Recognition of prior learning

Get credit for your previous studies and/or work experience by applying for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

Overview

Recognition of prior learning (RPL) is when your previous studies and/or work experience are recognised and counted towards your degree as credit.

By accepting credit, you may:

  • reduce your course duration
  • reduce your fees

Types of credit

The University may recognise prior learning by granting specific credit, non-specific credit, reduced volume of learning (RVL) or an enrolment exception request. The way in which your prior learning may be recognised will be determined by the course you enrol in at the University and the level, content and completion status of your previous studies.

More on credit types

Impact on funding and visa

Domestic students

Credit may affect your study load, which can affect your eligibility for government assistance such as Youth Allowance, Austudy and Abstudy.

International students

You need to consider student visa requirements and eligibility for future visas. If your expected course duration is decreased, we're required to notify the Department of Home Affairs.

Undergraduate

Eligibility

You may be able to apply for credit for previous study if you've already completed:

  • university-level or equivalent subjects
  • or in some cases a recognised qualification leading into a bachelor's degree.

Refer to the faculty handbook for more information. Your eligibility will be assessed by the faculty once you apply.

For students applying to transfer into a combined law degree after completing at least one year in a bachelor's degree, the credit policies of the Law School and its partner faculties are used when determining the amount of credit for previous studies. It may not be possible to complete combined Law within the standard course duration if you transfer after more than one year of university study.

Refer to the faculty handbook for more specific RPL information including relevant disciplines. Your eligibility will be assessed by the faculty once you apply.

Postgraduate coursework

Eligibility

For some postgraduate courses, if you have completed previous studies in a relevant area or relevant work experience, you may be eligible to reduce the length and cost of your studies through reduced volume of learning. The reduction in course length may vary based on units of study, course structure and your enrolment.

Reduced volume of learning (RVL) guide

The following is a non-exhaustive list of courses and areas of study where you may be able to apply for RVL and is provided as a guide only.

For more specific information, refer to the faculty handbook, including relevant disciplines. Your eligibility will be assessed by the faculty once you apply.

Reduced volume of learning (RVL) Eligibility criteria Sample eligible courses
Up to 24 credit points or 1 semester, for courses with a 1.5 year duration

You may be able to reduce your course duration from 1.5 years to 1 year, if you've completed:

  • an honours degree in a relevant discipline or
  • a bachelor's degree with a credit average (65 percent) and relevant work experience or
  • the embedded graduate certificate or graduate diploma
  • relevant professional experience that is considered equivalent to the embedded graduate certificate may be considered
 Examples of courses to which this RVL applies, subject to a successful application are:
Up to 24 credit points (1 semester), for courses with a 2 year duration

You may be able to reduce your course duration from 2 years to 1.5 years, if you've completed:

  • a bachelor's degree with a credit average (65 percent) in a relevant discipline or
  • a bachelor's degree with a credit average (65 percent) and relevant work experience or
  • the embedded graduate certificate or graduate diploma
 No specific courses
Up to 48 credit points (2 semesters or 1 year)

You may be able to reduce your course duration from 2 years to 1 year in the below courses, if you've completed: 

  • an honours degree in a relevant discipline

Courses to which this RVL applies, subject to a successful application are:

 

Eligible course Reduced volume of learning (RVL) Eligibility criteria
Master of Commerce (Extension) and Master of Commerce Up to 12 credit points (two foundational units of study) You may receive this if you have:
  • completed a bachelor's degree or equivalent with a credit average (65 percent), with completed study deemed equivalent to foundational units of study
  • completed some postgraduate business study but not yet counted to a qualification, you may be eligible for additional credit
  • prior studies that are relevant to the Master of Commerce specialisations, regardless your degree has a name in business or not, you are encouraged to submit a credit application to have your credit eligibility assessed along with your course application

For further information, refer to our Master of Commerce frequently asked questions (FAQs) page.
Master of Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations  Up to 12 credit points
You may receive this if you have:
  • both the equivalent of an Australian bachelor's degree with a credit average (65 percent) in a related discipline, and 2 years of relevant professional work experience.

For more specific information, refer to the faculty handbook. Your eligibility will be assessed by the faculty once you apply.
Master of Management Up to 12 credit points (two elective units of study)

You may receive this if you have:

  • completed a bachelor's degree or equivalent in a cognate discipline, or
  • completed a major, the equivalent of 48 credit points, in a business area or cognate discipline

Eligible course Reduced volume of learning (RVL) Eligibility criteria
Master of Engineering (all streams) Up to 24 credit points or 1 semester

You may be able to reduce your course duration from 1.5 years to 1 year if:

  • You've completed the equivalent of an Australian Bachelor of Engineering degree with a distinction average (75 percent) in the same area of your discipline, e.g. civil or mechanical engineering.
Master of Professional Engineering (Accelerated) - all streams Up to 48 credit points or 2 semesters

You are eligible to apply for the accelerated version of the Master of Professional Engineering, which is two years in duration instead of the three-year Master of Professional Engineering if:

  • You've completed an equivalent of an Australian Bachelor of Engineering degree with a credit average (65 percent) in a related discipline.
Master of Professional Engineering (all streams) Up to 24 credit points or 1 semester

You may be able to reduce your course duration from 3 years to 2.5 years if:

  • You've completed the equivalent of an Australian Bachelor of Engineering degree with a credit average (65 percent) in an unrelated engineering discipline (e.g. if your bachelor's degree was in civil engineering and you wish to study mechanical engineering for the Master of Professional Engineering), or
  • the equivalent of an Australian Bachelor of Applied Science or similar (in a related discipline).

Note: If you have an equivalent of an Australian Bachelor of Engineering degree with a 65 percent average in a related discipline, apply for the relevant two-year Master of Professional Engineering (Accelerated) degree.
Up to 72 credit points or 3 semesters

You may be able to reduce your course duration from 3 years to 1.5 years if:

  • You've completed a postgraduate engineering degree with a credit average (65 percent) in a related discipline.
Master of Data Science Up to 24 credit points or 1 semester

You may be able to reduce your course duration from 1.5 years to 1 year if:

  • You've completed the equivalent of an Australian AQF Level 8 degree, i.e. an honours degree, graduate certificate or graduate diploma or above in a major or minor in IT or computer science areas which have solid foundations in programming, statistics, ethics and IT innovations.
Master of Cybersecurity Up to 24 credit points or 1 semester

You may be able to reduce your course duration from 1.5 years to 1 year if:

  • You've completed the equivalent of an Australian AQF Level 8 degree, i.e. an honours degree, graduate certificate or graduate diploma or above with a major or minor in IT or computer science areas which have solid foundations in programming, security, ethics and IT innovations.
Master of Complex Systems Up to 24 credit points or 1 semester

You may be able to reduce your course duration from 1.5 years to 1 year if:

  • You've completed the equivalent of an Australian bachelor's degree with a credit average (65 percent) in a cognate discipline. Cognate disciplines incorporate computational or complex systems modelling at a senior level, e.g. engineering, computer science, mathematics or physics.
  • the equivalent of an Australian AQF Level 8 degree, i.e. an honours degree, graduate certificate or graduate diploma or above in a quantitative discipline.

Postgraduate research (HDR)

Eligibility

You may be able to receive credit for all or any part of the previous higher degree candidature, if you've:

  • completed at least six months as a candidate for a higher degree by research (HDR) at the University of Sydney, or
  • completed a research period at another recognised institution.
Learn more about the HDR Rule

How to apply

Due to the complexity of the application process, we can offer you general advice about applying, but we won’t be able to assess whether, and how, your prior learning will be recognised until you have submitted an application. Prior learning is assessed by the Student Administration Services team in conjunction with our faculties/schools.

What you can seek recognition for

  • Units of study taken at another university or higher education institution.
  • Approved qualifications from a higher education institution or certain vocational education and training institutions.
  • For certain postgraduate degrees, your relevant work experience.

Application process

You can apply for credit as part of your course application, or after you've accepted your offer.

International students may not need a separate application

The University has international articulation pathway arrangements with selected overseas universities, polytechnics and colleges – these can help fast-track your studies by providing you with credit towards your degree.

If your institution and program is included in our list, credit may be awarded as part of your application for admission. You won't need a separate application for credit.

Steps to apply for credit

Useful links