institution of completing/completed study and a list of units of study for which they wish to apply for credit.
2. The SIO staff will then check the relevant credit database and will email the student indicating which of the units the student is likely to receive credit for (i.e. the units have previously been approved the relevant Discipline) and unlikely to receive credit for (i.e. the units previously rejected by the relevant Discipline). It will also be indicated which units of study have not previously been assessed by the relevant Discipline.
3. After the student has successfully enrolled with the Business School, a formal credit application should be made following the steps outlined above in "Application process for currently enrolled students (undergraduate and postgraduate)".

Rules for credit applications (undergraduate and postgraduate students):

1. Credit is approved for individual units of study, not for years of study.
2. Approval will be granted for either specified credit (for a specific unit of study) or for unspecified credit (for a number of credit points towards a particular area of study, but not for a specific unit of study). The granting of unspecified credit is at the discretion of the Discipline. Unspecified credit can only be counted as an elective unit of study.
3. International students may have the duration of their award course amended as a result of credit being granted. Students should consult the International Student Office to determine the impact of this on their student visa.
4. Once credit has been granted, it cannot be reversed. Students should think carefully about the implications of accepting credit on their future study plans, for example, the majors they wish to obtain before accepting credit.
5. Credit is not the same as waivers of pre-requisites or special permission. These terms describe a situation where a student is granted a waiver from completing a prescribed whole unit of study, or parts of the work for a unit of study, but does not receive advanced standing. Please see Waiving of prerequisites and co requisites section of this Manual for more information.
6. Credit will not be granted if a student has failed the equivalent unit of study at the University of Sydney.
7. Students cannot enrol in a unit of study for which they have accepted credit.
8. There is a ten year limit on completion of award courses and credit will be counted within this time limit. For example, credit from studies undertaken 8 years ago will only be counted if the student completes the award course within two years.

Transferred or Upgraded (undergraduate and postgraduate students):

A student, who transferred or upgraded from one degree to another and wishes to request that all or some of the units of study they completed be transferred to the new degree, will need to:

1. Fill out the online credit application form.
2. Although an automatic email will be sent to the student requesting to supply supporting documents such as transcript and unit of study outlines, this is not necessary in this case.
3. Once a progression check is completed by SIO staff, all relevant credits will be transferred and the on-line application approved. An automatic email is then sent to the student with the outcome of the application.

Rules for credit applications (undergraduate students only):

1. From Semester 2, 2011 The Business School is generally no longer granting credit for core units to its Bachelor degrees for students transferring from other institutions. This is to ensure all students receive an integrated first-year learning experience and to protect the learning outcomes of the program.
2. A maximum of 10 units of study, (60 credit points), can by credited based on study outside the University of Sydney for undergraduate students in single degree programs, or 20 units of study (120 credit points) for students in combined degree programs.
   Note: combined Law students can only receive a maximum of 10 units of study, (60 credit points) credited on the basis of study outside the University of Sydney.
3. Credit for undergraduate units cannot be granted for units of study that have been counted towards another award course that has been, or will be, conferred. The exception to this is for individuals who have completed study at an institution with pre-arranged articulation agreements.

Rules for credit applications (postgraduate students only):

New Business School Credit Policy from 2010

From Semester 1, 2010 the Business School will no longer be awarding credit for its postgraduate degree programs based on previous undergraduate study. This is in accordance with the University Academic Board Policy on the granting of credit:

5.4.2 Postgraduate coursework: Credit towards a postgraduate coursework degree (GCert, GDip, Masters) will not be given for undergraduate units of study or for completed postgraduate awards except in the case of embedded programs.

1. Students should apply for credit on the basis of previous incomplete Postgraduate study only. Credit towards a postgraduate coursework degree will not be given for undergraduate study or for completed postgraduate study except in the case of embedded programs. Waivers may be granted for undergraduate study or for completed postgraduate study. Please see Waiving of prerequisites and co requisites section of this Manual for more information.
2. Postgraduate students may receive credit for up to 50% of their award course requirements.
3. Where an individual who has graduated with a Graduate Certificate or a Graduate Diploma is applying to be upgraded to a Graduate Diploma or a Master's degree respectively (of the same title or one with a natural progression from a previous set of units of study), the Business School will allow all units to be counted towards the new degree provided that the units are relevant to the current award course resolutions and time limits are adhered to.
4. Students must have all credit arrangements finalised by the end of their first semester of study at the University of Sydney.