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Credit for previous study
How to apply
Before you apply, make sure you have all required supporting documents ready to attach to your application. If you do not include the required documents, your application will be rejected.
1. Start a credit application
New course applicants
If you’re applying directly to the University, you'll be asked if you want to apply for recognition of prior learning when completing your course application. If you tick yes, you’ll receive an email with information about how to log in to Sydney Student and submit an application for credit. You will need to:
- go to ‘Applications’, then ‘My application’
- in the 'Actions' column of your course application, select ‘submit or cancel your application for credit'.
If you don't elect to apply for credit during your application, you can still apply as a current student once you've accepted your offer and enrolment has opened for your course. We recommend you complete your enrolment as soon as possible and don't wait for the outcome of your credit application.
Current students
If you have accepted an offer, have applied through UAC or are currently enrolled, you will need to apply for credit as a current student.
Log in to Sydney Student. Go to 'My studies', 'Course details', then 'Apply for credit and/or reduced volume of learning'.
2. Select your major/specialisation
If you are commencing an undergraduate degree that requires major(s)/minor(s) or a postgraduate degree that requires specialisations, you need to provide this information in your application. We will assess your application based on this information. Check your handbook to find out your degree requirements.
If the 'Intended major/specialisation' field appears in your application, select your major(s)/minor(s) in the drop-down menus provided. If this does not appear, you need to provide your major(s)/minor(s) in the 'Additional information' field when adding credit or RVL items.
If your degree does not require major(s)/minor(s) and the 'Intended major/specialisation' field is visible, you can leave the drop-down menu as ‘No Selection’.
3. Add credit items
You will need to select the 'Type' of credit you are applying for, either credit or reduced volume of learning.
Add an individual credit item for every unit of study you would like to apply for (your credit application will be rejected if you do not do this).
To add an item:
- select your 'Credit learning type'. This will be either higher education or VET (vocational education and training) depending on the institution where you completed your previous studies
- complete the remaining fields and select 'Add item'. If your institution is not on the list, it may be saved under a different name. For example, you will find UTS by typing ‘University of Technology, Sydney’. If you are unable to add your institution, or cannot locate it, select 'unknown'.
Your added items will display in the 'Application summary'. Here you can:
- 'Upload' your course/unit of study outline (outlines need to be uploaded for each credit item before you can submit your application)
- delete an item by selecting 'Remove row'
- 'Copy' details for a new item. If you are adding multiple items from the same institution, selecting this will pre-populate the 'Add credit or RVL item' fields with your previous entries.
Add an individual Reduced volume of learning item for every item you would like to apply for.
To add an item:
- select your 'RVL learning type'. This will be either higher education or work experience
- complete the remaining fields and select 'Add item'.
Your added items will display in the 'Application summary'. Here you can:
- delete an item by selecting 'Remove row'
- 'Copy' details for a new item. If you are adding multiple items that are similar, selecting this will pre-populate the 'Add credit or RVL item' fields with your previous entries.
If you have returned from an approved non-exchange mobility or cross-institutional study, you will need to select 'credit' as the type of credit you are applying for. You will then need to:
- select 'Higher education' as your 'Credit learning type'
- select the 'Institution' where you completed your non-exchange mobility or cross-institutional study
- enter 'Mobility' or 'Cross-Institutional Study' in the 'Course' field
- complete the remaining fields and select 'Add item'.
Your added items will display in the 'Application summary'. Here you can:
- 'Upload' your approval letter to the course outline column. You do not need to provide course outlines, only your approval letter.
- delete an item by selecting 'Remove row'
- 'Copy' details for a new item. If you are adding multiple items from the same institution, selecting this will pre-populate the 'Add credit or RVL item' fields with your previous entries.
4. Upload supporting documents
Select the type of document you want to attach from the drop-down menu (use 'Referee' for professional references relating to work experience). Select 'Upload', find the document you want to attach and ‘Upload.’ Make sure you include your name and Student ID in the file name.
Repeat for each document you need to upload. If you upload the wrong document, you can delete it and upload another. Make sure you attach your course/unit of study outlines in the 'credit items', not the documents section.
If you've previously attached documents to a credit application, these will also be shown. You can attach these documents to your current application by selecting 'Use this document'.
Make sure you include all required documents or your application will be rejected and you'll need to reapply.
Troubleshooting
When completing your credit application in Sydney Student, make sure you don’t enter a semicolon as this can cause a technical issue.
If you can’t obtain a copy of your transcript but have a sharelink from your institution, you will still be able to complete your application. You should upload a word document with details on how to access the share link as your transcript file. We will contact you if needed.
If your institution will only send transcript copies directly to another institution, ask your institution to send a copy of your official transcript to sc.credit@sydney.edu.au. In the application, you will need to upload a copy of your correspondence with your institution as your transcript file.
If you have attached a transcript and course outlines to all the units you have applied for, but an error message is telling you that you’re required to upload course outlines, submit a request through the credit management form and we will assist you in completing your application.
5. Review and submit your application
Make sure you review your application to confirm that each credit item has been correctly entered.
Once you’ve filled in all required information and uploaded all supporting documents, select ‘Submit’ to finalise your application.
If you are not ready to submit your application, you can select ‘Save and exit’ to save your application. You can return to it by following the steps to apply for credit again.
Last updated: 18 January 2023
