Credit Transfer

Purpose

This policy outlines the principles for determining credit towards Holmes Institute Higher Education qualifications.

Employing efficient pathways between programs and qualifications, Holmes Institute has developed a comprehensive approach to credit and articulation arrangements that allow students to gain maximum benefit from their VET/TAFE and Higher Education studies.

This policy will also assist students who have been awarded credit for prior learning to progress through their award program in less than the normal length of the program without credit and facilitate the movement of students between institutions and between programs of various types and levels.

Scope

The policy is applicable to prospective students and current students enrolled in Holmes Institute programs. This policy applies to all Higher Education programs conducted by Holmes Institute, including Bachelor, Graduate Diploma and Masters level programs.

Holmes Institute recognises relevant previous experience when enrolling new students through Credit Transfer, Recognition of Prior Learning(RPL) and Articulation Agreements in all Higher Education programs.

The policy applies to Higher Education Domestic and international onshore and off shore students.

Policy Statement

Holmes Institute recognises relevant previous experience when enrolling new students through Credit Transfer, Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)and Articulation Agreements in all Higher Education programs.

Definitions

Credit Transfer is the assessment of a student's previous academic work/study undertaken to determine whether those studies are of equal depth and academic rigour as subjects and courses offered at Holmes Institute. Credits are usually awarded for previous study in a directly related area to the course the student wishes to enrol in. Depending upon the level of previous study, namely at certificate IV, diploma, advanced diploma or degree level, Holmes Institute offers different amounts of credits. The amount of credits also differs depending on the standing of the awarding institution.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is the assessment of knowledge and skills developed through other learning, informal studies or work-related learning. Through RPLit is determined whether the skills and knowledge contribute to meeting the learning outcomes and assessment criteria of a subject or course at Holmes Institute. Similart o Credit Transfer, a successful RPL application will reduce the number of subjects required to complete a course.

If the credit transfer application is successful, the number of subjects required to complete a course will be reduced accordingly. For partially completed previous study,credit may be awarded on a pro-rata basis, that is, according to the percentage of the award completed. It should be noted that credit will not be awarded for studies completed more than 10 years prior to the date of application for credit.

Articulation Agreements are specified pathways between programs to provide with a transfer agreed transfer pathway.

Application of this Policy

Holmes Institute Articulation Arrangements

A number of credit arrangements are detailed within this policy. Where a student, or Applicant, holds a qualification that is not listed below but is relevant to the degree they intend to study, they may be eligible to receive credit. Students, or Applicants, should contact the Higher Education Coordinator for their campus to review the qualification held.

Bachelor degrees from other institutions are assessed on an application basis.

Credits Awarded for Bachelor Degrees at Holmes Institute

Credits awarded for a Degree

Up to 16 credits (subjects) can be awarded towards a Holmes Institute Bachelor degree.

Credits awarded for an Advanced Diploma

Up to 12 credits (subjects) can be awarded towards a Holmes Institute Bachelor degree.

Credits awarded for a Diploma

Up to 8 credits (subjects) can be awarded towards a Holmes Institute Bachelor degree.

Students in possession of qualification awarded by Holmes are eligible for credit according to the following table:

Credits awarded for Masters Degrees at Holmes Institute

In line with credit transfer policies at public universities, Holmes will give recognition for prior learning only for subjects completed from Australian higher education providers in professional degrees in accounting, business, IT, finance and engineering.

1. For Australian post graduate RPL, credit is granted for equivalent subjects studied in the Australian curriculum i.e. subject match is like-for-like;
2. Holmes will match any written offer of credit transfer from an Australian public university;
3. Credit is not normally awarded for studies undertaken in overseas institutions as the focus of the award is to gain a thorough grounding in contemporary Australian business practices and issues;

1. Candidates who have completed a relevant undergraduate award (Bachelor degree) at a recognised Australian tertiary institution, with a major in a subject area that equates to a core unit of a Holmes masters program, may be eligible to apply for credit transfer;
2. All credit transfer is at the discretion of the Convenor of the MBA.

Students in possession of qualifications awarded under the AQF in Australia are eligible for credit according to the table below:

Overseas Qualifications:

While students with overseas qualifications may not be awarded the above credits, we invite prospective students to apply for credit using the Credit Transfer Application Form. Alternatively,students can contact: headmin@holmes.edu.au.

 Credit Limits

1. There are limits on the maximum credit which will be granted in a Holmes Institute course of study.

2. The following credit limits apply:

3. Limits on maximum credit for these courses of study may be waived with the approval of Academic Board.

4. The Academic Board may reduce the allowable maximum credit where this is necessary to fulfill professional accreditation requirements.

5. Limits on maximum credit may be waived at the discretion of the Dean or Dean's nominee where a student is being transferred from one Holmes Institute course to another closely related course.

Credit Processes

1. Holmes Institute will determine credit for previous types of learning (formal, informal and non-formal learning) where this is assessed as equivalent to Holmes Institute study, or assessed as equivalent to the pre-requisite qualification for admission to a course, subject to the conditions and limits stated above.

2. Applications for credit may be made using the Credit Transfer Application Form. The form is available on campus or alternatively, students can contact: headmin@holmes.edu.au for a copy of the form.The managing faculty will arrange for credit assessment by the degree awarding faculty.

3. Eligibility for credit towards a course does not guarantee admission to that course.

4. For International Students - Where credit is granted before visa issue, Holmes Institute will indicate the actual net program duration (as reduced by RPL/Credit) in the electronic confirmation of enrolment (eCoE) issued for that student for that course. Where the credit is granted after visa issue, Holmes Institute will report the change of program duration via PRISMS under s19 of the ESOS Act 2000. In such cases Holmes Institute shall advise the student that they must continue to maintain their enrolment load at a level that will enable them to complete the program within the expected duration.

5. Where an applicant for credit is dissatisfied with the outcome, they may appeal the decision utilising the Holmes Institute Complaints and Appeals process.

Forms of Credit

1. Credit outcomes are expressed as block credit, specified credit or unspecified credit, as appropriate.

2. Block credit is credit granted towards whole stages or components of a qualification. Block credit is normally considered to fulfill any progression requirements for a stage of a course.

3. Specified credit is credit granted towards core and/or specific components in a qualification. At Holmes Institute, credit is given for a specific Holmes Institute Subject, as identified by its subject code.When making credit decisions, Holmes Institute will seek to allocate specified credit where possible.

4. An exemption is a type of specified credit where the student is waived the requirement to complete a core subject but is required to complete another unit of the same credit point value.

5. Unspecified credit is credit granted towards components in a qualification where the Holmes Institute subject is not specified. Only the credit point value and level of the subject are identified.

Credit Assessments

1. Credit is assessed on the basis of equivalence of content and learning outcomes between the previous learning and a Holmes Institute subject, bound by the limits on credit. In granting credit, the degree awarding faculty will ensure that all the requirements of the course are fulfilled and that other relevant matters, such as professional accreditation requirements are taken into account.

2. Equivalence of content and learning outcomes is measured by:

1. (a) In the case of previous formal learning, the volume, depth and breadth of content and assessment requirements between the previous successfully completed component of study and the Holmes Institute subject and/or agreed related activities between a previously completed qualification and a Holmes Institute qualification.
2. (b) In the case of previous informal and non-formal learning, an evidence-based assessment made by the teaching faculty (which will determine a variety of methods for the purpose) between the previous learning and the Holmes Institute subject.

3. For credit to be granted, the previous learning must be equivalent to at least 80% of the content, learning outcomes and weighting of the Holmes Institute subject.

4. Partial credit for Holmes Institute subjects will not be granted.

5. Credit granted by another provider is not transferable to Holmes Institute. A new credit application must be made in this instance.

6. To be eligible for credit, previous learning must have been completed within ten years prior to the year of application for credit.

7. Exceptions to the recency requirement for an individual applicant may be made with the approval of the Dean or Deanâ??s nominee.

Withdrawal of Credit

1. Holmes Institute reserves the right to withdraw credit where an error has been made in assessing an application or where the documentation provided by the applicant is incomplete, misleading or invalid.The withdrawal of credit must be approved by the Executive Dean.

2. However, where a change is made to a provision of this credit policy, or where a precedent or articulation is reviewed and changed, credit already granted may not be withdrawn.