Accreditation of Prior Learning 

Download a UCT/PCT1 (Undergraduate/Postgraduate Credit Transfer form (Certificated Learning)

All recommendations for accreditation of prior learning should be
(1) made on a UCT/PCT (Undergraduate/Postgraduate Credit Transfer) form;
(2) based on evidence (or summary evidence) that is attached to the claim; and
(3) approved by the APL Board of Assessment (normally via an APL Board Faculty Representative plus the Chair of the APL Board of Assessment: only complex claims will be referred to a full meeting of the APL Board.)

It is the applicant's responsibility to make a claim for APL, and this should normally be via an APL1 application form, plus evidence or other support material sent to the APL Co-Ordinator.  The APL Co-Ordinator will then formally register the claim and forward the details on to the course leader for assessment.  In the case of claims for certificated learning (APCL), evidence should normally include a detailed academic transcript.  In the case of claims for experiential learning (APEL), a portfolio should be submitted, to include student reflection on how the relevant learning outcomes have been met, job descriptions and independent corroboration. 

Stages in the Process are detailed below:

Other relevant forms and processes (Topping Up to Higher Award /Changing Programme)

Applications from internal students who wish to top up to a higher award should also follow the procedures set out below, as the University requires that credit achieved at the lower award must be formally approved for transfer to the student’s higher award record.  Detailed guidance for staff on top up procedures  is available.  Student guidance is also available.   

Students who wish to change their programme should be referred to the M50 (undergraduate) form or P50 (postgraduate) form.  The M50/P50 covers changes to courses, as well as changes to awards (eg from HND to Degree) where the student does not wish to receive the award for which they are initially registered.

Stage 1: Application for APL (Student)

It is the student’s responsibility to make a claim for APL.  Full details of how to apply may be found on the student APL home page.  In brief, the student should complete an APL1 (Certificated Learning) or APL2 (Experiential Learning) form, which should be submitted to the APL Co-Ordinator.  In the case of certificated claims the form should be submitted together with an academic transcript of the relevant learning.  In the case of experiential claims, an outline of the potential claim should be submitted, following which the applicant will be referred to a Faculty APL Board Representative, or the relevant Placements Manager, for detailed advice about compiling a portfolio of evidence.

(Students who have withdrawn or deferred, and return to complete the same award within three years, do not need to make an application for APL.  However, those who return after a period of three years should make an application for APL in order for their modules to be reviewed for relevance to the current programme.)

Stage 2: Recommendation for APL (Course Leader / Admissions Tutor / Module Tutor)

Following receipt of a claim, the APL Co-Ordinator will forward evidence to the relevant course leader (for CL claims) or module tutor (for EL claims) to make an assessment, together with one of the following forms on which the tutor should specify the recommendation.

• UCT1/PCT1 Undergraduate/Postgraduate Credit Transfer Form (Certificated Learning)  
• UCT2/PCT2 Undergraduate/Postgraduate Credit Transfer Form (Experiential Learning) 

Where applicants make a direct approach to a member of staff, they should normally be referred to the APL web page for details of the claim process.  However, if they are able to provide a course leader with full evidence for the claim at that point, the course leader may simply make the assessment and download the relevant form above (in other words, the student does not need to complete an application form as well).

Guidelines have been drawn up to assist in the assessment of APL claims and completion of UTC/PCT forms.  For detailed academic advice about assessment, please contact your Faculty APL Board Representative (see APL Board of Assessment for membership), or the Chair of the APL Board of Assessment (Malcolm Maclean).

Where there are likely to be several similar applicants with exactly the same qualification, a Course Leader, Subject Group Leader or Head of School should complete a Qualifications Acceptable for APL form, which can be forwarded to the APL Co-Ordinator and, following approval, will be stored on a Database of Approved Qualifications.    Subsequently, where a transcript is provided which confirms that the applicant has met in full the requirements described on that form, future applications for credit need not come back to the course leader or APL Board Representative for individual assessment.

Stage 3: Informal approval by Faculty APL Board Representative

The paperwork should then be forwarded to, or presented to the Faculty APL Board of Assessment representative — a full list of representatives is available here — who will check that the evidence meets guidelines for assessment established by the APL Board, before returning the paperwork to the APL Co-Ordinator.

Stage 4: Formal approval by APL Board of Assessment

The APL Co-Ordinator will normally meet with the Chair of the APL Board of Assessment every three or four weeks to establish: (1) claims which may be formally approved and signed off at that point; (2) claims which require further evidence from the applicant or course leader; and (3) claims which should be referred to a full meeting of the APL Board.  Dates published.

Stage 5: Notification

When the claim has been formally approved, the APL Co-Ordinator will send a copy of the signed UCT/PCT form to the applicant, and also to the Student Records and Finance & Planning offices to make any adjustments to LEA arrangements/tuition fees.  The credit will be transferred to the student’s record as soon as possible.

If there are any queries about the claim, or the APL Board of Assessment makes a proposal for an adjustment to the recommendation, the relevant course leader will be notified.