Reduce the amount of study you need to do by getting credit for prior study or experience.
Credit for prior study may be awarded for previous studies at RMIT, or other institutions across Australia and around the world. You may get credit even if you didn’t complete your prior program of study.
Overseas studies will be compared to equivalent Australian qualifications to determine eligibility.
Credit for prior experience may be awarded for skills or knowledge gained during employment, professional development, short courses, on-the-job training, or life experience.
How much credit can I get?
You can only receive credit for study or experience that is closely related to your RMIT program.
The maximum amount of credit you can get depends on whether you’re enrolled in a vocational, undergraduate or postgraduate program.
The following information is provided as a guide only. For more detailed information please see our credit procedure.
| Program | Maximum credit |
|---|---|
| Certificate IV | No maximum |
| Diploma | No maximum |
| Advanced diploma | No maximum |
The following information is provided as a guide only. For more detailed information please see our credit procedure.
| Program | Maximum credit |
|---|---|
| Associate degree | 50% |
| Bachelor degree | 66% |
| Bachelor honours degree (4 years) | 75% |
| Bachelor honours degree (1 year) | 50% |
The following information is provided as a guide only. For more detailed information please see our credit procedure.
| Program | Maximum credit |
|---|---|
| Graduate certificate | 50% |
| Graduate diploma | 50% |
| Masters by coursework* | 50% |
* Based on a 2-year program. Where masters advanced standing has been granted, the minimum study requirement will be based on 50% of the remaining program duration.
The following information is provided as a guide only. For more detailed information please see our credit procedure.
| Program | Maximum credit |
|---|---|
| Masters by research | Core coursework only |
| PhD | Core coursework only |
For more information about Higher Degree by Research coursework, please see Enrolment, leave and changes to candidature.
Applying for credit as a domestic student
You can apply for credit once you have accepted your offer to study at RMIT. This will help you avoid the time and cost involved in doing unnecessary study. Applications may take a while to process, so please apply as soon as possible after accepting your offer.
If you're applying for a Masters by Coursework and have completed a related undergraduate degree, we may give you an exemption to study certain courses. If your application to study is successful, your letter of offer will list any exemptions we’ve awarded you. You can still apply for additional credit once you have accepted your offer.
When you apply for credit you will need to supply evidence of your prior study or experience (see below).
If you’re seeking credit for study you did at RMIT, we’ll use your academic record to assess how much credit you should get. There’s no need to supply additional information.
If you’re seeking credit for study you did at another institution, your application for credit must include the following documents.
| Academic transcript | If your transcript isn’t in English, please provide a translated copy that has been certified. |
|---|---|
| Explanation of results | Education providers express academic results in different ways. If your transcript does not include an explanation, you can include a link to the relevant page on the institution’s website. |
| Course outline | This must detail learning outcomes and assessment criteria for your previous studies. Course outlines may be an extract from a subject guide, handbook, or syllabus. |
Each RMIT course is designed around a set of learning outcomes or elements you’ll be expected to achieve. When you apply, you’ll need to provide detailed statements explaining how your experience aligns with the learning outcomes or elements for the courses you’d like credit for.
How to find course learning outcomes or elements:
- Find for your program
Search the RMIT handbook to find the relevant program guide. - Check program structure
Click ‘Program delivery and structure’ to see all the courses in your program. Identify learning outcomes
Click on each course to get more detail and find the learning outcomes/elements.
Make sure your statements reflect on the depth and breadth of your knowledge and skill. You’ll also need to provide supporting evidence showing how your experience aligns with the course learning outcomes or elements.
Evidence may include (but is not limited to) the following documents.
| Resumé or CV | Include job titles, employment dates and the scope of your duties. |
|---|---|
| Portfolio of work | Include reports, presentations, artwork, or other artifacts. If the work was collaborative, please detail yours and your collaborator’s roles. |
| Position description | Make sure it includes obligations, staff supervision and any budgetary responsibilities. |
| Written references | Include referee contact details in case we need to seek further information. Please ensure the reference confirms the information in your written statement or explains how your experience relates to learning outcomes. |
| Memberships | Relevant industry or association memberships / subscriptions can be used to support your application. |
| Certificates of attainment | Make sure certificates evidence relevant training activities or personal / professional development. |
| Letters of support | Letters should be written by an individual with first-hand knowledge of your experience. |
| Photos and recordings | You can include videos, audio recordings and photographs that show you performing relevant tasks and activities. |
| Logbooks or diaries | You can provide logbooks or diaries detailing tasks you’ve performed or what you’ve learned. |
- Have I addressed each of the course learning outcomes/elements?
- Did I address the verbs (actions) in the course learning outcomes/elements?
- Do my statements provide detail on the currency of my knowledge and skills?
- Does my application show I can reliably meet the course learning outcomes/elements?
- Are my statements and evidence valid as well as relevant to the course learning outcomes/elements?
- Does my statement and evidence show I have conceptual knowledge and understanding of the course learning outcomes/elements?
- Have I provided an adequate amount of supporting evidence?
We will assess your prior experience using the following criteria.
| Currency | Whether your knowledge and skills are up to date. |
|---|---|
| Authenticity | Whether you can provide verified evidence that you’ve applied your skills and knowledge. |
| Reliability and consistency | Whether your knowledge and skills have been demonstrated over time. |
| Conceptual knowledge | Whether you can demonstrate deep learning and a critical understanding of why something is done, as opposed to procedural knowledge. |
| Relevance | Whether you can provide evidence that your knowledge and skills have been applied in a valid context. |
Ready to apply for credit?
If you're a current domestic student or have accepted an offer to study at RMIT, you can begin your application for credit right away. Make sure you apply as early as possible.
Applying for credit as an international student
You should apply for credit when you fill out your application to study at RMIT. If your study application is successful, your letter of offer will let you know whether any credit has been awarded.
If you have already begun your studies and did not apply when you filled out your application, you can apply for credit as a current student.
Important:
- Receiving credit may reduce the length of your studies and therefore the duration of your student visa.
- If you’re a higher degree by research student, your visa will not be affected because receiving credit will not shorten the length of your studies.
Frequently asked questions
Normally, you will be notified of the outcome of your credit application within ten working days of submitting your application, providing all the required documents are included at time of submission. But outcomes may take longer during busy periods like the start of semester and close to census dates.
You can track what stage your application is at by logging in to the RMIT Connect Portal, then click the Credit and RPL Application box. You will also receive an email notification to your RMIT student inbox any time the status of your application changes.
You can check what stage your application is at and view the outcome of your application by logging in to the RMIT Connect Portal, then click the Credit and RPL Application box. You will also receive an email notification to your RMIT student inbox any time the status of your application changes.
Applying for credit doesn’t cost anything. However, if you’re awarded credit toward a TAFE program, you may be charged the standard tuition fee for any courses you’ve received credit for.
If you’re granted credit for a course before the census date, RMIT will withdraw your enrolment for the relevant course/s you’ve been granted credit for. If you’re granted credit after the course census date and withdraw from a course, you may incur fees or a possible academic penalty.
Credit may be granted in the form of specified or unspecified credit.
- Specified credit will be identified with an RMIT course code and title.
- Unspecified credit will appear as ‘Approved Studies’ or ‘Block Credit’.
If you receive credit for RMIT study, your previous grades may be transferred to your new course and appear on your academic transcript. This may include fail grades.
If your international student application is successful, your letter of offer will list any credit we may have granted you. If you would prefer not to accept the credit, please let the admissions team know before you accept your offer to study at RMIT.
If you’ve applied for credit as a current RMIT student, we’ll notify you via email. You'll then need to log in to the Student Connect Portal and accept or reject the outcome.
Your benefits may be affected if your study load changes due to an approved credit application. If you’d like to discuss your circumstances, contact Student Connect.
We’ll let you know the outcome of your application via email. If you’d like the outcome to be reviewed, please let us know by submitting a credit enquiry within 5 working days of receiving your credit application outcome.
If you’re not satisfied by the outcome of the review, you can lodge an appeal (PDF, 540KB). This must be submitted within 20 business days after the outcome of your credit application.
Need help?
Please get in touch if you need assistance applying for credit.
