Credit Policy
The University Statutes can be found at http://www.unimelb.edu.au/Statutes/
Specified Credit
Students who transfer from other faculties or universities and have completed subjects which are considered to be equivalent to those available in the Faculty of Arts may be granted specified credit for those subjects. It may be necessary for the appropriate School to approve such credit.
Unspecified Credit
Credit for graduates is usually offered in the form of unspecified subjects, that is general credit reducing the total points required for completion of the award, but not allocated to a specific area of study.
General Credit Rules
Credit may be offered to applicants and students in any award course of the Faculty, however a student must complete a minimum amount of study as an enrolled student at the University of Melbourne, resulting in maximum amounts of credit that will be granted for each course or course level.
Credit is only awarded for study or other work deemed to be the equivalent of studies normally undertaken within the relevant award course.
Credit will only be granted for approved completed subjects, not for exemptions or credit granted by another faculty or institution.
Credit will not usually be granted for any tertiary studies undertaken ten or more years prior to admission to the degree.
Subjects may not be double counted for both specified and unspecified credit.
No student is obliged to accept credit and may accept all or part of the credit offered.
No student may complete an award with credit as the final year or 50% of the course must be completed as an enrolled student in that award. *
* Except via previously approved exchange study.
Deadline
The amount of credit granted will normally be finalised when the student first enrols (subject to consultation about the nature of subjects undertaken, should this not be immediately clear). Nevertheless, application for credit may be made at any time.
Exchange Credit
A student enrolled in an Arts course who wishes to study subjects at another university and receive credit towards their degree at this university must receive approval in writing before enrolling at the other university. Credit may not be awarded if prior approval is not granted.
Application process
When you apply for entry to a coursework program at Melbourne University a credit application will be attached to the online application. If your course does not have an online application process you will need to complete the form below.
If you are applying for credit during your course you will need to complete an application form and lodge it at the Arts and Music Student Centre.
Credit towards the Bachelor of Arts Degree (pre-2008)
Credit maximum: total of 200 points of credit.
No student may qualify for the Bachelor of Arts degree without completing at least 100 points of second and/or third year subjects as an enrolled student within the Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Melbourne.
Credit for bachelors degree study
Maximum unspecified credit:
Up to a maximum of 50 points of unspecified credit at first year for an approved full first year of non-Arts tertiary degree study, plus;
Up to a maximum of 37.5 points of unspecified credit at second year for an approved additional full second year (100 points) of non-Arts tertiary degree study.
Maximum specified credit:
Up to a maximum total credit of 100 points at first year and 100 points at second/third year for Bachelor of Arts degree subject(s) undertaken at first, second or third year.
Credit for bachelors degree graduates
Maximum unspecified credit:
Up to a maximum of 50 points of unspecified credit at first year, plus;
Up to a maximum of 37.5 points of unspecified credit at second year.
Maximum specified credit:
For graduates of institutions other than the University of Melbourne, specified credit will only be granted for Arts subjects taken in excess of degree requirements. For graduates of the University of Melbourne, specified credit will be granted for subjects which have been completed in the first degree and which are core requirements of the second degree.
Graduates with more than one qualification may only be granted graduate credit for one degree. Credit may still be given to graduates even if the original degree is more than 10 years old.
No credit will be awarded towards the BA for postgraduate qualifications.
Credit for diplomates
Undergraduate diplomates from approved universities or other tertiary institutions which require at least HSC/VCE entrance may be offered unspecified credit of up to 50 points at first year only.
Students will not receive credit for Diploma study as well as Bachelors degree unspecified credit.
Credit for 'Enhancement' subjects (i.e. MUPHAS subjects)
Students entering the Bachelor of Arts course who have completed subjects offered as part of the Melbourne University Program for High Achieving Students (or equivalent programs offered by other tertiary institutions) may be awarded up to a maximum total credit of 50 points at first year.
Students must note that not all subjects offered through this program have been approved for credit towards the Bachelor of Arts degree. Students who complete these subjects may enter the second year level subjects in that discipline.
Credit for Open Learning subjects
Students who have completed subjects through the Australian Open Learning Scheme will not normally be eligible for credit. Open Learning subjects are not equivalent in content, level and assessment standards to Melbourne Arts subjects.
Credit for Community Access Program (CAP) subjects
Students who have completed subjects through the University's Community Access Program may be granted credit for all subjects usually available to BA students.
The maximum credit granted for subjects completed through the CAP scheme is 200 points.
Students undertaking Community Access Program subjects to gain admission to the Bachelor of Arts degree are required to complete a minimum of 50 points.
Where the subjects are used as the basis for admission for a student who has not completed normal University entrance requirements (e.g. year 12 VCE/HSC), no credit will be given for the first 50 points completed. Applicants with some other equivalent (for example TAFE study or other formal study, long-term work experience involving project work or other major pieces of writing) may apply to the Associate Dean for exemption from this requirement.
Where the subjects are used as the basis of admission because academic performance at year 12 or in subsequent tertiary studies was inadequate, credit will only be granted for subjects where a grade of H2B or higher is achieved.
Where subjects are used as the basis for admission because previous studies were undertaken 10 or more years ago, credit will be given for subjects passed, up to a maximum of 200 points.
Where the subjects are used to demonstrate academic rehabilitation following suspension from the BA course, credit will only be given for subjects where a grade of H2B or higher is achieved. Students who do not achieve this level who have other relevant circumstances (hardship or Special Consideration circumstances) may apply to the Associate Dean to have this requirement waived.
A former student (i.e. one who has been suspended or has discontinued) may not complete the requirements of a degree through the Community Access Program, and must complete a minimum of 25 points as an enrolled student after re-admittance through CAP.
Please note the following: Due to the new Federal Government legislation for tertiary education from 2005 CAP students who later successfully gain a DOMESTIC* FEE PAYING place in an award course, and wish to receive credit towards that course for CAP subjects undertaken since 2005, in addition to meeting Faculty of Arts credit guidelines, may be required to pay out the difference between the initial amount paid for the subjects through CAP and the CURRENT cost of undertaking that subject through the award course.
Credit towards the Bachelor of Arts (Media & Communications) Degree
Credit maximum: total of 100 points of credit, usually 75 first year points and 25 second year points.
Note: Students cannot receive credit for core Media & Communications subjects.
The exception to this credit maximum is students who are transferring from a Bachelor of Arts degree into the Media & Communications degree and who are completing a double major. These students may receive a maximum of 150 points credit which comprises the Arts component of the degree.
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Degree
Students transferring into the BA (Hons) may be awarded a maximum credit of 50 points.
Students transferring into the BA(Hons) from a BA(Hons) at another institution may be awarded a maximum credit of 50 points of Honours coursework subjects. (the thesis must be completed at Melbourne), with the approval of the relevant Honours Coordinator and the Associate Dean.
Concurrent Diploma in Modern Languages
Credit for the Diploma will only be granted for Language subjects not credited towards another qualification. The exception is subjects which are core requirements of the Diploma, and these may be counted towards the first qualification and the Diploma.
Students transferring into the Diploma of Modern Languages may be awarded a maximum credit of 50 points at first and/or second year.
Transferring undergraduate degree students
Undergraduate students may be granted specified credit for Arts degree subjects undertaken at first, second and third year levels, where those subjects are not counted for credit towards any other qualification up to a maximum of 50 points. With the exception of subjects core to the Diploma as specified above
Students entering the Concurrent Diploma in Modern Languages course who have completed subjects offered as part of the Melbourne University Program for High Achieving Students or equivalent programs may be awarded up to a maximum total credit of 37.5 points at first year.
Community Access Program subjects
Students who have completed subjects through the University's Community Access Program may be granted credit for relevant CAP subjects (i.e. within the area of study).
The maximum credit granted for subjects completed through the CAP scheme is 50 points.
Students undertaking Community Access Program subjects to gain admission to the Diploma in Modern Languages must complete a minimum of 37.5 points.
Where the subjects are used because academic performance at year 12 or in subsequent tertiary studies was insufficient, credit will only be given for subjects where a grade of H2B or higher is achieved, up a maximum of 50 points.
Where the subjects are used to demonstrate academic rehabilitation following suspension from the Diploma, credit will only be given for subjects where a grade of H2B or higher is achieved.
A former student (i.e. one who has been suspended or has discontinued) may not complete the requirements of the Diploma through the Community Access Program.
Please note the following: Due to the new Federal Government registration for tertiary education from 2005 CAP students who later successfully gain a DOMESTIC* FEE PAYING place in an award course, and wish to receive credit towards that course for CAP subjects undertaken since 2005, in addition to meeting Faculty of Arts credit guidelines, may be required to pay out the difference between the initial amount paid for the subjects through CAP and the CURRENT cost of undertaking that subject through the award course.
Graduate and Postgraduate Certificates and Diplomas
Credit for the graduate and postgraduate certificates and diplomas will only be granted for subjects directly relevant to the qualification, of an equivalent level, and not credited towards another qualification. The exception is subjects which are core requirements of graduate and postgraduate certificates and diplomas, and these subjects may be counted towards the first qualification and the second.
The maximum credit awarded for graduate programs is 50% of the points required for the award.
Graduates transferring into Graduate Certificates may be awarded a maximum credit of 25 points.
Graduates transferring into Graduate Diplomas may be awarded a maximum credit of 50 points.
An exception exists for Diploma applicants wishing to complete more than 100 points (and therefore, for example, complete the full requirements of the major) who may receive up to 75 points of credit (such students must complete at least 50 points as an enrolled student within the award).
Subjects must be at the appropriate course level (for example, fourth year level for Postgraduate Diploma study). No credit will be awarded for qualifying study (i.e. subjects taken to complete a major will not be credited to a Postgraduate Diploma).
No credit will be granted towards thesis or research project subjects.
Subjects must be from the relevant subject area - for example, subjects in History would not be credited towards an English Diploma.
Community Access Program subjects
Students who have completed subjects through the University's Community Access Program may be granted credit for relevant CAP subjects (i.e. within the relevant area of study).
The maximum credit granted for subjects completed through the CAP scheme is 50 points for diplomas and 25 points for certificates.
Where the subjects are used because academic performance in prerequisite tertiary studies was insufficient, credit will only be given for subjects where a grade of H2B or higher is achieved.
Where the subjects are used to demonstrate academic rehabilitation following suspension from the certificate or diploma, credit will only be given for subjects where a grade of H2B or higher is achieved.
A former student (i.e. one who has been suspended or has discontinued) may not complete the requirements of the certificate or diploma through the Community Access Program.
Please note the following: Due to the new Federal Government registration for tertiary education from 2005 CAP students who later successfully gain a DOMESTIC* FEE PAYING place in an award course, and wish to receive credit towards that course for CAP subjects undertaken since 2005, in addition to meeting Faculty of Arts credit guidelines, may be required to pay out the difference between the initial amount paid for the subjects through CAP and the CURRENT cost of undertaking that subject through the award course.
Masters by Coursework
Credit for masters by coursework will only be granted for subjects directly relevant to the qualification, of an equivalent level, and not credited towards another qualification. The exception is subjects which are core requirements of the masters by coursework program, and these subjects may be counted towards the first qualification and the second.
Exemption from the first 50 points of the two-year program may be granted to graduates with relevant and significant work experience.
The maximum credit awarded is 50% of the points required for the award.
Honours or postgraduate diploma graduates transferring into a two year masters may be awarded a maximum of 100 points of credit.
Subjects must be at the appropriate course level (for example, fourth year for the first year of a two-year program and approved Masters level subjects for the second year). No credit will be awarded for qualifying study (i.e. subjects taken to complete a major in the discipline).
No credit will be granted towards the thesis or research project subjects.
Subjects must be from the relevant subject area as specified in the Handbook, unless the subjects are certified as equivalent by the course coordinator and optional components exist within the award.
Community Access Program subjects
Students who have completed subjects through the University's Community Access Program may be granted credit for relevant CAP subjects (i.e. within the relevant area of study).
The maximum credit granted for subjects completed through the CAP scheme is 50 points.
Where the subjects are used because academic performance in prerequisite tertiary studies was insufficient, credit will only be given for subjects where a grade of H2B or higher is achieved.
Where the subjects are used to demonstrate academic rehabilitation following suspension from the course, credit will only be given for subjects where a grade of H2B or higher is achieved.
A former student (i.e. one who has been suspended or has discontinued) may not complete the requirements of the masters through the Community Access Program.
Please note the following: Due to the new Federal Government legislation for tertiary education from 2005 CAP students who later successfully gain a DOMESTIC* FEE PAYING place in an award course, and wish to receive credit towards that course for CAP subjects undertaken since 2005, in addition to meeting Faculty of Arts credit guidelines, may be required to pay out the difference between the initial amount paid for the subjects through CAP and the CURRENT cost of undertaking that subject through the award course.