Credit Search and Calculator

If you have gained knowledge, skills, and abilities through previous study or experience, you can apply to have your prior learning recognised when you become a Southern Cross University student or at any time during your enrolment.

male student sitting on front of Coffs campus buildings

The digital Credit Search and Calculator is currently unavailable due to system maintenance.

In the meantime, to identify how much credit may be awarded for into a Southern Cross University course or unit, download and search the credit arrangements in any of the pdf's in the table below.

Applicant type Courses Units
All applicants and students Credit Transfer into Southern Cross Courses Credit Transfer into Southern Cross Units
International applicants and students only Credit Transfer into Southern Cross Courses - International Students  

Click the relevant link to download. Open the pdf document. Select 'Cmd+F' for Mac or 'Ctrl+F' for Windows to reveal the search window and enter the search criteria (institution/course/occupation/unit name or code). These documents are a guide of possible credits that amounts that may be granted, so you can plan your studies to eliminate duplication of learning and estimate a reduced course length and study costs. Note disclaimer. 

The Credit Search and Calculator and pdf reports draw on data from the University Articulation Management System. It considers the learning outcomes in Australian and overseas

  • completed and partially completed studies (formal learning in accredited courses, qualifications or units) and (non-formal learning in non-accredited short courses, seminars, credentials, professional development programs or modules); and
  • occupations (informal learning gained through years of paid or voluntary experience and expertise, professional standing or performance).

If your search is unsuccessful and your prior learning is similar to one or more units in your chosen course, you should still apply to have your prior learning assessed. A formal determination of credit amounts will occur once an application is submitted. Contact us for any clarifications.

Compare Informal Experience to Formal Qualification

It's rare, but possible to earn an entire qualification through RPL, as recognition and unit assessment processes are evidence based and equally rigorous. Normally, credit amounts are granted up to Policy thresholds, which ensure a portion of the units in the course are formally studied by most students.

For more information about the normal credit thresholds for recognising the highest level of any form of prior learning that you have achieved in the same or similar study discipline, field, or branch of learning as your Southern Cross course please view Schedule 1, accessible through clause 13 of the Advanced Standing and Recognition of Prior Learning Procedures.

Less credit may occur due to:

  • divergent disciplinary relationships (partially related prior learning);
  • external/professional recognition requirements that limit the amount or type of credit;
  • constraint of a mandatory study plan that identifies units for which credit is not available;

More credit may occur due to:

  • greater alignment of prior learning outcomes and course learning outcomes, usually resulting from collaborative course development for articulation pathways and  linkages; or
  • credit thresholds being waived by the Pro Vice Chancellor (Academic Quality).

If any variations apply for your Southern Cross course for points 2 and 3, you'll find them in the RPL guide. a link to the course RPL guide (if applicable) is available on the course page, under Entry Requirements, Credit for prior learning. 

Nevertheless, Southern Cross University will provide the maximum possible credit for your prior learning and reserves the right to make the final decision on appropriate levels of credit.

To assist you in comparing the level of learning obtained in a qualification from one of the countries below to an Australian Qualification, please click the relevant link to download and open the document.

Country Equivalent overseas qualifications
China Comparable prior learning - China
Indonesia Comparable prior learning - Indonesia
Japan Comparable prior learning - Japan
Nepal  Comparable prior learning - Nepal
Philippines Comparable prior learning - Philippines
Singapore  Comparable prior learning - Singapore
Taiwan Comparable prior learning - Taiwan
Thailand  Comparable prior learning - Thailand
Vietnam  Comparable prior learning - Vietnam

If a relevant country is not listed, the equivalence of your overseas qualification will be established when the University assesses your application, using the Australian Country Education Profiles (CEPs) online qualifications recognition tool or other appropriate guide such as the United Kingdom European National Information Centre (UK ENIC), for comparing international qualification levels to Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) levels.

Search ANZSCO for an occupation with similar tasks and responsibilities as you perform in your current/previous role.

  1. Record the occupation code and title, along with the names of similar roles.
  2. Identify the occupation's ANZSCO Skill Level.
  3. Refer to Appendix 1, in Schedule 1 of the Advanced Standing and Recognition of Prior Learning Procedures.

Unless credit was a result of prior study at SCU and/or credit thresholds were waived by the Pro Vice Chancellor (Academic Quality) when credit was awarded into your course, if you choose to exit early from your course early, with a lower qualification, some of the credit granted will be rescinded (withdrawn). This ensures the total amount of credit doesn't exceed the credit thresholds for the exit qualification, described in Schedule 1, accessible through clause 13 of the Advanced Standing and Recognition of Prior Learning Procedures.

The pdf footer date represents the date of publication and currency of credit arrangements in the relevant report, which is produced using the University Articulation Management System. Email recommended changes to existing credit arrangements or new credit arrangements for approval and inclusion to pathways@scu.edu.au

The information is indicative, point in time data that is subject to change and does not guarantee entry or credit for prior learning into your preferred or chosen course.

Southern Cross University will provide the maximum possible credit in recognition of prior learning via our Advanced Standing and Articulation processes and reserves the right to make the final decision on the appropriate level of credit.

Start Dates and Review/Expiry Dates for a named organisation have no baring on data currency as they indicate the original date that Southern Cross University published the first credit arrangement for an organisation and a future date for quality review or expiry of any final arrangement (if not extended).

A specific credit arrangement that specifies both the amount and type of credit (with a Credit Reference Number ending in S) may become a Credit Precedent in the Student Management System and be systematically applied to subsequent applicants who are assessed as having the same prior learning.

Any determination arrangement that specifies the amount but NOT the type of credit and includes one or more unspecified units, as determined by the course coordinator (with a Credit Reference Number ending in D) must be assessed by the Course Coordinator or Unit Assessor to determine the credit decision which is manually applied for subsequent applicants who are assessed as having the same or similar prior learning.

Published precedents that specify both the amount and type of credit may be systematically applied to subsequent applicants with the same prior learning.

Credit for prior learning
Glossary of Terms
Key application dates
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