STUDENT GUIDELINES FOR THE RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING CONTRIBUTING TO UNDERGRADUATE AND POSTGRADUATE TAUGHT DEGREE PROGRAMMES 1
What is the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)? This is the process through which the University takes into account your previous study or experience and compares it with the learning required on the programme you will be studying at the University. Some of this prior learning could count towards your University of Greenwich award, and you could be exempted from studying one or more courses. Even if the learning you have done before coming to Greenwich has been gained through experience (for example, in a job), rather than through formal study and a qualification, it might still be able to be mapped against the learning you would be doing at Greenwich to see if it could count towards the award, or if it could contribute to your meeting the entry requirements for the programme you wish to study where you do not have formal qualifications. Higher education qualifications are measured in credits. Each course is worth so many credits towards an award. The learning you have done before coming to the University, whether through formal study or through experience, will be evaluated in terms of level (in other words, is it equivalent, say, to the first year of higher education, known as Level 4, or to Levels 5, 6 or 7) and volume of credit.. How do these credits work? All undergraduate and postgraduate programmes of study leading to University of Greenwich awards are based on a credit framework. Within this framework students accumulate academic credit at the appropriate level by successfully completing individual courses (normally worth 10, 15, 20 or 30 UK credits; 5, 7.5, 10 or 15 European Credit Transfer Scheme - ECTS). The credit framework requires all University Certificate, Diploma, Foundation Degree, Undergraduate Degree or Postgraduate qualifications to be defined at levels 4, 5, 6, or 7: A Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE)/Higher National Certificate (HNC) involves the accumulation of 120 credits at level 4; A Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE)/Higher National Diploma (HND)/Foundation Degree (FDSc, FDA, FDEng) involves the accumulation of 240 credits at levels 4 and 5; An Undergraduate Honours degree (BA/BSc) involves the accumulation of 360 credits across levels 4, 5 and 6; Masters degrees normally comprise 180 credit points at level 7 (postgraduate). 2
How does the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) work This process of awarding credit for previous learning, known as RPL: the Recognition of Prior Learning, may: support your admission to a programme (i.e. your prior learning meets the published entry requirements); lead to the award of credit which counts towards one or more individual courses that form the content of your programme (this is known as exemption); allow you to enter the programme at a later stage (this is known as direct entry). For what type of learning can RPL credit be awarded? RPL can be either the Recognition of Prior Certificated Learning (RPCL) or the Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (RPEL). Occasionally, an RPL application may contain a combination of RPCL and RPEL. RPCL is where credit is awarded for learning which has already been assessed and formally recognised with a certificate, as part of a completed or partly-completed programme of study or qualification (involving academic, professional or vocational courses). RPEL is used to award credit for learning gained through your experiences in a work, voluntary, home or leisure environment. A wide range of life experiences could provide appropriate learning opportunities, although it is the ability to demonstrate your learning, rather than simply stating your experience which is the basis for credit. Since this learning will not have been previously assessed, a claim for RPEL credit involves the submission of work for assessment (such as a report, portfolio, project, performance, written assignment, oral presentation, interview or presentation of artefacts, such as items you have designed, for example). This work will be assessed by University of Greenwich tutors. How does RPL credit contribute towards your degree? To make a successful claim for RPL which is used for exemption or direct entry, the learning you have achieved must be at the same level as the learning you would be expected to achieve as part of your programme of study. For example, to count towards the first year of an undergraduate degree your previous learning must have been from the first year of another degree course or equivalent level of qualification such as a Foundation Degree, HND/C, professional/vocational qualification or evidence of learning from experience of equivalent level. The grade for any credits gained via RPL will not be transferred for the purpose of making the University of Greenwich award, UNLESS it has been recognised as a result of external credit-rating by the University, or where there is an agreement with 3
another Higher Education Institution (HEI) like a university of college of higher education to recognise such a transfer of grades. Your final award will therefore normally be calculated using only the grades attained from study at the University of Greenwich. For example, where a student has been given direct entry to a later stage in a programme and undertaken only the final stage of an undergraduate degree at the University of Greenwich, the Honours classification will be based on the grades attained in that final stage. Why claim credit through RPL? You can save time by completing your studies more quickly; You can avoid having to repeat learning you have already undertaken; You can have learning gained through experience recognised at Higher Education level; How much RPL credit can I claim? For the majority of its awards, the University will recognise RPL up to a maximum limit of 50% of the credit requirements for that particular named qualification. When can I apply for RPL? An application for RPL MUST be made as early as possible, as part the application process, and normally before you are formally registered on to a programme. This allows your claim to be considered in a timely fashion and for you to be given clear information about the courses you will need to take at the University, before you embark on the programme. You should not assume that you are exempt from any stage/course until your claim has been formally accepted and you have been notified in writing. Students requesting direct entry, in other words not to have to complete one or more stages of an award offered at the University, and applying via UCAS, are not required to make a separate claim for RPL. Instead the relevant admissions tutor and/or staff within Admissions assess the applicant s request for direct entry in conjunction with their application. The applicant must indicate their preferred year of entry in the point of entry section of the UCAS application form. Before submitting your UCAS application you are strongly advised to contact the relevant admissions tutor to discuss the feasibility of making a claim for direct entry for a specific programme. The admissions tutor will be able to advise if they will consider claims for direct entry to that programme and whether your claim would be appropriate It is YOUR responsibility to submit evidence in support of a claim for direct entry. Supporting evidence is likely to include an academic transcript and course syllabus, but the relevant admissions tutor will advise you about the documentation required. 4
Applicants seeking exemption from less than a whole stage of study, or not applying via UCAS, are required to make an RPL application directly to the University Faculty where their programme will be based. How much does RPL cost? There is normally no fee for the assessment and award of credit for RPL. Please check with your University Faculty. The University of Greenwich does not discount personal tuition fees for RPL being granted. If you are going to be sponsored by the NHS/Health Sector then please check with your University Faculty. What effect might there be on my student funding position? An application for RPCL or RPEL may have implications for your student funding and financial support arrangements. If you are thinking of applying for RPL please contact the Student Finance and Financial Support Team for advice on how it may affect you financially, at the following campuses where your programme will be based: Greenwich Campus 020 8331 8526 Avery Hill Campus 020 8331 9585 Medway Campus 020 8331 9324 There may be fee or visa implications for International Students who obtain credit and are therefore no longer registered for a sufficient number of courses to be equivalent to full-time study. Advice should be sought from the International Student Advisers based in the Campus Student Centres. How do I apply? Each University Faculty has a member of staff who acts as the first point of contact for all prospective applicants making an RPL claim. This is usually the Programme Leader for the programme the applicant wishes to study, but there could be an RPL Co-ordinator. Either the Programme Leader or the RPL Co-ordinator will be responsible for dealing with RPL claims. What constitutes a good application? In considering RPL applications, the University will focus on: Authenticity is the evidence genuine and is the achievement clearly your own? Relevance/Equivalence does the prior learning cover a similar knowledge and skills base as the knowledge and skills which would be acquired in the programme to be studied? This is described as meeting learning outcomes on the programme. The mapping of prior learning against learning outcomes is a matter of academic judgement. 5
RPL credit can only be awarded for whole courses, not for part of a course. Sufficiency is there sufficient evidence to support the claim? Currency both formal certificated learning and experiential learning will normally be considered current when they have occurred up to 5 years prior to the start date of the University of Greenwich programme. The Responsibilities of the Student It is your responsibility to prepare and submit an application. You are required to: make contact with the Programme Leader/RPL Co-ordinator and obtain the required paperwork and information (including details of admission requirements/learning outcomes for the programme and/or the specific course(s) for which you might be claiming exemption); identify your existing skills and knowledge; match your prior learning against the requirements of the course(s)/programme; collect and collate the evidence to support the application (see below); formally submit an application to the Programme Leader/RPL Co-ordinator within required deadlines; inform the Programme Leader/RPL Co-ordinator of any change of contact details. The Responsibilities of the Programme Leader/RPL Co-ordinator It is the responsibility of the RPL Co-ordinator to provide advice on: the nature of RPL; the credit requirements of the programme, including specific learning outcomes for courses; University procedure, including limits on the amount of credit that can be claimed and the process of making the RPL application; the content of the claim, in terms of reflecting upon and demonstrating how you meet programme/course learning outcomes; how you should structure your claim; the method(s) that will be used to assess an applicant s certificated and/or experiential learning and the evidence to be submitted. 6
It is also the responsibility of the Programme Leader/RPL Co-ordinator to receive and progress a claim. Evidence/Documentation Required At all times the onus is on you to furnish the necessary evidence to support your application for RPL. The evidence and documentation required will differ, depending on whether you are applying for Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning (RPCL) or Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (RPEL). RPCL Documentation should confirm: the title of the award/qualification for which RPCL recognition/credit is being sought. Original copies of certificates should be provided; the name and address of the awarding body; the entrance qualifications for the award for which RPCL recognition/credit is being sought; the institution/organisation where the certificated learning was undertaken; the dates and duration of the study; the mode of study (i.e. full-time, part-time, etc.); details about syllabuses, assessment and which components of the award/qualification were successfully completed; details of any credit awarded for your previous learning; details of the grades attained. A transcript from your previous institution will be helpful in confirming some of the above. RPEL Claims for the Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning tend to be more complex and carry additional evidence requirements. Applicants should note that an RPEL application and its consideration can take a significant length of time. It is vitally important that you discuss the exact requirements/evidence base of your application with the Programme Leader/RPL Co-ordinator and agree deadlines for submission. In the first instance, applicants must complete an application form outlining: the number of credits for which RPEL is being sought and the courses against which the credit might be counted; 7
an outline of the nature of the experience and its relevance to the University programme; where the experiential learning took place; when the learning took place. An RPEL application may be assessed by one or more of the following: a focussed interview (also known as a viva); a simulation exercise; a practical demonstration; diagnostic or written tests emulating the usual assessment for the course(s); special assignments; submission of a portfolio of evidence containing samples of work, a reflective narrative and testimony from somebody who can witness that learning took place. More advice on making an RPL application will be available from the University Faculty where you will be studying. If you think your previous study or experience might be eligible, please do not delay in contacting your Faculty. 8
APPENDIX A - APPLICATION FOR RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING (RPL) Please consult the Student guidelines above on RPL before completing this form Student Name Student ID Correspondence Address Telephone Email Programme Title / Code Mode of Study Full-Time / Part Time / Distance Leaning Stage / Year Stage 1 2 3 Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 Date of Application Details of Courses for which exemption is being applied for: Course Code Credit FHEQ Course Title 9
Value Level 10
FOR STUDENTS APPLYING FOR THE RECOGNITION OF PRIOR CERTIFICATED LEARNING If you are claiming Recognition of Prior Certificated Learning (RPCL) for awards/qualifications already attained please attach the original certificates or transcript. To aid the consideration of your claim please provide the following information/documentation: the title of the award/qualification for which RPCL recognition/credit is being sought. the name and address of the awarding body; the institution/organisation where the certificated learning was undertaken; the dates and duration of the study; the mode of study (i.e. full-time, part-time, etc.); details about syllabuses, assessment and which components of the award/qualification were successfully completed; details of any credit awarded for your previous learning; details of the grades attained. Documentation is expected to be in English, so please provide a translation if necessary. Title of Award / Learning Date of Award Awarding Institution or Organisation Credit Points & Level 11
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FOR STUDENTS APPLYING FOR THE RECOGNITION OF PRIOR EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING If you are applying for Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (RPEL), it is vitally important that you discuss the exact requirements/evidence base of your application with the Programme Leader/RPL Co-ordinator and agree documentation required and deadlines for submission. In the first instance, applicants must complete the section below outlining: courses against which the experiential learning might be counted; an outline of the nature of the experience and its relevance to the University programme; where the experiential learning took place; when the learning took place. Course Code and Title for which exemption is being sought Nature of experience and relevance to University course / programme Supporting evidence to be discussed with the programme leader / RPL Coordinator prior to submission 13
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PLEASE ADD ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BELOW STUDENT DECLARATION I declare: that all the information given in this application is true; 15
that I am the author of any evidence submitted for RPEL assessment; that such experiential learning has not already been used to gain academic credit towards an award at this or another institution; that to the best of my knowledge and belief I have, where appropriate observed all copyrights and other rights belonging to other parties. I understand that the RPEL assessment will need to be seen by various parties in connection with the assessment of content and for other related administrative and academic purposes but I expect that any commercially or professionally sensitive information to be treated in confidence. Student s Signature: Date: PROGRAMME LEADER/RPL CO-ORDINATOR DECLARATION Having considered this application for RPL, I can confirm that: RPCL - I have seen the original documentation (certificate/ transcripts/ letter from employers etc.) Authenticated copies, signed by myself, are attached. AND/OR RPEL this application was assessed by the following (delete as appropriate) a focussed interview or viva; a simulation exercise; a practical demonstration; diagnostic or written tests emulating the usual assessment; 16
special assignments; submission of a portfolio of evidence containing samples of work, a reflective narrative and witness testimony. RECOMMENDATION OF PROGRAMME LEADER/RPL CO-ORDINATOR (a) Exemption to be awarded for the following courses and the session in which study will occur: Course Code Course Title FHEQ Level Credit Points Academic Session (b) Exemption NOT to be awarded for the following courses Course Code Course Title FHEQ Level Credit Points 17
This claim is rejected in full or part because: (c) Further evidence/information is required before a decision can be made. The nature of this being: Name (please print): Signed: Position: Date: FACULTY RPL ASSESSMENT BOARD DECISION I can confirm that the above recommendation was APPROVED Name (please print): Chair/Faculty Director of Learning & Teaching 18
Signed: Date: If not accepted please provide additional comments below: APPROVED COURSE EXEMPTIONS MUST BE SENT TO STUDENT RECORDS FOR CODING IN BANNER OFFICE USE: processed by SR OFFICER:... Date: (Once completed scan into student file via Xtender.) APPENDIX B RELEVANT QAA PUBLICATIONS 19